3
Switching Technology
Another key development pushing the limits of Ethernet technology is in the
field of switching technology. A switch bridges Ethernet packets at the MAC
address level of the Ethernet protocol transmitting among connected Ethernet
or fast Ethernet LAN segments.
Switching is a cost-effective way of increasing the total network capacity
available to users on a local area network. A switch increases capacity and
decreases network loading by making it possible for a local area network to be
divided into different segments which don't compete with each other for
network transmission capacity, giving a decreased load on each.
The switch acts as a high-speed selective bridge between the individual
segments. Traffic that needs to go from one segment to another is
automatically forwarded by the switch, without interfering with any other
segments. This allows the total network capacity to be multiplied, while still
maintaining the same network cabling and adapter cards.
Switching LAN technology is a marked improvement over the previous
generation of network bridges, which were characterized by higher latencies.
Routers have also been used to segment local area networks, but the cost of a
router and the setup and maintenance required make routers relatively
impractical. Today's switches are an ideal solution to most kinds of local area
network congestion problems.
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