Port 10/100Mbps Ethernet Switch User Guide

32-Port 10/100Mbps Ethernet Switch User Guide

switch bridge 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 LAN. A switch increases capacity and decreases network loading by dividing a LAN into different segments that don't compete with each other for network transmission capacity.

The switch acts as a high-speed selective bridge between the individual segments. The switch automatically forwards traffic that needs to go from one segment to another without interfering with any other segments. This multiplies the total network capacity while maintaining the same network cabling and adapter cards.

For Fast Ethernet networks, a switch is an effective way of eliminating problems of chaining hubs beyond the “two- repeater limit.” A switch can be used to split parts of the network into different collision domains, making it possible to expand your Fast Ethernet network beyond the

205-meter network diameter limit for 100 BASE-TX networks. Switches supporting both traditional 10Mbps Ethernet and 100Mbps Fast Ethernet are also ideal for bridging between the existing 10Mbps networks and the new 100Mbps networks.

Switching LAN technology is an improvement over the previous generation of network bridges, which were characterized by higher latencies. Routers have also been used to segment LANs, but the cost of a router, the setup and maintenance required make routers relatively impractical. Today switches are an ideal solution to most kinds of LAN congestion problems.

AirLink+