16-Port 10/100Mbps Fast Ethernet Switch (Desktop) User Guide
switch bridges and transmits Ethernet packets at the MAC address level of the Ethernet protocol, 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 dividing a local area network into different segments. Each segment has its own bandwidth and it does not compete with others for network transmission capacity.
A switch acts as a high-speed selective bridge between the individual segments. The switch forwards traffic from origin segment to destination segment, without interfering with any other segments. By doing this, the total network capacity is multiplied, while still maintaining the same network cabling and adapter cards.
For Fast Ethernet networks, a switch is an effective way to eliminate problems of uplinking Fast Ethernet 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. The switch supports both traditional 10Mbps Ethernet and 100Mbps Fast Ethernet, which is also ideal for bridging between the existing 10Mbps networks and the new 100Mbps networks.
LAN switching technology is a significant improvement over the previous generation of network bridges, which were criticized because of their higher latencies. Routers are also used to segment LANs. However, since routers are expensive, difficult to setup, and require intensive maintenance, they are relatively impractical for the network. Switches, on the other hand, are less expensive, easier to set up, and practically maintenance free, which make them an ideal solution to today's LAN congestion
