To maintain the orderly movement of data between the end nodes, an Ethernet switch may periodically need to signal an end node to stop sending data. This can occur under several circumstances. For example, if two end nodes are operating at different speeds, the switch, while transferring data between the end nodes, might need to instruct the faster end node to stop transmitting data to allow the slower end node to catch up. An example of this would be when a server operating at 100 Mbps is sending data to a workstation operating at only 10 Mbps.
How a switch signals an end node to stop transmitting data differs depending on the speed and duplex mode of the end node and switch port. A twisted pair port operating at 100 Mbps and half-duplex mode will stop an end node from transmitting data by forcing a collision. A collision on an Ethernet network occurs when two end nodes attempt to transmit data using the same data link at the same time. A collision causes end nodes to stop sending data. When the switch needs to stop a 100 Mbps, half-duplex end node from transmitting data, it forces a collision on the data link, which stops the end node. When the switch is ready to receive data again, the switch stops forcing collisions. This is referred to as back pressure.
A port operating at 100 Mbps and full-duplex mode uses PAUSE frames, as specified in the IEEE 802.3x standard, to stop the transmission of data from an end node. Whenever the switch wants an end node to stop transmitting data, it issues this frame. The frame instructs the end node to cease transmission. The switch continues to issue PAUSE frames until it is ready again to receive data from the end node. This is referred to as flow control.
The AT-8000/8POE Fast Ethernet Switch supports back pressure flow control in half duplex mode and pause frame flow control in full duplex mode.