Lantronix LSW2F8 manual Backbone Link, LSW2F16

2.2.2 Backbone Link

Traditionally, bridges and routers have been used to link individual local area networks into an interconnected network. Routers and tradi- tional bridges introduce relatively large delays when forwarding traffic from one network to another, in addition to being difficult to manage. Bridge architecture based on two-port bridges may require traffic to pass through several bridges before reaching its destination. Ethernet switches now perform these functions with especially small delays, making them ideal for backbone link applications. Compared to routers, LantronixÕs LSW Ethernet switches are easy to set up and maintain. Several networks can be connected together with a single Ethernet switch, and the forwarding delay is negligible. One or more of the LSW switchÕs 100Mbps links can be used as a high-speed backbone link to other switches serving as collapsed backbones.

Figure 2-2 Collapsed Backbone Application

LSW2F16

FULL/COL

LINK/ACT

FULL/COL

LINK/ACT

To 100Mbps Ethernet Backbone

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Hub

Hub

Workgroup

Workgroup (10Mbps shared) (10Mbps shared)

Fileserver (100Mbps)

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