4.4 Store-and-Forward
Store-and-Forward is one type of packet-forwarding techniques. A Store-and Forward Ethernet Switching stores the incoming frame in an internal buffer, do the complete error checking before transmission. Therefore, no error packets occurrence, it is the best choice when a network needs efficiency and stability.
The Ethernet Switch scans the destination address from the packet-header, searches the routing table provided for the incoming port and forwards the packet, only if required. The fast forwarding makes the switch attractive for connecting servers directly to the network, thereby increasing throughput and availability. However, the switch is most commonly used to segment existing hubs, which nearly always improves overall performance. A Ethernet Switching can be easily configured in any Ethernet network environment to significantly boost bandwidth using conventional cabling and adapters.
Due to the learning function of the Ethernet switching, the source address and corresponding port number of each incoming and outgoing packet are stored in a routing table. This information is subsequently used to filter packets whose destination address is on the same segment as the source address. This confines network traffic to its respective domain, reducing the overall load on the network.
The Switch performs "Store and forward" therefore, no error packets occur. More reliably, it reduces the re-transmission rate. No packet loss will occur.
30 | PLANET NOVASwitch series |