SMC Networks SMC8124PL2 manual Network Planning, Introduction to Switching, Application Examples

Chapter 2: Network Planning

Introduction to Switching

A network switch allows simultaneous transmission of multiple packets via non-crossbar switching. This means that it can partition a network more efficiently than bridges or routers. The switch has, therefore, been recognized as one of the most important building blocks for today’s networking technology.

When performance bottlenecks are caused by congestion at the network access point (such as the network card for a high-volume file server), the device experiencing congestion (server, power user or hub) can be attached directly to a switched port. And, by using full-duplex mode, the bandwidth of the dedicated segment can be doubled to maximize throughput.

When networks are based on repeater (hub) technology, the distance between end stations is limited by a maximum hop count. However, a switch turns the hop count back to zero. So subdividing the network into smaller and more manageable segments, and linking them to the larger network by means of a switch, removes this limitation.

A switch can be easily configured in any Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, or Gigabit Ethernet network to significantly boost bandwidth while using conventional cabling and network cards.

Application Examples

The TigerSwitch 10/100/1000 is not only designed to segment your network, but also to provide a wide range of options in setting up network connections. Some typical applications are described below.

Collapsed Backbone

The TigerSwitch 10/100/1000 is an excellent choice for mixed Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, and Gigabit Ethernet installations where significant growth is expected in the near future. In a basic stand-alone configuration, it can provide direct full-duplex connections for up to 24 workstations or servers. You can easily build on this basic configuration, adding direct full-duplex connections to workstations or servers. When the time comes for further expansion, just connect to another hub or switch using one of the Gigabit Ethernet ports built into the front panel, or a Gigabit Ethernet port on a plug-in SFP transceiver.

In the following figure, the 24-port switch is operating as a collapsed backbone for a small LAN. It is providing dedicated 10 Mbps full-duplex connections to

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