Switching Technology - D-Link DES-3624 Series User Manual

Stackable NWay Ethernet Switch User's Guide
your network with a powerful 1000Mbps-capable
backbone/server connection creates a flexible foundation for
the next generation of network technology products.

Switching Technology

Another key development pushing the limits of Ethernet
technology is in the field of switching technology. A switch
bridges Ethernet packets at the MAC address level of the
Ethernet protocol transmitting among connected Ethernet,
Fast Ethernet, or Gigabit 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 making it
possible for a local area network to be divided into different
segments which don't compete with each other for network
transmission capacity, giving a decreased load on each.
The switch acts as a high-speed selective bridge between the
individual segments. Traffic that needs to go from one segment
to another (from one port to another) is automatically
forwarded by the switch, without interfering with any other
segments (ports). This allows the total network capacity to be
multiplied, while still maintaining the same network cabling
and adapter cards.
For Fast Ethernet or Gigabit Ethernet networks, a switch is an
effective way of eliminating problems of chaining hubs beyond
the "two-repeater limit." A switch can be used to split parts of
the network into different collision domains, for example,
making it possible to expand your Fast Ethernet network
beyond the 205 meter network diameter limit for 100BASE-TX
networks. Switches supporting both traditional 10Mbps
Ethernet and 100Mbps Fast Ethernet are also ideal for
Introduction 3