Switching Technology - TRENDnet TE100-S8P User Manual

Switching Technology

Another approach to pushing beyond the limits of Ethernet
technology is the development of switching technology. A
switch bridges Ethernet packets at the MAC address level of
the Ethernet protocol transmitting among connected Ethernet
or Fast 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
dividing a local area network into different segments, which
don't compete with each other for network transmission
capacity.
The switch acts as a high-speed selective bridge between the
individual segments. The switch, without interfering with any
other segments, automatically forwards traffic that needs to go
from one segment to another. By doing this the total network
capacity is multiplied, while still maintaining the same network
cabling and adapter cards.
For Fast 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, 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 bridging between the existing
10Mbps networks and the new 100Mbps networks.
Switching LAN technology is a marked improvement over the
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