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Chapter 1
Introduction
Congratulations on your purchase of the NETGEAR Model SW510 10-port 10/100 Mbps Ethernet
Switch or the NETGEAR Model SW518 18-port 10/100 Mbps Ethernet Switch. These switches
are part of the NETGEAR
™
500-series product family. The switches allow simultaneous
transmission of multiple packets through an internal high-speed data channel, improving the
overall information throughput and productivity of a network environment.
Benefits of Using Switching Technology
Ethernet switches increase network throughput by segmenting network traffic. Instead of 10 PCs
all sharing a single 10 megabit per second (Mbps) network connection with an average of 1 Mbps
per PC, a 10-port switch provides the same 10 PCs with 10 Mbps individually. By using the
10-port switch, performance increases up to tenfold and is done with no change in network wiring,
adapters, or software. As a result, performance upgrade is obtained very quickly and at a low cost.
Overview of the Switches
The Model SW510 and Model SW518 switches can be utilized as either segment switches or
desktop switches. A segment switch is designed to support an entire workgroup on each port, with
each port having significant memory buffering and supporting hundreds of addresses (one or more
addresses per PC). A segment switch also provides significant performance benefits over a shared
hub. A desktop switch is designed to support one or a few PCs per port. A desktop switch is
generally used where individuals within workgroups need 10 Mbps network throughput but also
require 100 Mbps access.
The design of the Model SW510 and Model SW518 switches enables the use of the devices in the
most demanding segment switching applications, yet pricing makes them very affordable for use
in desktop applications.
Introduction
1-1
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