Switching Technology - D-Link DES-1008D User Manual

Switching Technology

Switches can increase network performance by:
• Eliminating network bottlenecks.
•
Increasing data throughput (also called aggregate bandwidth)
to support more traffic.
•
Providing high-speed, dedicated (collision-free) data paths for
network backbones and servers.
• Extending Fast Ethernet networks beyond the intrinsic two
repeater, 205 meter network diameter limits.
• In the case of dual-speed switches, connecting 10 Mbps
Ethernet networks with 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet networks.
In general, a switch receives incoming data packets, temporarily
stores them, then forwards the packets out the switch port that
leads to the destination. Unlike a hub, which receives a signal from
one port and repeats it to all other ports, a switch is selective as to
which port will receive the data being sent, involving only two
ports of the switch (the source and destination ports).
The CSMA/CD medium access scheme which Ethernet and Fast
Ethernet are based on requires all stations connected to the
network to compete for use of the wires. If one station is
transmitting data, the data is broadcast (by hubs) throughout the
network and during this time, no other station can transmit. If a
station tries to transmit at the same time as another, a collision
will occur, both stations data will be destroyed and the stations will
wait for a random period before trying to retransmit the data
again.
Introduction
10/100 Dual-Speed Switch User's Guide
3