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multiple segments is one of the most common ways of increasing available
bandwidth. If segmented correctly, most network traffic will remain within
a single segment, enjoying the full-line speed bandwidth of that segment.
Switches provide full-line speed and dedicated bandwidth for all
connections. This is in contrast to hubs, which use the traditional shared
networking topology, where the connected nodes contend for the same
network bandwidth. When two switching nodes are communicating, they
are connected with a dedicated channel between them, so there is no
contention for network bandwidth with other nodes. As a result, the switch
reduces considerably, the likelihood of traffic congestion.
For Ethernet networks, a switch is an effective way of eliminating the
problem 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 Ethernet network beyond the 205-meter
network diameter limit for 100BASE-TX networks. Switches supporting
both 10Mbps Ethernet and 100Mbps Fast Ethernet are also ideal for
bridging between existing 10Mbps networks and newer 100Mbps
networks.
Switching LAN technology is a marked improvement over the previous
generation of network hubs and bridges, which were characterized by
higher latencies. Routers have also been used to segment local area
networks, but the cost of a router, the setup and maintenance required,
make routers relatively impractical. Today switches are an ideal solution
to most kinds of local area network congestion problems.
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