Network concepts

1. Network Switches
Background Information

2.  Growing local area network demands
Current demands are challenging Ethernet bandwidth
Demand growth will challenge Token Ring soon
 Switching accommodates growth
 Higher speeds with easy, cost effective migration
No need to replace existing LAN products
 Switching enables full duplex, doubling conventional bandwidth
 Switching provides a low cost, high performance solution
Why is Switching Important?

3.  Switches
Simpler functions
Optimized for LAN connections
Lower price per port
Better performance (lower latency)
 Bridges and Routers
More complex functions
Optimized for mixed LAN and WAN connections
Higher price per port
Lower performance (higher latency)
Switches, Bridges, and Routers

4.  Segment LANs for improved performance
 Dedicated or shared
 Full or Half Duplex
 Cut-Thru or Store-and-Forward
 Token Ring or Ethernet
LAN Switch Features
Shared
Dedicated

5. Typical Congested LAN
 4 Ethernet hubs
 8 Clients/hub
 2 Servers
 All share 10 Mbps bandwidth
Hub Hub Hub Hub

6. Add A Switch
Reduce Congestion
 No change to wiring
 Each hub segment gets 10
Mbps
 Servers at Full Duplex
Switch
Hub Hub Hub Hub

7. Total Switching
Maximum Bandwidth
 All stations on dedicated segments
 Up to 8x improvement over original
 High speed connections between
switches
Switch
Switch Switch
Switch
Switch

8. Section end