|
Lesson 3 - SwitchesTraffic Isolation with SwitchesBecause a switch filters traffic according to frame addresses, it can isolate network traffic within separate segments or collision domains. However, a switch can also improve overall network performance, because it allocates the entire network bandwidth to each temporary port-to-port connection. In contrast, a bridge shares the network bandwidth among all of its connections. The Ethernet Switch Diagram illustrates a common Ethernet configuration, in which an Ethernet-switched LAN is connected to a hub-centered LAN by means of a pair of half bridges. Note the difference in the bandwidth available from the 10BaseT hub versus the potential bandwidth of the three devices connected to the Ethernet switch. The hub shares 10 Mbps among all of its devices, while the switch allocates 10 Mbps to each of its devices. Thus, the effective bandwidth of the switch is 30 Mbps.
Multiplying Bandwidth and an Ethernet Switch
Under what circumstances would you replace a hub with a switch? ActivitiesSee the Activities and Extended Activities section in Unit 6 Lesson 3 in your textbook Introduction to Networking to test what you have learned so far.
[ Previous Section ] [ Unit Contents ] [ Next Lesson ]
 |
