Digitus DN-8007C1, User Manual

Fast Ethernet, servers outfitted with Gigabit Ethernet 
NIC’s are able to perform 10 times the number of 
operations in the same amount of time.

Switching Technology 

Another key development pushing the limits of Ethernet 
technology is in the field of switching technology. A 
switch bridges Ethernet packets at the MAC address 
level of the Ethernet protocol transmitting among 
connected Ethernet or fast Ethernet LAN segments. 
Switching is a cost-effective way of increasing the total 
network capacity available to users on a local area 
network. A switch increases capacity and decreases 
network loading by making it possible for a local area 
network to be divided into different segments which don’t 
compete with each other for network transmission 
capacity, giving a decreased load on each. 
The switch acts as a high-speed selective bridge 
between the individual segments. Traffic that needs to go 
from one segment to another is automatically forwarded 
by the switch, without interfering with any other 
segments. This allows the total network capacity to be 
multiplied, while still maintaining the same network 
cabling and adapter cards. 
Switching LAN technology is a marked improvement over 
the previous generation of network bridges, which were 
characterized by higher latencies.  Routers have also 
been used to segment local area networks, but the cost 
of a router and the setup and maintenance required 
make routers relatively impractical. Today’s switches are 

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