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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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