Chapter 1 Getting to Know Your Switch
GS1915 Series User’s Guide
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Switching to higher-speed LANs such as ATM (Asynchronous Transmission Mode) is not feasible for most
people due to the expense of replacing all existing Ethernet cables and adapter cards, restructuring
your network and complex maintenance. The Switch can provide the same bandwidth as ATM at much
lower cost while still being able to use existing adapters and switches. Moreover, the current LAN
structure can be retained as all ports can freely communicate with each other.
This helps you switch to higher-speed LANs without the need for replacing all existing Ethernet cables
and adapter cards, restructuring your network and complex maintenance.
Figure 5
High Performance Switched Workgroup Application
1.2.5 IEEE 802.1Q VLAN Application Examples
A VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) allows a physical network to be partitioned into multiple logical
networks. Stations on a logical network belong to one or more groups. With VLAN, a station cannot
directly talk to or hear from stations that are not in the same groups unless such traffic first goes through
a router.
1.2.5.1 Tag-based VLAN Example
Ports in the same VLAN group share the same frame broadcast domain thereby increase network
performance through reduced broadcast traffic. VLAN groups can be modified at any time by adding,
moving or changing ports without any re-cabling.
Shared resources such as a server can be used by all ports in the same VLAN as the server. In the
following figure only ports that need access to the server need to be part of VLAN 1. Ports can belong to
other VLAN groups too.
Figure 6
Shared Server Using VLAN Example
