Save 50-90% Off Used Network Equipment at
Genesis Global Inc (GGI)
What Do Switches Do?
A switch is a device that segments
networks into different subnets. Segmenting the network into
different subnets keeps one network from overloading with
traffic. Therefore, a switch forwards all data in the data
layer (Layer 2) and sometimes the network layer (Layer 3) as
it filters the data. A switch allows a connection to be
established and it terminates a connection when there is no
longer a session to support.
Prior to switches there were hubs. Hubs
also connected multiple independent (connected) modules in a
network, but they were not as efficient as switches. Since
most switches work in Layer 2, and not in Layer 1 like a
hub, they are better at filtering data. A switch looks for
Ethernet MAC addresses, keeps a table (the bridge forwarding
table) of these addresses, and navigates the switch between
ports. The switch prevents collisions and gives full
bandwidth to each connection at the switch port. Switches
save bandwidth by only sending traffic to destinations that
have traffic. When a switch switches Ethernet frames, they
monitor the traffic for the response from that frame and see
what device, on what port, responds to that flooded frame.
There are different types of switches that range from “dumb”
switches that lack manageability and can monitor only 4-8
ports to “managed” switches that can get statistics on
switch traffic, monitor connections, and hard-code up to 96
port speeds and duplex. Then again, there are
“chassis-based” switches with blades or cards that perform
not just switching, but routing and intrusion detection too!
If you are interested in this, look into Cisco's Catalyst
6500 Series. Another type of switch preferred by large
enterprises is the “Layer 3 Switch,” because it has the
functionality of a router (without WAN ports).
Catalyst's switches are fixed-configuration switches that
have Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet connectivity with
enhanced LAN services. There is such a large selection of
Cisco switches to choose from. The features vary and are
designed to fit a variety of business networks. For
instance, some switches in the Cisco Catalyst 3560 Series
comes with a PoE feature which simplifies IP telephony,
wireless, and video surveillance deployments as found in the
WS-C3560G-48PS-S and WS-C3560-48PS-E. At Genesis Global,
network equipment is backed with warranty plans. For more
information, please contact Genesis Global at 1-800-908-9665
or e-mail a Sales Accounts Manager at
sales@genesisglobalinc.com . Don't forget to ask about
the ReNew™ Program: Trade-In and Trade-Up. Genesis Global is
renowned for finding the right networking solutions!
About Genesis Global's Author:
Debbie Jensen, an expert
writer for business and technology for Genesis Global,
has a Bachelor's Degree in Visual Communication
(Multimedia). With her twenty year history of creative
expressions and formalized study of Information
Technology of digital print/web design and development,
she is now publishing articles about networking for
Genesis Global.
Give Genesis Global's Account Sales Managers a call
at:
1-800-908-9665
The Best Business Connection
"Cisco believes the network is the
platform for organizations to connect with their
constituents and for individuals to connect with each
other," said Dan Scheinman, senior vice president and
general manager of the Cisco Media Solutions Group" (CMSG).
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