Introduction; Fast Ethernet Technology; Switching Technology - Atlantis Powerlink A02-F16 Guia De Inicio Rapido

Congratulations on your purchase of the 16/24-port 10/100Mbps Auto-negotiation
Fast Ethernet Switch. This device integrates 100Mbps Fast Ethernet and 10Mbps
Ethernet network capabilities in a highly flexible package.

1. Introduction

This chapter describes the features of the Switch and some background information
about Ethernet/Fast Ethernet switching technology.

1.1 Fast Ethernet Technology

The growing importance of LANs and the increasing complexity of desktop
computing applications are fueling the need for high performance networks. A
number of high-speed LAN technologies have been proposed to provide greater
bandwidth and improve client/server response times. Among them, 100BASE-T
(Fast Ethernet) provides a non-disruptive, smooth evolution from the current
10BASE-T technology. The non-disruptive and smooth evolution nature, and the
dominating potential market base, virtually guarantee cost effective and high
performance Fast Ethernet solutions in the years to come.
100Mbps Fast Ethernet is a new standard specified by the IEEE 802.3 LAN
committee. It is an extension of the 10Mbps Ethernet standard with the ability to
transmit and receive data at 100Mbps, while maintaining the CSMA/CD Ethernet
protocol. Since the 100Mbps Fast Ethernet is compatible with all other 10Mbps
Ethernet environments, it provides a straightforward upgrade and takes advantage
of the existing investment in hardware, software, and personnel training.

1.2 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.
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