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Revision as of 21:47, 24 February 2002 by Conversion script (talk | contribs) (Automated conversion)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)A switch is a computer networking device that connects LAN segments. It was developed from the electronic hub where the hub provided a central nodal device for a star configured network. In a shared hub, all star network connections receive a broadcast frame. The switch connects Ethernet or Token Ring segments together as needed based on the MAC address and the connections are maintained only as long as data is being transmitted. This point-to-point approach allows the switch to connect multiple pairs of segments at a time allowing more than one computer to transmit data at a time.
There are three types of ways in which a switch can opperate:
A switch is similar to a hub in that it provides a single broadcast domain, but is unique in that each port on a switch is it's own collision domain.
Switches provide difficulties in monitoring traffic because each port is isolated until it transmits data and even then only the sending and recieving ports are connected. Two popular methods are in use today: