Solving Network Challenges with Switched LAN Technology

LAN Segment Limitations

• Signals degrade with transmission distance.
• Each Ethernet type has a maximum segment length.

 Extending LAN Segments

• Shares bandwidth
• Extends cable distances
• Repeats or amplifies signal 

Problems Using Hubs

 Network Congestion

• High-performance PCs
• More networked data
• Bandwidth-intensive applications

 Collisions and Collision Domain

 Collision Domain pertains to a group of end devices that have the tendencies for their data to collide.



Shared Bandwidth

No Intelligence

• Eats up bandwidth
• Unnecessary processing of frames
• Security threat

Bridges

•  Operate at Layer 2 of the OSI model
•  Forward, filter, or flood frames
•  Have few ports
•  Are slow

LAN Switch

•  High port density
•  Large frame buffers
•  Mixture of port speeds
•  Fast internal switching (ASIC)

Collision Domains = No. of Ports

Switches Supersede Bridges

• Operate at Layer 2 of the OSI model
• Forward, filter, or flood frames
• Have many ports
• Are fast