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eliminated congestion problems inherent with CSMA/CD (Carrier Sense multiple
access with Collision Detection) protocol, and greatly reduced unnecessary
transmissions.
This revolutionized networking. First, by allowing two-way, simultaneous transmissions
over the same port (Full-duplex), which essentially doubled the bandwidth. Second, by
reducing the collision domain to a single switch-port, which eliminated the need for
carrier sensing. Third, by using the store-and-forward technology’s approach of
inspecting each packet to intercept corrupt or redundant data, switching eliminated
unnecessary transmission that slow the network. By employing address learning,
which replaced the inefficient receiving port.
Auto-negotiation regulates the speed and duplex of each port, based on the capability
of both devices. Flow-control allows transmission from a 1000Mbps node to a
100Mbps node without loss of data. Auto-negotiation and flow-control may require
disablement for some networking operations involves legacy equipment. Disabling the
auto-negotiation is accomplished by fixing the speed or duplex of a port.
Ethernet Switching Technology supplied higher performance at costs lower than other
solutions. Wider bandwidth, no congestion, and the reduction in traffic is why switching
is replacing expensive routers and inefficient hubs as the ultimate networking solution.
Switching brought a whole new way of thinking to networking.