TRENDnet TEG-224WSplus Switch User Manual


 
5
Switching Technology
Another approach to pushing beyond the limits of Ethernet technology
is the development 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 dividing a local area
network into different segments, which don’t compete with each other
for network transmission capacity.
The switch acts as a high-speed selective bridge between the
individual segments. The switch, without interfering with any other
segments, automatically forwards traffic that needs to go from one
segment to another. By doing this the total network capacity is
multiplied, while still maintaining the same network cabling and
adapter cards.
Switching LAN technology is a marked improvement over the
previous generation of network bridges, which were characterized by
higher latencies. Routers have also been used to segment local area
networks, but the cost of a router, the setup and maintenance required
make routers relatively impractical. Today switches are an ideal
solution to most kinds of local area network congestion problems.
6
VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network)
A VLAN is a group of end-stations that are not constrained by their
physical location and can communicate as if a common broadcast
domain, a LAN. The primary utility of using VLAN is to reduce
latency and need for routers, using faster switching instead. Other
VLAN utility includes:
Security, Security is increased with the reduction of opportunity in
eavesdropping on a broadcast network because data will be switched
to only those confidential users within the VLAN.
Cost Reduction, VLANs can be used to create multiple broadcast
domains, thus eliminating the need of expensive routers.
Port-based (or port-group) VLAN is the common method of
implementing a VLAN, and is the one supplied in the Switch.
Features
24×10/100Mbps Auto-negotiation Fast Ethernet RJ45 ports
2×10/100/1000Mbps Auto-negotiation Gigabit RJ45 ports
2×mini-GBIC ports(shared with two Gigabit RJ45 ports)
All RJ45 ports support Auto-MDI/MDIX, so there is no need to
use cross-over cables or an up-link port
Full/half-duplex transfer mode for 10/100Mbps RJ45 port
Full-duplex transfer mode for Gigabit port
Wire-speed reception and transmission
Store-and-Forward switching scheme capability to support rate
adaptation and ensure data integrity