WHAT IS SWITCH
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A Switch or bridging hub is a network device that connects devices together on a computer network, by using packet switching to receive, process and forward data to the destination device. Switch is a multiport network bridge that uses hardware addresses for transmitting data to several computer.
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A switch is a computer networking device that connects devices together on a computer network, by using packet switching to receive, process and forward data to the destination device. Unlike less advanced network hubs, a network switch forwards data only to one or multiple devices that need to receive it, rather than broadcasting the same data out of each of its ports.
A network switch is a multiport network bridge that uses hardware addresses to process and forward data at the data link layer or layer 2 of the OSI model. Switches can also process data at the network layer or layer 3 by additionally incorporating routing functionality that most commonly uses IP addresses to perform packet forwarding; such switches are commonly known as layer-3 switches or multilayer switches. Beside most commonly used Ethernet switches, they exist for various types of networks, including Fibre Channel, Asynchronous Transfer Mode, and InfiniBand.
A switch is used to network multiple computers together. Switches made for the consumer market are typically small, flat boxes with 4 to 8 Ethernet ports. These ports can connect to computers, cable or DSL modems, and other switches. High-end switches can have more than 50 ports and often are rack mounted.
A switch is used in a wired network to connect Ethernet cables from a number of devices together. The switch allows each device to talk to the others. Switches aren't used in networks with only wireless connections.
Switches have a number of advantages:
• Switches allow dozens of devices to connect.
• Switches keep traffic between two devices from getting in the way of your other devices using the same network.
• Switches allow control of who has access to various parts of the network.
• Switches allow you to monitor usage.
• Switches allow communication within your network that's even faster than the Internet.
• High-end switches have pluggable modules to tailor them to network needs.
Ethernet F and G speed:
"F" refers to Fast Ethernet, ie 100Million bits per sec.
"G" refers to Gigabit Ethernet, ie 1000 Million bits per sec.
