D-Link DES-1008F User Guide - Page 11

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 DES-1008D acts as a high-speed selective bridge between the individual segments. The DES-1008D, 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. For Fast Ethernet networks, a DES-1008D is an effective way of eliminating problems of chaining hubs beyond the "two-repeater limit." A DES-1008D can be used to split parts of the network into different collision domains, making it possible to expand your Fast Ethernet network beyond the 205-meter network diameter limit for 100BASE-TX networks. DES-1008Ds supporting both traditional 10Mbps Ethernet and 100Mbps Fast Ethernet are also ideal for bridging between the existing 10Mbps networks and the new 100Mbps networks. 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. 3