Ethernet Switches

More Information About Ethernet Switches

Enhancing the network control features of Ethernet switches, the latest ones offer support for VLANs (virtual LANs), which break a network into secure segments for more efficient operations. A further enhancement in switch functionality comes with support for QoS (Quality of Service). These two capabilities make Ethernet switches even more useful in large and complex network environments.

FAQs

How are wireless access points used in an Ethernet network?

Wireless access points in an Ethernet network extend connectivity by connecting to the wired Ethernet network and providing wireless access, allowing Wi-Fi-enabled devices to join the network and communicate with wired devices.

What are PoE switches and do they come with a switch port and Ethernet cable to connect to other devices?

PoE (Power over Ethernet) switches supply power and data through Ethernet cables to network devices like IP cameras or wireless access points, typically featuring multiple switch ports but requiring separate Ethernet cables for device connections.

Basics of Switches, Routers & Hubs

Ethernet hubs, switches and routers connect computers to networks, devices and other computers. 

Ethernet hubs are the least intelligent of the three devices. They simply take any message that is received and transmits it to every other device connected to that hub. For example, if CPU 1 on a network wants to send a message to CPU 5, it will send that message through the hub.The hub will then take that message and send it out to every connected device on that hub regardless of the intended target. When CPU 5 receives that message and wants to respond, it will send its response through the hub which sends it to every connected device. Ethernet hubs do not manage any data that is sent and tend to bog down networks. They also do not offer much security for the network. For these reasons, Ethernet hubs are are being replaced with network switches.

Switches transmit data from one device to another on the same network. Unlike a hub, switches use a switch table to learn where data came from and where to send it. Switch tables store Mac addresses and device ports. By storing this data, a switch can operate more efficiently than a hub, greatly reducing the traffic within the network.

Routers transfer data between devices while learning the location of those devices within the network. They are also a junction between two or more networks. An example of this would be a home router where the home network is connected to the Internet. Another example would be when the router connects two or more networks with different business functions. In addition to connecting two or more networks, a router offers important security features that help protect the network.