Network switch - multifunction device

A network switch is a special device that serves to combine various equipment (servers, computers, routers, etc.) in a network. With its help, it is possible to integrate a huge number of different network equipment quickly, simply, inexpensively and technically at the highest possible speeds. Its main difference from more complex routers is that the network switch does not register the routes of packets from one point to another. Its main task is simply to unite the two disparate points among themselves by means of the logic already written inside it.

A network switch can be of several types. The simplest is a device that allows you to physically combine two or more channels together to ensure that the data flow from one device to another is transferred. At the same time, a third level network switch (with a routing function) is capable of performing almost the same functionality as more complex routers. With their help, you can register virtual private networks, aggregate channels, customize the shaping of data streams, and also recognize the transmitted protocols by type.

Also, the network equipment is divided by the data rates that it can provide. The most common are stomegabit and gigabit. But, lately, ten-gigabit network switches have become increasingly popular. This is not surprising, because the flows of transmitted information are growing day by day. A network switch can be four-, eight-port, and so on in multiples of eight. It allows you to remotely manage a huge number of disparate devices, spaced geographically and technologically.

In addition, the network switch can be rack-mountable or desktop. Desktop, as a rule, is used for small home local networks. Rack used to combine the already created subnets into one large, although they can do well with the local network.

Let's take a look at examples of applications for a small desktop low-port switch:

• A small peer-to - peer network - in the event that significant data flows are exchanged;
• If the network is divided into groups that individually exchange large information flows within themselves, they can be separated from the rest of the network using a switch;
• If the network needs to connect to one device (for example, a server or a network printer), the optimal solution will be to use the switch to combine the traffic of requests to this device;
• If you want to physically extend any communication channel, then the switch can be safely used as a repeater and a signal amplifier ;
• Connected to each other switches can form branched networks with a large number of connected nodes.

As you could see, there are a lot of applications for a network switch. This multifunction device will help to organize high-quality networks with high bandwidth.