What is a LAN switch? LAN switches are devices that connect different components of a network. They take data that is moving through the network architecture and make sure that it arrives at the device that is designated as its ultimate endpoint. LAN switches are a very specific class of network switches. They connect network devices across a limited area. This network could be the size of a segment of a single building or a small campus that spreads out over several miles. LAN switches are usually employed when a network is expected to handle a high volume of traffic.
According to PeerSpot users, interoperability is the single most important feature to look for when researching LAN switches, with operational ease coming in as a close second. Other factors that should weigh in on the decision include administrative functionality (both globally and individually as needed) to reduce resource consumption and alleviate a tedious workload for the administrators, as well as bandwidth and power consumption, stability/cooling, and of course, scalability for the future.
LAN switches connect all of the devices of a network over a small geographic area. They gather the data that is sent out by the connected devices. The switches also create temporary connections between devices that are attempting to send each other data. A LAN switch can employ one of three switching model types (delineated below) to determine whether the data in question should be passed along to its final destination.
The three methods used for LAN switching are:
Store-and-forward switching. This method takes every ethernet frame data packet and runs a cyclic redundancy check. If a cyclic redundancy is detected, the data is denied access. If there is no error, the data packet is sent to its intended target device.
Cut-through switching. This method only takes and checks the data’s intended MAC address. The first six bytes of the frame are what this network examines. This section of the frame is what helps the network decide whether or not it should forward the frame data packets.
Fragment-free switching. Fragment-free switching works in a very similar way to cut-through switching. However, unlike the six bytes that the previous method looks at, fragment-free switching looks at a minimum of 64 bytes. 64 bytes is the minimum size that can make up an ethernet frame.
When it comes to LAN switching, users can choose from two different types of LAN switching technologies: wired or wireless. When users employ wired LAN technologies, they make use of Ethernet cables, hubs, and switches. These wires, hubs, and switches create a physical infrastructure. Wireless LAN technology uses things such as microwave transmissions, radio waves, and the infrared portion of the light spectrum to convey data to the appropriate devices. These network technologies can be incorporated into larger networks.
Switched LAN architecture is the structure used to construct and describe the organization of the primary components of LAN networks. This structure is typically divided into 3 tiers. The lowest level is known as the “access” layer. This outermost layer connects directly to the devices being used by the network’s end users. It is in this layer that data is first gathered. The second layer is the “distribution” layer. This level takes the data from the “access “ layer and arranges it into categories. It is this layer that manages the traffic that is going on in the level below it. The servers of this level are more powerful than those of the “access” layer. The highest level is the “core” layer. This highest level is where the management of the network’s high-speed switching takes place. The servers that make up this level are the most powerful in the network.
Companies and organizations can enjoy the following benefits if they choose to employ LAN switches:
Features you should look for in LAN switches include: