Definitions for teachers by teachers

Switch

(1) In networks, a device that filters and forwards packets between LAN segments. Switches operate at the data link layer (layer 2) of the OSI Reference Model and therefore support any packet protocol. LANs that use switches to join segments are called switched LANs or, in the case of Ethernet networks, switched Ethernet LANs.

(2) A small lever or button. The switches on the back of printers and on expansion boards are called DIP switches. A switch that has just two positions is called a toggle switch.

(3) Another word for option or parameter -- a symbol that you add to a command to modify the command's behavior.

Examples of switchers appear below:

VGA

by Marty Sierra-Perry

SWITCH

A switch is a network device that cross connects stations or LAN segments. A LAN switch is also known as a frame switch.

Similar to a router, switches split large networks into small segments. This reduces the number of users sharing the same network resources and bandwidth. Switches help prevent data collisions and reduce network congestion, thus increasing network performance.

Unlike a router, a switch allows dedicated bandwidth to be designated to each device on the network. For example, a 16-port 10BaseT hub shares the total 10 Mbps bandwidth with all 16 attached nodes. By replacing the hub with a switch, each sender/receiver pair has the full 10 Mbps capacity. Each port on the switch can give full bandwidth to a single server or client station or it can be connected to a hub with several stations. Switches also support virtual local area networks (VLANs), which allow for the formation of small user groups within an existing network.

IBM Networking Primer - http://www.networking.ibm.com/primer/infrastructure2.html#switch

by Gloria Henke

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