Amer Networks SR24G2 - Manual (Page 9)

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Ethernet, servers outfitted with Gigabit Ethernet NIC’s are able to perform 10 times the
number of operations in the same amount of time.
The phenomenal bandwidth delivered by Gigabit Ethernet was the most cost-effective
method to take advantage of today’s rapidly improving switching and routing
internetworking technologies. And with expected advances in silicon technology and
digital signal processing that enabled Gigabit Ethernet to eventually operate over
unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) cabling, outfitting your network with a powerful 1000-
Mbps-capable backbone/server connection creates a flexible foundation for the next
generation of network technology products.
Switching Technology
Another approach to pushing beyond the limits of Ethernet technology is the
development of switching technology. A switch bridges 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 switch acts as a high-speed selective bridge between the individual segments. The
switch, 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.
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.
Features
. 24×10/100BASE-TX Fast Ethernet ports + 2×1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet
ports
. Auto MDI-X for each port
. Full/half duplex transfer mode for 10/100Mbps Fast Ethernet ports
. Full duplex transfer mode for Gigabit Ethernet ports