Switch: What is it, how does it work and what types are there?

These devices have been designed mainly to be able to solve those inconveniences caused by network performancewhich are caused by bottlenecks and small bandwidths.

This is how these devices have been created to be able to add higher bandwidth, reduce wait times, lower costs per port, and speed up packet egress, among many other problems that are frequently generated in the network.

In the same way, it serves to be able to connect different elements within the same network, whether they are computers, Smart TV, printers, consoles, or any other equipment that has a WiFi or Ethernet card. Taking all this into account, here we are going to explain a little more what these devices are and what they are used for today.

What is a Switch and what is this hardware used for in a computer network?

These devices are frequently used in most large companies where they need to have a switch per floor so that it can carry out the interconnection between the different equipment. It is also often used in some houses to improve home network performance.

It is also important to mention that although these devices have experienced various technological advances its operation remains the same, but this has made each day more difficult to configure.

Therefore, this device mainly serves what it is the interconnection of several computers in the same network. This can be done when the team emits a message and the Switch takes care of taking it and transmitting it only through the output where the target is.

To do this, this hardware takes what is the physical address of the network card also known as MACin case there are different switch all of them communicate with each other to know where they have to send the data. In this way, this device has been created mainly to facilitate communication between different teams.

Top 10 best selling switches

We know that when buy your switch it is difficult to choose one, that is why we will show you below a list with the 10 best-selling Switches of the moment so you can choose the one that best suits your needs.

Router vs Switch What are the differences between the two?

In general, most people refer to these two teams as if they were the same, but the reality is different, despite the fact that both carry out similar functions each of them differs in its functionality. That is how the Router is capable of covering the same functions as the Switch and many more.

In the case of switch is mainly responsible for interconnects to computers, while the routers their main function is power connect all these computers to an Internet network. Therefore, here we show you the main differences between both devices.

switch

In the case of this device it consists of send information from the source computer to the other destination computers. Where basically they are in charge of creating what is a kind of communication channel between source and destinationpreventing the network from being limited to a single sending team.

This device ensures that the network is always working since communication will always be availableExcept when Two or more computers are simultaneously sending data to the same machine.

It is also designed to be able to work on networks that have a large number of connected machines. In the same way it handles to filter and forward packets between fragments over the LAN.

Router

While the Router Its main function is power forward all packets between the various available networks. It can be said that this device is much more advanced and smarter than the Switch, performing the same functions that it performs.

They are also specialized to be able to choose the best route so that packages can reach their destination safely. In the same way, these devices are capable of interconnect multiple networksworking together with the Switch. Unlike this one, routers have extra resources like the firewall.

In general, these devices are connect at least two networks, which are often one of WAN connection and a LAN. for this use routing tables and headers to determine the best path for the connection. It can be said that always choose the easiest way to send the information. Basically, this equipment uses the same features as switches and adds new features.

What are the main characteristics of a network switch?

These devices have a series of important characteristics that make them capable of function correctly. Therefore, here we explain what each of them are.

The ports

The ports are one of the most important elements of these network switches, since from them it is realized connection with other devicesas can be a router, a laptop, a PC or even another switch. Basically, any device that has a connection can be connected to them. interface with an Ethernet network.

Therefore, port numbers are one of the most important features of these devices, where some have 4 portswhile others may reach admit a lot of them. This will depend on the capacity of the equipment.

As usual, basic switches they only have braided cable portswhile the more advanced have fiber optic ports. Taking into account that ethernet networks have two types of transmissioneither braided cable or via fiber optic cable.

Speed

Taking into account that ethernet networks have various speeds and transmission mediathe ports of this device indicate the speed at which it can work on a certain transmission medium. Therefore, each of these ports can rank based on speedthis is how some of them are defined as 10/100, where they work under the following standards:

• 10BASE-T: 10Mbps speeds.
• 100BASE-TX: 100Mbps speeds.

You can also get ports with standards 10/100/1000 which add the following speeds:

• 1000BASE-T: 1000Mbps speeds.

Other ports that can be obtained are those that use optical fiber which use female connectors some kind of fiber optic form, which have the following standards:

• 100BASE-TX: 100Mbps speeds.
• 1000BASE-T: 1000Mbps speeds.

Lastly, we find high performance switches that can offer ports that have 10GbE standardsboth of UTP cable as fiber optic.

Modular ports: GBIC and SFP

We also find what they are modular portsthese are found mainly in mid-range and high-end switches. They don’t have any specific connector typebut are capable of connect a module that contains the port.

This allows it to be adapt the port to the type of media and speed required. That is why in the market we can find modules with different RJ-45 or fiber optic connectors. In addition, you can find two types of modules to be able to connect modular ports.

The first of these is a GBIC moduleit has been designed to offer greater flexibility in choosing the transmission medium for Gigabit Ethernet. The second is about the sfp module, It is much smaller than the previous one and is used by manufacturers to offer whats Both Gigabit and 10 GbE modules on UTP or fiber optic cable.

Power Over Ethernet

This is one technology known as PoEwhich allows what is the sending of electrical power together with the data of the wiring of an ethernet network. That way it allows supply power to devices connected to the Ethernet network. That is, a device that support PoE technology you can get the data as the power by the cable connected to the network.

Typically, this technology is used by devices such as IP video cameras, Remote Switches, VoIP phones, WiFi wireless access points, between some other devices that you have access to a ethernet network. They are characterized by not having a high power consumption, nor a physical location that complicates the installation of the wiring.

What are the types of switches that currently exist and which is better?

Currently there are different types of switch on the marketeach one of them is used in different ways, that is why here we are going to explain each one of these types and their main features.

desktop switch

considered today as the most basic of allwhich offers the function of basic switching where there is none additional feature. It is mainly used for what they are small businesses or networks domestic that require a interconnection of few computers.

Being a very basic and simple equipment no configuration required for your use. They have an option to auto configuration where each of the ports is configured by itself.

Among the most important features we find the following:

• The latest switches have features Auto MDI/MDI-X.
• Port configuration supports standard 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX.
• It has a port number ranging from all 4 to 8 RJ-45 ports.

Unmanaged Edge Switches

They are mainly used for what is the design of small networks with medium performance. They do not require any configuration and have very important features that help make them work much better. In addition, it has a large number of port numbers and offers the possibility of rackmount 19”.

Taking this into account, here we show you its main characteristics:

• It usually has a number of ports ranging from 4 to 24, can be only 4, 8, 16 or 24 ports.
• In some cases they offer additional ports that have a higher performance than the other existing ports.
• These ports are usually be 10/100 RJ-45which accept the Auto MDI/MDI-X and self-negotiation. There are also some model ports 10/100/1000.
• We can also find non-manageable models that offer Power Over Ethernet PoE.

Managed Edge Switches

Managed Edge Switches They are mainly used for the connection between user equipment in medium and large networks. These are usually located in the lower hierarchical level. Generally, these types usually offer tools advanced configuration and management.

In this way, we explain its main characteristics:

• It has a number of ports ranging from 16 to 48.
• It also includes additional ports for higher performance GBIC or SFPwhich allows connecting a trunk switch.
• It has models of 10/100 ports and others with 10/100/1000 portsthey all have a support for Audio MDI/MDI-X.
• have functions advanced settings.
• Some of its models offer the Power Over Ethernet.
• Have advanced management features by SNMP, web browser, console port, among others.

Medium Performance Trunk Switches

They have been designed to forms the core or backbone of a medium-sized network. They have the function provide high performance and advanced functionality. In addition, it offers a level 3 IP routingwhich makes it different from perimeter switches.

The main characteristics of this type are the following:

• It has advanced features of level 2 setting.
• Usually offers from 24 to 48 fixed ports with 10/100 standards with RJ-45 connectors.
• presents some modular ports for Gigabit Ethernet and 10GbE for cables and fiber optics.
• Levels 2/3.
• It allows to cover functions of advanced level switching
• Provides functions of routing and management at layer 3.
• Allows you to expand your capabilities through the switch application.

High Performance Trunk Switches

These switch types offer a high performance compared to all the previous ones. Its usual format is chassis type where required modules are installed. It is generally used in large corporate or campus networks. On some occasions, they are even used by operators to set up their metropolitan networks.

Among the most important characteristics of these switches we find the following:

• are highly modular with a chassis that has a variable number of slots where the modules with each of the required elements are inserted.
• Have levels 2/3/4.
• covers functions of level 2 advanced switching.
• They provide routing and management functions of levels 3 and 4. It has a high port density, typically exceeding all 500 10/100 ports and up to 200 Gigabit ports or 25 10GbE ports.
• Accepts modules with copper and fiber port types with speeds 10/100/1000Mbps.
• routing in level 3.
• They have advanced features for configuration and management at level 2.

What switching techniques are used by computer switches?

These devices typically use two types of techniques what switching is for, these allow them to perform data transfer between the different ports. Therefore, here we teach you each of these techniques.

direct forwarding

The first one is about the direct forwardinga technique used when one of these devices begins to receive data from a port, it does not wait to read the complete frame to forward it to the destination port. So once you start reading the destination address of the MAC frameit starts transferring the data to the destination port.

This allows the data sending time is quite shortthus providing a higher transfer speed. However, it can only be used when all port speeds are equal.

It also has another drawback, this is due to its operation. As usual, the switches propagate erroneous frames or frames affected by collisions. In order to correct this it is necessary delay forwarding until they are read first 64 bytes of frame, since such coalitions only occur during the first 64 bytes. But this would delay the time of sending the data to the destination port.

store and forward

The second technique that he offers us is store and forwardin this case when the device receives data through a port, stores the entire frame in the buffer, where next forwards it to the destination port. If we compare this technique with the previous one, it is a little safer, since at the moment of storing it allows some checking for possible errors that are present before being forwarded to its final destination.

This is how this technique allows us to verify if there are some errors in the information before it is sent to the destination port. The duration of the verification will vary depending on the frame sizeit is higher than the waiting time than in the prior art.

However, as we already mentioned above, the above technique can only be used when all ports work at the same speed. Therefore, this technique is essential when these are not working with equal speeds.