Switch
- Operate at the Data Link Layer
- Increase network performance
- Virtual circuits between source and destination
- Micro segmentation
- Multiple virtual circuits are called “switched bandwidth”
- Between two computers using a switch, two collision domains are created each with dedicated bandwidth
- Between two hubs using a switch, two collision domains are created each with shared bandwidth
- Filter based on MAC addresses
- Build tables in memory
ADVANTAGES
- Increase available network bandwidth
- Reduced workload
- Increase network performance
- Smaller collision domains
DISADVANTAGES
- More expensive than hubs and bridges
- Difficult to trace network connectivity problems through a switch
- Does not filter broadcast traffic