An Ethernet network that is controlled by a switch instead of a shared hub. The switch cross connects all clients, servers and network devices, giving each sending-receiving pair the full rated transmission speed. Half-duplex speed between nodes is 10 Mbps for Ethernet (10Base-T) and 100 Mbps for Fast Ethernet (100Base-T). Full-duplex is 20 and 200 Mbps. For more connections, a switch port can be wired to another switch or hub.
From Shared to Switched
Throughout the 2000s, migrating from shared Ethernet to switched Ethernet provided a dramatic increase in throughput. For example, a 24-port 100Base-T hub shares the total 200 Mbps bandwidth with all 12 sender/receiver pairs. By replacing the hub with a switch, each of the 12 sender/receiver pairs has the full 200 Mbps bandwidth.
In addition, migration only requires replacing the hubs with switches. The existing network adapters (NICs) in every computer do not require changing, and as long as the cables can handle the speed of the switch ports, the cables are still valid. See N-way and cable categories.
This unmanaged 10/100 16-port switch from Omnitron supports 10Base-T and 100Base-T (10 Mbps and 100 Mbps Ethernet). This was one of the first fanless switches that was totally quiet. See
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