Differences and Classifications between hubs and switches

The appearance of Switch replaces the original HUB.

First, let's first briefly understand the difference between a vswitch and a hub. A hub uses a bandwidth sharing method. For example, a hub is like a one-way street. The "10 m" bandwidth is used by multiple ports. When a port occupies most of the bandwidth, the other port will appear very slow. On the contrary, a vswitch is an exclusive Channel that ensures the bandwidth used by each port, such as a Mbps switch. It ensures that each port has a mbps bandwidth.

Because the vswitch has obvious advantages over the hub, the current hub is almost extinct in the market. The more important factor is that the price of the switch is declining. Driven by the cost-effectiveness, the hub cannot leave the "".

Currently, the network device market has many different names for switches. To a large extent, different brands have different names for switches. I roughly classify switches into several categories: common switch, network management switch, L3 switch, and modular switch.

Common Switch

This is easy to understand, that is, what functions are not available, simply support the data transmission function.

Network Management Switch

This means that devices can be managed and used, such as VLAN division and data traffic restrictions.

L3 Switch

A layer-3 switch is a relatively high-end device, which is not used in general homes or small businesses. A layer-3 Switch has a routing function and is mainly used to connect distributed layer switches.

Modular Switch

This kind of device has strong applicability, it can make different solutions according to different use environments. The device is mostly an empty chassis, plus different modules, such as fiber optic interfaces and RJ-45 ports LAN and WAN), so as to achieve voice, data and other functions. The advantage of this kind of device is its flexibility, but its price is very high.

In addition to understanding the above information, you should also pay attention to some technologies of the device when purchasing the device, such as the data exchange mode, the relationship between the backboard bandwidth and the port rate, and the port type of the Scalable device.

One or three data exchange methods

Cutthrough: After the encapsulated data packet enters the switching engine, it is dropped to the backplane bus within the specified time and then sent to the destination port. This switching mode is fast, but is prone to packet loss;

Store & Forward: a buffer exists after the encapsulated data packet enters the switching engine and is forwarded to the backplane bus by the switching engine. This switching method overcomes packet loss but reduces the switching speed;

Fragment Free: a solution between the two.

Ii. Board bandwidth and port Rate

The switch mounts each port on a back-board bus CoreBus with a high bandwidth. The back-board bus is the back-board bandwidth. The port rate is the number of packets that the port uses per second.

Iii. modularization and fixed configuration

There are only two types of switches in the design concept: one is a chassis switch, also known as a modular switch) and the other is a standalone fixed configuration switch.

The biggest feature of a chassis switch is its strong scalability. It provides a series of expansion modules, such as the Gigabit Ethernet module, FDDI module, ATM module, Fast Ethernet module, and card ring module, therefore, networks with different protocols and different topologies can be connected. Its biggest disadvantage is its high price. A chassis switch is generally used as a backbone switch.

Fixed configuration switch, usually with fixed port configuration. The scalability of fixed configuration switches is not as good as that of chassis switches, but the cost is much lower.

After talking about this, I believe that you have a preliminary concept of vswitches.

1. Overview of vswitch types and precautions in applications
2. Vswitch technology overview and Application Analysis
3. Describes the classification of HUB and Its Application in daily work.