A switch is a device that filters and forwards packets between LAN segments. It is a fundamental piece of the CTC network because it has sped up data transfers throughout the network. A switch can transfer data from your computer to the backbone at an uninterrupted rate up to 100Mbps. A switch allows a computer to communicate with the switch as if the two were talking directly to each other without interruption.
On older Ethernet networks, messages traveled through hubs and repeaters and had to wait their turn to travel along the network. This led to collisions between packets, undeliverable messages, and much frustration. Ethernet developers solved this problem by developing Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Detection (CSMA/CD) access methods. CSMA/CD allows packets that collided with each other to retransmit at random times but unfortunately, delays still occurred. Later developers created Fast Ethernet that allows data transmissions at 100Mbps. Today, Ethernet and Fast Ethernet use CSMA/CD technology to allow switches to control the flow of data.
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