Network Infrastructureunit 7
Network Infrastructureunit 7
Network Infrastructureunit 7
• A network switch connects devices in a network to each other, enabling them to talk by
exchanging data packets. Switches can be hardware devices that manage physical networks or
software-based virtual devices.
• A network switch operates on the data-link layer, or Layer 2, of the Open Systems
Interconnection (OSI) model. In a local area network (LAN) using Ethernet, a network switch
determines where to send each incoming message frame by looking at the media access
control (MAC) address. Switches maintain tables that match each MAC address to the port
receiving the MAC address.
Types of Switch
1. Unmanaged switches: These switches have a simple plug-and-play design and do not offer
advanced configuration options. They are suitable for small networks or for use as an expansion to a
larger network.
2. Managed switches: These switches offer advanced configuration options such as VLANs, QoS, and
link aggregation. They are suitable for larger, more complex networks and allow for centralized
management.
5. PoE switches: These switches have Power over Ethernet capabilities, which allows
them to supply power to network devices over the same cable that carries data.
6. Gigabit switches: These switches support Gigabit Ethernet speeds, which are faster
than traditional Ethernet speeds.
7. Rack-mounted switches: These switches are designed to be mounted in a server rack
and are suitable for use in data centers or other large networks.
8. LAN Switch − Local Area Network (LAN) switches connects devices in the internal
LAN of an organization. They are also referred as Ethernet switches or data switches.
These switches are particularly helpful in reducing network congestion or bottlenecks.
They allocate bandwidth in a manner so that there is no overlapping of data packets in a
network.
Routing and its necessity:
• Routing is a process which is performed by layer 3 (or network layer) devices in order to
deliver the packet by choosing an optimal path from one network to another.
• A Routing is a process of selecting path along which the data can be transferred from source
to the destination. Routing is performed by a special device known as a router.
• Routing is process of establishing the routes that data packets must follow to reach the
destination. In this process, a routing table is created which contains information regarding
routes which data packets follow.
• A Router works at the network layer in the OSI model and internet layer in TCP/IP model. A
router is a networking device that forwards the packet based on the information available in
the packet header and forwarding table.
• In internetworking, the process of moving a packet of data from source to destination.
Routing is usually performed by a dedicated device called a router.
• Routing is a key feature of the Internet because it enables messages to pass from one
computer to another and eventually reach the target machine.
Types of Routing:
1. Static Routing: In static routing, network administrators manually configure
the routing tables of routers. The paths that data will take are predetermined and
do not change automatically, even if the network topology changes. While
simple and easy to implement, static routing is not suitable for large, complex
networks that undergo frequent changes.
2. Dynamic Routing: Dynamic routing protocols allow routers to exchange
information about the network's current state, enabling them to dynamically
update their routing tables based on real-time information. This adaptive nature
allows dynamic routing to respond to changes in network topology, link
failures, and traffic conditions. Common dynamic routing protocols include
OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) and RIP (Routing Information Protocol).
• Dynamic Routing Vs Static Routing:
• The complete graph is formed when a maximum number of lines connects all the points,
whereas the spanning tree is formed when a minimum number of lines connects all the
points.
1. A is directly connected to B and C, while B and C are indirectly connected through A. In this spanning
tree, A is a central point and all the points are connected without any formation of loops.
2. B is directly connected to A and C, while A and C are connected through B. B is a bridge between A and
C, or we can say that B is a central point. In this case, also, all the points are connected without any
formation of loops.
3. C is directly connected to both A and B, while A and B are connected through C. Therefore, C is a bridge
between A and B, and C is a central point. In this case, all the points are connected without any formation
of loops.
How spanning tree protocol works?
1. This protocol selects one switch as a root bridge where the root bridge
is a central point as when the message is sent; then it always passes
through the bridge.
2. It selects the shortest path from a switch to the root bridge.
3. It blocks the links that cause the looping on a network, and all the
blocked links are maintained as backups. It can also activate the blocked
links whenever the active link fails. Therefore, we can say that it also
provides fault tolerance on a network.