This technology is especially applicable for server connections and small campus backbones using current applications. IBM has a proven family of token-ring and Ethernet technology with outstanding NIC, concentrator, hub, and bridge products. Our solutions have won awards for best technology, best price performance, and best support. LAN Switching LAN switches provide dedicated, packet-switched connections between their ports. Switches and bridges are similar, but switches have higher aggregate bandwidth and lower latency.
Networks based on switches offer dramatic performance improvements.
Shared and dedicated LAN switches segment LANs as do routers and bridges, thus increasing shared bandwidth. A LAN switched network with dedicated connections to end users' workstations provides high bandwidth and can support time-sensitive, multimedia applications. LAN switching is inexpensive and presents few migration obstacles. Switched networks can form logical LANs overlaying physical LANs. These virtual LANs dramatically change the role of routers in the campus.