The concentrator regenerates all the signals that pass through it allowing for the total length of cable on the network to exceed the 100 meter limit. Switches Switches allow you to avoid the congestion of a shared Ethernet network by permitting you to create individual segments. The improvement in network performance can be dramatic. The switch is then creating four segmented networks, each with its own 10Mbps path. Net 3 and Net 4 are then connecting to a hub, creating two shared 10Mbps networks.
Switches come in a variety of configurations.
Bridges A bridge is a device that allows you to segment a large network into two smaller, more efficient networks. A bridge monitors the information traffic on both sides of the network so that it can pass packets of information to the correct location. The bridge can inspect each message and, if necessary, broadcast it on the other side of the network. The bridge manages the traffic to maintain optimum performance on both sides of the network. You might say that the bridge is like a traffic cop at a busy intersection during rush hour.