If the frame's destination is unknown, the switch transmits it to every port except the incoming one. Like bridges, switches segment traffic on one port from traffic on the others. Therefore, groups of heavy traffic producers, such as programmers, CAD jockeys, or multimedia producers, with their servers, can be isolated from more mundane users. The light-duty users will no longer be slowed by the traffic of heavy users, and the heavy users can be provided with as much as 10Mbps or more of dedicated throughput if needed. Aside from having the marketing advantages of a hot new name, switch, rather than a tired old one, bridge, the current generation of switches also has some technical advantages over the bridges of yesteryear.
Switches can also employ new tricks to overcome the historical drawbacks of bridges.
Some switches read beyond the data link header in each frame and identify the network layer protocol. With information, the switch can selectively filter specific protocols for security or performance purposes. Other switches creatively deploy queuing buffers to combat the phenomenon known as blocking, in which particular paths experience a backlog or latency despite the ready availability of alternate paths. Cut-through switches look their best on traditional NetWare networks. However, the cut-through method of forwarding can perpetuate and aggravate problems.