What Is a Switching Hub?
A Switching Hub is a relay device that efficiently organizes and transmits data within a computer network.
It plays a role in transferring and filtering data frames within the network. During data frame transmission, it specifies the destination based on the MAC address, making data transfer within the network highly efficient. This helps alleviate congestion in the network and enhances overall network performance.
Moreover, it allows the segmentation of the network into units called segments, enabling the separation of the line state in each segment. This enhances network security and reliability. With its ability to filter data based on MAC addresses, it also prevents unauthorized communication devices from infiltrating the network.
Uses of Switching Hub
Switching Hubs are widely used in various networks, and the primary uses include the following:
1. Internal Network
In office environments, Switching Hubs connect devices such as computers and printers, contributing to efficient data communication. It accurately transfers data to the destination device, avoiding collisions (data conflicts). This enables high-speed and reliable network communication.
2. Data Centers
Data centers host large server clusters that need to process a significant amount of data. Switching Hubs contribute to high-speed data communication between these servers and the network, enhancing convenience. Switching Hubs used in data centers often require high communication speeds and reliability, leading to the use of high-performance and redundant design products.
3. School Networks
In educational networks, such as those in universities, there are numerous desktop PCs in classrooms and library terminals, requiring a substantial network infrastructure. Switching Hubs contributes to network connections necessary for students and staff to access educational materials. Additionally, segmenting the network for each segment strengthens security and protects important research data.
4. Industrial Environments
In industrial environments (such as factories and power plants), Switching Hubs with higher durability are necessary. In factory environments, where there are powerful electromagnetic waves, vibrations, and impacts, the Switching Hub needs to operate reliably. Furthermore, in extreme climates with large temperature variations, a Switching Hub must transmit data stably at both high and low temperatures.
Principles of Switching Hub
The Switching Hub operates in the Data Link Layer, which is the second layer of the OSI model. Data on the network is often transmitted in units called frames. The Switching Hub uses MAC addresses to accurately transfer frames to the correct destination.
Internally, there is a MAC address table that records the MAC addresses for each device on the network. During the initial communication, the Switching Hub records the source MAC address of the frame in this table. When data enters the Switching Hub, it uses the MAC address table to transfer it to the corresponding port.
Furthermore, many Switching Hubs adopt full-duplex communication, enabling simultaneous data transmission and reception. This communication method maximizes bandwidth usage, contributing to improved communication speeds.
How to Choose a Switching Hub
When choosing a Switching Hub, several factors need to be considered. Here are some selection criteria for Switching Hubs:
1. Number of Ports
The number of ports indicates how many devices the Switching Hub can connect. The required number of ports is determined based on the number of devices in the network. In typical office environments, 24-port or 48-port Switching Hubs are used, while larger network environments may require more ports.
2. Transmission Speed
Transmission speed refers to the data transfer speed per port of the Switching Hub. There are communication speed standards such as 100Mbps and 1Gbps, with options for 10Gbps and even higher speeds. It’s essential to choose an appropriate speed based on the network’s requirements.
3. Layer
Selecting the layer of the Switching Hub is crucial. Generally, there are Switching Hubs used in Layer 2 (Data Link Layer) and Layer 3 (Network Layer).
Layer 2 Switching Hubs (L2 Switches) have basic switching functionality and are typically used for regular data transfer. On the other hand, Layer 3 Switching Hubs (L3 Switches) have routing capabilities, allowing for network segmentation and communication between subnets.
4. Installation Environment
Choose the Switching Hub based on the installation environment. Equipment used in typical indoor environments can select commercial-grade products. However, for outdoor environments or challenging installation conditions in places like factories or power plants, an industrial-grade Switching Hub with wide temperature tolerance is necessary.
5. Requirements for Remote Network Management
Based on project characteristics, decide whether there is a need for remote management. Switching Hubs with remote management capabilities allows detailed configuration of network security, backup, and management through software. On the other hand, unmanaged Switching Hubs are easy to install and cost-effective.