Ethernet Switches

Ethernet Switches are network devices that are used to connect multiple network devices, such as computers, servers, printers, etc., in a local area network (LAN) and enable them to communicate with each other. They are a critical component of modern network infrastructure.

Ethernet Switches work at Layer 2 (Data Link Layer) of the OSI model and forward packets by learning MAC addresses and MAC address-based forwarding. When a packet arrives at an Ethernet Switch, it checks the destination MAC address and forwards the packet to the appropriate port, thus sending the packet only to the destination device rather than broadcasting it to the entire network.

Ethernet Switches can be categorized based on characteristics such as number of ports, speed, and management features. They are widely used in various network environments such as enterprise networks, home networks, and data centers to build LANs and provide efficient data exchange and communication services.