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4.2 | |
Introduction to LAN Switching | |
| 4.2.8 | |
Symmetric and asymmetric switching |
LAN switching may be classified as
symmetric or asymmetric based on the way in which bandwidth is
allocated to the switch ports. A symmetric
switch provides switched connections between ports with the same
bandwidth.
 An asymmetric LAN switch provides switched connections between ports of
unlike bandwidth, such as a combination of 10 Mbps and 100 Mbps ports.
 Asymmetric switching enables more bandwidth to be dedicated to the server switch port in order to prevent a bottleneck. This allows smoother traffic flows where multiple clients are communicating with a server at the same time. Memory buffering is required on an asymmetric switch. The use of buffers keeps the frames contiguous between different data rate ports.
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