Data Communications Networking Devices - 4th Ed.pdf

318 ________________________________________________________ LOCAL AREA NETWORKSFigure 3.25Fast Ethernet network applicationsto a prede®ned output port. This is accomplished by the switch reading thedestination address in each frame and comparing that address to a table of learnedaddress±port relationships. Most Ethernet switches contain one or two 100 Mbpsoperating ports, while the other ports are conventional 10BASE-T ports. Typicallyyou would connect servers that have a heavy workload to 100 Mbps Fast Ethernetports, such as an image/video server and a database server. Figure 3.25B illustratesthe use of a Fast Ethernet switch. In examining Figures 3.25A and B, note that theheavily shaded connections to all workstations in Figure 3.25A and to the servers inFigure 3.25B represent 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet ports requiring Fast Ethernetadapter cards to be installed in each server or workstation connected to a 100 Mbpsport. A common term used to reference the 100 Mbps connection is `fat pipe'.Since a Fast Ethernet port provides downward compatibility with 10BASE-T,you can interconnect conventional 10BASE-T hubs to a Fast Ethernet sharedmediahub or Fast Ethernet switch.