Because switches, like routers, can be found with different kinds of ports that are used to link them (uplink ports), it's possible that you can incrementally upgrade your network, depending on such factors as the size of the broadcast domain and the number of users on each network segment. For example, you might want to replace one multiport repeater with a hub or switch in one department, while leaving another existing multiport repeater in place for a while. If you need to maintain backward compatibility by keeping a multiport repeater on the network for a while during the upgrade process, you can use a hub or switch that has a BNC port and connect the two using thinwire Ethernet cables. Or you can connect each of these two devices to separate ports on a router, and create different subnets on your network.
|