User manual NETGEAR FS524S Release Note

[. . . ] For example, a heavy-traffic hub with 16 10/100 ports might forward as little as 6. 25 Mbps per port, while a full-duplex switch can move close to 200 Mbps of data on each port. What is a Stackable Switch?Stackable switches are single-configuration switches that can be stacked and interconnected through proprietary ports. The concept of stacking, however, is more than just physically placing one switch on top of another or connecting some switches using a proprietary connection. The essence of stacking starts with bandwidth. [. . . ] In fact, the widespread popularity with the Internet and Web browserbased applications has made IP the primary protocol on the small-business intranet. In the past, data traffic flow within the workplace followed the "80/20 rule, " which held that 80% of network traffic stayed within the workgroup and only 20% was traffic to and from the server. In a recent survey, Dataquest, a marketresearch firm in San Jose, CA, found that the deployment of applications on the server, coupled with the increasing use of intranets and the Internet, has inverted the 80/20 rule, with 80% of the network traffic making it to the server and only 20% remaining local. The trend of deploying "thin clients" ?desktop devices equipped with a minimum of computing power ?places an additional strain on network capacities. Thin clients need to contact the server continuously, not only to download the initial applications, but also for applets that change fonts or create tables. As older technologies are phased out within an organization and those legacy users migrate to Ethernet, the number of people sharing Ethernet bandwidth increases. The avalanche of IP traffic Dramatic rise in backbone traffic Architectural shifts Consolidating networks 3 The Expense of Network Downtime and Lag Time As a small business increases its dependency on the network, its employees ?become less tolerant of LAN downtime and sluggish response times. At a small business that sells musical CDs, for example, operators taking telephone orders typically interact with the corporate database and with the database of an outside credit-card company. When demand on the system is high (just after a radio advertisement is aired or following a catalog mailing, for instance), response time slows. A delay of a second or two is irritating, but a delay of 15 seconds or more means the small business risks losing the sale and the customer. This example illustrates how the network plays an integral role of how a small company conducts business. In fact, a survey conducted by the International Data Corp. , a marketresearch firm in Framingham, MA. , found that nearly 75% of managers consider their networks to be critical to their company's operations. Moreover, network downtime can be exceedingly expensive. In fact, by some accounts, network downtime results in financial losses that cost companies hundreds or even thousands of dollars per hour. Clearly, small offices have to provide more capacity and higher reliability to their networks. But because the networks have become critical to the company, managers can't just yank everything out and start over (much as they might like to). Hence, the window of opportunity for scalable stacking technology. Features to Look for in a Stackable Switch Stackable switches offer a variety of features that may affect their suitability in a small business environment. The following sections describe some of the key features to consider before making a switch purchase decision. [. . . ] Seamless Integration Another important feature to look for in a switch is its ability to integrate new technology seamlessly. A well-designed switch allows small offices to adapt easily as their computing needs change and new technologies emerge. Conclusion Implementing a stackable switching system can help small offices migrate from shared to switched networks while maintaining current performance, protecting existing infrastructure investments, and establishing a foundation ready for future network. Stackable switches offer an attractive way to relieve bandwidth bottlenecks and provide faster response times for networked PC users. A quick and cost-effective solution, stackable switches are also easy to deploy in an existing or new network environment. [. . . ]