[rescue] OT: Networking Topology Question

[James Fogg]

In your scenario each device is in its own collision domain. All machines are
in one broadcast domain. And yes, a switch is preferrable here (and in most any
situation). Switches have become cheap enough that there is no reason to
consider a hub.

How to tell the difference....
Collision domains are defined by layer 1 and are broken by layer 2 devices,
such as bridges (switches are nothing more than multiport bridges).
Broadcast domains are defined by layer 2 and are broken by layer 3 devices
(routers).

On Tue, 03 Jul 2001, THOU SPAKE:
> Hello all,
> 
 > I have a question that I think was answered awhile ago, but I am not sure.
> 
 > If I have a network set up where I have, say a dozen clients and one
"build" server that holds all the source code (but the builds are done locally
on the dozen clients), and each machine is on it's own port off of one Cisco
switch (no traffic leaves the switch over the WAN port), is there any advantage
to having a switch over a hub? >  > Thoughts: >  > They are all really still in
the same "collision domain", aren't they? > 

> Perofmance might be worse because every time a client prepares to send
traffic, they will see an "open" line, and send the first packet, which will be
held at the switch to be passed on to the server - if they were all on a hub,
they would at least see the line as busy and not bother with the first packet.
>  > Given the above scenario, the only real way to improve performance would
be to have multiple paths into the server, and divide client access over those
multiple paths to the same server (say two smaller switches, each with a
different direct path to the server)? >  > Any thoughts on this? >  > Thanks, > 
> Ken 
> _______________________________________________
> rescue maillist  -  rescue at sunhelp.org
> http://www.sunhelp.org/mailman/listinfo/rescue
-- 
=======================================================
	 James D. Fogg, Network Engineer
	Vicinity Corporation - Lebanon, NH

     DESK (603) 442-1751 - CELL (603) 252-1864
     PAGER (802) 742-0280 - HOME (603) 526-7729
            EMAIL jfogg at vicinity.com

If you can read this e-mail, Thank a Network Engineer!
=======================================================