The access method Ethernet uses is CSMA/CD (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection). In this method, multiple workstation access a transmission medium (Multiple Access) by listening until no signals are detected (Carrier Sense). Then they transmit and check to see if more than one signal is present (Collision Detection). Each station attempts to transmit when it "believes" the network is free. If there is a collision, each station attempts to retransmit after a preset delay, which is different for each workstation.

Collision detection is an essential part of the CSMA/CD access method. Each transmitting workstation needs to be able to detect that simultaneous (and therefore data-corrupting) transmission has taken place. If a collision is detected, a "jam"

· Most switch implementations consist of a switch with many stations (demand) and few servers (resources). It is best to keep a 1:1 ratio between demand and resource. Or, as mentioned earlier, increase the number of access pipes to the resource. (i.e., multiple lines into one server)

A Fast Ethernet backbone switch aggregates multiple 10/100 Mbps switches. It can be upgraded to a Gigabit Ethernet switch which supports multiple 100/1000 Mbps switches as well as routers and hubs which have Gigabit Ethernet interfaces. Once the backbone has been upgraded, high performance servers can be connected directly to the backbone. This will substantially increase throughput for applications which require high bandwidth.

· Certain switches support a flow control mechanism known as "back pressure." This spoofs collision detection circuitry into thinking there is a collision and subsequently shifting to a back-off algorithm. This throttles back the sending station from transmitting any further data until the back-off process is complete. Switches with this feature need to be placed into the network carefully.

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Approximate Word count = 3158
Approximate Pages = 13 (250 words per page double spaced)