Bits, Frames, and Packets

Let's take a little overview of network equipment. At the bottom of the network food chain, you get the repeater. It does nothing but takes the bits, boost their signal, and send them on their way. Repeaters were the standard way to get around the 100 meter limit for cable. Located above that was the hub, similar to a repeater, and just as dumb, it generally just has lots of ports. Hubs don't do anything to segregate data and threats all the computers attached to it as a single broadcast domain. That is a hub forwards all packets to all ports and leaves it up to the nodes to decide if the packet was for them. Not the most efficient way to network, but it works well for smaller networks.

Then comes the switch, which is what the XS516TM is (and more). Switches treat each port as an individual broadcast domain, sending data (frames) only to the port that needs it, thus enhancing speed and efficiency. This level of intelligence requires that a switch have some buffer memory and have a little processing be done with each packet that goes in and out. At the top of the network, food chain is the router. Routers can contain switches. It is the big daddy and uber guru of networks, as it works with the highest level of intelligence, by protocol. Switches are generally a good upgrade if you have lots of hubs and want to extend the life of your network and kick up the speed.

XS516TM technical specifications include:

• 8 or 16 x 10G/Multi-Gigabit Ethernet ports for flexible and auto-adaptive wired connectivity of high bandwidth devices - Connect devices instantly and give each device exactly the speed they need: 1G, 2.5G, 5G, or 10G, automatically.
• Non-blocking switching with 200 Gbps (XS508TM) or 360 Gbps (XS516TM) line rate fabric - Get all the connectivity you want to your devices across all ports of 10G/Multi-Gigabit Ethernet plus two 10G SFP+ fiber uplink ports (1G/10GBASE-X fiber SFP+), without congestion and in full duplex mode.
• Configurable L2/L2+ network features (VLANs, Rapid Spanning Tree, IGMP Snooping/Querier/Fast Leave, and more) - Intuitive web management streamlines initial configuration for rapid onboarding at the access layer of your network.
• Auto "denial-of-service" (DoS) prevention - Detects, defends, mitigates, and protects against possible DoS attacks targeting your business, like a faulty device flooding your network.
• SNMP v1, v2c, v3 and RMON remote monitoring - Can take full advantage of a central SNMP management tool.
• NETGEAR Insight Cloud management ready - Remote/Cloud management and monitoring enabled. Simply activate the Insight Management Option through the GUI - 1-Year Insight subscription is included.
• Smart Command-Line Interface (CLI) - Text view management interface that enables users to manage all network devices on a single pane of glass.
• Port mirroring for network monitoring - Lets you transport network packets captured on one or several ports across the switch to a destination on another port with a sniffer.
• Energy Efficient Ethernet (IEEE 802.3az) for maximum power savings - Latest energy-saving abilities including per-port automatic lower power mode when the port link is down, or idle.
• Quiet rackmount, wall mount or desktop operation - Temperature-based fan-speed control minimizes system acoustic noise with max 28.63 dBA at 25°C (77°F) ambient.

The NETGEAR S3600 Series Smart Switch is available on NETGEAR.com:

• XS508TM for $999.99
• XS516TM for $1,599.99
  

The switch has sixteen 10G/Multi-Gigabit Ethernet plus two 10G SFP+ fiber uplink ports (1G/10GBASE-X fiber SFP+), without congestion and in full duplex mode.  for its connections, so you need to double that up. Most switch crossbars (the backplane) run in the gigahertz range, so  360 Gbps isn't too surprising. Whether you already use NETGEAR products, want to update your IT equipment, or are beginning to outfit your workspace, NETGEAR provides versatile solutions. Their products are not only innovative and dependable, but can also be managed remotely from anywhere globally. This is possible through Insight Pro, a tool that allows seamless integration of any NETGEAR device managed via the cloud, enhancing the efficiency of your business operations. This flexibility and control make it easier to maintain and streamline your IT infrastructure, wherever you are.