Frame Switching

 

FRAME SWITCHING

FRAME SWITCHING IS A METHOD OF TRANSFERRING DATA PACKETS BETWEEN DEVICES ON A NETWORK. 

IT IS A LAYER 2 SWITCHING TECHNIQUE THAT USES THE MAC ADDRESSES OF THE SOURCE AND DESTINATION DEVICES TO FORWARD DATA PACKETS.

WHEN A FRAME SWITCHING DEVICE RECEIVES A DATA PACKET, IT LOOKS UP THE SOURCE MAC ADDRESS IN ITS MAC TABLE. 

IF THE SOURCE MAC ADDRESS IS IN THE TABLE, THE DEVICE KNOWS WHICH PORT THE DEVICE IS CONNECTED TO AND CAN FORWARD THE PACKET DIRECTLY TO THAT PORT. 

IF THE SOURCE MAC ADDRESS IS NOT IN THE TABLE, THE DEVICE WILL BROADCAST THE PACKET TO ALL OF ITS PORTS.

FRAME SWITCHING IS A VERY EFFICIENT WAY TO TRANSFER DATA PACKETS IN A NETWORK. IT IS MUCH MORE EFFICIENT THAN BROADCASTING DATA PACKETS TO ALL DEVICES ON THE NETWORK, AS IS DONE WITH HUBS.

FRAME SWITCHING ALSO HELPS TO REDUCE THE CHANCES OF COLLISIONS, WHICH CAN IMPROVE THE OVERALL PERFORMANCE OF A NETWORK.

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