Apple Workgroup Server 8550 - Manual (Page 35)

Creating a high-performance Ethernet segment
You can increase performance in Ethernet networks by creating subnetworks
of devices connected by 10BASE-T Ethernet hubs (repeaters that regenerate
signals from one device to another). The Apple Ethernet 10T/5 Workgroup
Hub provides a modular, plug-and-play approach to creating and expanding
high-performance Ethernet networks. This hub gives you a simple, cost-
effective means of connecting together a wide variety of Macintosh and other
personal computers, Workgroup Servers, and Ethernet-capable printers.
One of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to increase bandwidth is to
connect network devices with switched Ethernet hubs. A switched hub
connects devices on a 10BASE-T network, but it switches packets between
ports, instead of passing them across a shared backbone, allowing each device
that is connected to the switched hub to use the entire capacity of the link. In
a 10BASE-T network, you may want to dedicate switched hubs to devices that
require extra bandwidth, such as file servers. You can create a high-speed
(100BASE-T) Ethernet segment by installing a 100MB Ethernet PCI
expansion card in your server (see Chapter 3 for card installation instructions)
and using high-performance switched hubs to connect the network devices.
Contact your Apple-authorized dealer for help selecting PCI expansion cards
and hubs to optimize performance on your Ethernet networks.
26 Chapter 2 / Connecting to the Network