D-Link DES-2218 - Manual (Page 19)

DES-2218 Ethernet Switch User’s Guide
Introduction 7
network diameter limit for 100BASE-TX networks. Switches supporting
both traditional 10Mbps Ethernet and 100Mbps Fast Ethernet are also ideal
for bridging between existing 10Mbps networks and new 100Mbps
networks.
Switching LAN technology is a marked improvement over the previous
generation of network bridges, which were characterized by higher latencies.
Routers have also been used to segment local area networks, but the cost of a
router and the setup and maintenance required make routers relatively
impractical. Today’s switches are an ideal solution to most kinds of local
area network congestion problems.