This document discusses Ethernet switches and how they are classified and configured. It provides the following information: 1) Ethernet switches are used to create Ethernet networks and make forwarding decisions based on MAC addresses by maintaining a switching table. 2) Switches are classified based on their working (store and forward, cut through, fragment-free), management (manageable, non-manageable), and OSI layer (Layer 2, Layer 3). 3) Basic switch administration includes configuring IP addresses, gateways, and VLANs to restrict broadcast domains.

1. Ethernet switches are used in LAN to create
Ethernet networks. Switches forward the
traffic on the basis of MAC address. Switches
maintain a switching table in which MAC
addresses and Port No are used to perform
switching decision. Working of bridge and
switch is similar to each other.
LAN Switching

2. Classification of switches
Switches are classified according to the following criteria: -
Types of switches based on working
(1) Store & Forward
This switch receives entire frame then perform error checking and start forwarding
data to the Destination.
(2) Cut through
This switch starts forwarding frame as soon as first six bytes of the frame are received.
(3) Fragment-free
This switch receives 64 bytes of the frame, perform error checking and then
start forwarding data.

3. Types of switches based on management
(1) Manageable switches
(2) Non-Manageable switches
Types of switches based on OSI layer
(1) Layer 2 switches (only switching)
(2) Layer 3 switches (switching & routing)
Basic Switch Administration
IOS based switches are similar to the routers. We can perform following function on
switches in a similar manner as performed on router.

4. Configuring IP and Gateway on switch:-
We can configure IP address on switch for web access or telnet
IP address is required for the administration of the switch. If we
have to access switch from remote n/w then we will configure
default gateway in addition to IP address.
Assigning IP to logical interface:-
Switch(config)#interface vlan 1
Switch(config)#IP address<ip><mask>
Switch(config)#no sh
Switch(config)#exit
Configuring Gateway
Switch(config)#ip default-gateway <ip>
Switch(config)#exit

5. VLAN (Virtual LAN)
We know switch having one broadcast
domain and multiple collision domain. In
normal case when a switch sends a
broadcast it will reach all ports. But in
some cases we have to restrict that
behaviour of switches. For that we use
Virtual LANs (or VLANs).