A switch is a device used to construct Ethernet networks and control the data flow and bandwidth of the network. A switch stores incoming packets and then tests the packet for check sum errors, if an error is found the packet is discarded. After that a decision is made as to which port or ports the packet should be forwarded to.This decision is made based on tables of Media Access Control (MAC) addresses. All MAC tables are created and
maintained automatically from the received packets.When the switch receives a packet on a port it stores the source MAC address in the MAC table that corresponds to that port. If a node is silent for a long time the MAC address will “age out” and be removed from the table. A switch can operate in full duplex mode, this ensures that an Ethernet controller will never see any collisions occurring when operated in such a manner.

A switch can be either managed or unmanaged, an unmanaged switch can not be reconfigured using external software tools. A managed switch allows access to its functions to allow it to be reconfigured or monitored.This management can be inband- using protocols on the network or outband via a local management port or fault contacts.A managed switch often uses SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) for inband management. SNMP is the Internet standard protocol developed to manage nodes (servers, workstations, routers, switches and hubs etc.) on an IP network. SNMP enables network administrators to manage network performance, find and solve network problems, and plan for network growth.

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