How Network Switches Improve Your Network Performance

Network switches are essential to any network, whether in a bustling office or a sprawling enterprise. Much like tires on a car, switches are often overlooked until they fail, affecting every connected user. Network switches play a crucial role in managing the rising traffic demands from video calls, cloud applications, and connected devices. As these demands grow, network switches have become indispensable for ensuring speed, stability, and efficiency in both small and large networks.

By implementing effective LAN switching, any organization can maintain the responsiveness and availability users expect. Below are five critical ways that network switches enhance network performance. Drawing insights from certified professionals, these practical tips will help optimize your network and keep it running smoothly.

Improve Network Speed: A Step-by-Step Guide

1. Segment Your Network Using VLANs

In traditional flat networks, all traffic travels within a single broadcast domain, leading to congestion and slower speeds. Virtual LANs (VLANs) provide a solution by organizing and isolating traffic based on its source, destination, or purpose, reducing congestion and improving efficiency.

Through VLAN segmentation, traffic can be controlled and only sent where it is needed at the speed required. Switches designed for small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) often support Layer 2 and Layer 3 VLANs, allowing for nuanced traffic segmentation. Here are some effective ways to structure a network using VLANs:

• Protocols: Set up VLANs dedicated to specific traffic, such as voice or video over IP.
• Devices: Create VLANs for groups of devices, like wireless clients, servers, or printers.
• Ports: Organize traffic by department or user group through port-based VLANs.
• Guest and Unauthenticated Traffic: Use VLANs for guests or unauthenticated devices, offering a secure and isolated connection.
• Multicast VLAN Registration (MVR): This feature keeps multicast traffic organized in a designated VLAN, while the Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) Snooping only directs multicast traffic to devices that request it.

This setup keeps unnecessary traffic from clogging up the main network lanes, ensuring better performance for priority tasks and services.

2. Provide the Required Capacity

Switches need the right amount of processing power and bandwidth to handle user demands, segments, and applications. Without enough capacity, latency, congestion, and packet collisions increase. Key steps to maximize switch performance include:

• High-Speed Processing: Switches with nonblocking, wire-speed chips can handle traffic without delay. While more costly, these switches can make a noticeable difference, processing packets at full speed without losses.
• Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP): This feature aggregates multiple ports to increase available bandwidth, essentially adding traffic lanes dynamically for smoother data flow.
• Gigabit Ethernet Ports: Many SMBs have moved to 10Gbps LAN ports for faster speeds, with uplinks that offer high throughput. Reviewing infrastructure annually and planning for gradual upgrades can help keep up with speed demands.
• Stacking Switches: Stacking multiple switches allows them to function as a single unit, increasing throughput and simplifying management. For example, stacked Cisco Catalyst switches offer throughput as high as 64 Gbps, a major upgrade for demanding networks.

These enhancements reduce data travel time across networks, optimizing both speed and user experience.

3. Enable Wire-Speed Routing Between VLANs

When users or servers are spread across multiple VLANs, inter-VLAN routing is essential for maintaining quick connections. By using the switch’s hardware to route data, rather than relying on software from routers, organizations can significantly boost speed. This method, often called hardware-based or wire-speed routing, offloads work from routers, which can then focus on essential tasks like WAN connectivity and firewall management. For best results, implement both static and dynamic IP routing capabilities within the switch, depending on the specific traffic needs.

4. Prioritize Applications and Shape Traffic

When network traffic spikes, prioritizing bandwidth is essential to ensure high-performance for critical applications. This can be done by configuring settings within network switches to control access based on traffic type and the need for low latency and jitter.

• 802.1p/q Tagging: Layer 2 tagging enables prioritization at the network level based on the application type, ensuring that essential tasks like VoIP calls maintain high quality.
• Differentiated Services Code Point (DSCP) and Type of Service (ToS): Layer 3 settings prioritize traffic further by identifying and tagging specific packets based on importance.
• Traffic Shaping: Using bandwidth throttling and rate limiting, switches can regulate how much bandwidth specific applications or services use, ensuring high-priority traffic has the resources it needs.

By applying these features, businesses can adjust bandwidth dynamically, maintaining optimal speeds even during peak usage times.

5. Set Endpoint Parameters Automatically

Modern switches often come with features to manage endpoint parameters such as Quality of Service (QoS), VLAN assignments, and storm control, which helps prevent network flooding. Automating these settings on devices like IP phones or other network endpoints can streamline configuration and maintain network efficiency.

Smart ports on network switches recognize and adjust to new devices as they connect, automatically applying the right settings. For instance, the Cisco Discovery Protocol can detect other Cisco products, enabling quicker troubleshooting and more effective network management. These automated adjustments can also speed up problem resolution and help maintain the network’s integrity.

Cost Savings Through Efficient Switching

These five strategies combined with monitoring protocols like Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) can lead to substantial cost savings. Enhanced performance also leads to less downtime and fewer disruptions, which can translate into direct financial benefits. Imagine a large distribution company relying on a flat network with no management capabilities, experiencing complete downtime. The company might end up needing a complete replacement of their switches, a costly undertaking that could have been avoided with more efficient VLAN segmentation and network switch configurations.

On the other hand, a manufacturer saved significant operational costs and avoided potential downtime simply by upgrading their switches to include VLAN and QoS management. This change ensured faster connectivity and a more efficient network, crucial factors for maintaining productivity.

Accelerating Network Performance with Link US Online

By choosing the right network switches and optimizing their configurations, businesses can enhance network performance and reduce operating costs. Link US Online offers reliable networking solutions, including design, assessment, and on-site services, to maximize your infrastructure’s potential. Network switches are a worthwhile investment, delivering both immediate and long-term benefits by ensuring the network remains fast, efficient, and ready for tomorrow’s demands.

Get in touch with Link US Online at (919) 825-0900 to explore network switches and solutions tailored to your business.