Gigabit switch vs. fast Ethernet switch is one of the most long-running debates going strong in the community for years now. We need to understand that network switches are manufactured in various variants that make things confusing for sure. If we talk about gigabit and fast Ethernet switches, both of them have a critical role in networking. The selection of a certain switch depends on what kind of situation it is.
We have received numerous queries from various readers about the potential difference between the two. That’s why our team has thought about creating a complete post dedicated to the straight war between gigabit and fast Ethernet switches. Let’s have a look at this post in detail to understand this battle completely.
What exactly is a fast Ethernet switch?
A fast Ethernet is a modified version of the original Ethernet that launched way back in 1995. The launching of this technology helped in boosting the Ethernet speed from 10 megabits/second to 100 megabits/ second, which is exceptional for sure. Nowadays, you will find tons of fast Ethernet switches having high-speed uplink ports.
These switches support both full-duplex and half-duplex modes. The technology introduces auto-negotiation that lets the switch connect two devices to transmit data using a popular shared connection. Their price is almost 3 to 4 times less when compared with the Gigabit switches.
What are Gigabit switches?
A gigabit switch is a computer networking switch using which multiple devices can be connected to a LAN network. It ranges from a server to game systems or even a computer system. On top of that, this switch can empower tons of other devices, such as DVRs and HDTVs to the internet without any need for Wi-Fi. It has the ability to speed up data transfer for giving quick response time and a brilliant frame rate.
The availability of this switch can result in expanding the network capacity using the additional ports. It was introduced in 1999 and is capable of delivering a transmission speed of up to 1,000 Mbps.
What are the major differences between Gigabit switches and fast Ethernet switches?
A gigabit switch is different from a fast Ethernet switch in a variety of manners. Although both are commonly used to develop network connections in LAN, there are tons of differences between the two that very few addresses. In this part, we will try to pinpoint the potential differences between the two to allow the readers to understand both switches properly.
Speed
One can find the biggest difference between a gigabit switch & a fast Ethernet switch is their speed. A gigabit Ethernet is capable of offering 1 Gbps speed, while the fast Ethernet can only offer 100 Mbps speed. You can clearly see it is nearly ten times less than when compared with the gigabit Ethernet speed.
If we talk about fast Ethernet speed, it perfectly suits the home, or a small office needs to run on less speed. On the other hand, Gigabit Ethernet is the right choice to make for large offices needing high internet speed.
Delay Period
For those who don’t know, round trip delay can be defined as the time needed by a web browser for transferring the signal and getting notification from the server. This factor is calculated in milliseconds and even known with the name of ping time.
A fast Ethernet switch has a round trip delay of 100-150 bit times, while the Gigabit Ethernet is equipped with a delay of 4,000-bit times. We want to say here is gigabit Ethernet has very few delay times compared with fast Ethernet.
Configuration
An experienced user might not worry about the configuration thanks to their knowledge, but a beginner will definitely have. A fast Ethernet switch has a very convenient and simple configuration that can be completed in a matter of minutes.
However, a gigabit Ethernet has tons of complicated setting systems that are pretty high compared to a Fast Ethernet switch. That’s why it is suggested that people with the small office should go for a fast Ethernet switch.
Coverage Limit
The next feature that we want to talk about for both switches is the coverage limit. It can reach up to 70 Km in the cases of gigabit switches, while it stays up to 10 km for the fast Ethernet switches.
You can acknowledge that there is a huge difference between the coverage limit of both these switches.
Device Requirements
As we have mentioned above, there is a similar type of device used by both Ethernet switches. However, certain requirements are a little bit different from the others. Please understand that a fast Ethernet has no specific devices demands.
On the other hand, there is a need for few particular cables and Ethernet switches to work for gigabit switches. It results in increasing the initial investment for the buyers.
Upgrades
There is a different criterion for both gigabit and fast Ethernet switches. If we talk about a fast Ethernet switch, it has a very easy upgrade system and doesn’t ask for too much investment.
On the other hand, many configuration issues need to take care of in a gigabit switch. Due to this, the upgrade cost becomes very high in the case of this switch.
Price
The price of these switches is another difference that needs to understand for sure. You will have to pay extra bucks for buying a gigabit switch. On the other hand, the buyers have to invest little money to set a fast Ethernet switch.
Low cost is one of the major reasons small businesses and home office owners prefer to use a fast Ethernet switch in their premises.
Gigabit Switch vs. Fast Ethernet Switch- Which one is better to choose and why!
If you are looking to upgrade your network and increasing its speed, it is better to choose a gigabit network. You may have to pay an extra amount of money, but the results are very enjoyable and wonderful. Allow us to tell you about the potential advantages of choosing a gigabit switch over the fast Ethernet below:
Boost Productivity
As we have already written, a fast Ethernet is very slow when compared with a gigabit switch. The availability of a gigabit network will make sure the users don’t have to worry about low response time and loading speed. It will directly help in boosting productivity by giving fast access to important applications.
Better Network Responsiveness
The increasing number of devices and applications ask for increasing bandwidth that only a gigabit switch can offer. It gives all the necessary power to run a variety of applications simultaneously on different devices without any worry.
Protection
The investment that you make for setting up a gigabit network can add durability to the system. You won’t have to worry about hardware costs at all after installing the gigabit switch.
Technology Upgrade
There is always a need for consistent upgrades to stay ahead of the technology. You will have to stay competitive by effectively controlling the running cost. The regular upgrade system available in a gigabit switch makes sure you stay ahead of the others.
Conclusion
We believe that you understand the differences between the gigabit & fast Ethernet switch comfortably. A fast Ethernet has slower operation than the gigabit switch along with low maximum data speed and older technology. It is suited best for small businesses who want to enjoy exceptional results by making less investment.
On the other hand, the presence of a gigabit switch makes the operation quicker by providing solid data speed and improved technology. Additionally, you will find exceptional MAC layer, quality of service, and flow control protocols with this unit. If there is a query in your mind regarding gigabit switch vs. fast Ethernet switch, please write about it in the comment section.
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