Network Basics: Does an Ethernet Switch Reduce Speed of Internet?

Does an ethernet switch reduce speed? If so, why it happens? how to avoid it? All these questions are answered in this post so that you can stream and play your games on your home network better.

Introduction:

Having a fast internet connection is extremely important in this technological age. We understand that a sluggish video conference or slow loading time for a website is not a pleasant experience at all. And most of the time, the culprit behind these issues is the ethernet switch. In this article, we will explore the topic of “does an ethernet switch reduce speed or not and how to fix that issue. But first, let's get into the basics.

What is Ethernet Switch?

It is a piece of network equipment that enables communication between the various computer network devices connected with each other. They serve as a hub for communication between computers, printers, and all other wired network devices on the network. You can connect the Ethernet switch to the router using a cable that connects to an Ethernet port, which enables you to use the modem to access the internet.

These switches operate at layer 2, also called the data link layer in the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model. It works by switching packets i.e. it accepts data packets and transmits them to the appropriate device. Based on a data packet's destination, source address, protocol type, and port number, Ethernet switches can filter it out. Additionally, it filters the data packet by the importance of various types of traffic (such as voice, streaming video, and gaming).

An Ethernet switch can be compared to a repurposed bridge that only forwards the right packets to the right ports. In a bridge, all traffic from one port is routed to every port but the one from which it originated. This is a fundamental principle for tying up numerous PCs in a network. 

Does an Ethernet Switch Reduce Speed?

The tech behind ethernet switches has seen significant improvements in the past couple of years. Apart, from the generation difference, their performance and speed can also vary from model to model. And if a network with higher speed has a lower generation ethernet switch, it will bottleneck the end speed to the users connected to the network. This is the most common reason why ethernet switches tend to reduce speed in networks.

Users should think about the kind of throughput they require when selecting a switch model for themselves. Fast Ethernet speeds of 10 to 100 Mbps, Gigabit Ethernet speeds of 10/100/1000 Mbps, and ten-gigabit speeds of 10/1000/10000 Mbps are all available on fixed configuration switches in the market at the time of writing.

How to Fix the Ethernet Switch Speed Problem?

From the previous paragraph, we can conclude the matter of slower speeds that Ethernet switches can reduce speeds if they are from an old generation or from a poor feature packing brand. Most users who have been using 10-100 Mbit outdated switches may have experience network slowdowns. Wired networks typically offer faster speeds as compared to wireless ones. If this is the case for you, consider switching to a gigabit switch. These new switches run on gigabit ports, which are easily able to manage throughput of up to 1 Gbps.

The switch's port count is another factor we need to take into account. It would be a good idea to get a switch with numerous ports if we have numerous devices or other computers on our network. Additionally, adding two or three gigabit ports to your home or office network will also bring significant improvement. The QoS feature is another thing to take into account. By utilizing QoS, we can prioritize traffic on our wired connection and prevent sluggish speeds. 

Conclusion:

This post attempted to answer the question of does an ethernet switch reduce speed or not. First, you should review your ISP contract if you wish to increase the speed of your connection. But if your ethernet switch is to be blamed for slow speeds, then follow the tips we just explained above.