The Local Area Network (LAN) plays a key role in how efficient our IT systems deliver our applications to our desks. But although a good LAN infrastructure is a critical part of the IT infrastructure, it is often the forgotten element of the overall system.

As applications and media content grow within our network, then the heart of the core network needs to grow accordingly, fast 64 bit servers and workstations performance can be crippled by poor LAN connectivity and low quality switches.

Business needs usually drive upgrades, you need a new server for a new application or need a PC refresh as they are getting old and slow, but very rarely does any business think I need to update my LAN infrastructure, these grey faceless boxes are out of sight in the comms cabinet and if we upgrade it what will replace it? another grey faceless box.
 

There are enormous performance differences between different types and vendors of switches, they all look similar from the outside, but it’s what is inside that counts.
 

We should all therefore stop and think when the last time we upgraded our switches. As server and PC performance continues to rise we need a fast Ethernet switching environment to take full advantage of all of those performance benefits.

With most systems now capable of supporting gigabit network connections, we need to think now about upgrading our LAN infrastructure to deliver gigabit connectivity to our desktops as well as our server infrastructure; 10GB connections are also rapidly replacing 1GB connections for switch to switch backbone connectivity.