switch

A computing networking device to which multiple nodes attach. Unlike hubs, switches typically have internal bandwidth, such as 1000 Mb/s or 10,000 Mb/s, that is a multiple of link bandwidth. A typical switch can accommodate several simultaneous full link bandwidth transmissions between different pairs of nodes. Switches make it possible to connect different types of networks; for example, Ethernet and Fibre Channel. Switches can rapidly move node connections from one to another.