This is a guide to the emerging technology of Gigabit Ethernet, which is a standard designed to provide the increased bandwidth to handle the Internet and multimedia applications. Written by a member of the Gigabit Ethernet Standards Committee, the book contains complete coverage of relevant applications, architectures, components and industry offerings. Because Gigabit Ethernet is up to ten times faster than traditional Ethernet and six times faster than ATM, organizations are clamoring to adopt it. The book: begins with switching tutorials; analyses of Gigabit Ethernet products from vendors such as Cisco, 3COM and Bay Networks; a close comparison of the technology with ATM; and other facts that network professionals need to know.