In a typical local area network (LAN) configuration, a gateway usually takes the form of a set of line ware or switches and a number of computers. However, as the size of the network continues to grow, the number of computers increases, and the need for higher performance increases, enterprise IT environments are gradually adopting more advanced technologies. In such an evolution, switches gradually replaced hubs, and interconnections between multiple switches gradually replaced a single switch

In modern network architectures, switch stacking technology has become an important part of building high-performance, high-availability network infrastructures. Switch stacking provides network administrators with a more flexible and manageable solution by connecting multiple physical switches together to form a logical unit.