What is likely to improve performance in an Ethernet network?

Replacing hubs with switches is likely to improve performance in an Ethernet network because switches provide dedicated bandwidth to each connected device. Unlike hubs, which are basic devices that broadcast incoming data packets to all ports, switches intelligently direct data only to the device for which it is intended. This reduces unnecessary traffic and collisions on the network, leading to more efficient data transmission and improved overall performance.

Additionally, switches operate at the data link layer (Layer 2) of the OSI model, allowing for better management of data packets. By creating separate collision domains for each connected device, switches enhance the network's capacity to handle more simultaneous transmissions without performance degradation. This contrasts with hubs, which create a single collision domain for all devices, increasing the likelihood of collisions and data loss, especially as more devices are added to the network.

Therefore, using switches rather than hubs optimizes network performance, especially in environments with high data traffic or numerous connected devices.