What should the IT team prioritize to ensure the successful integration of new workstations into the existing 100BASE-TX Fast Ethernet network?

To ensure the successful integration of new workstations into an existing 100BASE-TX Fast Ethernet network, it is crucial to focus on reducing collision domains, which is effectively achieved by replacing all existing hubs with switches. Hubs operate on a shared network medium, meaning that all devices connected to a hub share the same bandwidth and communication channel. This leads to a higher chance of collisions when multiple devices attempt to communicate simultaneously, which can degrade network performance significantly.

Switches, on the other hand, provide dedicated bandwidth to each connected device and create separate collision domains for each port. This means that each workstation can communicate without interference from others, improving the overall efficiency and speed of the network. By integrating switches into the network, the IT team can enhance throughput, minimize packet loss caused by collisions, and ensure that the new workstations function optimally within the existing infrastructure without negatively impacting network performance.

This shift from hubs to switches is essential when expanding the network with more workstations, as it allows the system to scale effectively while maintaining robust performance.