Enterasys Networks FN 100 manual Using FN100 Trunking

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Chapter 4

Using FN100 Trunking

The Trunking Table window; enabling and disabling trunking

Trunking, an extension of the 802.1D Spanning Tree protocol, allows you to increase aggregate bandwidth when two or more switches are connected. A single 10/100BASE-T connection between switches yields 10 or 100 Mbps of bandwidth, depending on the speed of the ports used for the connection. A trunk group is created when two or more ports on the same switch (for which trunking protocol is enabled) are physically connected to the same remote switch. By creating a trunk group, each additional connection results in another 10 or 100 Mbps of bandwidth, since the group of ports effectively acts as a single connection. The trunking protocol modifies Spanning Tree to allow the redundant links which form a trunk group. Trunking can be enabled or disabled for a port using the Trunking Table window (Figure 4-1). Trunking can be enabled for use on up to eight ports per switch, allowing you to configure up to four trunk groups potentially yielding 80 or 800 Mbps of bandwidth, depending on the speed of the interfaces.

NOTE

Although you can enable trunking for more than eight ports on an FN100 (if more than eight ports exist on your device), the trunking protocol prohibits the use of trunking on more than eight ports at a time. If you enable trunking and establish a valid link for a ninth port, the extra port will be in “hot standby” mode. If connections are broken for any of the original eight trunk ports, the hot standby port will then participate in trunking, provided that it has a valid link to a remote switch which is participating in a trunk group.

You can add ports of different interface speeds to the same trunk groups; however, doing so

!will cause the higher speed ports to assume the same bandwidth as the lower speed ports,

so you effectively lose any transmission speed benefits for the faster port.CAUTION

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Contents FN 100 User’s Guide Page Virus Disclaimer Page Restricted Rights Notice Page Contents Chapter Workgroup Configuration Chapter Using FN100 TrunkingIndex Introduction Using the FN100 User’s GuideSoftware Conventions Related ManualsLocation Common FN100 Window FieldsDevice Name IP AddressUptime Using the MouseMAC Address Port NumberUsing Window Buttons Getting Help Using On-line HelpGetting Help from the Global Technical Assistance Center Introduction Introduction Getting Help FN100 Chassis View Front Panel Information Viewing Chassis InformationConnection Status Time Boot PromPort Status FirmwareDevice Menu Menu StructurePort Status Menu Help Menu Utilities MenuPort Menus Selecting a Port Status View FN100 Port Status DisplaysStatus Speed ErrorsLoad MappingType Chassis Manager WindowPort Status Color Codes Viewing the Device Type Viewing Hardware TypesViewing the Port Description Managing the Hub Using Device Find Source AddressPort Instance ComponentViewing I/F Summary Information Logical Status IndexDescription Physical StatusRaw Counts Viewing Interface Detail RateNon-Unicast ErrorAddress UnicastMaking Sense of Detail Statistics Viewing Csmacd Statistics Receive ErrorsAlignment Transmission Errors Enabling and Disabling Ports Collision ErrorsTo enable or disable a bridge port Performing Virtual Switching FN100 Virtual SwitchingUpdate Configuring Your Virtual Switch SettingsChange Default Switch Window Defining a Default SwitchFN100 Virtual Switching Performing Virtual Switching Using FN100 Trunking State Port Trunking WindowRmt Bridge Id Last ErrorRmt IP Address Clear Link OrdinalLink Count Last ChangeEnabling and Disabling Trunking Using FN100 Trunking Port Trunking Window Workgroup Configuration Workgroup Configuration Configuring a WorkgroupDeleting a Workgroup Workgroup Configuration Configuring a Workgroup Index Index-2
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