Port mirroring, Port trunking and load balancing

In addition, the switch provides a spanning tree domain per VLAN. The switch is compatible with Cisco® PVST+ and Cisco PVST, when the other device is configured as untagged or configured to use 802.1q tagging. Sixteen spanning tree domains are supported per switch.

NOTE: STP 16 is reserved for future functionality.

The switch also provides IEEE 802.1s-based MSTP and IEEE 802.1w-based RSTP.

SNMP

The switch is configured and monitored remotely from an SNMP-based network management station. The switch supports industry-standard SNMP MIBs and proprietary HP enterprise switch MIBs for fault detection and monitoring of switch functionality. In addition, the switch supports various environmental traps such as temperature and fan failure traps.

To secure the management interface, the switch administrator configures community strings with two levels of access: Read and Read/Write. Access to the switch is also restricted to only management stations that are members of a specific IP network. This is achieved by configuring the address/mask of that specific network as a restricted management network address/mask.

Port mirroring

The switch allows mirroring of one or multiple ports (source ports) to another port (destination port) for network monitoring and troubleshooting purposes. This technology offers a way for network packet analyzers to view the traffic moving through the switch by providing a copy of the traffic that is currently being passed through any other port. The packets are sent to a network packet analyzer or other monitoring device attached to the mirror port.

Port trunking and load balancing

The switch supports EtherChannel compatible IEEE 802.3ad (without LACP) port trunking allowing several ports to be grouped together and act as a single logical link called a trunk. This feature provides a bandwidth that is a multiple of the bandwidth of a single link. It also improves reliability since load balancing is automatically applied to the ports in the trunked group. A link failure within the group causes the network traffic to be directed to the remaining links in the group.

TFTP support

TFTP support allows the switch firmware to be upgraded by downloading a new firmware file from a TFTP server to the switch. Firmware images of the switch are also uploaded to a TFTP server, a configuration file is downloaded into a switch from a TFTP server, and configuration settings are saved to the TFTP server.

Store and forward switching scheme

The switch provides a store and forward switching scheme that allows each packet to be buffered (stored) before it is forwarded to its destination. While this method creates latency, it improves reliability in a heavily used switch. Packets that cannot be forwarded are saved immediately, rather than dropped, so that packets behind them are less likely to be dropped in periods of heavy usage.

BOOTP

By default, the switch is configured to obtain an IP address from a BOOTP server during the boot process. The IP settings are also manually configured by means of the serial interface. The IP settings are

Introduction 11

GbE2c specifications

The HP GbE2c is a high-performance Ethernet Switch designed to meet the increasing demands of data center environments. As a critical component in Hewlett-Packard's networking lineup, the GbE2c provides a seamless blend of speed, reliability, and advanced networking capabilities, making it an essential tool for enterprises aiming to enhance their network infrastructure.

One of the standout features of the HP GbE2c is its support for Gigabit Ethernet, which allows for high-speed data transmission and reduced latency. This switch is designed to support the growing bandwidth needs of modern applications, ensuring that data is transmitted quickly and efficiently across the network. The GbE2c is particularly beneficial for organizations implementing virtualization technologies, as its Gigabit interfaces help in optimizing data flow between virtual machines.

The GbE2c also incorporates advanced Layer 2 and Layer 3 switching capabilities. This ensures that it can handle both basic and more complex networking tasks, such as routing traffic between different VLANs and enabling Internet Protocol (IP) addressing. The switch supports various protocols, enabling seamless integration into a wide range of network environments.

Additionally, the HP GbE2c is equipped with a robust management system that allows network administrators to easily configure and monitor network settings. With its user-friendly interface, administrators can gain insights into traffic patterns, performance metrics, and potential issues, helping to maintain optimal network performance.

Power efficiency is another key characteristic of the HP GbE2c. The switch is designed to minimize power consumption without sacrificing performance, making it a more sustainable choice for data centers aiming to reduce their carbon footprint. This energy-efficient design is crucial for enterprises looking to lower operational costs while maintaining a high level of service.

The HP GbE2c also boasts high availability features, including redundant power supplies and failover options, ensuring that the network remains operational even in the event of a component failure. This reliability is critical for businesses that require uninterrupted network access for their daily operations.

In summary, the HP GbE2c Ethernet Switch combines speed, versatility, and efficiency, making it an ideal choice for businesses seeking to enhance their networking capabilities. Its robust feature set, advanced management options, and focus on energy efficiency position it as a top-tier solution in the competitive networking landscape. Organizations can rely on the GbE2c to deliver high performance and reliability, thus meeting the demands of today's data-intensive environments.