3Com 5000 ATM manual PacketChannel, Backplane, Description

1-8CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

PacketChannel	An ATM Backbone SwitchModule installed in the CoreBuilder 5000 hub
Backplane	connects to the CoreBuilder 5000 PacketChannel backplane. There are
Description	two kinds of PacketChannel backplanes:
	■ Standard PacketChannel — Supports packet-switching. When you
	display hub information, the hub type is listed with the suffix -xP
	(x may be A or B) to identify this backplane, and the backplane type
	is listed as PacketChannel.
	■ PacketChannel plus ATM Cell-Switching (SwitchChannel) —
	Supports both packet-switching and ATM cell-switching. When you
	display hub information, the hub type is listed with the suffix -xC
	(x may be A or B) to identify this backplane, and the backplane type
	is listed as SwitchChannel.

Both the PacketChannel backplane and the packet-switching part of the SwitchChannel backplane:

■Support LAN-switching technology.

■Switch 3.4 million packets per second.

■Provide a 2 Gigabit-per-second bus.

■Are designed as a passive bus that contains no active components that can break down.

■Occupy the third (upper) backplane slot of the CoreBuilder 5000 hub.

Slot Restrictions Per Some slot restrictions apply if the hub uses the SwitchChannel Backplane backplane or if the hub contains no backplane in the third backplane

slot. Refer to Table 1-2 for information about ATM Backbone SwitchModule installation restrictions and operation.

Table 1-2SwitchModule Installation Per Backplane

CoreBuilder	Backplane	Hub Type*	SwitchModule Installation and Operation
5000 Hub
17-Slot	PacketChannel	3C96017C-AP	Install ATM Backbone SwitchModule in any slot in
	(Part Number 30-0433)	3C96017C-BP	the hub.
		3C96017CH-AP
	SwitchChannel	3C96017C-AC	Install ATM Backbone SwitchModule in slots 1
	(Part Number 30-0430)	3C96017C-BC	through 8 or 13 through 17.
		3C96017CH-AC