1
I
NTRODUCTION
The 3Com Token Ring-in-Fast Ethernet Server network
interface card (3C395 NIC) allows a Fast Ethernet server to
receive encapsulated token ring packets. The 3C395 NIC is
part of a 3Com Token Ring-in-Fast Ethernet (TR-in-FE)
system that allows both Ethernet and token ring clients to
share Fast Ethernet servers without the use of bridging,
routing, or proprietary code.
A basic TR-in-FE system, shown in Figure 1-1, gives token
ring clients access to a 100 Mbps server. Such a system
requires these components:
■Fast Ethernet switch (SuperStack II Switch 3000)
■TR-in-FE server (a Fast Ethernet server with a 3C395 NIC)
■3Com SuperStack II Switch 2000 TR with a 3Com
SuperStack II Switch 2000 TR Token Ring-in-Fast
Ethernet Module (TR-in-FE module)
Figure 1-1 Basic TR-in-FE System
In a basic system, token ring clients connect to a
SuperStack II Switch 2000 TR equipped with a TR-in-FE
module. The TR-in-FE module encapsulates token ring
packets within Fast Ethernet frames and allows
interconnection to a Fast Ethernet switch connected to the
TR-in-FE server. The 3C395 NIC allows the TR-in-FE server to
receive the encapsulated token ring packets, thus providing
access to the 100 Mbps server for token ring clients.
100 Mbps
TR-in-FE server
with 3C395 NIC
SuperStack II Switch 3000
®
SUPER
STACK
SuperStack II
LS 2000
100BASE-TX
DOWNLINK
100BASE-TX
®
LinkSwitch
3000
SUPER
STACK
SuperStack II Switch 2000 TR
with TR-in-FE module
16/4 Mbps
token ring clients