Fast EtherHub 3500 System User’s Guide
Quick Installation v
Or attach to the extended
network via the SmartExtender
Module
The SmartExtender Module can
be used to attach to another
network device that uses a
different media type
10. If an optional SmartExtender Module is installed in the
expansion port, it can be used to make a bridged connection
from this hub to another network device using 100BASE-TX
(10BASE-T), 100BASE-T4 or 100BASE-FX media types.
When connecting a node to the expansion port, the maxi-
mum cable length is 100 meters for twisted-pair cable, and 2
kilometers for fiber. (Refer to Chapter 2 for a more detailed
description of calculating the maximum length permitted for
fiber optic cable.)
Attach the SmartExtender Module
to a hub, switch, bridge or router
You can use the extender module to bridge this hub to
another Ethernet or Fast Ethernet hub or stack; or to attach it
to a network interconnection device, such as a switch, bridge
or router. However, when using the expansion port to cascade
to other networking devices outside the stack, note that the
maximum cascade length should be limited to 7 devices.
Transmission speed is automatically
set for any connection made to the
SmartExtender Module
For integrating legacy networks, the 100BASE-TX extender
module provides for connection via either 100BASE-TX or
10BASE-T. All 100BASE entender modules use auto-sensing
to set the transmission speed at 10 or 100 Mbps. In other words,
this module can correctly set the transmission speed for the
attached device, even if it does not support auto-negotiation.
Transmission mode automatically
configured for the connected device
only if it supports auto-negotiation
Use half duplex for a
shared collision domain
The extender modules, except for 100BASE-T4, support both
half-duplex and full-duplex communications. However, for
this hub to correctly set the transmission mode, the attached
device must also support auto-negotiation. If auto-negotiation
fails, the transmission mode defaults to half duplex. If this
setting is not suitable, then the transmission mode must be
manually configured via on-board configuration (Chapter 4)
or optional network management software (e.g., AccView/Open).
To reactivate auto-negotiation, just unplug a connection from
the port on the hub and plug it in again. Remember that full-
duplex mode can only be used f o r a d ed i c a te d li n k, such as that
provided by the SmartExtender Module. When connecting to a
shared collision domain (i.e., another hub) set the transmission
mode for half duplex.