1 Introduction
Switch Architecture
The switch employs a wire-speed, non-blocking switching fabric. This permits simultaneous wire-speed transport of multiple packets at low latency on all ports. The switch also features full-duplex capability on all ports, which effectively doubles the bandwidth of each connection.
The switch uses store-and-forward switching to ensure maximum data integrity. With store-and-forward switching, the entire packet must be received into a buffer and checked for validity before being forwarded. This prevents errors from being propagated throughout the network.
Network Management Options
The switch contains a comprehensive array of LEDs for “at-a-glance” monitoring of network and port status. It also includes a management agent that allows you to configure or monitor the switch using its embedded Web-management software, or via SNMP applications.
For a detailed description of switch’s advanced features, refer to the Management Guide.
Description of Hardware
10/100/1000BASE-T Ports
The switch contains 24 RJ-45 ports that operate at 10 Mbps or 100 Mbps, half or full duplex, or at 1000 Mbps, full duplex. Because all ports on the switch support automatic MDI/MDI-X operation, you can use straight-through cables for all network connections to PCs or servers, or to other switches or hubs. (See “1000BASE-T Pin Assignments” on page B-3.)
Each of these ports support auto-negotiation, so the optimum transmission mode (half or full duplex), and data rate (10, 100, or 1000 Mbps) can be selected automatically.
SFP Slots
The Small Form Factor Pluggable (SFP) transceiver slots are shared with four of the RJ-45 ports (ports 21-24). In its default configuration, if an SFP transceiver (purchased separately) is installed in a slot and has a valid link on its port, the associated RJ-45 port is disabled and cannot be used.
