Black Box LGB5052A, LGB5028A user manual Making Network Connections, Cabling Guidelines

Chapter 4: Making Network Connections

4. Making Network Connections

4.1 Connecting Network Devices

You can connect the switch to 10-, 100-, or 1000-Mbps network cards in PCs and servers, as well as to other switches and hubs. It may also be connected to remote devices using optional SFP transceivers.

Twisted-pair devices

Each device requires an unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) cable with RJ-45 connectors at both ends. Use Category 5, 5e, or 6 cable for 1000BASE-T connections, or Category 5 or better for 100BASE-TX connections.

4.2 Cabling Guidelines

The RJ-45 ports on the switch support automatic MDI/MDI-X pinout configuration, so you can use standard straight-through twisted-pair cables to connect to any other network device (PCs, servers, switches, routers, or hubs).

See Appendix C for further information on cabling.

CAUTION: Do not plug a phone jack connector into an RJ-45 port. This will damage the switch. Use only twisted-pair cables with RJ-45 connectors that conform to FCC standards.

4.3 Connecting to PCs, Servers, Hubs, and Switches

STEP 1: Attach one end of a twisted-pair cable segment to the device’s RJ-45 connector.

Figure 4-1. Making twisted-pair connections.

STEP 2: If the device is a network card and the switch is in the wiring closet, attach the other end of the cable segment to a

modular wall outlet that is connected to the wiring closet. (See Section 7.4: Network Wiring Connections in the Network Administrator’s Installation and Getting Started Guide.) Otherwise, attach the other end to an available port on the switch.

Make sure each twisted-pair cable does not exceed 100 meters (328 ft.) in length.

NOTE: Avoid using flow control on a port connected to a hub unless it is actually required to solve a problem. Otherwise, backpressure jamming signals might degrade overall performance for the segment attached to the hub.

STEP 3: As each connection is made, the Link LED (on the switch) corresponding to each port will light green (1000 Mbps) or amber (100 Mbps) to indicate that the connection is valid.

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