Cabletron Systems 7C03 MMAC manual 7C03 Mmac Smartswitch Overview

Introduction

In addition, any local management information that is specific to a particular SmartSwitch interface module is described in a module specific local management appendix. For example, the 7E03-24Ethernet SmartSwitch Interface Module Local Management Appendix explains information that is specific to local management of the 7E03-24 Module only.

1.3 7C03 MMAC SMARTSWITCH OVERVIEW

The 7C03 MMAC SmartSwitch (Figure 1-1) is a metal enclosure that can be placed into two module slots of an MMAC chassis. The 7C03 MMAC SmartSwitch attaches to the MMAC chassis’ power bus, but does not attach to the data channels on the chassis’ backplane. The 7C03 MMAC SmartSwitch can be installed or removed from the MMAC chassis at any time without affecting the operation of the rest of the network.

The 7C03 MMAC SmartSwitch has three module slots. The left- most slot (slot one) is reserved for the 7X00 SmartSwitch Controller Module, a management module that contains a Smart Switching engine. The other two slots can support any combination of Ethernet, Token Ring, FDDI, and ATM SmartSwitch interface modules.

Spanning the rear wall of the 7C03 MMAC SmartSwitch is the SmartSwitch Bus. All modules that are inserted into the 7C03 MMAC SmartSwitch connect to the SmartSwitch Bus. All communication between modules within the 7C03 MMAC SmartSwitch is achieved via the SmartSwitch Bus.

All data and management information from SmartSwitch interface modules within the 7C03 MMAC SmartSwitch is relayed along the SmartSwitch Bus to the 7X00 Module. All switching functions are performed by the 7X00 Module. Thus, within the confines of the 7C03 MMAC SmartSwitch, data can be freely transmitted regardless of front panel technology. With no external bridges or routers, the transfer of data from one point to another within the 7C03 MMAC SmartSwitch is virtually direct.

1-2