Introduction | Cabletron Systems 9E423, 9E312 specs

Chapter 1

Introduction

How to use this guide; related guides; software conventions; getting help; 9E312 and 9E423 ﬁrmware versions

Welcome to the Cabletron Systems MMAC-Plus Remote Management for the 9E312™ Ethernet Switch Module and 9E423 ™ Series Ethernet SmartSwitch Modules User’s Guide. We have designed this guide to serve as a simple reference for using SPECTRUM Element Manager for the 9E312-12 Ethernet Switch Module, and the 9E423-24 and 9E423-36 Ethernet SmartSwitch Modules for the MMAC-Plus. These modules provide Ethernet connectivity to the Internal Network Bus (INB) backplane via high-speed packet switching.

In basic terms, a packet-switching device provides forwarding logic for packets incoming or outgoing on two or more network interfaces on the device. The forwarding logic on Cabletron’s MMAC-Plus architecture devices is based on three separate modes:

•Traditional 802.1d bridging based on physical layer address information.

•Traditional IP Routing based on logical layer address information.

•SecureFast™ Switching, which is high-performance switching based on source and destination MAC (physical) layer addresses. Packets received from a source address on a module’s protocol-dependent front panel network are converted into ﬁxed-length, protocol-independent packets for transmission across a backplane, and then are re-converted at the destination device into the appropriate physical frame format for reception by the destination address. Future ﬁrmware and management software enhancements will allow an administratively deﬁned connection-policy between end stations connected to SecureFast Switching devices.

The INB is the Cabletron-proprietary network bus for protocol-independent, high-speed packet or cell switching between connectivity modules that support front-panel Ethernet, FDDI, Token Ring, or ATM networks. The connectivity modules incorporate Cabletron’s SecureFast Switch (SFS) technology to provide high-performance packet switching based on source and destination MAC addresses, rather than on internet protocol (IP) addresses. By basing packet

1-1

Image 8

Cabletron Systems 9E423, 9E312 manual Introduction

Contents

Page Virus Disclaimer Page Restricted Rights Notice Page Contents Index 9E312/9E423 Module Bridging Introduction Using the 9E312 and 9E423 User’s Guide Introduction Related Manuals Software Conventions Common 9E312 and 9E423 Window Fields Using Buttons and Menus Getting Help from Cabletron Systems Technical Support Using On-line HelpGetting Help 9E312 and 9E423 Firmware FTP Introduction 9E312 and 9E423 Firmware 9E312/9E423 Module View Viewing Module Information 9E312/9E423 Module View Front Panel Information Connection Status Menu Structure E312/9E423 Module View Menu Structure Device Menu Bridge Menu Utilities MenuHelp Menu 9E312/9E423 Module Port Status Display Bridge Port Menu Chassis Manager Window Viewing the Device Type Setting the Device Date and TimeManaging the Module Edit Time Window Using the Find Source Address Feature Enabling and Disabling Bridge Ports Summary Information Find Source Address Window Interface Description Fields IndexType Description Interface Performance Statistics/Bar Graphs Raw Counts Rate Interface Detail WindowLoad Interface Detail Window Statistics Unicast Error MulticastDiscarded Unknown Protocol Testing and Disabling the Current Interface Packets ReceivedPackets Transmitted Making Sense of Interface Statistics Using the Applications Pull-down menu 9E312/9E423 Module View Summary Information 9E312/9E423 Module Bridging Bridging Basics An Overview of Remote Bridge Management More on Transparent Bridging Bridge Status Window Bridge Status Window Information Fields Bridge State on Interface Interface Speed Interface TypeInterface Address Enabling and Disabling Bridging Bridge Statistics Performance Graphs Errors Red Bridge Performance Graph Window FieldsFrames Forwarded Green Filtered Magenta Interface Statistics Window Conﬁguring the Bridge Performance Graphs Interface Statistics Window Fields Address Bridge Spanning Tree Non-Unicast 9E312/9E423 Module Bridging Bridge Priority Conﬁguring the Bridge Spanning Tree WindowBridge Level Fields Root Bridge Root CostRoot Port Protocol Bridge Port Level Fields Path Cost Designated CostDesignated Root Designated Bridge Changing the Spanning Tree Algorithm Protocol Type Changing Bridge Spanning Tree ParametersChanging Bridge Priority Changing Max Age Time Changing Forwarding Delay TimeChanging Hello Time Changing Path Cost Filtering DatabaseChanging Port Priority 9E312/9E423 Module Bridging Filtering Database Window Filtering Database Window Fields ListNumber Capacity Conﬁguring the Filtering Database Source PortReceive Port Port Filtering Changing the Receive Port Altering the Ageing TimeChanging the Type of Entry Changing the Port Filtering Action Adding or Deleting Individual Entries Using Port Source Addressing Clearing All Permanent, Static, or Dynamic Entries Setting the Ageing Time Device Ageing Time Window Duplex Modes Duplex Modes Window Full Duplex Duplex Modes Window FieldsInterface Setting the Duplex Mode Index Index-2