iii
Chapter 1 Introduction
Using This Guide.........................................................................................................................1-1
Document Organization............................................................................................................. 1-2
Document Conventions.............................................................................................................. 1-3
Warnings and Notiļ¬cations................................................................................................1-3
Formats.................................................................................................................................. 1-3
Additional Assistance................................................................................................................. 1-3
Related Documentation.............................................................................................................. 1-4
Chapter 2 Review of Networking
Ethernet.........................................................................................................................................2-2
Fast Ethernet.................................................................................................................................2-3
Token Ring....................................................................................................................................2-5
Chapter 3 The Workgroup Approach
Standalones...................................................................................................................................3-1
Standalones, the Original Networking Devices...............................................................3-2
Management of Standalones...............................................................................................3-3
Limitations of Standalones..................................................................................................3-3
Stackables......................................................................................................................................3-4
How Stacks Work.................................................................................................................3-5
Intelligence in the Stack.......................................................................................................3-6
Internetworking for Stacks..................................................................................................3-6
Limitations of Stacks............................................................................................................3-7
Chapter 4 PIMs and BRIMs
Port Interface Modules................................................................................................................4-1
Types of PIMs........................................................................................................................4-2
Bridge/Router Interface Modules.............................................................................................4-8
Types of BRIMs.....................................................................................................................4-8