Cabletron Systems switches, bridges manual Loading Dock

Ethernet

Design Example

The following example follows a Network Designer’s selection process for a small office Ethernet network. As in the previous example, the Network Designer has already decided upon a networking technology (Ethernet) and a media type (10BASE-T) for the network.

The location being considered is a combined warehouse and business office for a wholesale pottery distributor. The 27 users in the facility will be connected to one another through a single-segment Ethernet network. The Network Designer has verified that every cable that has been installed in the facility is in keeping with the tested characteristics of the 10BASE-T Ethernet standard. This network is being designed to support the new workstations and on-line order entry and inventory control system that the distributor is adopting.

The 27 workstations are allocated as shown in Figure 6-3,with most of the stations (21) located in the Business Office. The Business Office also contains three server stations, two for file storage and retrieval, and one for printing. The Loading Dock has ports for two stations, one of which will be used initially, and the Warehouse Floor has two stations for inventory tracking.

Loading Dock

Shipping 1

Shipping 2

(future)

Office

Stations

(21)

Servers (3)

Inventory Control 1

Warehouse

Inventory Control 2

Business	2094n15
Office
	Figure 6-3. Small Office - Initial Scenario

The Network Designer examines the available field of networking devices for a single segment Ethernet network and decides that, due to the small size of the network, management capabilities are important, but are not the focus of the network. If there is a problem, the Network Designer will be able to use the management and control capabilities of the intelligent devices to assist in reducing the time needed to troubleshoot and resolve any service failures. The non-intelligent devices, such as the MR9T and the SEH stackable hubs are removed from the list of available choices.

6-14 Ethernet Workgroup Design