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Cisco ME 3400E Ethernet Access Switch Hardware Installation Guide
OL-16447-01
Chapter 1 Product Overview
Front Panel
Management Port
You can connect the switch to a host such as a Windows workstation or a terminal server through the
10/100 Ethernet management port or the console port. The 10/100 Ethernet management port connection
uses a standard RJ-45 crossover or straight-through Ethernet cable. The console port connection uses the
supplied RJ-45-to-DB-9 female cable.
The Ethernet management port operates in any combination of half duplex, full duplex, or 10 or
100 Mb/s, and its traffic is isolated from the other ports. See Table 1-7 for descriptions of the Ethernet
management port LEDs. See the “10/100 Ethernet Management Port” section on page B-3 for pinout
information.
For console port and adapter pinout information, see the “Console Port Adapter Pinouts” section on
page B-7.
10/100 Fast Ethernet Ports
You can set the 10/100 ports on the switch to operate in any combination of half duplex, full duplex, or
10 or 100 Mb/s. You can set the ports for speed and duplex autonegotiation. The default setting is
autonegotiate.
When set for autonegotiation, the port senses the speed and duplex settings of the attached device and
advertises its own capabilities. If the connected device also supports autonegotiation, the switch port
negotiates the best connection (the fastest line speed that both devices support and full-duplex
transmission if the attached device supports it) and configures itself accordingly. In all cases, the
attached device must be within 328 feet (100 meters).
Dual-Purpose Ports
You can configure the dual-purpose ports on the switch as either 10/100/1000 ports or as SFP-module
ports. You can set the 10/100/1000 ports to autonegotiate. You can also configure them as fixed 10, 100,
or 1000 Mb/s (Gigabit) Ethernet ports.
By default, the switch dynamically selects the medium for each dual-purpose port (10/100/1000BASE-T
or SFP). When a link is achieved on one media type, the switch disables the other media type until the
active link goes down. If links are active on both media, the SFP-module port has priority, but you can
manually designate the port as an RJ-45 port or an SFP port by using the media-type interface
configuration command.
You can configure the speed and duplex settings consistent with the selected media type. For information
on configuring interfaces, see the switch software configuration guide.
SFP Modules
The switch Gigabit Ethernet SFP modules are used for connections to other devices. These transceiver
modules are field-replaceable, providing the uplink interfaces when inserted in an SFP-module slot. You
can use any combination of SFP modules. The SFP modules have LC connectors for fiber-optic
connections or RJ-45 connectors for copper connections.