Enterasys Networks FN 100 manual FN100 Virtual Switching, Performing Virtual Switching

Chapter 3

FN100 Virtual Switching

FN100 virtual switches; performing virtual switching

The FN100 Virtual Switching window (Figure 3-1) allows you to refine your network and control bandwidth usage by assigning the FN100’s ports to any of four available virtual switches. This feature can be used to logically group network users and control the amount and type of traffic that is propagated beyond each logical group.

Using this window, you can configure up to four logical segments that can include multiple physical segments attached to the front panel ports (e.g., physical segments inserted in ports 1, 2, 5, and 8 could all be assigned to Switch 3, and would communicate as if they actually were on the same physical segment). Using this capability, 10 and 100 Mbps devices can be placed on separate physical segments, allowing the 100 Mbps devices to operate at full speed, and the switch can treat both segments as a single logical network.

Each virtual switch is assigned a unique bridge ID and is treated as a separate bridge by Spanning Tree. The bridge ID for each virtual switch is based on the MAC address of the port in each group with the lowest index number.

The Default Switch setting determines which of the four available virtual switches is queried for port-specific information for the Spanning Tree protocol. Because each virtual switch is treated as a separate bridge by Spanning Tree, only ports which are assigned to the Default Switch will be recognized by Spanning Tree and correctly represented in the Bridge Status window.

Performing Virtual Switching

To launch the FN100 Virtual Switching window from the FN100 Chassis View:

1.Click to display the Device menu.

2.Drag down to Virtual Switching..., and release. The Virtual Switching window (Figure 3-1) will appear.

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