GE Multilink ML1200 Managed Field Switch Operation, Switching Functionality

Digital Energy

Multilin

Multilink ML1200

Managed Field Switch

Chapter 4: Operation

This chapter describes the functions and operation of the Multilink ML1200 Switch.

4.1Functionality

4.1.1 Switching Functionality

A Multilink ML1200 provides switched connectivity at Ethernet wire-speed among all of its ports. The Multilink ML1200 supports10/100Mbs for copper media and 10 or 100Mb separate traffic domains for fiber ports to maximize bandwidth utilization and network performance. All ports can communicate to all other ports in a Multilink ML1200, but local traffic on a port will not consume any of the bandwidth on any other port.

The Multilink ML1200 units are plug-and-play devices. There is no software configuring necessary to be done for basic operation at installation or for maintenance. The only hardware configuration settings are user options for an UP-LINK Switch (resides inside the unit) on the ML1200-RJ-45. There is an optional Half / Full duplex mode and 10Mbps or 100Mbps selection for the switched ports which must be configured through management software per unit as per the requirement. The internal functions of both are described below.

4.1.1.1 Filtering and Forwarding

Each time a packet arrives on one of the switched ports, the decision is taken to either filter or to forward the packet. Packets whose source and destination addresses are on the same port segment will be filtered, constraining them to that one port and relieving the rest of the network from having to process them. A packet whose destination address is on another port segment will be forwarded to the appropriate port, and will not be sent to the other ports where it is not needed. Traffic needed for maintaining the un-interrupted operation of the network (such as occasional multi-cast packets) is forwarded to all ports.

The Multilink ML1200 Switches operate in the store-and-forward switching mode, which eliminates bad packets and enables peak performance to be achieved when there is heavy traffic on the network.

MULTILINK ML1200 MANAGED FIELD SWITCH – INSTRUCTION MANUAL 4–1