Edge Router Module Features

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Topology Switching Using topology switching you can:

■Switch the ONline Edge Router module among any of three Ethernet networks (channels) on the hub backplane

■Switch the ONcore Edge Router module among any of eight Ethernet networks (channels) on the hub backplane

You perform topology switching using:■Network management module commands■Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)

You do not have to swap cables or move the Edge Router module to move the routing or bridging functions to a different network within an ONline or ONcore hub. You can enter a command through one of the 3Com management modules and the network change is made automatically.

Network Reliability The Edge Router module lets you implement several levels of reliability in your network as follows:

■By routing the Edge Router module’s serial and auxiliary ports in parallel, you can create up to three redundant links.

■If the primary link fails, you can have up to two backup links in place to ensure application availability.

These links can also implement load-balancing to enhance network performance. An example of a reliable network configuration is shown in Figure 1-3.