C H A P T E R 1 Hardware Installation and Network Topology

Configuration guidelines:

Fiber optic connections to switches or routers: Use multi-mode fiber to connect to a router or another switch. You must purchase

a100BASE-FX expansion module separately (Intel order code ES101MAFX). Each module comes with two ports.

If the switch or router is capable of full duplex, the maximum cable length between the two devices is 2 kilometers. At half duplex the maximum is 412 meters.

Two-port 100BASE-TX expansion are also available (Intel order code ES101MATX).

Full duplex and flow control between Express 10/100 switches:

The only time you can configure full duplex and flow control simultaneously is between two Express 10/100 switches. Special information is added to packets between switches to accomplish this. This works with both fiber optic and CAT 5 cabling.

Fiber optic connections to repeaters: Since repeaters aren’t capable of full duplex mode operation, you’re restricted to 160 meters of fiber optic cable between the Express Switch and a repeater.

Multi-workgroup server configuration: Always put servers accessed by multiple workgroups off of the switch. Because the server has a point-to-point connection, you can configure it for full duplex and increase the bandwidth of the connection. Note that the adapter in the server must be capable of full duplex.

Network administrator’s workstation: Connect the administrator’s workstation directly to the switch. This reduces the risk of the administrator getting dropped off the network and allows the administrator to get network information faster.

Local workgroup server configuration: Always connect servers accessed by local workgroups to a hub, not to the switch. This reduces the amount of traffic passing through the switch and improves the performance for all workgroups connected to it. However, if more than one workgroup accesses a server, connect the server directly to the switch.

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Intel manual Full duplex and flow control between Express 10/100 switches