Intel ZT8101 user manual Switch Management and Operating, Concepts, Managing the Switch

Switch Management and Operating	3
Concepts

This chapter describes many of the concepts you need to understand to configure and manage the switch. It also describes many of the features available for managing the switch. The instructions for configuring the switch are in chapter 4 (Telnet Console) and chapter 5 (Web Console).

Managing the Switch

The ZT8101 switch has three methods for configuring switch parameters and viewing switch status and statistics:

•Serial—The switch’s serial port on the front panel allows a terminal or a PC running terminal emulation software to be connected to the switch and configure the switch. It uses the same application that is used over Telnet. The serial port is usually used only for initial set up, such as configuring the switch’s IP address, or when the network is down. It can also be used to upgrade the switch’s firmware with Zmodem.

•Telnet—The switch's embedded Telnet server allows users from remote systems, which are running a Telnet application over TCP/IP, to log in to the switch, configure it, and view the status of and statistics from the ports. The current implementation allow eight 8 Telnet sessions to be active at the same time.

•Web—The switch's embedded Web server allows users from remote systems, which are running a Web browser, to log in to the switch, configure it, and view the status of and statistics from the ports. The current implementation allows five HTTP sessions to be active at the same time.

The switch also contains the following utilities:

•Ping—The Ping utility invokes the ICMP echo request and echo reply messages. A host or gateway sends an ICMP echo request message to a specified destination. Any computer that receives an echo request formulates an echo reply and transmits it to the original sender. The echo request and associated reply can be used to test whether a destination is reachable and responding. Five ping sessions can be supported simultaneously.

•TFTP—This protocol is used to transfer files without any kind of authentication. It runs on top of UDP, using timeout and retransmission to ensure that data arrives. The switch's TFTP client allows users to copy files from and to a remote system that is running the TFTP server protocol. The TFTP client allows only one user to access it and transfer files.

You can use the TFTP client to do the following:

—Download firmware.

—Download or upload a switch configuration file.

—Upload the switch's history log.

Some TFTP servers cannot determine when a transaction is aborted. In these cases, you must reboot the switch, which restarts the TFTP server and re-initializes the TFTP transaction.

ZT8101 User’s Manual 21