LattisSwitch Fast Ethernet switches deliver internal switching and high-speed connectivity to support today's most demanding network environments. LattisSwitch devices provide scalable, dedicated bandwidth to attached end-users, shared-media segments, servers and high-end workstations, relieving the bandwidth congestion common in traditional Ethernet environments.
Two versions of LattisSwitch Fast Ethernet switch are available. The Model 28115 Fast Ethernet Switch offers sixteen RJ-45 modular receptacles for supporting both 10Mbs and 100Mbs Ethernet transmissions over unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) cabling. At 10Mbs, the Model 28115 attachment ports are compatible with the IEEE 802.3i 10Base-T standard. At 100Mbs, the attachment ports support the IEEE 802.3u 100Base-TX specification for 100Mbs operations over high-performance Category 5 UTP cabling. Port speed is a configuration option, set through the console/service port on the switching hub or through the Optivity network management system.
The Model 28104 100Mbs Fiber Optic Fast Ethernet Switch offers eight SC-type connectors for supporting 100Mbs Fast Ethernet connections over multimode 62.5/125-micron fiber optic cabling. The attachment ports support the Fast Ethernet Alliance's 100Base-FX specification.
Both switches also include two high-speed expansion ports for supporting direct 200Mbs full-duplex connections to other LattisSwitch devices using the appropriate connection cables. Using the Bay Networks Model 515 Unshielded Twisted-Pair or Model 514 Fiber Optic transceivers, the expansion ports can also support 100Mbs full-duplex connections to other devices such as servers or workstations over Category 5 UTP and multi-mode fiber optic cabling.
Full-duplex support: available on both the expansion and attachment ports - enables devices at both ends of a link to transmit simultaneously, doubling available bandwidth. While ordinary Fast Ethernet allows only one transmission to occur at a time, the 100Base-T specification employs a continuous signaling system which enables frame transmission to take place in both directions.
The LattisSwitch switches also include a front-panel dot matrix LED display to report device status at a glance, while an RS-232 local console/service port is available for local set-up, configuration and diagnostic operations.
Up to seven LattisSwitch switches can be linked in a single stack, providing a scalable, high-performance solution for expanding environments. The switches automatically detect connections between units, creating a high-performance 400Mbs backplane extension that offers a number of network expansion options.
Redundant links can also be implemented between LattisSwitch switches. In a redundant configuration, one link automatically assumes stand-by status providing a back-up in the event of a primary link failure. The LattisSwitch switches support the Spanning Tree algorithm, enabling any port to be configured as an automatically-correcting redundant link.
The LattisSwitch family is designed to provide high-performance solutions for a variety of applications, including client/server networks, power workgroups and the network center.
For client/server environments, LattisSwitch switches relieve the data bottlenecks that occur when multiple users attempt to access a single server. In traditional shared media and switched 10Mbs Ethernet environments, single server links are quickly saturated, hindering network performance. With a Model 28115 Fast Ethernet switch, users can establish a 100Mbs "big pipe" connection to the server and dedicated 10Mbs connections to clients providing sufficient bandwidth to accommodate user requirements (see Figure 2).
In power workgroups, where high-performance, high-utilization workstations can easily overwhelm dedicated 10Mbs links, Model 28115 and Model 28104 switches can provide dedicated 100Mbs network connections. If the workgroup grows, new users get their own dedicated link, providing a scalable, high-performance solution (see Figure 3).
In the network center, Model 28115 switching hubs offer an efficient, cost-effective solution for segmenting the network to improve overall performance. Distributed network segments can be linked to the Model 28115 attachment ports via fiber downlinks, providing each with a dedicated 10Mbs connection to the network center. Users connected to switched environments can be easily moved throughout the network without changing their addresses, reducing the administrative costs associated with making similar changes in a routed environment (see Figure 4).
The LattisSwitch family is fully integrated with the latest release of the Optivity network management system, delivering a comprehensive solution for managing networks comprised of both shared-media and switched technologies.
The combination of the LattisSwitch family and Optivity also provides a virtual networking solution that takes full advantage of the advanced switching capabilities available with the switches. Optivity includes a powerful LANarchitect (TM) tool which allows users to assign devices or individual ports to logical workgroups, regardless of their physical location. This virtual networking capability allows managers to flexibly deploy switching where it is needed without changing the network's physical infrastructure or making changes in the wiring closet.
Operating at 10Mbs, the Model 28115 switch's attachment ports are fully compatible with installed IEEE 802.3 Ethernet adapter cards, allowing seamless integration with existing Ethernet networks.
For 100Mbs Fast Ethernet operation, devices must be equipped with adapter cards that support the IEEE 802.3u 100Base-T specification. Bay Networks has licensed its Fast Ethernet physical transmission technology to Intel Corp., a leader in the LAN adapter market, to produce the EtherExpress PRO/100 10/100 Mbs Fast Ethernet Adapter. The EtherExpress PRO/100 features PCI and EISA bus architectures and supports both 10Mbs and 100Mbs operations, allowing users to install the cards today for 10Mbs operations and migrate to 100Mbs as requirements dictate.