3COM 3C16732 User Manual

FFICECONNECT

3C16732

WITCH

280

Part No. DUA1673-2AAA02

Published January 1998

SER

UIDE

NTRODUCTION

Welcome to the world of networking with 3Com®.

In the modern business environment, communication and sharing information is crucial. Computer networks have proved to be one of the fastest modes of communication but until recently only large businesses could afford the networking advantage. The OfficeConnect changed this, bringing networks to the small office.

As the power of workstations and business applications increases, heavier demands are made on the available network bandwidth that, if unchecked, can lead to performance problems in a hub-based setup. Installing the OfficeConnect Switch 280 allows your network to be segmented so that traffic can be contained effectively, reducing the overall load without affecting access to critical resources.

The switch is ideal for use with other OfficeConnect products. It is compact and attractively designed for desktop use. It is part of the OfficeConnect range which neatly stacks together with clips, providing a range of facilities. For information on these products, see the “OfficeConnect Product Range” sheet that accompanies this product.

When referring to the OfficeConnect Switch 280, this guide uses the term ‘switch’.

product range from 3Com has

Small Network with OfficeConnect Switch (Circle Shows Units Clipped Together)

The switch has eight 10BASE-T ports and two 10/100BASE-TX ports. This allows you to set up a network with both 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX hubs and workstations.

This guide helps you get the most out of your switch.

REATING

OUR

ETWORK

Networking Terminology

Network

Local Area Network (LAN)

Ethernet

Fast Ethernet

10BASE-T

100BASE-TX

is a collection of workstations (for example, IBM-compatible PCs) and other equipment (for example, printers), connected for the purpose of exchanging information or sharing resources. Networks vary in size, some are within a single room, others span continents.

is a network, usually in an

office, that spans no more than a single site.

is a type of LAN, referring to the technology used to pass information around the network. It operates at 10Mbps (megabits per second).

is a type of LAN that runs up to ten times faster than standard Ethernet. It operates at 100Mbps.

is the name given to the Ethernet protocol that

runs over

that runs over

Twisted Pair (TP)

is the name given to the Fast Ethernet protocol

Twisted Pair (TP)

cable.

Network Loop

Segment

Packets

Bandwidth

Full duplex

occurs when two pieces of network

equipment are connected by more than one path.

is the length of cable connected to a port.

are the units of information your workstations and other equipment send to each other over the network. A can be (sent to multiple devices), or devices).

network can hold at any one time (information capacity) measured in Workstations or applications that use the network heavily are referred to as using high bandwidth (these are usually users who do a lot of graphical or multi-media work across the network). Fast Ethernet has a higher bandwidth than Ethernet, so it can cope with larger amounts of traffic, which results in faster operation.

and received simultaneously and, in effect, doubles the potential throughput of a link.

Unicast

refers to the amount of network traffic the

operation allows information to be transmitted

is the data part of the packet and

Frame

(sent to a single device),

Broadcast

bits per second (bps)

Multicast

(sent to all

How the Switch Can Be Used

Switching

When a network of repeater hubs is in operation, any information that is sent by the workstations is passed around the whole network (regardless of the destination of the information) which results in a lot of unnecessary traffic that can slow it down. The switch solves this problem because it ‘listens’ to the network and automatically learns what workstations can be reached through its ports. It can then selectively pass on any information by transmitting the traffic from the relevant port only (instead of all ports like a repeater hub). This operation is called ‘switching’.

The switch effectively divides up your network, localizing the network traffic and passing on traffic as necessary (as shown in the diagram). If you have workstations that communicate frequently in the same part of the network, traffic between them is not passed to the remainder of the network, reducing the load. If you have any high performance workstations that require a lot of bandwidth, connect them directly to the switch.

Before You Start

Your OfficeConnect switch comes with: One power adapter for use with the switch

One power cord

A Warranty Registration card for you to fill out and

return Four rubber feet

Four stacking clips

An OfficeConnect Product Range sheet

This guide

Hub Connections

To connect OfficeConnect hubs to your switch, you need:

One suitable TP cable for each hub.

Workstation Connections

To connect workstations or other equipment (such as servers) directly to your switch ports, you need:

One 10BASE-T or

100BASE-TX adapter card for each workstation. 3Com produce a range of easy to install network adapters, which provide your workstation with a 10BASE-T or 100BASE-TX connection.

One suitable TP cable for each workstation.

In order to comply with the 10BASE-T standard, ports designed for workstation connections have been marked with the graphical symbol ‘x’. This denotes a crossover in the port’s internal wiring, for example 1x, 2x, 3x...

The Switch Separates Your Network and Controls the Information Effectively

Connecting 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX Networks

The two 10/100 ports can each be connnected to either a 10BASE-T or 100BASE-TX network. If you have both types of network, you can connect them using the switch so all your workstations can communicate.

Alternatively, if you want to improve performance by introducing 100BASE-TX (using an OfficeConnect 100BASE-TX hub for example), the switch protects your investments because it also maintains 10BASE-T connections to your original network equipment.

You also need a network operating system running on your workstations.

Twisted Pair (TP) Cables

To connect your hubs and workstations to the switch, you must use ‘straight-through’ TP cables with RJ45 connectors (all OfficeConnect products use RJ45 type connectors). Your supplier should stock suitable cables.

Cables can be shielded (screened) or unshielded; we recommend that you use shielded cable. Cables used for 100BASE-TX connections must be data grade (Category 5). The maximum length you can use is 100m (328ft).

A ‘straight-through’ cable is one where each pin of one connector is connected to the same pin of the other connector.

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