3COM Hub User Manual

OfficeConnect® Dual Speed Hub 8

User Guide (3C16750A)

3Com Corporation ■ 5400 Bayfront Plaza ■ Santa Clara, California ■ 95052-8145

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(OfficeConnect Dual Speed Hub 8 User Guide), part number (DUA1675-0AAA03) and, if appropriate, the page number.

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Introduction 5

Creating your Network 6

Dual Speed Hub 8—Front 6 Dual Speed Hub 8—Rear 7

Before You Start 8

Workstation Connections 8 Twisted Pair (TP) Cables 8 Hub Connections 8

Stacking the Units Together 9

The Rubber Feet 9

The Stacking Clip 9 Positioning Your Hub 10 Securing Your Hub 10 Connecting Workstations and Other Equipment to Your Hub 11 Connecting Another OfficeConnect Hub 11

Fast Ethernet (100Mbps) Configuration Rules 11

Ethernet (10Mbps) Configuration Rules 12

Making the Connection to Another Hub 13

Checking Hub Connections 13

Spot Checks 13

Problem Solving 14

Environmental Statements 18

End Of Life Statement 18 Regulated Materials Statement 18 Environmental Statement about the Documentation 18 Environmental Statement about the Product Packaging 18

Important Safety Information 19

Wichtige Sicherheitshinweise 20

Consignes importantes de sécurité 21

Technical Support 22

Online Technical Services 22 World Wide Web Site 22 3Com Knowledgebase Web Services 22 Support from Your Network Supplier 23 Support from 3Com 23 Returning Products for Repair 26

3Com Corporation Limited Warranty 27

Electromagnetic Compatibility 30

Networking Terminology 16

Dimensions and Standards 17

Dimensions and Operating Conditions 17 Standards 17

NTRODUCTION

OfficeConnect

Dual Speed Hub 8

10Mbps 100Mbps

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 has changed this, bringing networks to the small office.

The OfficeConnect Dual Speed Hub 8 is ideal for creating small networks. It is compact and attractively designed for desktop use and can be used with other OfficeConnect products. This product forms part of the OfficeConnect range which neatly stack together with the OfficeConnect stacking clip.

The OfficeConnect Dual Speed Hub 8 is an easy-to-use Class II hub (repeater) with eight 10/100BASE-TX ports. It allows you to set up a network with both Ethernet (10Mbps) and Fast Ethernet (100Mbps) workstations and other devices (a Class II hub can be connected to another Fast Ethernet hub, a Class I hub cannot).

When referring to the OfficeConnect Dual Speed Hub 8, this guide uses the term ‘Hub’.

Each port on the Hub can be connected to either a 10BASE-T (Ethernet) or a 100BASE-TX (Fast Ethernet) device.

product range from 3Com

The port senses the speed of the connected equipment and operates at the appropriate speed. If you wish to extend an existing Ethernet network into Fast Ethernet, adding a Dual Speed Hub 8 can offer a more cost-effective migration path than adding both a 100Mbps hub and a 10/100Mbps switch.

Figure 1

If you need to connect more workstations, simply use the stacking clip to connect another OfficeConnect hub to form a stack.

Small Network With OfficeConnect Hub

REATING YOUR

Dual Speed Hub 8—Front

Alert LED

orange

Off when the Hub is operating correctly. Lit for a short period of time after power on, for self test. If the LED is continuously lit, there may be a problem. Refer to the “Problem Solving” section.

ETWORK

Power LED

green

Indicates that the power supply to the Hub is present.

Collision LEDs

yellow

Flash each time a collision is detected on the Hub's 100Mbps or 10Mbps segment. Collisions are a normal part of network operation.

Port Status LEDs

green (top row:100Mbps; bottom row:10Mbps) If the LED is on, the link between the port and the next piece of network equipment is OK. If the LED is off, nothing is connected, or the connected device is switched off, or there is a problem with the connection (refer to the “Problem Solving” section). If flashing, the port is partitioned, possibly due to a network loop.

Network Utilization LEDs

green/yellow/orange

(top row:100Mbps; bottom row:10Mbps) Indicate how much the 100Mbps and 10Mbps segments of your network are being used.

Alert

Power

100M

Collision

10M

Port Status

Green = OK Flash = Partitioned

Network Utilization

10M

1% 2% 3% 6% 12% 25% 50% 80%

OfficeConnect Dual Speed Hub 8

100M

10M

Dual Speed Hub 8—Rear

5V DC

4A MAX

10/100BASE-TX

Power Adapter socket

Only use the power adapter that is supplied with this OfficeConnect Dual Speed Hub 8. Do not use any other adapter.

Uplink/Normal

Uplink/Normal switch

Affects the operation of port 8. If you are connecting another hub to port 8, set to Uplink (in), otherwise set to Normal (out). Refer to the “Connecting Another OfficeConnect Hub” section.

Eight 10/100BASE-TX ports

Use suitable TP cable with RJ-45 connectors. You can connect the Hub to any workstation or other equipment that has a 10BASE-T or 100BASE-TX port. Each port is capable of autosensing for 10Mbps or 100Mbps operation.

Before You Start

Your OfficeConnect hub comes with:

One power adapter for use with the OfficeConnect hub.

■

A Product Registration card for you to fill out and return.

■

Four rubber feet.

■

A stacking clip.

■

Two unit labels and eight cable ties.

■

An OfficeConnect Network Assistant CD-ROM.

■

The extra parts mentioned in the next section are not

supplied with the hub.

Workstation Connections

To connect workstations or other equipment to your hub, you need:

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

An operating system (for example, Netware or Windows 95/98) with network support configured, running on your workstations.

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...

Twisted Pair (TP) Cables

To connect your workstations and other equipment to the Hub, use ‘straight-through’ TP cables with RJ-45 connectors (all OfficeConnect products use RJ-45 type connectors). A ‘straight-through’ cable is one where each pin of one connector is connected to the same pin of the other connector. Cables can be shielded (screened) or unshielded; we recommend that you use shielded cable. Cables used for 100BASE-TX or 10/100BASE-TX connections must be data grade (Category 5). Your supplier should stock suitable cables.

The maximum length of a single cable is 100m (328ft). Refer to “Fast Ethernet (100Mbps) Configuration Rules” on page 11 for further information on cable lengths in a 100Mbps network.

Hub Connections

To connect other OfficeConnect units to your Hub, you need one suitable TP cable for each unit.

Stacking the Units Together

The Rubber Feet

The four self-adhesive rubber feet prevent your hub from moving around on your desk. Only stick the feet to the marked areas at each corner of the underside of your hub if you intend to place the unit directly on top of the desk. Do not fix the feet if you are going to use the clip.

The Stacking Clip

The blue stacking clip allows you to stack your OfficeConnect units together neatly and securely.

CAUTION: You can stack up to a maximum of four units. Smaller units must be stacked above larger units.

To fit another unit:

Rest the second unit on top of the clip and align it with the front of the unit below.

Press down gently on the unit to secure it onto the clip, ensuring the fastening pieces fit into the slots on the unit below, as shown in Figure 2 (picture 2).

Figure 2

Stacking Your Units Together

Fastening

Piece

Fastening Piece

To fit the clip:

Place your unit on a flat surface.

Fit the clip across the top of the unit, as shown in Figure 2 (picture 1), ensuring that the longer sections of the fastening pieces are pointing downwards.

Align the fastening pieces over the slots found on each side of the unit.

Push the clip down gently to secure it, ensuring the fastening pieces snap into the slots on the unit.

To remove the clip:

Remove the top unit together with the clip. If you hook a finger around one of the the fastening pieces and then pull it gently from out of the slot, the clip should come away with the upper unit attached to it.

Push the clip in the center, so it bends towards the base of the unit, and then separate once the clip is loose.

Positioning Your Hub

When installing your OfficeConnect hub, ensure:

It is out of direct sunlight and away from sources of

■

heat. Cabling is away from power lines, fluorescent lighting

■

fixtures, and sources of electrical noise such as radios, transmitters and broadband amplifiers.

Water or moisture cannot enter the case of the unit.

■

Air flow around the unit and through the vents in the

■

side of the case is not restricted. We recommend you provide a minimum of 25.4 mm (1in.) clearance.

Securing Your Hub

There are two slots on the underside of the OfficeConnect hub which can be used for wall mounting. It is recommended that you mount the hubs with the LEDs facing upwards to prevent dust entering the cooling vents.

When wall mounting the unit, ensure that it is within

reach of the power outlet.

You need two suitable screws. Ensure that the wall you are going to use is smooth, flat, dry and sturdy. Make two screw holes which are 142mm (5.6in.) apart. Use the template at the back of this guide to mark the position of the holes. Fix the screws into the wall, leaving their heads 3mm (0.12in.) clear of the wall surface.

Remove any connections to the unit and locate it over the screw heads. When in line, gently push the unit on to the wall and move it downwards to secure. When making connections, be careful not to push the unit up and off the wall.

CAUTION: Only wall mount single units, do not wall mount stacked units.

Also available from 3Com, is the OfficeConnect Mounting Unit (part number 3C16765). This allows you to firmly secure a stack of OfficeConnect devices to the desktop or onto a shelf in a rack.

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