Enterasys Vertical Horizon VH-8G User Manual

VERTICAL HORIZON

VH-8G

GIGABIT ETHERNET SWITCH

USER GUIDE

9033639

Notice

Only qualified personnel should perform installation
procedures.

NOTICE

Enterasys Networks reserves the right to make changes in specifications and other information
contained in this document without prior notice. The reader should in all cases consult Enterasys
Networks to determine whether any such changes have been made.

The hardware, firmware, or software described in this manual is subject to change without notice.

IN NO EVENT SHALL ENTERASYS NETWORKS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL,
INDIRECT, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES WHATSOEVER (INCLUDING BUT
NOT LIMITED TO LOST PROFITS) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS MANUAL OR
THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN IT, EVEN IF ENTERASYS NETWORKS HAS BEEN
ADVISED OF, KNOWN, OR SHOULD HAVE KNOWN, THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
DAMAGES.

 2000 by Enterasys Networks, Inc., P.O. Box 5005, Rochester, NH 03866-5005

All Rights Reserved
Printed in Taiwan, R.O.C.

Order Number: 9033639 November 2000

Enterasys, Enterasys Networks, and Vertical Horizon are trademarks or registered trademarks of
Enterasys Networks, Inc.

Microsoft, Windows, Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows NT are either trademarks or registered
trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

Netscape and Netscape Navigator are trademarks of Netscape Communications Corporation.

All other product names mentioned in this manual may be trademarks or registered trademarks of
their respective companies.

9033639 i

Notice

FCC NOTICE

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is subject to the following two
conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any
interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital
device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable
protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment.
This equipment uses, generates, and can radiate radio frequency energy and if not installed in
accordance with the operator’s manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause interference in which case the user
will be required to correct the interference at his own expense.

WARNING: Changes or modifications made to this device which are not expressly approved by the
party responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

INDUSTRY CANADA NOTICE

This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class A limits for radio noise emissions from digital
apparatus set out in the Radio Interference Regulations of the Canadian Department of
Communications.

Le présent appareil numérique n’émet pas de bruits radioélectriques dépassant les limites applicables
aux appareils numériques de la class A prescrites dans le Règlement sur le brouillage radioélectrique
édicté par le ministère des Communications du Canada.

VCCI NOTICE

This is a Class A product based on the standard of the Voluntary Control Council for Interference by
Information Technology Equipment (VCCI). If this equipment is used in a domestic environment,
radio disturbance may arise. When such trouble occurs, the user may be required to take corrective
actions.

SAFETY INFORMATION

CLASS 1 LASER TRANSCEIVERS

The VH-8G 8-port switch uses Class 1 Laser transceivers. Read the following safety information
before installing or operating these modules.

Class 1 laser transceivers use an optical feedback loop to maintain Class 1 operation limits. This
control loop eliminates the need for maintenance checks or adjustments. The output is factory set, and
does not allow any user adjustment. Class 1 Laser transceivers comply with the following safety
standards:

ii 9033639

Notice

• 21 CFR 1040.10 and 1040.11 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (FDA).

• IEC Publication 825 (International Electrotechnical Commission).

• CENELEC EN 60825 (European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization).

• When operating within their performance limitations, laser transceiver output meets the Class 1
accessible emission limit of all three standards. Class 1 levels of laser radiation are not considered
hazardous.

SAFETY INFORMATION

CLASS 1 LASER TRANSCEIVERS

LASER RADIATION AND CONNECTORS

When the connector is in place, all laser radiation remains within the fiber. The maximum amount of
radiant power exiting the fiber (under normal conditions) is -12.6 dBm or 55 x 10

Removing the optical connector from the transceiver allows laser radiation to emit directly from the
optical port. The maximum radiance from the optical port (under worst case conditions) is 0.8 W cm
or 8 x 10

Do not use optical instruments to view the laser output. The use of optical instruments to view laser
output increases eye hazard. When viewing the output optical port, power must be removed from the
switch.

3

W m2 sr-1.

-6

watts.

-2

WARNING: FIBER OPTIC PORT SAFETY

When using a fiber optic port, never look at the transmit laser while it is
powered on. Also, never look directly at the fiber TX port and fiber cable
ends when they are powered on.

AVERTISSMENT: PORTS POUR FIBRES OPTIQUES -

SÉCURITÉ SUR LE PLAN OPTIQUE

Ne regardez jamais le laser tant qu'il est sous tension. Ne regardez jamais
directement le port TX (Transmission) à fibres optiques et les embouts de
câbles à fibres optiques tant qu'ils sont sous tension.

WARNHINWEIS: FASEROPTIKANSCHLÜSSE -

9033639 iii

OPTISCHE SICHERHEIT

Niemals ein Übertragungslaser betrachten, während dieses eingeschaltet ist.
Niemals direkt auf den Faser-TX-Anschluß und auf die Faserkabelenden
schauen, während diese eingeschaltet sind.

Notice

SAFETY INFORMATION

WICHTIGE SICHERHEITSHINWEISE (GERMANY)

1. Bitte lesen Sie diese Hinweise sorgfältig durch.

2. Heben Sie diese Anleitung für den späteren Gebrauch auf.

3. Vor jedem Reinigen ist das Gerät vom Stromnetz zu trennen. Verwenden Sie keine Flüssigoder
Aerosolreiniger. Am besten eignet sich ein angefeuchtetes Tuch zur Reinigung.

4. Die Netzanschlu ßsteckdose soll nahe dem Gerät angebracht und leicht zugänglich sein.

5. Das Gerät ist vor Feuchtigkeit zu schützen.

6. Bei der Aufstellung des Gerätes ist auf sicheren Stand zu achten. Ein Kippen oder Fallen
könnte Beschädigungen hervorrufen.

7. Die Belüftungsöffnungen dienen der Luftzirkulation, die das Gerät vor Überhitzung schützt.
Sorgen Sie dafür, daß diese Öffnungen nicht abgedeckt werden.

8. Beachten Sie beim Anschluß an das Stromnetz die Anschlußwerte.

9. Verlegen Sie die Netzanschlußleitung so, daß niemand darüber fallen kann. Es sollte auch nichts
auf der Leitung abgestellt werden.

10. Alle Hinweise und Warnungen, die sich am Gerät befinden, sind zu beachten.

11. Wird das Gerät über einen längeren Zeitraum nicht benutzt, sollten Sie es vom Stromnetz
trennen. Somit wird im Falle einer Überspannung eine Beschädigung vermieden.

12. Durch die Lüftungsöffnungen dürfen niemals Gegenstände oder Flüssigkeiten in das Gerät
gelangen. Dies könnte einen Brand bzw. elektrischen Schlag auslösen.

13. Öffnen sie niemals das Gerät. Das Gerät darf aus Gründen der elektrischen Sicherheit nur von
authorisiertem Servicepersonal geöffnet werden.

14. Wenn folgende Situationen auftreten ist das Gerät vom Stromnetz zu trennen und von einer
qualifizierten Servicestelle zu überprüfen:

a. Netzkabel oder Netzstecker sind beschädigt.

b. Flüssigkeit ist in das Gerät eingedrungen.

c. Das Gerät war Feuchtigkeit ausgesetzt.

d. Wenn das Gerät nicht der Bedienungsanleitung entsprechend funktioniert oder Sie mit Hilfe

dieser Anleitung keine Verbesserung erzielen.

e. Das Gerät ist gefallen und/oder das Gehäuse ist beschädigt.

f. Wenn das Gerät deutliche Anzeichen eines Defektes aufweist.

15. Zum Netzanschluß dieses Gerätes ist eine geprüfte Leitung zu verwenden. Für einen Nennstrom
bis 6A und einem Gerätegewicht größer 3kg ist eine Leitung nicht leichter als H05VV-F, 3G,

0.75mm

Der arbeitsplatzbezogene Schalldruckpegel nach DIN 45 635 Teil 1000 beträgt 70dB(A) oder
weniger.

iv 9033639

2

einzusetzen.

Notice

ENTERASYS NETWORKS, INC.

PROGRAM LICENSE AGREEMENT

BEFORE OPENING OR UTILIZING THE ENCLOSED PRODUCT,

CAREFULLY READ THIS LICENSE AGREEMENT.

This document is an agreement (“Agreement”) between You, the end user, and Enterasys Networks,
Inc. (“Enterasys”) that sets forth your rights and obligations with respect to the Enterasys software
program (“Program”) in the package. The Program may be contained in firmware, chips or other
media. UTILIZING THE ENCLOSED PRODUCT, YOU ARE AGREEING TO BECOME BOUND
BY THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT, WHICH INCLUDES THE LICENSE AND THE
LIMITATION OF WARRANTY AND DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE
TO THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT, RETURN THE UNOPENED PRODUCT TO
ENTERASYS OR YOUR DEALER, IF ANY, WITHIN TEN (10) DAYS FOLLOWING THE DATE
OF RECEIPT FOR A FULL REFUND.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS AGREEMENT, CONTACT ENTERASYS
NETWORKS [phone]. Attn: Legal Department.

1. LICENSE. You have the right to use only the one (1) copy of the Program provided in this
package subject to the terms and conditions of this License Agreement.

You may not copy, reproduce or transmit any part of the Program except as permitted by the

Copyright Act of the United States or as authorized in writing by Enterasys.

2. OTHER RESTRICTIONS. You may not reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the
Program.

3. APPLICABLE LAW. This License Agreement shall be interpreted and governed under the
laws and in the state and federal courts of New Hampshire. You accept the personal jurisdiction and
venue of the New Hampshire courts.

4. EXPORT REQUIREMENTS. You understand that Enterasys and its Affiliates are subject to
regulation by agencies of the U.S. Government, including the U.S. Department of Commerce, which
prohibit export or diversion of certain technical products to certain countries, unless a license to
export the product is obtained from the U.S. Government or an exception from obtaining such license
may be relied upon by the exporting party.

If the Program is exported from the United States pursuant to the License Exception CIV under
the U.S. Export Administration Regulations, You agree that You are a civil end user of the Program
and agree that You will use the Program for civil end uses only and not for military purposes.

If the Program is exported from the United States pursuant to the License Exception TSR under
the U.S. Export Administration Regulations, in addition to the restriction on transfer set forth in
Sections 1 or 2 of this Agreement, You agree not to (i) reexport or release the Program, the source
code for the Program or technology to a national of a country in Country Groups D:1 or E:2 (Albania,
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cuba, Estonia, Georgia, Iraq, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Libya, Lithuania, Moldova, North Korea, the People’s Republic of China,
Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, or such other
countries as may be designated by the United States Government), (ii) export to Country Groups D:1
or E:2 (as defined herein) the direct product of the Program or the technology, if such foreign
produced direct product is subject to national security controls as identified on the U.S. Commerce
Control List, or (iii) if the direct product of the technology is a complete plant or any major
component of a plant, export to Country Groups D:1 or E:2 the direct product of the plant or a major
component thereof, if such foreign produced direct product is subject to national security controls as
identified on the U.S. Commerce Control List or is subject to State Department controls under the
U.S. Munitions List.

9033639 v

Notice

5. UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT RESTRICTED RIGHTS. The enclosed Product (i) was
developed solely at private expense; (ii) contains “restricted computer software” submitted with
restricted rights in accordance with section 52.227-19 (a) through (d) of the Commercial Computer
Software-Restricted Rights Clause and its successors, and (iii) in all respects is proprietary data
belonging to Enterasys and/or its suppliers. For Department of Defense units, the Product is
considered commercial computer software in accordance with DFARS section 227.7202-3 and its
successors, and use, duplication, or disclosure by the Government is subject to restrictions set forth
herein.

6. EXCLUSION OF WARRANTY. Except as may be specifically provided by Enterasys in
writing, Enterasys makes no warranty, expressed or implied, concerning the Program (including its
documentation and media).

ENTERASYS DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, OTHER THAN THOSE SUPPLIED TO

YOU BY ENTERASYS IN WRITING, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE, WITH RESPECT TO THE PROGRAM, THE ACCOMPANYING
WRITTEN MATERIALS, AND ANY ACCOMPANYING HARDWARE.

7. NO LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES. IN NO EVENT SHALL
ENTERASYS OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER
(INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF BUSINESS, PROFITS,
BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, LOSS OF BUSINESS INFORMATION, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL,
CONSEQUENTIAL, OR RELIANCE DAMAGES, OR OTHER LOSS) ARISING OUT OF THE
USE OR INABILITY TO USE THIS ENTERASYS PRODUCT, EVEN IF ENTERASYS HAS
BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. BECAUSE SOME STATES DO
NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR
INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, OR IN THE DURATION OR LIMITATION OF IMPLIED
WARRANTIES IN SOME INSTANCES, THE ABOVE LIMITATION AND EXCLUSIONS MAY
NOT APPLY TO YOU.

vi 9033639

DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY

Application of Council Directive(s): 89/336/EEC

73/23/EEC

Manufacturer’s Name: Enterasys Networks, Inc.

Manufacturer’s Address: 35 Industrial Way

PO Box 5005
Rochester, NH 03867

European Representative Name: Mr. J. Sims

European Representative Address: Enterasys Networks Limited

Nexus House, Newbury Business Park
London Road, Newbury
Berkshire RG14 2PZ, England

Conformance to Directive(s)/Product Standards: EC Directive 89/336/EEC

EC Directive 73/23/EEC
EN 55022
EN 50082-1
EN 60950

Notice

Equipment Type/Environment: Networking Equipment, for use in a

Commercial or Light Industrial
Environment.

We the undersigned, hereby declare, under our sole responsibility, that the equipment packaged
with this notice conforms to the above directives.

Manufacturer Legal Representative in Europe

Mr. Thomas Whissel Mr. J. Sims

___________________________________ ___________________________________

Full Name Full Name

Compliance Engineering Manager Managing Director - E.M.E.A.

___________________________________ ___________________________________

Title Title

Rochester, NH, USA Newbury, Berkshire, England

___________________________________ ___________________________________

Location Location

9033639 vii

Notice

viii 9033639

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREFACE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . XI

Purpose. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xi

Audience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xi

Conventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xi

Message Formats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xi

Keyboard Entries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xi

Other Conventions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xii

Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xii

1. PRODUCT OVERVIEW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Rear Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Feature Summaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

IEEE 802.1D Bridge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Spanning Tree Protocol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Frame Buffering and Frame Latency. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Software Download . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Non-volatile Parameter Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Configuration and Management Interfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

RMON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Port Mirroring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

BootP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

LEDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Full-Duplex Mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Flow Control. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Virtual LANs (VLANs) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Class of Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Port Trunking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Factory Defaults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Application Examples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Client/Server Network Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Backbone Consolidation Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

2. INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Inspecting Your Shipment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Site Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Mounting the Switch on a Table or Shelf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Mounting the Switch in a Rack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Connecting a Terminal to the Console Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Console Port (Out-of-Band) Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

In-Band Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Powering the Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

9033639 Table of Contents ix

Network Cable Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Fiber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

1000Base-SX Fiber Ports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

APPENDIX A. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Standards Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Regulatory Compliance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Data Rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Environmental Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Electrical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Physical. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Port Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Console Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Power Cord Set Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

General Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Country-Specific Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

APPENDIX B. FLOW CONTROL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

APPENDIX C. ACRONYMS & ABBREVIATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

INDEX

x Table of Contents VH-8G

PREFACE

Purpose

This guide provides information about the features and applications of the
Enterasys Networks Vertical Horizon VH-8G switch system.

Audience

This guide is intended for Ethernet Local Area Network (LAN)
administrators and Management Information Systems (MIS) personnel
with the following background:

• Working knowledge of Ethernet LANs

• Familiarity with Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol

(TCP/IP) and Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)

Conventions

This section describes the conventions used in this guide.

Message Formats

Two types of messages, identified by icons, appear in the text:

A note informs you of special circumstances.

A caution indicates the possibility of equipment damage.

Keyboard Entries

This guide uses the following conventions for keyboard entries:

• When you read “enter,” type the text and press the [Enter] key.

• Example: Enter the Gateway IP address and press the [Enter] key.

• When you read “select,” highlight the menu item and press the [Enter]

key.

9033639 Preface xi

Other Conventions

This guide uses the following typographical conventions:

• Initial Caps Menu titles and console menu selections.

• [Enter] Used to designate the Enter or Return key.

• courier font Screen messages and user prompts.

• Selection Describes a user-configurable user interface item.

• Field Describes a read-only information item.

Organization

Chapter 1. Product Overview: Describes the features of the switch, front

and rear panel components and application examples.
Chapter 2. Installation: Describes the content of your switch shipment,

lists site requirements, and provides mounting instructions. Instructions
for making connections and powering up the switch are provided as well.

Appendix A. Technical Specifications: Provides a list of standards
compliance and certifications as well as physical and operational
specifications.

Appendix B. Flow Control: Describes how the flow control features are
used to provide a mechanism for protecting the switch from overload
conditions and to keep additional traffic off the network.

Appendix C. Acronyms and Abbreviations: Provides definitions for a
list of common acronyms and abbreviations used within the installation
guide and the networking industry.

xii Preface VH-8G

1. PRODUCT OVERVIEW

This chapter provides the following information:

• Product Description

• Features

• Front and Rear Panel Component Descriptions

• Feature Summaries

• Application Example

Description

This installation guide describes Enterasys’ VH-8G Gigabit Ethernet
switch. This switch provides 8 1000Base-SX ports and includes an
SNMP-based management agent with support for both in-band and out­of-band access for managing the switch.

The switch employs a high-speed switching fabric. This design allows for
simultaneous transport of multiple packets at low latency on all ports. It
also uses store-and-forward switching to ensure maximum data integrity.
In this mode, the entire packet must be received into a port buffer and
checked for validity before being forwarded. This prevents errors from
being propagated throughout the network. This switch also features full­duplex capability on all ports, which effectively doubles the bandwidth of
each connection.

The RMON/SNMP/Web management agent provides a broad range of
management options. It includes a standards-compliant Simple Network
Management Protocol (SNMP) agent. The SNMP agent allows network
management station applications to collect and present status and
performance information about the switch, as well as providing the ability
to configure and control functions in the switch. The SNMP agent also
supports Remote Monitoring (RMON) for Statistics, History, Alarm and
Event groups (Groups 1-3, 9).

Network management can be performed in-band using TCP/IP or Telnet
connection to the serial console port on the switch’s rear panel. The
switch also includes a built-in Web agent that provides management
access via common http browsers such as Netscape Navigator and
Microsoft’s Internet Explorer. In addition, the console port allows out-of­band management using a PC or terminal.

This switch also provides support for a Redundant Power Unit to ensure
continuous operation in the event of a power failure.

The VH-8G switch is desktop or rack-mountable. LEDs on the front panel
provide information about the operating status of the switch. The rear
panel contains the power connector, redundant power connector, and the
serial console port. The side panel includes two fans that maintain
ventilation and cooling for internal switch components.

9033639 Product Overview 1

Features

• Ports:

• Switch Architecture:

• Network Management:

- 8 1000Base-SX ports using SC multimode fiber optic
connectors

- 1 redundant power unit socket

- Auto-negotiation of half/full-duplex operation on all ports

- IEEE 802.3x flow control auto-negotiation on all ports

- 1 MB packet buffering per port

- Store-and-forward switching

-

12K address forwarding table

- Forwarding: 1,488,000 packets-per-second (64 byte packets)
@1000 Mbps

- Filtering: 1,488,000 packets-per-second (64 byte packets)
@1000 Mbps

- SNMP compliant agent: MIB II (RFC 1213); Bridge MIB (RFC

1493); Ethernet-like MIB (RFC1643); RMON - Statistics,
History, Alarm and Event groups (RFC 1757); private MIB
extensions

- Access via in-band, Internet browser, or Telnet

- Console port (RS-232, male DB-9 connector, null modem)
supports access via direct connection

- BootP for IP address configuration

• Reliability:

- Redundant power supply support

• Software:

- Extensive diagnostics for product testing and troubleshooting

- Firmware upgrades using the console port or in-band with
TFTP

• LED Indicators:

- System: Power

- 1000Base-SX ports: link/disable, activity

2 Product Overview VH-8G

Front Panel

Figure 1-1 shows the front panel of the Enterasys VH-8G.
Table 1-1 defines the VH-8G front panel components.

Figure 1-1. VH-8G Front Panel

Table 1-1. Front Panel Components

Name Function

Power LED Lights steady green to indicate power is supplied to the

switch. Lights steady amber to indicate that the
switch’s power-on self-test (POST) is running. Off
indicates no power is supplied to the switch.

RPU LED Lights steady to indicate that a redundant power unit is

attached and is in backup or active mode.

Link LEDs Lights steady green to indicate a 1000 Mbps link, off

indicates no link; and flashing indicates that the port
has been manually disabled.

Activity LEDs Flashing green indicates activity on the port segment.

Reset Button Causes the unit to perform a hardware reset, similar to

removing and reconnecting the power.

1000Base-SX SC ports Fiber ports using SC port connectors.

9033639 Product Overview 3

Rear Panel

Figure 1-3 shows the VH-8G rear panel and Table 1-3 defines the rear
panel components.

Figure 1-2. VH-8G Rear Panel

Table 1-2. Rear Panel Components

Name Function

Power Connector Provides AC power to the switch.

Redundant Power
Connector

Serial Console Port Male DB-9 connector configured as a standard RS-232

This connector is provided for a redundant power unit
(RPU) which can supply power to the switch if its primary
power supply fails. (Refer to the manual provided with
the RPU for further details.)

connection for serial out-of-band management using the
console menus.

Feature Summaries

The following summaries describe VH-8G features in areas such as
standards compliance, functionality, performance, and options.

IEEE 802.1D Bridge

The VH-8G switch is fully compliant with IEEE 802.1D transparent
bridging specifications. An address table is provided for learning, filtering,
and forwarding. The switch can support up to a maximum of 12K
addresses. Addresses are automatically learned by the switch, and can
be individually assigned specific forwarding treatment by the network
administrator if desired. Forwarding table configuration can be made out­of-band via the console interface or in-band via SNMP or Telnet. Static
and dynamic addresses are both stored in this table. One static address
is assigned per port by default. The Static Unicast Address Table
Configuration screen in the console menus allows you to assign additional
static addresses if required.

4 Product Overview VH-8G

Spanning Tree Protocol

The VH-8G switch supports the IEEE 802.1D Spanning Tree Protocol.
This protocol allows redundant connections to be created between
different LAN segments for purposes of fault tolerance. Two or more
physical paths between different segments can be created through the
switch, with the Spanning Tree Protocol choosing a single path at any
given time and disabling all others. If the chosen path fails for any reason,
a disabled alternative is activated, thereby maintaining the connection.
This prevents network traffic from circulating in an endless loop formed by
multiple connections to the same LAN segment.

Spanning Tree parameters are configurable using the Spanning Tree
Configuration Menu of the console menus, the on-board Web agent, or
via SNMP (see Appendix A, “Spanning Tree Concepts,” in the VH-8G
Management Guide for more information).

Frame Buffering and Frame Latency

The VH-8G switch is a store-and-forward switching device. Each frame is
copied into switch memory before being forwarded to another port. This
method ensures that all forwarded frames conform to a standard Ethernet
frame size and have a correct cyclic redundancy check (CRC) for data
integrity. This switching method prevents bad frames from traversing the
network and using up valuable network bandwidth, as with cut-through
switching technology.

To minimize the possibility of dropping frames on congested ports, the
VH-8G switch provides 1 MB of frame buffering per port. This buffer space
is used to queue packets for transmission on congested networks. This is
an additional advantage over cut-through switching technology, which
drops packets immediately when experiencing collisions.

Software Download

The VH-8G switch supports the industry-standard Trivial File Transfer
Protocol (TFTP) for downloading software to the switch. All switch
software is stored in a 2 MB sectored flash ROM. The download feature
allows you to easily install software upgrades to the unit. Software can
alternatively be downloaded via the serial console port using the
XMODEM protocol.

A TFTP software download is invoked via the Management Setup Menu
using the console menus. A TFTP download can also be invoked using
the on-board Web agent or via SNMP.

Non-volatile Parameter Storage

Important operating parameters such as IP addresses, Spanning Tree
configuration, and management security parameters, are stored in non
volatile Flash memory. These values are retained when the switch
experiences power interruptions or is powered down for normal
maintenance.

9033639 Product Overview 5

Configuration and Management Interfaces

The VH-8G switch can be managed using any of the following methods:

• Serial console, out-of-band

An RS-232 connection, using a DB-9 connector, is included on the
switch’s rear panel for system management. Serial console
management can be performed out-of-band by directly connecting a
terminal or computer running communications software to the
RS-232 port on the switch. See the Management Guide for
information on managing the VH-8G switch via the serial console.

• Telnet, in-band (over Ethernet)

The switch supports management through a Telnet connection using
the TCP/IP protocols. Telnet is performed using a terminal or
computer running communications software. See the Management
Guide for information on managing the system via Telnet. Global
user name and password protection for changing the operating
parameters of the switch is provided.

• Web-based network manager, in-band

The system can be managed over HTTP protocol with a Web
browser (Internet Explorer 4.0 or above, or Netscape Navigator 4.0
or above). Standard agent MIBs embedded in the switch provide
basic SNMP management through an embedded graphic interface.

• SNMP-based network manager, in-band

The system can also be managed using SNMP, the most common
protocol used today for network management. Standard agent MIBs
embedded in the switch provide basic SNMP management through
industry-standard SNMP applications.

Management security protection is provided based on SNMP
community names. See Chapter 4, “SNMP Management,” in the
Management Guide for more information.

RMON

RMON (Remote Monitoring) is a facility used to manage networks
remotely while providing multi-vendor interoperability between monitoring
devices and management stations. RMON is defined by an SNMP MIB.
This MIB is divided into nine different groups, each gathering specific
statistical information or performing a specific function. RMON-capable
devices gather network traffic data and then store them locally until
downloaded to an SNMP management station.

The VH-8G supports four of the nine groups of RMON defined for
Ethernet networks on a per segment basis. Specifically, these are:

• Statistics: a function that maintains counts of network traffic statistics

such as number of packets, broadcasts, collisions, errors, and
distribution of packet sizes.

• History: a function that collects historical statistics based on user-

defined sampling intervals. The statistical information collected is the
same as the Statistics group, except on a time stamped basis.

6 Product Overview VH-8G

• Alarm: a function that allows managers to set alarm thresholds based

on traffic statistics. Alarms trigger other actions through the Event
group.

• Event: a function that operates with the Alarm group to define an

action that will be taken when an alarm condition occurs. The event
may write a log entry and/or send a trap message.

Note that RMON statistics and other information can only be viewed using
a connection to the on-board web agent or via other compatible SNMP
management applications.

Port Mirroring

The VH-8G switch includes the ability to mirror the traffic being switched
on any port for purposes of network traffic analysis and connection
integrity. When this feature is enabled, a protocol analyzer or RMON
probe can be connected to the mirror port. You can only mirror one port
to another port at one time. Port mirroring is configurable using the
console interface menus, the on-board Web agent, or via SNMP.

BootP

The Bootstrap Protocol (BootP) provides for the capability of passing
configuration information to hosts on a TCP/IP network. Using this
process, network devices do not need to be configured before they can
communicate using the TCP/IP protocol suite. The VH-8G switch uses
BootP to automatically configure IP address information without requiring
access to the console menus. BootP operation is configurable using the
console interface menus, the on-board Web agent, or via SNMP.

LEDs

The switch port LEDs provide a quick and accurate display of the integrity
of switch connections. Each SC port has a Link and Act LED. The Link
LED indicates a valid 1000 Mbps connection or if the port has been
disabled. The Act LED indicates network activity on the port segment.

Full-Duplex Mode

The full-duplex mode of operation on a port doubles the throughput of the
switch connection. Full-duplex mode disables the collision detection
portion of the Ethernet Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision
Detection (CSMA/CD) protocol, allowing for two-way traffic. Full duplex is
configurable using the console interface menus, the on-board Web agent,
or via SNMP.

Flow Control

Flow control allows you to manage network traffic during congestion
periods and to prevent the loss of packets when port buffer thresholds are
exceeded. Flow control also serves to deny access to additional traffic
that could add to a congestion condition. The VH-8G switch supports flow

9033639 Product Overview 7

control per the IEEE 802.3x standard. Note that flow control is disabled on
all ports by default but can be enabled on a per-port basis by using the
console interface menus, the on-board Web agent, or via SNMP. See
Appendix B, “Flow Control,” for more information on this feature.

If flow control is desired for one port, it is recommended that
it be enabled on all ports.

Virtual LANs (VLANs)

VLANs allow you to connect users to a specific LAN segment regardless
of their physical location. The VH-8G switch supports tagged VLANs per
the IEEE 802.1Q standard. With frame tagging, a short tag is appended
to every frame that crosses the network backbone. The tag identifies
which VLAN the frame belongs to. See Appendix B, “Virtual LANs,” in the
VH-8G Management Guide for more information.

Class of Service

Class of Service support allows you to assign a higher priority to selected
traffic passing through the switch. The VH-8G switch supports Class of
Service attributes per the IEEE 802.1p standard using a priority queuing
mechanism. This feature ensures that traffic during congestion periods
will not interfere with traffic assigned a higher priority. Traffic assigned a
lower priority is subject to discard when memory is in short supply. See
Appendix C, “Class of Service,” in the VH-8G Management Guide for
more information.

Port Trunking

Port trunking allows you to combine ports into an aggregate connection
between VH-8G switches. Besides balancing the load across each port in
the trunk, the additional ports provide redundancy by taking over the load
if a port in the trunk should fail. The VH-8G allows up to four ports to be
joined together as a trunk. Up to four port trunks on a single switch can be
configured. Each trunk can combine two, three, or four ports, creating an
aggregate bandwidth of up to 8Gbps.

8 Product Overview VH-8G

Factory Defaults

Table 1-3 lists the default settings for switch configuration parameters.
Each parameter can be changed via the console menus or Telnet.

Table 1-3. Factory Default Settings

Parameter Default Value

Multicast Filtering

GMRP Disabled

IGMP Multicast Filtering Disabled

Port Configuration

Flow Control Disabled

Speed and Duplex Auto

Admin Enabled

Broadcast Storm Control Enabled - 500 pps

Port Priority

Default Ingress User Priority 0

Spanning Tree Algorithm

Active Aging Time 300

Bridge Priority 32768

Forward Delay 15

Hello Time 2

Max Age 20

Path Cost 4 - 1000Mbps ports

Port Priority 128

Spanning Tree Protocol Enabled

System Configuration

Management VLAN All

BootP Enable Disabled

Password <none>

Screen Timeout 10 min

Send Authentication Fail Traps Enabled

SNMP Community Name public, private

Terminal Baud Rate Auto

User Names admin, guest

9033639 Product Overview 9

Parameter Default Value

Virtual LANs

Acceptable VLAN Frame Type All

Configurable PVID Tagging Yes

GVRP Disabled

Untagged VLAN Group Assignment 1

VLAN Ingress Filtering False

VLAN Learning SVL

Application Examples

The exploding popularity of the Internet and of corporate intranets, as well
as new, high-bandwidth desktop applications, are driving the demand for
Gigabit Ethernet. The increase in multimedia traffic and the need to
support legacy protocols alongside new, data intensive applications is
driving the need for network segmentation and traffic prioritization.

The VH-8G switch is ideal for meeting the needs of today’s high
performance networks. The switch is designed to consolidate your
network core providing high-bandwidth connections between workgroup
switches and server farms. In addition, extensive features, including
redundant links, traffic Class of Service and VLAN capability, provide the
management needed for the workgroup and local backbone.

The following sections illustrate the VH-8G switch employed in application
examples:

• Client/Server Network

• Backbone Consolidation

10 Product Overview VH-8G

Client/Server Network Application

To improve workstation performance in a client/server environment, the
VH-8G switch can be configured to provide 2 Gbps full-duplex Gigabit
Ethernet connections to servers by connecting each to a dedicated switch
port (Figure 1-3). Users can be accommodated through connections to
other switches with 1000 Mbps uplinks, or through direct connections.

Figure 1-3. Client/Server Network Application

9033639 Product Overview 11

Backbone Consolidation Application

The VH-8G switch can be used in a backbone consolidation application,
connecting network switches together and providing file-server access
(Figure 1-4). Workgroup switches are provided with a single connection
to the VH-8G while servers are put on dedicated ports. The gigabit fiber
links allow the switch to connect to a remote location, such as another
building floor or a separate building.

Figure 1-4. Consolidated Backbone Application

12 Product Overview VH-8G

2. INSTALLATION

Inspecting Your Shipment

When you receive the shipment of your switch, check the package
contents and make sure you have the following items:

• VH-8G switch

• Mounting ears and mounting screws

• Four rubber feet

• ESD wrist strap

• Power cord

• RS-232 null-modem cable

• Product documentation

Site Requirements

Before you install the switch, make sure the site meets the following
requirements:

• Mounting

Provide a flat table, shelf surface, or an optional 19 in. (48.3 cm)
equipment rack.

Use an EIA standard equipment rack that is grounded and physically
secure.

• Power source

Provide a power source within six feet (1.8 m) of the installation
location. This source must provide 100 VAC to 240 VAC at 50 Hz to
60 Hz, for 80 VA minimum power. Power specifications for the switch
are shown in Appendix A, “Technical Specifications.”

Primary voltage selection within the above ranges is
automatic and requires no user action.

9033639 Installation 13

• Environmental

Install the VH-8G switch in a dry area, with adequate air circulation.
Avoid placing the switch in direct sunlight or near other heat sources,
such as hot-air vents. For temperature and humidity specifications,
see Appendix A, “Technical Specifications.”

• Ventilation

Do not restrict airflow by covering or obstructing air inlets on the side
of the switch.

Mounting the Switch on a Table or Shelf

You can mount a standalone switch on a table or shelf. Locate the switch
in a position that allows access to the front panel SC ports, visibility of the
port LEDs, and access to the rear-panel console port and power cord.
Make sure that the mounting surface can safely support the switch and
that there is adequate space around the switch for ventilation and cooling.

1. The switch ships with four (4) rubber feet. Stick the self-adhesive
rubber foot pads on each of the four concave spaces located on the
bottom of the switch. The rubber foot pads cushion the switch against
shock/vibrations and provide space between each switch for
ventilation.

2. If you want to stack switches, repeat step 1 for each switch to be
stacked. Place the first switch on a firm flat surface where you want
to install the stack. Stack the other switches on top of this unit.

14 Installation VH-8G

Mounting the Switch in a Rack

The switch ships with two (2) multi-position mounting ears and four (4)
mounting screws.

The mounting screws are used to attach the mount­ing ears to the switch. Once the ears are attached to
the switch, you will need to provide appropriate
screws to mount the switch in a rack.

Figure 2-1 shows the orientation of the mounting ears for attaching the
ears to the switch for a rack mount application. Mount the switch with the
front panel facing forward. Do the following:

1. Mount one of the ears to the switch using two (2) of the supplied

screws. Repeat this step for the other side of the switch.

2. Slide the switch into the rack and align the holes in the rack mounting

ears with the holes in the rack rails.

3. Insert and tighten appropriate rack-mounting screws (not provided).

Figure 2-1. Mounting the Switch in a Rack

9033639 Installation 15

Connecting a Terminal to the Console Port

The console port is a serial RS-232 interface port that enables a
connection to a terminal for performing switch monitoring and
configuration functions. The terminal may be a PC or workstation running
terminal emulation software, or a terminal configured as a Data Terminal
Equipment (DTE) connection.

If you connect a terminal to the console port prior to powering on the
switch, you can observe the progress and results of the power-on self test
as the switch goes through its initialization process. See “Powering the
Switch” on page 18.

The console port is configured as a standard RS-232 connection using a
male DB-9 connector (see Table A-1 for pinouts). A null-modem wired
RS-232 cable is supplied with the switch for connecting to this interface.
This cable is shielded to comply with emissions regulations and
requirements.

Console Port (Out-of-Band) Connections

To connect the VH-8G console port to a terminal, do the following:

1. Connect a VT100 compatible terminal or a PC running a terminal
emulation program to the console port (Figure 2-2). Use the null­modem cable provided with the switch, or use a null-modem
connection that is compatible with the console port pin assignments
shown in Appendix A.

Figure 2-2. Connecting a Terminal to the Console Port

2. Connect one end of the interface cable directly to the switch’s

console port and tighten the retaining screws.

3. Connect the other end of the interface cable to a terminal (in some
instances, an adapter may be required to make this connection).

4. From your terminal, start the terminal emulation program.

16 Installation VH-8G

5. Configure the terminal to the following communication settings:

VT100 emulation, 19200 baud, no parity, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no
flow control, ASCII character set.

In-Band Connections

Prior to accessing the switch via a network connection, you must
configure it with a valid IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway
using an out-of-band connection or the BootP protocol.

The switch must first be configured to issue BootP
requests, since the default is BootP disabled. Refer to
the Management Guide for more information.

Telnet Connection - Prior to accessing the switch via an in-band Telnet

connection, you must configure it with a valid IP address, subnet mask,
and default gateway using an out-of-band connection or the BootP
protocol. After configuring the switch’s IP parameters, you can access the
on-board configuration program from anywhere within the attached
network

In-Band Network Connection - The on-board configuration program can
be accessed using Telnet from any computer attached to the network.
The switch can also be managed by any computer using a web browser
(Internet Explorer 4.0 or above, or Netscape Navigator 4.0 or above), or
from a network computer using third-party network management
software.

.

9033639 Installation 17

Powering the Switch

To supply power to the switch, connect the power cord to the switch and
to a grounded three-prong wall outlet (Figure 2-3). See Appendix A
“Technical Specifications” on page 21 for more information regarding
specific international power cord requirements.

Figure 2-3. Connecting the Power Cord

The Power LED lights green (see Figure 1-1). If it does not, check to make
sure that the power cable is plugged in correctly and that the power
source is good.

When power is applied, the switch conducts a series of hardware and
software tests to verify operation. If a terminal or computer is connected
to the console port, the results of the tests are displayed on the screen. If
you want to display the results of the tests after the switch has been
turned on, turn the power to the switch off then back on.

The switch performs two basic types of tests at power-up. During this
time, all the LEDs light in sequence. These tests are:

• Serial port

The serial console port test is the first test. If the switch fails, no
further tests are performed and the console displays no information.

• Memory

Memory tests on the CPU RAM are performed after the serial port
test.

After these tests are performed, the system initialization screen provides
the option of starting the operational software of the switch or performing
an XMODEM download to upgrade system firmware. When the
operational software is started, the system is functional and the user
interface is ready to receive commands at the console.

18 Installation VH-8G

Network Cable Requirements

Fiber

Table 2-1 specifies the fiber types, bandwidth requirements, and length
constraints for the Gigabit Ethernet fiber interface on the switch’s SC
ports.

Table 2-1. 1000Base-SX Fiber Specifications

Fiber Diameter
(microns)

62.5 µm MMF 160 MHz/km 2-220 Meters

62.5 µm MMF 200 MHz/km 2-275 Meters

50 µm MMF 400 MHz/km 2-500 Meters

50 µm MMF 500 MHz/km 2-550 Meters

Modal Bandwidth @ 850 nm Range

9033639 Installation 19

1000Base-SX Fiber Ports

The 1000Base-SX fiber ports use SC connectors. Figure 2-4 shows an

SC

fiber connector being inserted into a fiber port on the VH-8G.

Figure 2-4. Inserting an SC Fiber Connector into a Fiber Port

The 1000Base-SX fiber SC ports support multi-mode 62.5/125µm fiber.
The fiber connectors are configured as a receive (RX) / transmit (TX) pair.

This switch uses lasers to transmit signals over fiber optic
cable. The lasers are compliant with the requirements of a
Class 1 Laser Product and are inherently eye safe in normal
operation. However, you should never look directly at a
transmit port when it is powered on.

Before connecting cables, you may want to first configure
the Spanning Tree Protocol and trunk links to avoid network
loops. Refer to the Management Guide for more information.

1. Remove and keep the SC port’s rubber cover. When not connected

to a fiber cable, the rubber cover should be replaced to protect the
optics.

2. Check that the fiber terminators are clean. You can clean the cable
plugs by wiping them gently with a clean tissue or cotton ball
moistened with a little ethanol. Dirty fiber terminators on fiber optic
cables will impair the quality of the light transmitted through the cable
and lead to degraded performance on the port.

3. Connect one end of the cable to the SC port on the switch and the
other end to the SC port on the other device. Since SC connectors
are keyed, the cable can be attached in only one orientation.

4. As a connection is made, check the green Link LED on the switch
corresponding to the port to be sure that the connection is valid.

20 Installation VH-8G

APPENDIX A. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

General

Standards Compliance

IEEE 802.1D Transparent Bridging Specifications (ISO/IEC 10038)

IEEE 802.1p Traffic Class Expediting and Dynamic Multicast Filtering

IEEE 802.1Q Virtual Bridged Local Area Networks

IEEE 802.2 Local Area Networks, Logical Link Control (LLC)

IEEE 802.3 CSMA/CD 9 (ISO/IEC 8802-3)

IEEE 802.3z 1000Base-SX

IEEE 802.3x Flow Control

EIA RS-232C (DTE-to-DCE)

EIA RS-310C (19” rackmount)

Regulatory Compliance

Safety: UL 1950, CSA C22.2 No 950, 73/23/EEC, EN 60950, IEC 950

Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC): FCC Part 15, CSA C108.8,
89/336/EEC, EN 55022, EN 61000-3-2, EN 61000-3-3, EN 50082-1,
AS/NZS 3548, VCCI V-3

Data Rate

1000 Mbps 8B/10B encoded.

Environmental Specifications

Operating temperature: 32° to 122° F (0° to 50° C)

Operating humidity: 5 to 95% relative, non-condensing

Storage temperature: -40° to 158° F (-40° to 70° C)

Storage humidity: 5 to 95% relative, non-condensing

9033639 Technical Specifications 21

Electrical Specifications

Input voltage: 100-240 VAC

Input frequency: 50-60 Hz

Maximum power consumption: 80 VA

Physical

Height: 2.5 in. (6.4 cm)

Length: 11.2 in. (28.5 cm)

Width: 17.3 in. (44 cm mountable in a

standard 19 in. rack)

Weight: 10.14 lb. (4.6 kg)

22 Technical Specifications VH-8G

Port Specifications

Console Port

Table A-1 shows the console port pin assignments.

Table A-1. RS-232 Console Port Pin Assignments

Pin Signal Name

1 DCD

2RXD

3TXD

4DTR

5 Ground

6DSR

7RTS

8CTS

9RI

Power Cord Set Requirements

The wide-range input feature of the VH-8G Gigabit Ethernet switch
permits it to operate from any line voltage between 100 and 240 VAC.

The power cord set (appliance coupler, flexible cord, and wall plug) you
received with the switch meets the requirements for use in the country
where you purchased the switch.

Power cord sets for use in other countries must meet the requirements of
the country where you use the switch. For more information on power
cord set requirements, contact your Enterasys Networks Support
Representative.

General Requirements

The requirements listed below are applicable to all countries:

• The length of the power cord set must be at least 5.00 feet (1.5 m)

and a maximum of 6.56 feet (2.0 m).

• All power cord sets must be approved by an acceptable accredited

agency responsible for evaluation in the country where the power
cord set will be used.

9033639 Technical Specifications 23

• The power cord set must have a minimum current capacity of 10A

and a nominal voltage rating of 125 or 250 VAC, as required by each
country’s power system.

• The appliance coupler must meet the mechanical configuration of an

EN 60 320/IEC 320 Standard Sheet C13 connector for mating with
appliance inlet on the hub.

Country-Specific Requirements

Table A-2 lists the power cord set requirements by country and identifies
the accredited agency within that country.

Table A-2. Power Cord Set Requirements by Country

Country Accredited Agency See Notes *

Australia EANSW 1

Austria OVE 1

Belgium CEBC 1

Canada CSA 2

Denmark DEMKO 1

Finland FIMKO 1

France UTE 1

Germany VDE 1

Italy IMQ 1

Japan JIS 3

Netherlands KEMA 1

Norway NEMKO 1

Sweden SEMKO 1

Switzerland SEV 1

United Kingdom BSI 1

United States UL 2

* The note column includes a number. Associate this
number with the corresponding notes listed after the table
to obtain specific power standards and requirements.

24 Technical Specifications VH-8G

Note 1

Flexible cord must be <HAR> Type HO5VV-F or HO3VV-F, 3-conductor,

1.0 mm

2

, or 0.75 mm2 conductor size. Power cord set fittings (appliance
coupler and wall plug) must bear the certification mark of the agency
responsible for evaluation in the country where it will be used.

Note 2

Flexible cord must be Type SV, SJ, SPT or equivalent, No. 18 AWG,
3-conductor. Wall plug must be a two-pole grounding type with a NEMA
5-15P (15A, 125V) or NEMA 6-15P (15A 250V) configuration.

Note 3

Appliance coupler, flexible cord, and wall plug must bear a “T” mark and
registration number in accordance with the Japanese Dentori Law.
Flexible cord must be Type VCT or VCTF, 3-conductor, 0.75mm2
conductor size. Wall plug must be a two-pole grounding type with a
Japanese Industrial Standard C8303 (15A, 125V) configuration.

9033639 Technical Specifications 25

26 Technical Specifications VH-8G

APPENDIX B. FLOW CONTROL

Flow control is a mechanism which allows you to protect the switch from
overload conditions and to keep additional traffic off the network when
excessive congestion will result. Figure B-1 illustrates flow control for both
half- and full-duplex applications.

Figure B-1. Flow Control for Full- and Half-Duplex Applications

Each port of the switch has a transmit queue which buffers frames to be
sent out on that port. In this example, large amounts of data are being
sent from Workstation A (connected to port X) and other ports on the
switch to Workstation B (connected to port Y).The queue on port Y starts
filling up with data until it reaches a determined threshold. The packet
which causes the threshold to be exceeded triggers the flow-control
function on the port from which the packet entered the switch, in this case
port X.

Since port X is configured with flow control set to Enabled, the switch
responds by initiating a pause frame (full-duplex applications) or back­pressure mechanism (half-duplex applications). The pause frame causes
Workstation A to stop sending packets. After a certain amount of time has
elapsed, determined by a value in the pause frame, Workstation A will
resume sending data. Similarly, the back-pressure mechanism forces
Workstation A to stop sending packets by inducing collisions on port X.

The pause-frame flow-control mechanism supported by the VH-8G switch
conforms with the IEEE 802.3x specification for full-duplex flow control.

For the full-duplex pause-frame mechanism to work, the device
connected to the switch port must also support IEEE 802.3x flow control.
Flow control is configurable per port in the Port Configuration Menu of the
console menus, using the on-board Web agent, or via SNMP.

9033639 Flow Control 27

28 Flow Control VH-8G

APPENDIX C. ACRONYMS & ABBREVIATIONS

Term Definition

10Base-T 10 Mbps twisted-pair Ethernet

100Base-TX 100 Mbps twisted-pair Fast Ethernet

100Base-FX 100 Mbps fiber option Fast Ethernet

1000Base-SX 1000 Mbps fiber option short-wavelength

Gigabit Ethernet

1000Base-LX 1000 Mbps fiber option long-wavelength

Gigabit Ethernet

ANSI American National Standards Institute

BootP Bootstrap Protocol

CAT5 Category 5

CRC Cyclic Redundancy Check

CSMA/CD Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision

Detection

DCE Data Communications Equipment (modem)

DSR Data Send Ready

DTE Data Terminal Equipment

DTR Data Terminal Ready

ESD Electrostatic Discharge

FCS Frame Check Sequence

HTTP Hypertext Transfer Protocol

ICMP Internet Control Message Protocol

IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

IP Internet Protocol

LAN Local Area Network

MAC Media Access Control

MDI Media Dependent Interface

LED Light Emitting Diode

MDI Media Device Interface

MIB Management Information Base

RFC Request for Comment

RMON Remote Monitoring

RXD Receive Data

9033639 Acronyms & Abbreviations 29

Term Definition

SNMP Simple Network Management Protocol

TCP/IP Transmission Control Protocol/Internet

Protocol

TFTP Trivial File Transfer Protocol

TXD Transmit Data

UTP Unshielded Twisted Pair

VLAN Virtual LAN

30 Acronyms & Abbreviations VH-8G

INDEX

1000Base-SX fiber ports, 20

802.3x, 8

front panel components, 3
front panel LEDs, 3

I

A

architecture, switch, 2

B

back-pressure flow control, 27

C

cable

fiber specifications, 19

RS-232, 16
communication settings, 17
configuration and management, 6
console port

connecting to, 16

management interface, 6

pin assignments, 23

D

Data Rate, 21
DB-9 connector, 6
default settings, 9
dimensions of switch, 22
downloading software upgrades, 5
DTE connection, 16

IEEE 802.3x, 8, 27
in-band

configuration, 6

connection, 17
indicators, LED, 3
inspecting your shipment, 13

L

laser safety, iii
LED indicators, 2, 3
load balancing, 8

M

management features, 2
mounting ears, 15
mounting the switch

in a rack, 15

on a table or shelf, 14

site requirements, 13

N

network cables, 19
network management, 2

O

E

electrical specifications, 22
EMC compliance, 21
environmental specifications, 21

F

fault tolerance

port trunking, 8
features of switch, 2
fiber interface, 19
fiber ports, 3, 20
flow control

explained, 27

features, 7

9033639 Index 1

out-of-band configuration, 6

P

password protection, 6
pause frames, 27
physical specifications, 22
port LEDs

Activity, 3

Link, 3
port specifications, 23
port trunking, 8
port types, 2
power connector, defined, 4

power cord

attaching, 18
country-specific requirements, 24

set requirements, 23
power LED, 3
power source, requirements, 13
powering the switch, 18
power-up diagnostics, 16
power-up tests, 18

R

rear panel components, 4
redundant power connector, defined, 4
regulatory compliance, 21
Remote Monitoring (RMON), 6
RMON, 6
RS-232 connection, 6

S

standards compliance, IEEE, 21
switch features, 2
switch LEDs, 3

T

TCP/IP protocol, 6
Telnet

connection, 17

management access, 6
terminal, 6, 16
tests on power-up, 18
TFTP downloads, 5
transmit queues, 27
trunking, 8

V

ventilation, 14
VT100, 6

safety compliance, 21
SC ports, 3
serial port, 6
site requirements, 13
SNMP management, 6
specifications

electrical, 22
environmental, 21
fiber cable, 19
physical, 22
port, 23

W

Web browser, 6
Web-based network management, 6

X

XMODEM downloads, 5, 18

2 Index VH-8G

150183-103 R01