IBM BM 8270 User Manual
Fully configurable Token-Ring LAN switch at a
competitive cost
IBM 8270 Nways LAN Switch Family
Highlights
• Flexible enough to meet your
exact needs
• Layer 3 switching
• Multiprotocol support
• Full-duplex (bi-directional)
communication
• ATM uplinks
• Three new MSS Universal Feature
Cards
New model
A new member has been added to the
IBM 8270 Nways
Token-Ring LAN switches. The new
Model 600 joins the Model 800, providing
a smaller, entry configuration (six slots).
Both models allow flexible configuration
with rich functionality provided by the
common set of Universal Feature Cards
they share. Similar to the Model 800, a
typical network would benefit from the
Model 600 by having each of its highvolume servers placed on dedicated
full-duplex segments and having client
workstations placed on shared segments using standard Token-Ring
concentrators such as the IBM 8239
Token-Ring Hub.
New features
Two new UFCs extend MSS forwarding
and routing services to the 8270 Nways
LAN Switch Family. Both the MSS Client
®
LAN Switch family of
and MSS Domain Client Universal
Feature Cards (UFCs) provide forwarding and routing services. The MSS Client
also has an integrated ATM port and
provides ATM-to-LAN port bridging.
These client-function products complete
the MSS client/server family and allow
the MSS Server products to perform their
job in the network at maximum efficiency.
Along with virtual LAN (VLAN) support by
protocol, OSI Layer 2 and 3 forwarding of
IP, IPX, AppleTalk and Banyan VINES
protocols are provided.
Cost-effective Token-Ring
switching
The IBM 8270 Nways Token-Ring LAN
Switch provides a cost-effective solution
to Token-Ring LAN performance
requirements. With a minimum of
disruption to existing networks, you can
significantly address LAN performance.
IBM 8270 Nways Token-Ring Switch
Model 600
IBM 8270 Nways Token-Ring Switch
Model 800
A powerful LAN switch
With the 8270 you can build large
switched networks with high-speed
uplinks. A redundant power supply is
available to help ensure continuous
operation.
You can configure the versatile, modular
8270 LAN switch to:
• Add from 4 to 30 ports to your network
configuration, more ports per switch than
any other model.
• Install uplink UFCs to connect native
protocols to high-speed links like highspeed Token Ring, ATM or the IBM 8260
Nways Multiprotocol Switching Hub.
Available UFCs include:
• 4-Port Token-Ring Enhanced UTP/STP
• 2-Port Token-Ring Enhanced Fiber
• 1-Port ATM Token-Ring II MMF
• MMS Client MMF
• MSS Client SMF
• MSS Domain Client
Chassis-based for flexibility
Universal Feature Card slots allow you
to build a wide variety of switched
network configurations using the broad
set of optional feature cards that are
shared between both models. This set
of features provides copper and fiber
Token-Ring ports, high-speed uplinks
and Multiprotocol Switched Services
(MSS) Client support. This expands the
capabilities of the 8270 with a sophisticated set of VLAN, filtering and Layer 3
switching functions. Unrestricted by a
fixed-port configuration, the UFCs can be
used in each of the slots of the IBM 8270
to construct a wide variety of switched
networks.
1. 2210 Ro uter
2. 8230 Controlled Access Unit
3. 8229 Bridge
4. 8239 Token-Ring Stackable Hub
Figure 1. A typical Token-Ring LAN experiencing congestion
High-speed forwarding
When configured with the appropriate
number of Token-Ring Universal Feature
Cards, the 8270 provides high-speed
forwarding of Token-Ring frames among
shared or dedicated Token-Ring LAN
segments. Similar in function to a
multiport bridge, the 8270 forwards
Token-Ring frames from one port to
another, based on Token-Ring MAC
addresses. The 8270 creates multiple,
parallel paths among the connected
Token-Ring LAN segments and devices.
Supports full-duplex
communication
The 8270 supports full-duplex communication with LAN stations equipped with
full-duplex Token-Ring adapters. Fullduplex Token-Ring connections can
provide up to twice the bandwidth (up to
32 Mbps) of standard half-duplex
connections.
1. 2210 Ro uter
2. 8230 Controlled Access Unit
3. 8229 Bridge
4. 8239 Token-Ring Stackable Hub
5. 8270 Nways Token-Ring LAN Switch Model 60 0
Figure 2. A Token-Ring switch relieving that congestion
Added capacity and flexibility
With the 8270 you get added capacity
and flexibility at a low cost per port.
The LAN shown in Figure 1 has provided
excellent service in this data environment. But growth and new graphics
applications are causing performance
problems on this traditional, sharedmedia, 16-Mbps LAN.
Combining switching, full-duplexattached servers and micro-segmented,
shared-media LANs (Figure 2) gives the
following advantages:
• No change to installed adapters
• No change to house wiring
• No change to application software
• Fewer users per segment
• More bandwidth per user
• Reduction in the number of bridges
• Reduced complexity
• Reduced cost
1. 2210 Ro uter
2. 8230 Controlled Access Unit
3. 8228 MAU
4. 8270 Nways LAN Switch Model 600
5. 8272 Nways Token-Ring LAN Model 108
6. 8226 Token-Ring RJ45 Connection
7. 8239 Token-Ring Stackable Hub
8270 Nways LAN Switch Family
Model 800
Backbones remain overburdened by
demands of e-mail, busy servers and
Internet traffic (see Figure 3). Until now
all you could do was install a faster,
shared-media LAN like FDDI.
The 8270 Model 800 can act as a
powerful workgroup switch or replace
the entire backbone with a single switch
(see Figure 4). Use TokenPipes to double
or quadruple the bandwidth if you need
it. TokenPipe allows you to connect up to
four parallel, 32-Mbps paths between
any two Token-Ring switches, providing
as much capacity between switches as
you need. This solution means:
• No change to application software
• Elimination or reduction of bridges
• Elimination of all routers except those on
the periphery
• Scalable bandwidth between switches
using TokenPipes
• Simplified network management
Figure 3. Backbone congestion
1. 2210 R oute r
2. 8230 Controlled Access Unit
3. 8228 MAU
4. 8270 Nways Token-Ring LAN Model 600
5. 8272 Nways Token-Ring LAN Model 108
6. 8226 Token-Ring RJ45 Connection
7. 8239 Token-Ring Stackable Hub
8. 8270 Nways LAN Switch Model 80 0
Figure 4. The 8270 Model 800 relieves backbone congestion
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