GarrettCom 4K16 - Manual (Page 18)

Magnum 4K16 Switches Installation and User Guide (12/05)
12
www GarrettCom com . .
2.4 Applications
Magnum 4K16 Switches offer high performance flexibility, and are easily used
in a variety of applications including client/server computing, performance upgrades of
departmental networks, and collapsed backbone applications. The Dual-Speed
characteristic of the 4K16 Switches enables them to inter-connect a series of subnets (one
subnet per 4K-Series Switch) in a LAN traffic center. The subnet connections may be via
either optional fiber or twisted pair cabling, and may be 100Mbps or 10 Mbps speed and
full-or half-duplex mode. The 16 ports switching capability of 4K16 allow to support a
larger network with multiple workgroups.
The mixed-media capability is ideal for upgrading existing Ethernet LAN
networks, where existing cabling must be accommodated. The fiber-built-in media
capability is ideal for integrating future-proof fiber cabling into the LAN structure.
Example1: In general application, a Switch is needed to provide a Fast Ethernet
departmental backbone. A switch is needed to provide a Fast Ethernet departmental
LAN center requiring sixteen high speed LAN segments, at least 14 operating over
100Mbps full-duplex RJ-45 lines. In addition to interconnecting the two fiber backbone
segments in the network center, the Switch needs to provide high-speed switched support
for two central servers, for a connection to a router, and a combination of 10 and
100Mbps ports for a local workgroup of over a dozen users, printers, etc.
The Magnum 4K16 equipped with two optional Fiber port and 16 RJ-45 port
modules provides an economical solution, configured with 16 switched ports ( 10/100
RJ-45) in a rack-mount box. The two Fiber FKM can be selected to provide any
100Mbps fiber media connector type desired.
This requirement for connecting local devices over twisted pair cabling is
handled by the Magnum 4K16.With the optional Fiber-Port Module, a 2-port FKM, there
is a switched port for distance and high bandwidth throughput to the remote department
consisting of 4 users.
Since 100Mb fiber Ethernet has severe distance limitations at half-duplex, it is
necessary in high speed backbones to operate fiber links in the full-duplex mode. Many
low-end switches that only have RJ-45 N-way 10/100Mb ports would need to have a
media converter on each fiber line. But most media converters do not support auto-
negotiation and would not enable the fiber backbone lines to operate full-duplex. But the
Magnum 4K16 . . . with two optional switched fiber ports at 100Mb speed, with full-