Enterasys Networks Fast Network 10 - Manual (Page 54)

Chapter 3: Configuring Your FN10
Page 3-12 Fast Network 10 User Guide
3.8 DEFINING AND DELETING WORKGROUPS
The FN10 allows you to define logical groups of associated hosts (virtual
workgroups) to provide a more efficient flow of traffic across your
Ethernet network.
Virtual workgroups offer you the ability to limit broadcasts to logical
domains within the network. Workgroup destinations are recognized by
the FN10 and packets are routed directly to hosts within the workgroup,
eliminating the need to perform a general broadcast across each segment
of the network to find specific host addresses.
Figure 3-3 shows a FN10 that has been programmed to identify
workgroups A and B. Workgroup A uses ports 3 through 5, and
workgroup B uses ports 7 and 11. Port 16 connects a segment that
contains both workgroup A and workgroup B hosts.
Figure 3-3 Defining Virtual Workgroups
FN10
Router
A A A B B B
A B
Workgroup A Workgroup B
A A B B