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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® product range from 3Com has changed this, bringing networks to the small office. As the power of workstations and business applications increases, heavier demands are made on the available network bandwidth that, if unchecked, can lead to performance problems in a hub-based setup. Installing the OfficeConnect Switch 400 (3C16733), Switch 800 (3C16734) or Switch 1600 (3C16735) allows your network to be segmented so that traffic can be contained effectively, reducing the overall load without affecting access to critical resources. When referring to the OfficeConnect Switch 400, Switch 800 or Switch 1600, this guide uses the term ‘Switch’. The Switch is ideal for use with other OfficeConnect products. It is compact and attractively designed for desktop use. The Switch is part of the OfficeConnect range which neatly stacks together with clips, providing a range of facilities. Small Network with OfficeConnect Switch (Circle Shows Units Clipped Together) For information on these products, see the “OfficeConnect Product Range” sheet that accompanies this product. The Switch has 4, 8 or 16 10/100BASE-TX ports. This allows you to set up a network with both 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX hubs and workstations. INTRODUCTION Part No. DUA1673-4AAA01 Published February 1999 OFFICECONNECT® SWITCH USER GUIDE 400, 800, 1600 CREATING YOUR NETWORK Networking Terminology Networking Terminology A Local Area Network (LAN) is a network, usually in an office, that spans no more than a single site. Ethernet is a type of LAN, referring to the technology used to pass information around the network. It operates at 10Mbps (megabits per second). Fast Ethernet is a type of LAN that runs up to 10 times faster than standard Ethernet. It operates at 100Mbps. 10BASE-T is the name given to the Ethernet protocol that runs over Twisted Pair (TP) cable. 100BASE-TX is the name given to the Fast Ethernet protocol that runs over Twisted Pair (TP) cable. A Network Loop occurs when two pieces of network equipment are connected by more than one path. A Segment is the length of cable connected to a port. Packets are the units of information your workstations and other equipment send to each other over the network. A Frame is the data part of the packet and can be Unicast (sent to a single device), Multicast (sent to multiple devices), or Broadcast (sent to all devices). Bandwidth refers to the amount of network traffic the network can hold at any one time (information capacity) measured in bits per second (bps). Workstations or applications that use the network heavily are referred to as using high bandwidth (these are usually users who do a lot of graphical or multi-media work across the network). Fast Ethernet has a higher bandwidth than Ethernet, so it can cope with larger amounts of traffic, which results in faster operation. Full duplex operation allows information to be transmitted and received simultaneously and, in effect, doubles the potential throughput of a link. How the Switch Can Be Used Switching When a network of repeater hubs is in operation, any information that is sent by the workstations is passed around the whole network (regardless of the destination of the information). This can result in a lot of unnecessary traffic that can slow the network down. The Switch solves this problem because it ‘listens’ to the network and automatically learns what workstations can be reached through its ports. It can then selectively pass on any information by transmitting the traffic from the relevant port only (instead of all ports like a repeater hub). This operation is called ‘switching’. The Switch effectively divides up your network, localizing the network traffic and passing on traffic as necessary (as shown in the diagram). If you have workstations that communicate frequently in the same part of the network, traffic between them is not passed to the remainder of the network, reducing the load. If you have any high performance workstations that require a lot of bandwidth, connect them directly to the Switch. The Switch Separates Your Network and Controls the Information Effectively Connecting 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX Networks The 10/100 ports can each be connected to either a 10BASE-T or 100BASE-TX network. If you have both types of network, you can connect them using the Switch so that all your workstations can communicate. Alternatively, if you use 10BASE-T and want to improve performance by introducing 100BASE-TX, the Switch protects your investments because it maintains 10BASE-T connections to your original network equipment. Before You Start Your OfficeConnect Switch comes with: . One power adapter for use with the Switch. The Switch 400 and Switch 1600 have an additional power cord for use with the power adapter. . A Product Registration card for you to fill out and return...