Cabletron Systems FlowPoint 2100 12, User Manual

Introduction

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Features

Processor

The 9E428-12/36 and 9E429-12/36 modules are equipped with an advanced Intel 
i960 microprocessor. This microprocessor provides a platform for all management 
functions such as Spanning Tree, RMON, and MIB support, within a scalable 
RISC-Based architecture.

Fast Packet Switching

The 9E428-12/36 and 9E429-12/36 modules incorporate a hardware based switch 
design referred to as the SmartSwitch ASIC, a collection of custom ASICs 
designed specifically for high speed switching. Because all frame translation, 
address lookups, and forwarding decisions are performed in hardware, these 
modules can obtain a throughput performance of greater than 750K pps.

Management

The 9E428-12/36 and 9E429-12/36 feature SNMP for local and remote 
management. Local management is provided through the RS-232 COM ports on 
the SmartSwitch 9000 Environmental Module, using a standard VT-220 

TM

terminal or emulator. Remote management is possible through Cabletron’s 
SPECTRUM or any SNMP-compliant management tool. Included as management 
features are the IETF Standard Management Information Base (MIBs) RMON 
(RFC1271), IETF MIB II (RFC-1213), IETF Bridge MIB (RFC-1493), and a host of 
other Cabletron enterprise MIBs. These modules also offer you a wide variety of 
statistical network management information to enhance network planning and 
troubleshooting. The 9E428-12/36 and 9E429-12/36 provide information for each 
front panel Ethernet 10BASE-FL port, including packet counts along with errored 
frame information such as collisions, CRCs, and Giants, via a variety of industry 
standard and private MIBS. Industry standard IEEE 802.1d bridging, including 
Spanning Tree Algorithm, is supported.

Connectivity

The 9E428-12/36 and 9E429-12/36 modules have one interface to the INB and 
either 12 or 36 front port ST connectors. The INB interface is a fixed connection to 
INB-B that allows the 9E428 and 9E429 modules to communicate with other 
SmartSwitch 9000 modules supporting various LAN technologies including: 
Token Ring, FDDI, Ethernet, WAN and ATM. The 9E428-12/36 multimode ST 
connectors provide 12 or 36 Ethernet 10BASE-FL connections, with links up to 
2000 meters in length, when operating in half duplex. The 9E429-12/36 single 
mode ST connectors provide 12 or 36 Ethernet 10BASE-FL connections, with links 
up to 5000 meters in length, when operating in half duplex.

Standard Ethernet/Full Duplex Operation

The 9E428-12/36 and 9E429-12/36 modules support 10BASE-FL. The use of 
10BASE-FL allows each port on the modules to be configured, through local and 
or remote management (SNMP), to operate in standard Ethernet mode (simplex)