Bay Networks 58000, Installation And Reference Manual

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Connecting Model 58000 Switches
893-878-B 2-39
The maximum number of Model 58000 switches that can be connected
together within a switch community is 32. However, only seven Model 58000
switches can be connected between end stations. (See
Seven-switch Limit
Between End Stations later in this chapter for more information about the
maximum allowable network diameter of a network that includes Model 58000
switches.)
For connection instructions and illustrations, see Connecting Individual
Workstations, Servers, and Other Ethernet Devices in Chapter 5, “Connecting
to the Network.”
Address Learning Across Trunk Links
A single Model 58000 switch learns the addresses of all the stations directly
attached to its ports through a “local” address learning method. The
Model 58000 switch learns new source addresses after a new end station sends
its first frame to the switch. The switch learns and stores source addresses in a
MAC address table associated with each switch port.
If two Model 58000 switches are connected by a trunk link, local learning is
disabled on the trunk link, and the two switches share address information
directly through the global address learning process.
After installing a Model 58000 switch or connecting new devices to a
Model 58000 switch, make sure end stations are not connected to trunk links.
Doing so helps avoid common connectivity-related problems along trunk links.
To identify which ports are assigned to support trunk links, review the service
port System Information screen. Ports used to connect to other Model 58000
switches are identified as “trunk” ports on this screen. For information about
the service port menus, refer to
Chapter 6
.”
CAUTION: No stations should be attached (individually or through repeaters)
to the trunk link connecting Model 58000 switches because the global address
learning process does not learn the addresses of any such end stations. Trunk
links must be strictly point-to-point connections.
NOTE:
If the switch ports that connect the switches are configured for feeder
mode, the link is not designated a trunk link. In this case, you can connect end
stations to the link through a shared-media hub. For information about
configuring ports for feeder mode, refer to
Configurable Port Types earlier in
this chapter.
893-878-B Book Page 39 Monday, May 12, 1997 2:06 PM