Cabletron Systems Cabletron BRIM-F6, Networking Manual

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Ethernet
6-6 Ethernet Workgroup Design
Abstracting the Design Process
There are a series of logical stages that must be kept in mind when designing a
network for any location, including the relatively simple home office. The first
parts of the design process involve the decisions relating to the technology and
media to be used in the workgroup. The complex nature of these questions can be
intimidating to a new Network Designer, but the importance of good planning in
these initial stages cannot be underestimated. A good decision can make a final
design that is capable, flexible, and easy to implement, while a haphazard
selection can lead to great difficulties in modifying the selected network
organization to fit mismatched needs. The selection of a networking technology
and the organization of stations into workgroups and enterprise networks is
treated in detail in the Cabletron Networking Guide - MMAC-FNB Solutions.
If the Ethernet networking technology is selected for a workgroup technology, a
series of new decisions must be made to narrow that selection down to specific
Cabletron Systems networking devices and a specific network implementation.
Management
The selection of a level of network management and control level is a primary
selection criteria, and one that quickly divides Ethernet networking devices into
compliant and non-compliant categories. Manageable, or “intelligent” devices,
while more costly than non-intelligent devices, allow the control of ports and
connections through software and the monitoring of network traffic and statistics.
This port control and statistics monitoring can greatly ease the troubleshooting
process when network problems are detected. The larger a network is, the more
important management capabilities become.
Media
While the selection of a suitable networking media or cabling for the home office
network is a task that should be undertaken at the initial stages of network
planning, along with deciding upon a networking technology, it is important to
know how flexible the design can be with respect to media. If the product that
best fits 90% of the requirements is not available with the media connections that
were planned on, is it possible that the media used could be changed rather than
replacing the selected device? In some situations, this will be the case. In others,
the existing or planned media cannot be replaced or substituted out.
In most home office situations, the cabling to be used in the network will be
jumper cabling, which either remains loose and exposed or is taped to the wall or
floor. The media in home offices, therefore, is relatively easy to change, as long as
all safety and distance limitations are met.