Cabletron Systems Cabletron BRIM-F6, Networking Manual

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Ethernet Workgroup Design 6-7
Ethernet
Some Cabletron networking devices, through their support of PIMs and BRIMs,
will support a small number of connections using different media. For example,
an Ethernet network which is made up primarily of 10BASE-T links has a single
multimode fiber optic connection to a distant building. If a standalone or
stackable device which supports EPIMs is selected for the network in the main
location, an EPIM-F2 can be added to the device, eliminating the need for an
expensive external transceiver.
Interconnection
While most home offices are designed as islands of networking, not designed to
be connected to other networks, instances may arise where a small, simple
network requires a connection to a larger enterprise or facility network. In these
situations, it is recommended that the Network Designer no longer consider the
workgroup to be a home office, but design it in the same fashion as a small or
remote office. Small and remote office network designs for Ethernet are discussed
in detail in their respective sections later in this chapter.
Expandability
The importance of a smooth and simple path for adding users to the home office
network is something that, while usually not a driving factor in the decision
making process, should be considered.
Port Count
Once a decision has been reached on how essential management capabilities are
for the home office workgroup, the Network Designer must ensure that the
hardware selected will meet the required port count. If the selected device cannot
support the required number of users, additional devices need to be added to the
design or a complete redesign of the network needs to be undertaken. This
redesign may involve breaking the network up into smaller workgroups or
simply extending the Ethernet network to include more users.
Price
The price factor in any network design decision is a very important consideration.
Every designer wants to provide the highest level of functionality and
performance, including management, expansion, redundancy and fault tolerance.
These features all come with a price tag, however. In every case, there is a budget
or an allotted amount of funds to be considered. The specifics of pricing and
expense are a matter for you to decide, as this guide cannot tell you how much
money you have to invest.