Cabletron Systems MMAC-5FNB, Networking Manual

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Workgroup Creation 4-5
Network Design
An even trade-off is made in reliability in networks organized in this fashion.
While the organization of the network into departmental workgroups increases
the inherent complexity of the network by creating several segments based on
function, the loss of a workgroup will disrupt the operation of only that
workgroup, allowing the operation of other workgroups to continue with no
disruption other than the loss of communication with the faulty
workgroup/department.
Common Function
Segmentation by common function is often used to provide further division of the
network within larger overall departments, or to facilitate the use of certain
network applications by specific end users common throughout much of the
department. An example of this might be the creation of a Documentation
workgroup in a corporation within which each department had a dedicated
Documentation person handling recording and reporting. This would create
workgroups of the members of each department (R&D, Sales, Receiving, etc.) and
one workgroup which encompassed only the Documentation personnel of each
department, who, although working in different departments, all require access to
the same functions through the network.
Figure 4-3. Common Function Workgroups
: Sales Workstations
: Research Workstations
: Receiving Workstations
: Workgroup A
: Workgroup B
: Workgroup C
: Documentation Personnel
: Workgroup D