Network Design
4-16
Backbone Planning
•
Ease of Expandability - Since the cables of the collapsed backbone originate
from a patch panel in one location, adding new cable runs to accommodate
new workgroups or to bypass outmoded ones is a simple matter of changing
a few jumper cables. If the network cabling was planned far enough in
advance, the facility cabling required to add new workgroups to the backbone
network may be already in place, requiring only a set of jumper cables and a
short amount of time to connect. The use of a collapsed backbone can ease the
transition from a backbone network with no controlling hardware to a device
collapsed backbone in the future.
•
Simplified Troubleshooting - Workgroups can be bypassed by simply
re-configuring a single patch panel. This can easily isolate a problem segment
for troubleshooting, and keeps the backbone network from being kept in a
fault condition.
•
Moderate Control - The isolation of workgroups and the reorganization of the
backbone network is simplified with the collapsed backbone, but the system
does not incorporate any management features beyond the physical
connections of facility cabling. For advanced and detailed network control
operations, the device collapsed backbone (discussed below) is superior to the
collapsed backbone alone.
Devices as Backbones
Once a collapsed backbone has been designed, it is a simple matter to connect the
multiple backbone cables together through a device. Often this device is a
multiport router, network switch, or a modular chassis. The use of a device of this
type to make the connections between workgroups greatly increases the control
that Network Managers have over the network, and may improve performance
by streamlining the communications between networks.
Figure 4-8. Device Collapsed Backbone
hub
hub
hub
hub
Ethernet Switch
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Summary of Contents for MMAC-5FNB
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