EGig Smart Switch eG8G, Quick Installation Manual, Page: 6 / 29

4
Connecting the Switch System
Making a Connection to an RJ-45 Port
The RJ-45 ports on the 1000BASE-T model operate at 10 Mbps, 100 Mbps, and 1000 Mbps, full
and half duplex, with support for auto-negotiation of speed, duplex mode and flow control. You
can connect any RJ-45 port on the switch to any server or workstation, or uplink to a network
device such as another switch or a router. The 1000BASE-T standard uses four pairs of Category 5
twisted-pair cable for connections up to a maximum length of 100 m (328 feet).
Note:
For 1000 Mbps operation, you should first test the cable installation for IEEE 802.3ab
1000BASE-T compliance. See “1000BASE-T Cable Requirements” on page 23 for more
information.
1. Prepare the devices you wish to network. For 1000 Mbps operation, make sure that servers
and workstations have installed 1000BASE-T network interface cards. Other network
devices should have RJ-45 ports that comply with the IEEE 802.3ab 1000BASE-T standard.
2. Prepare shielded or unshielded twisted-pair cables (straight-through or crossover) with RJ-45
plugs at both ends. Use 100-ohm Category 5 (Category 5e or better is recommended) cable
for 1000 Mbps Gigabit Ethernet connections.
3. Connect one end of the cable to the RJ-45 port on the other device, and the other end to any
available RJ-45 port on the switch. When inserting an RJ-45 plug, be sure the tab on the plug
clicks into position to ensure that it is properly seated.
Caution: Do not plug a phone jack connector into any RJ-45 port. This may damage the switch.
Instead, use only twisted-pair cables with RJ-45 connectors that conform with FCC standards.
Notes: 1.
For 1000 Mbps operation, all four wire pairs in the cable must be connected.
2.
1000BASE-T ports support auto MDI/MDI-X, which means that at any operating speed
(10, 100, or 1000 Mbps), either straight-through or crossover cables can be used to connect
to any server, workstation, or other network device. (Refer to “Port and Cable
Assignments” on page 22 for more information.)
3.
Make sure each twisted-pair cable does not exceed 100 meters (328 feet).
Powering On the Switch
1. Plug the power cord into the power socket on the rear of the switch, and the other end into a
power outlet. (If you have purchased a redundant power supply, plug it into the “DC INPUT”
receptacle on the rear of the switch.)
2. Check the LED marked Power on the front panel to see if it is on. The unit will automatically
select the setting that matches the connected input voltage. Therefore, no additional
adjustments are necessary when connecting it to any input voltage within the range marked
on the rear panel.
Note: The unit supports a “hot remove” feature which permits you to connect or disconnect cables
without powering off the switch and without disrupting the operation of the devices attached to
the switch.