IBM Ethernet Switch B48Y
6
IronStack technology
Table 5 lists several technology options available for the access layer of the network.
Table 5. Technology options available for the access layer of the network
Fixed port switches
Pros: low acquisition costs
z
Cons: switches need to be
z
managed individually
Fi xed port, stackable switches
Pros: flexible, pay as you
z
go, cost-effective
management
Cons: performance
z
compared with modular
chassis
Modular switch chassis
Pros: high performance,
z
port density, availability
Cons: initial acquisition
z
cost, price per port
Organizations need a flexible network architecture that can be reconfigured easily as they grow, while
keeping management complexity down. Stacking allows multiple, discrete switches to be aggregated into
a single logical device, simplifying deployment and ongoing management. Fixed port, stackable switches
provide chassis-like operations such as single IP management, cross-switch link aggregation, local
switching of data within a stack, and port mirroring at near the economies of fixed port switches.
IronStack technology found on the IBM Ethernet Switch B48Y and matured over several product
generations provides such capabilities along with resilient operations including automatic switch failover,
hot switch insertion and removal, and automatic detection of shortest path when the network changes.