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Installing the SMC6624M Switch
Sample Network Topologies
In
sta
llin
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th
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SMC
6624M
Sw
itc
h
As a Segment Switch
The SMC6624M switch also works well as a segment switch. That is, with its
high performance, it can be used for interconnecting network segments —
simply connect the network hubs that form those segments to the switch, or
you can also connect other switches.
In the illustration above, two “Fast” Ethernet hubs with PCs, printers, and local
servers attached, are both connected to a SMC6624M. The devices attached
to the two hubs can now communicate with each other through the switch.
They can also all communicate with the server that is connected to the switch
through a 100/1000Base-T module installed in the switch.
Because the SMC6624M switch has the “Auto MDI/MDI-X” feature, the connec-
tions between the switch and the hubs, and between the switch and end nodes
or servers can be through category 5 “straight-through” or “crossover” twisted-
pair cable. Category 3 or 4 cable can also be used if the connection is 10 Mbps
only. In all cases, the device ports must be configured to auto negotiate the
link characteristics for this feature to work.
The switch, in turn, can be connected to a network backbone through fiber-
optic cabling connected to a 1000Base-SX/LX module installed in the switch.
Now, all the devices on these network segments can access other network
resources that are connected elsewhere on the network backbone.
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Clear
Reset
Self
Test
Fan
Status
Link
Act
Link
Act
Conso
le
Power
Fault
Printers
Printers
Gigabit
fiber-optic cable
to backbone
“Fast”
Ethernet
Hubs
PCs,
printers,
and local
servers
SMC6624M
Server with
“Gigabit”
Ethernet NIC
twisted-pair
“straight-through”
cables to
end nodes
twisted-pair “straight-
through” or “crossover”
cables to hubs
category 5 twisted-pair “straight-through” or
“crossover” cable for 1000 Mbps connection to server
