Introducing the Network 9000 Routing Hub
A variety of communications options are provided by Xyplex-supplied products, which consist
of the processor and I/O modules (Figure 1-1 depicts Network 9000 Hub processor modules).
You install product modules and power supply modules into the appropriate locations in the
Network 9000 chassis (see Figure 1-2). The Network 9000 architecture provides you with the
flexibility to choose from a variety of Xyplex product modules, so you can easily customize your
configuration for current needs without restricting your network growth. These options
include: multi-protocol terminal servers, remote and local bridge/routers, 10Base-T/10Base-
FL (FOIRL) concentrators, FDDI-to-Ethernet bridge/routers, and token-ring concentrators.
An adaptor module allows you to use cards from the Xyplex MAXserver product family with the
Network 9000 Hub.
You can also choose from a family of power supply modules, including managed and
unmanaged power supplies. Managed power supplies are designed to provide status information
over the network, and can respond to certain commands entered by a network manager. The
Network 9000 power supply system is designed so that you can add power supplies as your
network needs grow. These power supplies are also designed to operate in redundant or fault-
tolerant modes, by simply installing additional power supplies into the chassis.
1.2.1
Network 9000 Multimedia Midplane
The heart of the Network 9000 Hub is the multimedia midplane. It is called a midplane
because it is located in the middle of the enclosure (instead of the front or back as with most
hubs). The midplane enhances flexibility and reliability by permitting separate I/O and
processor modules which can be swapped independently.
The midplane supports three Ethernet LAN segments, four IEEE 802.5 Token Ring LAN
segments, a dual-ring FDDI LAN segment, a local management bus (LMB), and power lines.
The LMB provides a common communications channel for any native Network 9000 product
module to use, independent of the LANs to which it may be connected. Manageable power
supplies can also connect to the LMB. As a dedicated management bus, the LMB facilitates the
management of modules regardless of the state (off line, active, reset, loading software, etc) of
the module.
Figure 1-2 depicts the location of the midplane in a Network 9000 chassis. As shown in Figure
1-2, there are circuit boards that plug into one side of the midplane which are called called
processor modules. These modules hold the processing power of the product. Circuit boards
which plug into the opposite side of the midplane are called I/O modules. These modules
contain connectors for making external connections to devices. Some products (such as
terminal servers, bridge/routers, managed concentrators, etc) require both a processor and an
I/O module to function. Other products (unmanaged 10Base-T or 10Base-FL/FOIRL
concentrators) require only the I/O module to function.
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