ZyXEL Communications GS-4012F, User Manual

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GS-4012F User’s Guide
Chapter 1 Getting to Know Your Switch 35
1.4 Applications
This section shows a few examples of using the switch in various network environments.
1.4.1 Backbone Application
In this application, the switch is an ideal solution for small networks where rapid growth can
be expected in the near future.
The switch can be used standalone for a group of heavy traffic users. You can connect
computers directly to the switch’s port or connect other switches to the switch.
In this example, all computers can share high-speed applications on the server. To expand the
network, simply add more networking devices such as switches, routers, computers, print
servers etc.
Figure 1 Backbone Application
1.4.2 Bridging Example
In this example application the switch connects different company departments ( RD and
Sales ) to the corporate backbone. It can alleviate bandwidth contention and eliminate server
and network bottlenecks. All users that need high bandwidth can connect to high-speed
department servers via the switch. You can provide a super-fast uplink connection by using a
Gigabit Ethernet/mini-GBIC port on the GS-4012F.
Moreover, the switch eases supervision and maintenance by allowing network managers to
centralize multiple servers at a single location.