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Ethernet Overview 147
Benefits Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, and Gigabit Ethernet technologies allow you to
configure and optimize:
■
Link bandwidths
■
Link availability
Link Bandwidths
As your network needs to support more users and increasingly
bandwidth-intensive applications, you can configure Ethernet networks
to keep pace with (or exceed) the capacity demands at two locations:
■
To end stations — Depending on your application needs and
network growth, you can migrate workstation connections from
shared 10-Mbps to switched 100-Mbps Fast Ethernet. 3Com’s
Ethernet network interface cards (NICs) can automatically sense and
configure themselves to an upgraded connection speed.
■
Between servers and switches — Ethernet systems allow you to
increase the bandwidth between switches or between servers and
switches as your network requires. This increase is accomplished using
trunking technology (also called link aggregation ), which works at
Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) Layer 2. For more information
about trunking, see Chapter 12.
Link Availability
Ethernet technologies also allow you to design high levels of availability
into your network through the use of trunking. A trunk enhances
network availability because its underlying TCMP technology detects and
handles physical configuration errors in point-to-point configurations. For
more information about trunking, see Chapter 12.
Other Benefits
The hierarchy of Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, and Gigabit Ethernet
technologies offers these additional network benefits:
■
Ease of configuration and expansion of point-to-point links
■
Increased support for workstation moves, adds, changes, and
upgrades
■
Low-cost expansion of switch-to-switch or switch-to-server
bandwidths without having to change device modules or cabling
■
With PACE Interactive Access, reduction of network jitter, improved
network timing, and optimization of LAN bandwidth use