3.4 Making Trunk Connections
Two switch units can be cascaded together through any regular switched data port on each unit when a
port expansion is required. However, the transfer bandwidth between the two cascaded ports is limited to
200Mbps full duplex. To increase the bandwidth for the connection between two switch units, a trunking
function is implemented on the switch unit for this purpose. Normal data ports can be configured
optionally as trunking ports through the network management operation.
Two or more trunking ports composes one trunk. Two switch units can be cascaded through one trunk.
The aggregated bandwidth of one trunk can be up to 800Mbps, if 4 trunking ports are used for one
trunk.
Refer to the software operation manuals in the supplied CD-ROM for more information about how to
configure a data port as a trunking port.
The following figure illustrates an example of 4-port trunk connection between switch A and switch B.
The Port 3, 4, 5 and 6 of switch A are configured as trunking ports and compose one trunk. The Port 5,
6, 7, and 8 of switch B are configured as trunking ports and compose one trunk. The aggregated band
width of the trunk is 800Mbps.
Rules :
1. One switch can be configured to have up to 4 trunks and each trunk can be composed of up to 4
trunking ports. All port members of one trunk must locate in same group, either in group [port 1-port
12] or in group [port 13 - port 24].
2. One trunking port can only belong to one trunk.
3. Only one trunk can exist between two switch units.
4. Crossover UTP cables should be used at the same time for one trunk connection. The length of each
cable can be up to 100 meters.
5. When the switched data ports are enabled as trunking ports, they can only serve trunking function, but
no other data function.
6. Since the trunking is proprietary, the switches do not support trunk connection to other brands switches.
Switch A - Trunk: Port #3 - #6
Switch B - Trunk: Port #5 - #8
All crossover UTP cables
100 meters maximum
One trunk
11