User manual LINKSYS EG0801W

[. . . ] Instant Gigabit Series EtherFast® 10/100/1000 8+1 Workgroup GigaSwitch Use this guide to install : EG0801W User Guide COPYRIGHT & TRADEMARKS Copyright © 2001 Linksys, All Rights Reserved. Microsoft, Windows, and the Windows logo are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All other trademarks and brand names are the property of their respective proprietors. LIMITED WARRANTY Linksys guarantees that every EtherFast® 10/100/1000 8+1 Workgroup GigaSwitch is free from physical defects in material and workmanship under normal use for ONE year from the date of purchase. [. . . ] In addition to full-duplex transfer, your Switch surges your network with dedicated bandwidth to each node. For instance, if you connect five computers to your EtherFast 10/100/1000 8+1 Workgroup GigaSwitch, then each computer will get a dedicated bandwidth of 100Mbps at full duplex transfer. If you run 5 computers from a 100Mbps hub, then each computer will only share a part of the 100Mbps bandwidth. A network without a switch is called a shared network because every node on the network competes for a fraction of the total bandwidth. In a shared network, data packets are randomly broadcasted to all stations until they discover their intended destination. Consequently, considerable time and bandwidth is wasted on data packets swimming along network lines before they find their correct address. A switch, on the other hand, looks at the address for each data packet and delivers it directly to the correct destination. Gigabit Ethernet is ideal for deployment as a backbone interconnect between 10/100BASE-T switches, and as a connection to high-performance servers. The Switch will have dedicated communication with all its connections simultaneously, whereas a hub will only communicate in half-duplex transfer mode and broadcasts information to all ports. · Conserving Bandwidth with 10Mbps & 100Mbps Segments 10BaseT and 100BaseTX hardware are not readily compatible, but your 10/100 Switch can designate network segments of different speeds. This allows you to run one 10Mbps segment to serve users without a need for considerable speed, and a faster 100Mbps segment devoted to users who depend heavily on graphics, multimedia, database, or other speed-intensive applications. With switched segmentation, your 100Mbps users will not be slowed down by the users on the 10Mbps segment. · Run 10Mbps Peripherals in Your Fast Ethernet Network Most of the network peripherals in place today run at 10Mbps, since 10BaseT has been the standard network speed to date. These peripherals, designed to operate at 10Mbps, cannot readily communicate with 100BaseTX equipment. A 10Mbps interface is also required for cable and DSL connections, which are quickly becoming very popular ways to access the Internet. Your 10/100 Switch provides your 10BaseT equipment and cable and DSL lines with a 10Mbps interface while still running your Fast Ethernet devices at 100Mbps. · Strengthen Data Transfers Through Signal Regeneration Your Switch functions as a repeater, which regenerates data signals as they pass through it. This feature acts as a safeguard to deter data loss and ensure that transmissions arrive at their destination intact. Switches positioned between hubs can preserve your data's integrity and eliminate your need to buy and use repeaters in your Fast Ethernet network. 8 9 Instant Gigabit Series EtherFast® 10/100/1000 8+1 Workgroup GigaSwitch Glossary 10BaseT - An Ethernet standard that uses twisted wire pairs. 100BaseTX - IEEE physical layer specification for 100 Mbps over two pairs of Category 5 UTP or STP wire. 1000BASE-T - provides half-duplex (CSMA/CD) and full-duplex 1000Mbps Ethernet service over Category 5 links as defined by ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-A. Topology rules for 1000BASE-T are the same as those used for 100BASE-TX. [. . . ] Hub - The device that serves as the central location for attaching wires from workstations. Can be passive, where there is no amplication of the signals; or active, where the hubs are used like repeaters to provide an extension of the cable that connects to a workstation. The IEEE describes itself as "the world's largest technical professional society -- promoting the development and application of electrotechnology and allied sciences for the benefit of humanity, the advancement of the profession, and the wellbeing of our members. " The IEEE fosters the development of standards that often become national and international standards. The organization publishes a number of journals, has many local chapters, and several large societies in special areas, such as the IEEE Computer Society. [. . . ]