Overview2H23-50R/2H33-37R User’s Guide1-5When Auto-Negotiation is supported at both ends of a link, the twodevices dynamically adjust to full or half duplex operation based on themaximum capability that can be reached between the two devices. If thedevice connected to the FE-100TX cannot auto-negotiate, the FE-100TXFast Ethernet Interface Module operates according to the capabilities ofthe other device.1.3.4 SmartTrunkingSmartTrunk, also referred to as SmartTrunking, is Cabletron Systems’terminology for load balancing or load sharing. SmartTrunk technologyprovides an easy-to-implement mechanism to group, or aggregate,multiple physical links together to scale the backbone bandwidth beyondthe limitations of a single link. All links are user-configurable soadministrators can scale the backbone bandwidth by adding SmartTrunklinks. The SmartTrunk benefits are as follows:• All purchased bandwidth is used.• Distributed, resilient links increase reliability and performance.• Multiple technologies are supported within a single trunk formaximum flexibility.For more information about SmartTrunk, refer to the Cabletron SystemsSmartTrunk User’s Guide.1.3.5 Runtime IP Address DiscoveryThis feature enables the 2H23-50R or 2H33-37R (device) toautomatically accept an IP address from a Boot Strap Protocol (BootP) orReverse Address Resolution Protocol (RARP) server on the network intoNVRAM without requiring a user to enter an IP address through LocalManagement.When the device is connected to the network and powered up, Runtime IPAddress Discovery (RAD) checks the device for an IP address. If one hasnot yet been assigned (2H23-50R IP address set to 0.0.0.0), RAD checksto see if any of the device’s interfaces have a link. If so, RAD sends outRARP and BootP requests to obtain an IP address from a server on thenetwork.
