Switching Configurations5-35EthernetSince Cabletron Systems’ primary Ethernet switch module, the ESXMIM,provides a dedicated 10 Mbps Ethernet connection between any two stationsconnected to its ports, it can be useful in environments where a connectionbetween multiple hub locations is needed, or high-availability connections toshared resources such as fileservers are desired.Switching ConfigurationsA design incorporating Ethernet switching between a small group of high-endworkstations might start with a simple Ethernet utilizing an IRM3 module and aseries of TPMIMs in an MMAC-M5FNB chassis. An Ethernet switching modulesuch as the ESXMIM could be added to provide switched connections betweenfour design workstations and the Ethernet A channel backplane. These switchedconnections each operate at the full 10 Mbps theoretical maximum of Ethernetnetworks, and can communicate with one another at nearly the sameperformance level. As the ESXMIM module is capable of disabling a front panelconnection in order to provide a switched connection to the Ethernet A channel ofthe backplane, the workstations attached to the ESXMIM can communicate withthe stations on the Ethernet A channel MIMs by crossing the Ethernet switch.Follow the standard Ethernet network design processes until you are ready toincorporate the switching functionality. Cabletron Systems produces two Ethernetswitch modules, the ESXMIM and the ESXMIM-F2. Both provide the samefeatures, with one exception: the ESXMIM supplies five front panel RJ45 ports forUTP connections, while the ESXMIM-F2 provides five sets of multimode fiberoptic ST ports.Switched?ESXMIMgo toESXMIMchartyes
