Cabletron Systems SmartSTACK ETHERNET ELS10-27 User Manual

Contents

1-8IntroductionThe SmartSTACK Ethernet ELS10-27 is protocol-transparent, meaning itcan handle different types of network traffic regardless of the networkprotocol, such as IP and IPX. As the SmartSTACK Ethernet ELS10-27reads addresses from the packets it processes, it builds a dynamicdatabase of addresses called the Bridge Address Table. In this way, theSmartSTACK Ethernet ELS10-27 continuously learns the addresses of allconnected devices. Consequently, you can add new devices to thenetwork, change device addresses, and remove devices from the networkwithout having to reconfigure the SmartSTACK Ethernet ELS10-27.The Open System Interconnection (OSI) Reference Model, developed bythe International Standards Organization (ISO), identifies the levels offunctionality inherent in each of its seven layers. The SmartSTACKEthernet ELS10-27 operates at the Media Access Control (MAC) sub-layerof the Data Link layer.Figure 1-2. OSI Reference ModelBecause the SmartSTACK Ethernet ELS10-27 does not process anyNetwork Layer information, it provides a high level of performance interms of packet throughput. In addition, the SmartSTACK EthernetELS10-27 does not need to learn network topology, requiring lessprogramming and configuration time.Store and Forward SwitchingAs an intelligent Ethernet switch, the SmartSTACK Ethernet ELS10-27uses store and forward switching. Store and forward switching allows theSmartSTACK Ethernet ELS10-27 to temporarily store packets untilnetwork resources, typically an unused link, are available for forwarding.6 Presentation754321ApplicationSessionTransportNetworkData LinkPhysicalELS10-27 operates at Layer 2