3Com PS Hub 40 User manual

®
http://www.3com.com/
SuperStack®II PS Hub
User Guide
3C16405 —PS Hub 40 12-port
3C16406 —PS Hub 40 24-port
3C16450 —PS Hub 50 24-port
Part No. DUA1640-5AAA02
Published July 1997

ii
3Com Corporation
5400 Bayfront Plaza
Santa Clara, California
95052-8145
© 3Com Technologies, 1997. All rights reserved. No part of this documentation may be reproduced in any
form or by any means or used to make any derivative work (such as translation, transformation, or
adaptation) without permission from 3Com Technologies.
3Com Technologies reserves the right to revise this documentation and to make changes in content from
time to time without obligation on the part of 3Com Technologies to provide notification of such revision
or change.
3Com Technologies provides this documentation without warranty of any kind, either implied or expressed,
including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
3Com may make improvements or changes in the product(s) and/or the program(s) described in this
documentation at any time.
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT LEGENDS:
If you are a United States government agency, then this documentation and the software described herein
are provided to you subject to the following restricted rights:
For units of the Department of Defense:
Restricted Rights Legend: Use, duplication or disclosure by the Government is subject to restrictions as set
forth in subparagraph (c) (1) (ii) for restricted Rights in Technical Data and Computer Software clause at 48
C.F.R. 52.227-7013. 3Com Centre, Boundary Way, Maylands Park South, Hemel Hempstead, Herts,
HP2 7YU, UK.
For civilian agencies:
Restricted Rights Legend: Use, reproduction or disclosure is subject to restrictions set forth in subparagraph
(a) through (d) of the Commercial Computer Software - Restricted Rights Clause at 48 C.F.R. 52.227-19 and
the limitations set forth in 3Com Corporation’s standard commercial agreement for the software.
Unpublished rights reserved under the copyright laws of the United States.
If there is any software on removable media described in this documentation, it is furnished under a license
agreement included with the product as a separate document, in the hard copy documentation, or on the
removable media in a directory file named LICENSE.TXT. If you are unable to locate a copy, please contact
3Com and a copy will be provided to you.
Unless otherwise indicated, 3Com registered trademarks are registered in the United States and may or may
not be registered in other countries.
3Com, LANplex, LinkBuilder, NETBuilder II, SmartAgent, SuperStack and Transcend are registered trademarks
of 3Com Corporation. CoreBuilder and FMS are trademarks of 3Com Corporation. 3ComFacts is a service
mark of 3Com Corporation.
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Other brand and product names may be registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective holders.
Environmental Statement
It is 3Com’s policy to be environmentally friendly in all its operations. This manual is printed on paper that
comes from sustainable, managed European forests. The production process for making the pulp has a
reduced AOX level (adsorbable organic halogen) resulting in elemental chlorine free paper.
The paper is fully bio-degradable and recyclable.

CONTENTS
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
L’INFORMATION DE SÉCURITÉ IMPORTANTE
WICHTIGE SICHERHEITSHINWEISE
ABOUT THIS GUIDE
Introduction 1
How to Use This Guide 2
Conventions 2
1ABOUT THE PS HUB
Introduction 1-1
Features 1-2
How You Can Use the PS Hub 1-4
Building Up a Network 1-4
Expanding an Existing Network 1-5
Migrating to Higher Performance 1-6
Workgroups 1-7
What Are Workgroups? 1-7
Segments and Port Switching 1-8
Workgroup Example 1-11
2HOW THE PS HUBS DIFFER
Overview 2-1
PS Hub 40 2-2
PS Hub 50 2-2
Segment Switch 2-2
PS Hub 50 Transceiver Module Slot 2-6

iv
3USING THE PS HUB
LEDs and Ports 3-1
Before You Start 3-4
What Other Equipment Is Needed? 3-4
Positioning the PS Hub 3-6
Using the Rubber Feet 3-6
Using the Labels 3-7
Rack and Wall Mounting 3-8
Rack Mounting 3-8
Wall Mounting 3-9
Connecting Workstations to Your Hub 3-11
Using Transceiver Modules 3-12
Connecting PS Hubs Together (Stacking) 3-12
About Cascade Cables 3-13
Using Cascade Cables 3-14
Using Hot Swap Cascade Units 3-15
Connecting Different Hubs and Stacks to Your Hub 3-16
Powering On the Units 3-17
Spot Checks 3-17
4LOAD BALANCING
Overview 4-1
How Does Load Balancing Work? 4-2
Using an External Switch 4-3
Performing Load Balancing 4-3
5MANAGING THE PS HUB
Introduction 5-1
Why Manage Your Stack? 5-2
How You Can Manage Your Stack 5-3
Command Line Interface 5-3
Web Interface 5-3
SNMP Network Management 5-4
Methods of Management 5-5
Requirements for Managing Over the Network 5-6
IP Addresses 5-7

v
Command Line Interface (CLI) 5-8
Through the Console Port 5-8
Over the Network 5-11
Web Interface 5-12
Through the Console Port 5-12
Over the Network 5-12
Which Web Browsers are Supported? 5-12
Quick Config Manager 5-13
Through the Console Port 5-13
Over the Network 5-14
6USING THE COMMAND LINE INTERFACE
Accessing the CLI 6-2
Initial Access 6-2
Logging On 6-2
Logging Off 6-3
Using the CLI Menus 6-4
CLI Menu Structure 6-4
Navigating the Menus and Entering Commands 6-5
Quick Guide to the Commands 6-6
Commands 6-7
Changing the Password 6-7
Setting the IP Configuration 6-8
Viewing the Configuration 6-9
Resetting the Stack 6-10
Initializing the Stack 6-11
Configuring Another Unit in the Stack 6-11
Enabling and Disabling RMON Filter Capture 6-12
7MANAGEMENT USING THE WEB INTERFACE
Accessing the Web Interface 7-1
About the Web Interface 7-4
General Components 7-4
Page Components 7-6
Web Interface Map 7-6

vi
Using the Web Interface 7-7
Unit View and Unit Pages 7-8
User Access Levels 7-9
Exiting the Web Interface 7-9
Online Help System and Documentation 7-9
Unit Pages 7-10
Unit View 7-10
Unit Status 7-11
Management Address 7-12
Port Setup 7-13
Console Port Configuration 7-14
Segment Configuration 7-15
Switch Configuration 7-16
Permanent Address Management 7-16
Management Settings Pages 7-17
Documentation 7-17
Getting Started 7-18
Password Setting 7-19
System Name 7-19
Configuration Pages 7-20
Initialize 7-20
Load Balancing 7-20
Reset 7-20
Resilient Links 7-21
Add Resilient Link 7-23
Software Upgrade 7-24
Health Pages 7-25
Segment Graph 7-25
8PROBLEM SOLVING
Isolating a Problem 8-1
Solving Problems With the Hub 8-2
Solving Problems With the Command Line Interface 8-3
Solving Problems With the Web Interface 8-4
Solving Problems With an SNMP Network Management Application 8-5

vii
ADIMENSIONS, STANDARDS AND CABLING
Dimensions and Operating Environment A-1
BABT Approval (for U.K. Users Only) A-1
Standards A-2
Cabling A-3
10BASE-T Cable A-3
Console Cable A-4
Modem Cable A-5
Cascade Connections A-6
Management Settings A-6
BMANAGEMENT USING QUICK CONFIG MANAGER
Installing Quick Config Manager and the Load Balancing Tool B-2
Installation Requirements B-2
Installation Procedure B-3
Running Quick Config Manager B-4
Configuring Multiple Stacks B-4
Selecting Your Management Access Method (Windows ‘95 and
Windows NT only) B-5
Quick Config Manager Window Map B-5
Accessing the Stack B-8
Giving the Stack an IP Address B-9
Viewing the Stack B-12
Configuring Segments B-14
Configuring the Segment Switch B-17
Load Balancing B-18
Menus B-19
Changing the Community Name B-19
Viewing Current Utilization B-20
Viewing Utilization History B-21
Fixing and Unfixing Segments and Ports B-23
Performing Load Balancing B-25
Changing the Console Port Settings B-27
Upgrading a Stack B-28
Solving Problems With Quick Config Manager B-29

viii
CSERIAL WEB UTILITY
Introduction C-1
Installing the Serial Web Utility C-1
Using the Serial Web Utility C-3
Solving Problems With the Serial Web Utility C-4
DAGENT UPGRADE UTILITY
Using the Upgrade Utility D-1
Solving Problems With the Agent Upgrade Utility D-3
ETECHNICAL SUPPORT
Online Technical Services E-1
World Wide Web Site E-1
3Com Bulletin Board Service E-1
3ComFacts Automated Fax Service E-2
3ComForum on CompuServe Online Service E-3
Support from Your Network Supplier E-3
Support from 3Com E-4
Returning Products for Repair E-5
GLOSSARY
INDEX
3COM CORPORATION LIMITED WARRANTY
EMC STATEMENTS

IMPORTANT SAFETY
INFORMATION
WARNING: Warnings contain directions that you must follow for your
personal safety. Follow all instructions carefully.
Please read the following safety information thoroughly before
installing the PS Hub.
■Installation and removal of the unit must be carried out by qualified
personnel only.
■Connect the unit to an earthed power supply to ensure compliance
with European safety standards.
■The power cord set must be approved for the country where it will
be used.
■The appliance coupler, that is, the connector to the device itself and
not the wall plug, must have a configuration for mating with an
EN60320/IEC320 appliance inlet.
■For U.S.A. and Canada:
■The cord set must be UL-approved and CSA certified.
■The minimum specification for the flexible cord is:
No. 18 AWG
Type SV or SJ
3-conductor
■The cord set must have a rated current capacity of at least 10A.
■The attachment plug must be an earth-grounding type with a
NEMA 5-15P (15A, 125V) or NEMA 6-15P (15A, 250V)
configuration.
■For Denmark:
■The supply plug must comply with section 107-2-D1, standard
sheet DK2-1a or DK2-5a.

■For Switzerland:
■The supply plug must comply with SEV/ASE 1011.
■It is essential that the mains socket outlet is installed near to the
unit and is accessible. You can only disconnect the unit by
removing the appliance coupler from the unit.
■This unit operates under SELV conditions (Safety Extra Low Voltage)
according to IEC 950, the conditions of which are maintained only if
the equipment to which it is connected is also operational under
SELV.
■France and Peru only:
■This unit cannot be powered from IT (impedance à la terre)
supplies. If your supplies are of the IT type, this unit should be
powered by 230V (2P+T) via an isolation transformer ratio 1:1,
with the secondary connection point labelled Neutral, connected
directly to Earth (Ground).
■U.K. only:
■The PS Hub is covered by Oftel General Approval,
NS/G/12345/J/100003, for indirect connection to a public
telecommunications system. This can only be achieved using the
console port on the unit and an approved modem.
■Twisted Pair RJ45 ports: These are shielded RJ45 data sockets. They
cannot be used as telephone sockets. Only connect RJ45 data
connectors to these sockets. Either shielded or unshielded data
cables with shielded or unshielded jacks can be connected to these
data sockets.
■Sockets for Redundant Power System (RPS): Only connect a 3Com
Redundant Power System to this socket. For details, follow the
installation instructions in the manuals accompanying the Redundant
Power System.

L’
I N F O R M A T I O N D E
S
É C U R I T É
I
M P O R T A N T E
AVERTISSEMENT: Les avertissements contiennent les directions que
vous devez suivre pour votre sécurité personnelle. Suivez toutes les
directives avec soin.
Veuillez lire à fond l'information de la sécurité suivante avant d'installer
le PS Hub.
■L'installation et l'enlèvement de l'unité doivent être faits seulement
par le personnel qualifié.
■Brancher l'unité à une source de courant mise à la terre pour assurer
la conformité aux normes de sécurité européennes.
■La cordon d'alimentation surmoulé doit être approuvé pour le pays
auquel il sera utilisé.
■Le socle de connecteur, c'est-à-dire, le connecteur à l'appareil
lui-même et non pas la prise murale, doit avoir une configuration
pour le branchement avec une admission d'appareil
EN60320/IEC320.
■Pour U.S.A. et le Canada:
■Le cordon surmoulé doit être UL Certifié et CSA Certifié.
■Les spécifications minimales pour le cordon souple sont:
■No. 18 AWG
Type SV ou SJ
3-conducteur
■Le cordon surmoulé doit avoir une capacité de courant calculée
au moins de 10A.
■La fiche de fixation doit être un type mis à la terre avec une
configuration NEMA 5-15P (15A, 125V) ou NEMA 6-15P (15A,
250V).

■C'est essentiel que le socle soit installé près de l'unité et soit
accessible. Vous pouvez seulement débrancher l'unité en enlevant
la fiche d'alimentation de la prise de courant.
■Cette unité marche sous les conditions SELV (Safety Extra Low
Voltage) conformément à IEC950, ces conditions sont maintenues
seulement si le matériel auquel elle est branchée, est aussi en
exploitation sous SELV.
■Seulement Pour La France et Le Pérou:
■Cette unité ne peut pas être mise en marche des sources de
courant IT (Impédance à la terre). Si vos sources de courant sont
de type IT, cette unité doit être alimentée par 230V (2P+T) via un
rapport de transformation d'isolation de 1:1, avec un point de
connexion secondaire étiqueté Neutre, branché directement à la
Terre (à la Masse).
■Les ports RJ45 de paire tordue: Ceux-ci sont les prises de courant de
données RJ45 protégées. Ils ne peuvent pas être utilisés comme
prises de courant téléphoniques. Brancher seulement les connecteurs
RJ45 de données à ces prises de courant. Les câbles de données
blindés ou non blindés, avec les jacks blindés ou non blindés, l'un
ou l'autre, peuvent être branchés à ces prises de courant de
données.
■Socle Pour Alimentation Multiple: Brancher seulement une
alimentation multiple de 3Com à cet socle. Suivre pour les détails les
directives de l’installation dans le manual qui accompagne
l’alimentation multiple.

WICHTIGE SICHERHEITSHINWEISE
WARNUNG: Warnungen enthalten Anweisungen, die zur eigenen
Sicherheit unbedingt zu beachten sind. Bitte befolgen Sie alle
Anweisungen sorgfältig und genau.
Bitte unbedingt vor dem Einbauen des PS Hub Einheit die folgenden
Sicherheitsanweisungen durchlesen.
■Ein- und Ausbau des Gerätes ist
nur von Fachpersonal vorzunehmen.
■Das Gerät an geerdete Stromversorgung anschließen, um eine
Übereinstimmung mit den europäischen Sicherheitsbestimmungen
zu gewährleisten.
■Der Anschlußkabelsatz muß mit den Bestimmungen des Landes
übereinstimmen, in dem er verwendet werden soll.
■Die Anordnung der Gerätsteckvorrichtung, d.h. die Steckverbindung
am Gerät selbst im Gegensatz zum Wandstecker, muß in den
EN60320/IEC320 Zuführungsstecker am Gerät passen.
■Es ist wichtig, daß der Netzstecker sich in unmittelbarer Nähe zum
Gerät befindet und leicht erreichbar ist. Das Gerät kann nur durch
Herausziehen des Verbindungssteckers aus der Steckdose vom
Stromnetz getrennt werden.
■Das Gerät wird mit Sicherheits-Kleinspannung nach IEC 950 (SELV =
Safety Extra Low Voltage) betrieben. Angeschloßen werden können
nur Geräte, die ebenfalls nach SELV betrieben werden.
■Gedrehte paarfache RJ45 Anschlüsse: Hierbei handelt es sich um
abgeschirmte RJ45 Datenbuchsen, die nicht als Telefonbuchsen
verwendbar sind. Nur RJ45 Datensteckverbinder an diese Buchsen
anschließen. Diese Datenstecker können entweder mit
abgeschirmten oder unabgeschirmten Datenkabeln mit
abgeschirmten oder unabgeschirmten Klinkensteckern verbunden
werden.

■Steckdose Für Redundant Power System: Nur ein 3Com Redundant
Power System an diese Steckdose anschließen. Für weitere Angaben
die genauen Einbauanweisungen im Handbuch zum Redundant
Power System befolgen.
Die Einheit ist unter keinen Umständen an einen Wechselstrom
Netzstecker (A.C.) anzuschließen, wenn dieser keine Erdung hat.

ABOUT THIS GUIDE
Introduction This guide describes how to set up and manage these SuperStack®II
PS Hubs:
■3C16405 — PS Hub 40 12-port
■3C16406 — PS Hub 40 24-port
■3C16450 — PS Hub 50 24-port
Audience
Description
This guide is intended for users who have networking experience. If you
have used 3Com’s SuperStack II range of products, you may already be
familiar with using this kind of hub. We recommend that you read
through this guide as the PS Hub has a number of important features
which are described in this guide.
If you are familiar with the PS Hub and know how the PS Hub’s port
switching and segments work, you may only want to know how the
PS Hub 40 and PS Hub 50 are different; refer to Chapter 2.
When referring to both the PS Hub 40 and PS Hub 50 generally, this
guide uses the term ‘PS Hub’.
For information on the Limited Warranty, refer to the “3Com
Corporation Limited Warranty” at the back of this guide.
A Quick Reference Guide accompanies this user guide, and provides a
summary of some of the information in this user guide.
If there are Release Notes shipped with your product and the
information in them differs from the information in this guide, follow
the Release Notes.

2ABOUT THIS GUIDE
How to Use
This Guide This table shows where to find specific information in this guide.
Conventions Table 1 and Table 2 list conventions that are used throughout this
guide.
If you are looking for... Turn to...
An introduction to the hub, workgrouping and segments Chapter 1
Information on how the PS Hub 40 and PS Hub 50 are different
from each other Chapter 2
Information on installing and using the hub Chapter 3
An introduction to load balancing and how it works Chapter 4
Ways you can manage the hub and how to start your
management session Chapter 5
Information on using the Command Line Interface to set up
the hub for management Chapter 6
Information on using the web interface to manage the hub or
stack of hubs Chapter 7
Information on
solving any problems Chapter 8
The hub’s dimensions, the standards it conforms to, and the
cabling you can use with it Appendix A
Information on using Quick Config Manager to manage the hub
or stack of hubs Appendix B
Information on installing and using the serial web utility Appendix C
Information on using the agent upgrade utility Appendix D
Technical support Appendix E
Table 1 Notice Icons
Icon Notice Type Alerts you to...
Information note Important features or instructions
Caution Risk of system damage, loss of data, or to personal
safety.
Warning Risk of severe personal injury

Conventions 3
Table 2 Text Conventions
Convention Description
Syntax The word ‘syntax’ means you must evaluate the syntax
provided and supply the appropriate values. Placeholders
for values you must supply appear in angle brackets.
Example:
Change the password by using the following syntax:
password <string>
In this example, you must supply a password string for
<string>.
Commands The word ‘command’ means you must enter the
command exactly as shown in text and press the Return or
Enter key. Example:
To exit, enter the following command:
Logout
This guide always gives the full form of a command in
uppercase and lowercase letters. However, you can
abbreviate commands by entering only the uppercase
letters and the appropriate value. Commands are not
case-sensitive.
Screen displays This typeface represents information as it appears on the
screen.
The words ‘enter’
and ‘type’ When you see the word ‘enter’ in this guide, you must type something, and then press the Return or Enter key.
Do not press the Return or Enter key when an instruction
simply says ‘type’.
[Key] names Key names appear in text in one of two ways:
■Referred to by their labels, such as “the Return key” or
“the Escape key”
■Written with brackets, such as [Return] or [Esc].
If you must press two or more keys simultaneously, the key
names are linked with a plus sign (+). Example:
Press [Ctrl]+[Alt]+[Del].
Menu commands
and buttons Menu commands or button names appear in italics.
Example:
From the Configure menu, select Community/Polling...
Words in italicized
type Italics emphasize a point or denote new terms at the place where they are defined in the text.
Words in bold type Bold text denotes key features.

4ABOUT THIS GUIDE

1ABOUT THE PS HUB
This chapter contains the following topics:
■Features and benefits of the PS Hub
■How the PS Hub can be used
■Using workgroups
■Description and example of the PS Hub segmentation
■How the PS Hub works
Introduction The SuperStack®II PS Hub, as shown in Figure 1-1, is a flexible
managed Ethernet repeater which is very easy to set up and manage.
It can be used to build a small network or to expand a larger, more
established network.
Figure 1-1 The PS Hub
The PS Hub is part of 3Com’s SuperStack II PS Hub range, which
incorporates many of the features from the successful SuperStack II
range. SuperStack II products can be combined to create a network
that can change and grow with your networking needs.

DUA1640-5AAA02
1-2 CHAPTER 1: ABOUT THE PS HUB
Features The PS Hub 40 and PS Hub 50 share many features:
NOTE: These terms and features are described in this chapter and the
following chapters.
■12 or 24 shielded twisted pair ports for easy connection to
10BASE-T networks. An MDI/MDIX switch allows you to cross-over
one of these ports, for connection to other types of hubs and
network equipment.
■One or two transceiver module slots, providing a choice of media
options:
■The PS Hub 40 has two 10Mbps transceiver module slots that
can be fitted with 3Com 10Mbps transceiver modules.
■The PS Hub 50 has one transceiver module slot that can be fitted
with a 3Com 10Mbps or 100Mbps transceiver module.
■SuperStack II architecture — You can stack up to 10 hubs
(six if free standing), giving you a possible 260 ports per stack.
■LEDs for quick viewing of hub and port status.
■Hot-swappable technology which allows hubs to be added and
removed from a stack without affecting stack performance.
■Mounting brackets for easy installation into a standard 19 inch rack,
or onto a table or wall.
■+5 Lifetime Limited Warranty — Please refer to the “3Com
Corporation Limited Warranty” at the back of this guide for more
information.