3Com SUPERSTACK II 2000 TR User manual

®
http://www.3com.com/
S
UPER
S
TACK
II S
WITCH
2000 TR
T
OKEN
R
ING
-
IN
-F
AST
E
THERNET
M
ODULE
For SuperStack II Switch 2000 TR
Part No. 99045
Published October 1997

3Com Corporation
■
5400 Bayfront Plaza
■
Santa Clara, California
■
95052-8154
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3Com, AccessBuilder, Boundary Routing, CardFacts, LanScanner,
LinkBuilder, NETBuilder, NETBuilder II, NetFacts, Parallel Tasking,
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SuperStack II, TokenLink, TokenLink Plus, TokenDisk and Transcend are
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Guide written by Ken Wisman.

A BOUT T HIS G UIDE
Introduction 1
Terminology 1
Finding Information in this Guide 2
Conventions 2
1 O VERVIEW
About the SuperStack II Switch 2000 TR
TR-in-FE Module 1-1
TR-in-FE Benefits 1-2
Summary of TR-in-FE Module Features 1-3
Hardware 1-3
Software 1-3
2 TR- IN -FE C ONCEPTS
What is Token Ring-in-Fast Ethernet (TR-in-FE)? 2-1
TR-in-FE Compared to Traditional Methods 2-2
3Com Token Ring-in-Fast Ethernet System 2-2
Token Ring-in-Fast Ethernet Module 2-2
How TR-in-FE Works 2-3
Tunneling 2-5
Requirements 2-5
Token Ring Frames 2-5
Virtual LANs (VLANS) 2-7
What is a VLAN 2-7
Advantages of VLAN 2-7
Port-Based Distribution 2-7
3 I NSTALLING A ND S ETTING U P T HE M ODULE
Following Safety Information 3-1
Pre-installation Procedure 3-1
Installation 3-2
Post-Installation Checks 3-3
LED Summary 3-3
Checking the Power Supply 3-4
Checking that the TR-in-FE Module is Installed
Correctly 3-5
Checking the Physical Connections 3-5
Jumper Settings 3-6
4 A CCESSING M ANAGEMENT F EATURES
The VT100 Console 4-1
Choice Field 4-1
Entry Field 4-1
Button 4-2
List Boxes 4-2
Key Board Shortcuts 4-2
Correcting Text Entries 4-2
Default Users 4-3
Console Menu Map 4-3
The LCD Console 4-5
Logging On 4-6
Logging Off 4-7
Automatic Logout 4-7
5 C ONFIGURING T HE TR- IN -FE M ODULE
TR-in-FE Module Configuration Map 5-1
Setting Up a Module 5-2
Bridge Parameters 5-3
Spanning Tree 5-3
Source Routing 5-4
Setting Up a VLAN 5-5
TR VLAN Info Setup Screen 5-5

TR VLAN Setup Screen 5-5
6 M ONITORING T HE TR- IN -FE M ODULE
TR-in-FE Module Statistics Map 6-1
Statistics Overview 6-2
Port Statistics (Traffic) 6-3
Clearing Screen Counters 6-4
A S AFETY I NFORMATION
Important Safety Information A-1
L’information de Sécurité Importante A-1
Wichtige Sicherheitsinformationen A-2
B S CREEN A CCESS R IGHTS
C TR- IN -FE M ODULE T ECHNICAL S PECIFICATIONS
Environmental Specifications C-1
TR-in-FE Cable Specification C-1
Does the Cable Provide Sufficient Bandwidth? C-2
Example C-2
D T ECHNICAL S UPPORT
Online Technical Services D-1
3Com Bulletin Board Service D-1
Access by Modem D-1
Access by ISDN D-1
World Wide Web Site D-1
3ComForum on CompuServe D-2
3ComFacts Automated Fax Service D-2
Support from Your Network Supplier D-2
Support from 3Com D-3
Returning Products for Repair D-3
3C OM C ORPORATION L IMITED W ARRANTY

A
BOUT
T
HIS
G
UIDE
Introduction
This guide provides the information needed to install
and configure the SuperStack II Switch 2000 TR
Token Ring-in-Fast Ethernet (TR-in-FE) Module. For
more information about the switch itself, see the
SuperStack II Switch 2000 TR User Guide .
The SuperStack II Switch 2000 TR Token Ring-in-Fast
Ethernet Module Guide is intended for use by net-
work administrators responsible for installing and
setting up networking equipment. It assumes a basic
working knowledge of Local Area Networks, Token
Ring Networks, and Ethernet. Basic TR-in-FE con-
cepts are explained within this guide.
The Release Notes shipped with the TR-in-FE Module
may contain information that updates or overrides
information in this guide. You should always follow
the information in the Release Notes if it is differ-
ent from the information given in this guide.
Terminology
In this manual the term TR-in-FE Module is used
when referring to the SuperStack II Switch 2000 TR
Token Ring-in-Fast Ethernet Module.
The device into which the TR-in-FE Module is fitted,
is known simply as the Switch . An example of a
Switch is 3Com’s SuperStack II Switch 2000 TR. This
type of switch is often referred to as an
edge-device, edge-switch or boundary switch .
Name used in guide: Includes:
Switch 2000 TR SuperStack II Switch 2000 TR

2 C
HAPTER
: A
BOUT
T
HIS
G
UIDE
Finding Information in this Guide
The following table shows you where to find spe-
cific information within this guide.
Conventions
Table 1 and Table 2 list icon and text conventions
that are used throughout this guide.
Task Location
Learning features,
benefits, and con-
cepts
Chapter 1, “Overview”
Chapter 2, “TR-in-FE Concepts”
Planning your net-
work Chapter 1, “Overview” Chapter 2, “TR-in-FE Concepts”
Chapter 3, “Installing And Setting Up The Mod-
ule”
Appendix C, “TR-in-FE Module Technical Specifi-
cations”
Installing the
TR-in-FE Module Chapter 3, “Installing And Setting Up The Mod- ule”
Chapter 5, “Configuring The TR-in-FE Module”
Appendix A, “Safety Information”
Accessing screens Chapter 4, “Accessing Management Features”
Appendix B, “Screen Access Rights”
Monitoring
the Module Chapter 6, “Monitoring The TR-in-FE Module”
Getting Technical
Support Appendix D, “Technical Support”
Table 1 Notice Icons
Icon Type Description
Information
Note Important features or instructions.
Caution Alerts you to personal safety risks, system
damage, or loss of data.
Warning Risk of severe personal injury.
Table 2 Text Conventions
Convention Description
Screen
display
This typeface is used to represent information as it
appears on the screen.
The words
“Enter” and
“Type”
The word “enter” means 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”.
■
Enclosed within brackets, such as [Return] or [Esc].
If you must press two or more keys simultaneously,
the key names are linked with a plus sign (+). For
example:
Press [Ctrl]+[Alt]+[Del].
Words in
bold
Bold text denotes key features.

1
O
VERVIEW
This chapter describes the major features and benefits
of the SuperStack II Switch 2000 TR TR-in-FE Module,
including:
■
About the SuperStack II Switch 2000 TR TR-in-FE
Module
■
TR-in-FE Benefits
■
Summary of TR-in-FE Module Features
About the SuperStack II Switch 2000 TR
TR-in-FE Module
The SuperStack II Switch 2000 TR TR-in-FE module
combines Token Ring and Fast Ethernet (FE) for the
purpose of utilizing FE as a backbone and method of
high-speed server attachment for TR networks.
TR-in-FE complements ATM and FDDI methods of
high-speed integration by providing an option to help
TR users evolve their network’s core infrastructure
while preserving their existing equipment and appli-
cations.
TR-in-FE uses Fast Ethernet to transport natively for-
matted Token Ring frames. Both source route and
transparent TR frame addressing information is main-
tained through the FE infrastructure. This allows stan-
dard TR workstations and servers to use the fast
transport without modification, or special FE servers
to communicate to the native TR community.

1-2 C
HAPTER
1: O
VERVIEW
TR-in-FE Benefits
Increasingly, Token Ring users are deploying switches
to segment their networks and to increase available
bandwidth to their workgroups. This has resulted in a
demand for more server bandwidth as well as
high-speed aggregation and switching. Previously,
those users wanting their Token Ring server band-
width increased beyond 32 Mbps faced limited
options. They could add either FDDI or ATM down-
links to their Token Ring switches–options that proved
costly and complex. The Token Ring-in-Fast Ethernet
(TR-in-FE) system offers a new, simpler option at a
much lower cost. TR-in-FE offers improvement in the
following areas:
■
Scalability
■ TR switching
■ High-speed technologies
■ Wire-speed performance
■
Flexibility
■ High-speed flexibility (choice of D/L technology)
■ Desktop flexibility (TR, Ethernet)
■ Common high-speed infrastructure
■Managability
■Simple to configure and administer
■Cost effective
TR-in-FE allows both Token Ring and Ethernet to
share the same Fast Ethernet physical wiring infra-
structure and server base without impacting network
performance. TR-in-FE accomplishes this by introduc-
ing routing or Source-Route to Transparent transla-
tional bridging.
Fast Ethernet is relatively well understood and easy to
configure. The TR-in-FE operates in both copper or
fiber optic environments. Additionally, many tools
exist to manage and administer Fast Ethernet due to
its wide acceptance in the industry and its similarity to
Ethernet.
TR-in-FE benefits those MIS managers most interested
in:
■Preserving existing investments in TR infrastructure
■Seeking low-cost, high-speed connectivity
■Combining Ethernet and Token Ring for common
server access
Fast Ethernet is less expensive than other options,
such as FDDI and ATM. Using FE, the price per port
for server attachment is 20% that of ATM and FDDI.
TR switching allows the install base of TR equipment
and its configuration to remain intact and operational
while allowing for an upgrade to higher performance
through microsegmentation and interfaces to higher
speed technologies. TR-in-FE represents one option
for integrating Fast Ethernet into the TR switched
environment.

Summary of TR-in-FE Module Features 1-3
Summary of TR-in-FE Module Features
The following lists summarize the features of the
SuperStack II Switch 2000 TR TR-in-FE module.
Hardware
■Multimode fiber attachment using duplex connec-
tors or copper cable attachment using standard
RJ-45
■Full duplex operation
■Flow control
■LEDs to indicate link integrity and link activity
■Compliance with FCC Class A, CISPR A, and CE
■4544 byte frame size for improved performance
■Easy jumper-setting for crossover switch (copper
version only)
Software
■Software configurable hardware
■16 VLAN hardware support
■IEEE 802.1q compatible
■Frame size limiter of 1500 bytes for standard infra-
structure

1-4 CHAPTER 1: OVERVIEW

2TR-IN-FE CONCEPTS
This chapter provides an introduction to Token
Ring-in-Fast Ethernet concepts for users who are
unfamiliar with this technology. The following sec-
tions cover:
■What is Token Ring-in-Fast Ethernet (TR-in-FE)?
■TR-in-FE Compared to Traditional Methods
■3Com Token Ring-in-Fast Ethernet System
■How TR-in-FE Works
■Tunneling
■Virtual LANs (VLANS)
What is Token Ring-in-Fast Ethernet
(TR-in-FE)?
Token Ring-in-Fast Ethernet is a 3Com developed
technology that encapsulates Token Ring frames in
Fast Ethernet frames. Bridging the gap between
Token Ring and Ethernet, this technology offers a
more cost-effective integration than traditional bridg-
ing and routing, and allows Token Ring users to
expand their bandwidth while preserving their TR
infrastructure.
Using Token Ring-in-Fast Ethernet technology, Fast
Ethernet can be used as a cost-effective and scalable
aggregation point for multiple Token Ring switch con-
nections. In addition, because both Token Ring and
Ethernet technologies can coexist in the same Fast
Ethernet infrastructure, both can share to less costly
Fast Ethernet connections.
Through a process known as tunneling (see the
“Tunneling” section below), TR-in-FE uses Fast Ether-
net to transport natively formatted Token Ring
frames. This means that both source route and trans-
parent TR frames addressing information is main-
tained through Fast Ethernet (FE) so that it may be
interpreted and utilized by either a destination Token
Ring (TR) switch or FE server.

2-2 CHAPTER 2: TR-IN-FE CONCEPTS
TR-in-FE Compared to Traditional Methods
Traditional means of combining Token Ring, Ethernet,
and Fast Ethernet include bridging and routing. With
routing, frame forwarding decisions are made in soft-
ware by looking into the network layer of each frame
and modifying the frame to reflect the standard
format of the media for which it is destined.
Similarly, bridging between these media may be
accomplished using Translational Bridging, sometimes
referred to as SRTB or SRTG. This is necessary with
non-routable protocols like SNA and Netbios. This
type of bridging deals with all the differences
between Token Ring and Ethernet frame formats such
as:
■Address fields
■Variable length source-route fields
■Functional address to multicast address mapping
NetBuilder provides both routing and SRTG function-
ality. The decisions are, again, made in software and
the result is conversion of the source frame to a stan-
dard destination frame format. The benefit of the tra-
ditional means listed above is that all frames are
converted from media to media using standard frame
formats, which allows for simple mixing and match-
ing of products from multiple vendors. The downside
is that these bridges and routers are typically slow,
expensive, and more difficult to manage than switch
products.
TR-in-FE technology works, not by providing frame
conversion, but by using the Fast Ethernet as a trans-
port for the Token Ring frames. This means that every
frame does not need to be parsed deeply, nor does
source route to transparent frame mapping need to
happen.
Presently, TR-in-FE is based on developing standards
and requires that FE server connections and Switch
2000 TR Downlink Modules are 3Com products.
Once approved, TR-in-FE will be able to be integrated
with other vendors. FE switching infrastructure may
be from any vendor.
3Com Token Ring-in-Fast Ethernet System
The 3Com Token Ring-in-Fast Ethernet includes:
■SuperStack II Switch 2000 TR
■SuperStack II Switch 2000 TR Token Ring-in-Fast
Ethernet Module
■Fast Ethernet Switch (SuperStack II Switch 3000)
■3Com Fast Ethernet network interface cards (NIC)
Token Ring-in-Fast Ethernet Module
This slide-in module provides a 200 Mbps Full-duplex
Fast Ethernet interface, which enables the Switch
2000 TR to become part of a Fast Ethernet switched
infrastructure. This module allows wire-speed trans-
mission of Token Ring-in-Fast Ethernet frames. Fast
Ethernet can be used to connect Token Ring clients to
Fast Ethernet servers or as an aggregation point for
multiple Token Ring switched connections.

How TR-in-FE Works 2-3
How TR-in-FE Works
Figure 2-1 shows a diagram of a basic TR-in-FE sys-
tem. The illustration depicts three Switch 2000 TRs
interfacing with a Switch 3000 through the Token
Ring-in-Fast Ethernet Module. In this example, the
Switch 3000 acts as an 800 Mbps point of aggrega-
tion for this system with multiple FDX Fast Ethernet
pipes feeding it.
Traffic that enters a port on the Token Ring switch
and that is not destined for another port on the same
switch is directed at the TR-in-FE Module. Subse-
quently, the module puts a Fast Ethernet wrapper
(see “Tunneling” section below) on the native Token
Ring frame, and forwards the modified packet as a
Fast Ethernet frame to the Switch 3000.
The Switch 3000 handles the frame as it would any
other FE frame and forwards it to the appropriate
port. If the destination address is another TR end sta-
tion located on another switch, the destination
TR-in-FE Module strips the frame of the Fast Ethernet
information and sends the native TR frame to the
appropriate destination port. If the destination is a
Fast Ethernet attached server, the Fast Ethernet NIC
with a TR-in-FE driver interprets the frame before pro-
viding it to upper level applications. The fact that the
application communicates using TR-in-FE is transpar-
ent to the user.
Figure 2-1 A Simple Token Ring-in-Fast Ethernet
Configuration
Figure 2-2 illustrates another example of Token
Ring-in-Fast Ethernet, but one on a scale more exem-
plary of what a real user configuration looks like as
part of an integrated system.
Fast Ethernet
Server
Fiber
Copper
SuperStack II
Switch 3000 TX
SuperStack II
Switch 2000 TR

2-4 CHAPTER 2: TR-IN-FE CONCEPTS
Figure 2-2 Large scale example of a TR-in-FE configuration.
CoreBuilder Chassis
Direct attach Workstations
SuperStack II Switch 2000 TR
Fast Ethernet
Server
SuperStack II Switch 1000 TX
Fast Ethernet
Servers
Token Ring
Servers
SuperStack II Switch 2000 TR
SuperStack II Switch 3000 TX
SuperStack II Redundant Power System

Tunneling 2-5
Tunneling
This section describes tunneling, the method by
which Token Ring frames are encapsulated (embed-
ded) within Ethernet frames.
Frames are sets of bits that form an elementary block
of data to be sent over a communications channel. A
frame contains its own control information, including
the transmission address and data for error detection.
This header information makes certain that the
frames arrive with their payload (user data) intact and
at the right destination. Simply put, what tunneling
does is to take a Token Ring frame and embed it into
an Ethernet frame to be sent over a Fast Ethernet net-
work.
Requirements
The tunneling scheme must be compatible with Fast
Ethernet networks so that a mix of Ethernet, 802.3,
and the Ethernet/Token Ring (E/TR) frames may reside
on the same segment without interference. It is also
important that any end station (server, bridge, router)
be able to reassemble the original TR frame. Source
routing from Token Ring to Ethernet and back to
Token Ring should be supported.
Token Ring Frames
Figure 2-3 shows a simplified drawing of a Token Ring
frame.
Figure 2-3 Token Ring Frame.
The Token Ring frame must be specially tagged when
preparing it for embedding inside the Ethernet frame.
Tagging allows an Ethernet frame to carry:
■User priority information over media types other-
wise unable to signal priority information
■Token Ring data in native format (802.5) over
non-802.5 media
■VLAN identification information
Tagging requires the addition of a tag header to each
frame. This header is inserted immediately following
the Destination Address (DA), Source Address (SA),
and, if present, the Routing Information Field (RIF). If
the source and destination media differ, tagging the
frame may involve translation or encapsulation of the
frame remainder. Tagging also requires re-computa-
tion of the Frame Check Sequence (FCS), which are
extra characters added to frames for error control
purposes.
AC FC nDA nSA RIF (optional) User Data
Token Ring Header Information
Payload
Key
AC–Access Control Field
FC–Frame Control Field
nDA–Non-canonical Destination
Address Field
nSA–Non-canonical Source
Address Field
RIF–Route Information Field
FCS
FCS–Frame Check Sequence

2-6 CHAPTER 2: TR-IN-FE CONCEPTS
The Tag Header carries a Tag Protocol Identifier (TPID)
that identifies the frame as a Tagged Frame. The
Header also carries Tag Control Information (TCI),
which consists of the following fields:
■User Priority
■TR-encap
■VLAN Identifier (VID)
The User Priority field allows the tagged frame to
carry user priority information across bridged LANs
where individual LAN segments may not be able to
signal for priority information. An 802.3/Ethernet rep-
resents such a segment.
The primary purpose of the TR-encap flag is to permit
tunneling of Tagged Frames between two 802.5 LAN
segments across a VLAN tagged region. It also allows
an end station on an 802.5 subnetwork to communi-
cate with an end station on an 802.3 subnetwork.
The VLAN Identifier (VID) field uniquely identifies the
VLAN to which a frame belongs. See the next section,
“Virtual LANs (VLANS),” for a complete explanation
of VLANs and the VLAN Identifier (also known as
VLAN ID or VID). The Route Control field is added to
the frame to carry TR specific information such as
Transparent or SR information. The payload is TR spe-
cific in content.
Once the tunneling process is complete, the com-
bined Token Ring-in Fast Ethernet frame resembles
the frame shown in Figure 2-4 (simplified). The pro-
cess is reversed to de-encapsulate the frame.
Figure 2-4 Token Ring-in-Fast Ethernet Frame.
cSA User Data
Header Information for Ethernet/Token Ring (E/TR) Frames
Payload
Key
cDA–Canonical Destination Address Field
cSA–Canonical Source Address Field
cDA TPID RCNTL RDs PAD
TPID–Tag Protocol Identifier Field
TCI–Tag Control Information Field, which includes User Priority, TR-encap, VLAN ID
LEN–Length in octets of RCNTL + RDs + User Data Fields
RCNTL–Route Control Field
RDs–Route Descriptor (0...n) from the original frame
PAD–Ethernet frames must be at least 64 bytes in length
FCS
FCS–Frame Check Sequence
LEN
TCI

Virtual LANs (VLANS) 2-7
Virtual LANs (VLANS)
What is a VLAN
A VLAN is defined as a group of location- and topol-
ogy- independent devices that communicate as
though they were on the same physical LAN. This
means that they are not restricted by the hardware
that physically connects them, and segments are
defined by flexible user groups created by the user.
For example, with VLANS, the user can define a net-
work according to:
Department Groups—A VLAN could be created for
the Marketing Department, another VLAN for the
Finance Department, and still another for the Devel-
opment Department.
Hierarchical Groups—A VLAN could be created for
directors, another for managers, and still another for
general staff.
Usage Groups—A VLAN could be created for Email
users, another for multimedia users, and so on.
Advantages of VLAN
All 802 media and shared media support VLANs. In
addition, implementing VLANs:
■Eases the change of devices
■Helps control broadcast traffic
■Provides extra security
VLANs facilitate the administration of logical groups
of stations that can communicate as though they
were on the same LAN. VLANs also facilitate moves,
adds, and changes of members of logical groups.
Traffic between VLANs is firewalled. This limits the
propagation of multicast and broadcast traffic
between VLANs.
Each distinct VLAN is uniquely identified throughout
the bridged LAN. A consistent representation of a
VLAN exists across a VLAN fabric (including FE and
ATM). This means that the shared VLAN knowledge
of a particular packet remains the same as the packet
travels from one point to another.
Port-Based Distribution
The switch uses a port-based approach to VLAN
functionality. This approach allows bridges to classify
all received tagged and untagged frames as belong-
ing to a particular VLAN.
NOTE: In port-based VLAN operation, the VLAN clas-
sification of an untagged frame is implicitly deter-
mined and bases on the port of arrival of the frame.
This facility requires association of a VLAN ID with
each of the bridge’s ports. Only received frames lack-
ing an explicit VLAN ID are subject to this impilcit clas-
sification.
Using the port-based approach, a specific VLAN ID is
associated with each bridge port. This VLAN ID,
known as a Port VLAN Idendtifier (PVID), provides the
VLAN classification for frames received through that
port. This value may be manager configured.

2-8 CHAPTER 2: TR-IN-FE CONCEPTS

3INSTALLING AND SETTING UPTHE MODULE
This chapter includes important safety and configura-
tion information, including:
■Following Safety Information
■Pre-installation Procedure
■Installation
■Post-Installation Checks
Following Safety Information
WARNING:Before installing or removing any compo-
nents of a device, or carrying out any maintenance
work, you must read the safety information provided
in Appendix A, “Safety Information” of this guide.
Disconnect the device from the main power supply.
AVERTISSEMENT:Il faut lire les notices de sécurité
dans l’appendice A de ce guide avant d’installer ou
d’enlever les parties de l’unité ou faire le travail
d’entretien. Débrancher la pièce de raccordement
d’alimentation.
WARNUNG:Bevor Sie Ein - oder Ausbau des Gerätes
vornehmen, butte lessen Sie die Anweisungen in
Appendix A genau durch. Das Gerät darf nicht ans
Stromnetz angeschlossen sein.
CAUTION:Only hold the TR-in-FE Module by the
edges to avoid damage from static. Do not touch the
top or bottom of the circuit board.
Pre-installation Procedure
Before installing the TR-in-FE Module familiarize your-
self with the module and the Switch into which it will
be installed.

3-2 CHAPTER 3: INSTALLING AND SETTING UPTHE MODULE
Installation
This section explains how to install the TR-in-FE
Module into a SuperStack II Switch 2000 TR device.
Installation is similar for all devices compatible with
the TR-in-FE Module.
CAUTION: Always follow Electro Static Discharge
(ESD) procedures when installing an I/O Module.
1If the Switch is connected to the network, turn off the
power and disconnect the switch from the main
power supply and the network.
2Place the Switch on a flat, clean, hard, work surface.
3Locate and remove the blanking plate that covers the
switch Module slot. See Figure 3-1. Retain the blank-
ing plate and the screws for future use.
To locate the slot where the TR-in-FE Module resides,
refer to the manual that accompanies your device .
4Use the guide rails within the Switch slot to align the
TR-in-FE Module. The location of the guide rails and
the correct positioning of the plate is shown in
Figure 3-1.
5Slide the TR-in-FE Module into the slot without touch-
ing the top or bottom of the circuit board, which
positions upside down on the plate. Ensure that the
module is pushed fully into the unit.
6Use the thumb screws attached to the TR-in-FE
Module to fix the module firmly into place.
7Connect the cable to the TR-in-FE port.
■For fiber: 3Com supports multi-mode fiber
50/125 mm and an SCduplex connector. The
maximum inter-station distance (including
device-to-network connectors) should not exceed
two kilometers (1.25 miles) for full duplex. For half
duplex, the maximum inter-station distance should
not exceed 300 meters.
■For copper: 3Com supports Category 5 type UTP
cable at distances up to 100 m for both half and
full duplex.
For more on cable specifications, see Appendix C,
“TR-in-FE Module Technical Specifications”.
8Connect the cable to the module. Connect the Rx
connector to the port’s Tx socket. Connect the Tx
connector to the port’s Rx socket. Do the same at the
other end of the connection.
■For fiber: Each end of the fiber cable has a trans-
mit (Tx) and receive (Rx) connector.
■For copper: A crossover cable may be required for
operation, which requires a jumper setting on the
module. See“Jumper Settings” in this chapter.
9Connect the downlink port to a Fast Ethernet
repeater, server, or switch. If you plan running full
duplex, ensure that the other end of the link supports
it. A repeater will not support full duplex whereas a
switch such as the SuperStack 3000 will.
NOTE: The Fast Ethernet switch does not have to be a
SuperStack II 3000. However, due to the 3000’s capa-
bility of handling frame sizes larger than 1500 bytes
as well as its cost efficiency, the 3000 is the switch of
preference for anchoring the system.
10 Power up the switch. The link status LED turns green
once a valid connection is made.