Dell PowerConnect 5012 Technical manual

Page 1September 2001
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PowerConnect™ 50121
Key Points
•The Dell™ PowerConnect 5012 is designed to deliver a high
performance, flexible Gigabit Ethernet switching solution with
comprehensive management features.
•The PowerConnect 5012 provides full wire-speed switching across 12
Gigabit Ethernet ports at all Ethernet packet sizes. The maximum
switching capacity is 24 Gbps.
•The PowerConnect 5012 provides exceptional flexibility and
investment protection. In addition to the 10 built-in Copper Gigabit
Ethernet ports (10/100/1000BaseT), the PowerConnect 5012 includes
two GBIC slots to support a variety of fiber media.
•The PowerConnect 5012 supports a variety of standards-based
advanced switching features that allow the network administrator to
optimize the traffic flow in the network.
•The PowerConnect 5012 can be managed via its embedded Web server
or via 3rd party management console applications utilizing open
management standards like SNMP.
Product Description
1
This device has not been approved by the Federal Communications Commission for use in a
residential environment. This device is not, and may not be, offered for sale or lease, or sold or leased
for use in a residential environment until the approval of the FCC has been obtained.
Gigabit Ethernet was
first introduced as a
technology using fiber
media. Today, Copper
Gigabit Ethernet is
offering two critical
advantages for
distances of up to 100
meters: Standard
Category 5 cabling can
be used and the cost
per port for Gigabit
Ethernet has decreased
dramatically

Page 2September 2001
The PowerConnect 5012 is a 12 port Gigabit Ethernet switch that combines
10 Copper Gigabit Ethernet ports with two Gigabit Interface Converter
(GBIC) slots in a space-saving 1U form factor.
PowerConnect 5012 Versus PowerConnect 3024
Table 2 compares the PowerConnect 5012 to the PowerConnect 3024. The
PowerConnect 5012 is a 12-port Gigabit Ethernet switch. Its main
application is traffic aggregation and data center switching. The
PowerConnect 3024 is a 24-port Fast Ethernet switch with two Gigabit
Ethernet uplinks. Its main application is high-performance wiring closet
connectivity.
Table 2
Product Comparison of the PowerConnect 5012 and the
PowerConnect 3024
Features
PowerConnect 5012
PowerConnect 3024
Total Switching
Capacity
24 Gbps
12.8 Gbps
Gigabit Ethernet Ports
12 GbE ports:
10 Copper GbE ports
(10/100/1000BaseT) and 2
GBIC slots
2 GbE ports:
2 Copper GbE ports
(10/100/1000BaseT) with
optional Fiber GbE via
GBIC
Fast Ethernet Ports
None
24 10/100BaseT
Advanced Switching
Features (e.g. VLAN,
802.1p Priority, Link
Aggregation, IGMP)
Yes
Yes
Remote Management
Yes
Yes
Form Factor
1U, rack mountable
1U, rack mountable
Target Markets/Applications
The PowerConnect 5012 is targeted for customers who require high-
performance Gigabit Ethernet switching. Also, the PowerConnect 5012 is
ideal for customers with growing networks because of its support for both
Copper and Fiber Gigabit Ethernet media.
•Network Aggregation Switch: The PowerConnect 5012 is the ideal
aggregation switch for multiple, Gigabit Ethernet-capable
workgroup switches like the PowerConnect 3024. By connecting the
Gigabit Ethernet uplinks of the workgroup switches to the
PowerConnect 5012, a large number of Fast Ethernet endpoints like

Page 3September 2001
PCs can be interconnected without a performance bottleneck in the
aggregation switch.
•Data Center Switch: The PowerConnect 5012 can interconnect
Gigabit Ethernet capable servers at full wire speed. Particularly in
multi-tier architectures consisting of Web/Presentation, Application
and Data tiers, high-speed network connectivity across the tiers can
provide a significant performance impact.
•Workstation Connectivity: The PowerConnect 5012 is ideal to
connect a group of Gigabit Ethernet capable workstations to the
network. Many workstation applications can benefit significantly
from Gigabit Ethernet solutions, e.g. by reducing file transfer times.
•Multi-Layer Hosting Solution: The PowerConnect 5012 can
effectively provide Gigabit Layer 2 connectivity for a high-
performance hosting solution that utilizes Layer 4-7 devices like the
Dell PowerApp™ family of solutions for load balancing and caching.
Features and Benefits
The features and benefits of the PowerConnect 5012 are shown in Table 3.
Table 3
Features, Functions and Benefits of the PowerConnect 5012
Feature
Function
Benefit
Total Switching
Capacity of 24 Gbps
Enables full wire-speed
Gigabit switching across all
ports
Take full advantage of the
Gigabit speed of workgroup
switch uplinks and servers
Built-in Copper
Gigabit Ethernet Ports
Provide 10-times higher
bandwidth than Fast
Ethernet ports
Helps to eliminate performance
bottlenecks at critical traffic
aggregation points and servers;
use Gigabit Ethernet with
standard Cat5 cabling
Optional Fiber Gigabit
Ethernet Ports
Accommodate various
types of fiber interface
modules (e.g. 1000SX,
1000LX; modules sold
separately)
Flexibility to use fiber media if
large distances have to be
covered by the network
VLAN
Combines a number of
ports into separated, virtual
sub-networks
Allows for limitation of broadcast
domains as well as improved
security
IEEE 802.1p Priority
Utilizes separate
transmission queues for
low and high priority traffic
Ensures low-latency delivery of
time critical network traffic, e.g.
traffic associated with voice or
video communication
Link Aggregation
Groups up to eight ports
together into a single, high-
bandwidth trunk
Increases bandwidth for critical
network links (e.g. uplinks to a
network backbone) and creates
link redundancy

Page 4September 2001
Feature
Function
Benefit
bandwidth trunk
network backbone) and creates
link redundancy
IGMP Snooping
Detects ports that are
participating in IP Multicast
communication, e.g.
multimedia streams
Limit broadcast traffic to those
ports that are actually
participating in the
communication
Auto-Negotiation and
Auto MDI/MDIX on all
Copper ports
Automatically configures
ports for speed, duplex
mode, flow control and
cabling used
Can reduce network set-up time
Management
Enables remote
configuration and
monitoring of the switch via
a Web-browser or a
SNMP-based management
console application
Allows a network administrator to
detect and remedy problems at
local and remote locations
1 U Form Factor
Height of switch is limited
to 1U
Saves rack space
Key Customer Benefits
•Cost effective deployment of Gigabit Ethernet
The PowerConnect 5012 provides a cost effective way to help
significantly improve network performance by utilizing Gigabit
Ethernet in key traffic aggregation points and for server connectivity.
•Ideal solution for customers with growing networks
The PowerConnect 5012 will adapt to changing network needs. The 10
built-in Copper Gigabit Ethernet ports can operate at Fast Ethernet
today and at Gigabit Ethernet tomorrow –when other network
components (e.g. server NICs) have been upgraded to Gigabit
Ethernet. When the network has to cover large distances, the
PowerConnect 5012 can accommodate Fiber Gigabit Ethernet modules
via its two GBIC slots.
•Support for standards-based advanced switching features as well as
standards-based remote management
The PowerConnect 5012 supports a variety of open standards to
ensure flexibility in optimizing an overall network for optimal
performance (e.g. IEEE 802.1p Class-of-Service or IGMP snooping),
availability (link aggregation) and security (VLAN). Also, Web
browser-based switch management as well as SNMP-based
management support a broad variety of management needs.

Page 5September 2001
Service and Support
Dell PowerConnect switches come with the following:
•Three-year limited warranty1(three years of standard Next Business
Day unit replacement)
•Telephone support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year for
the duration of the limited warranty
•30-day “Getting Started” helpline for customers who purchase
PowerConnect 3024 or PowerConnect 5012
•DirectLine Plus network configuration support upgrades available
•Four-hour response2unit replacement upgrades available (5x103and
7x244options)
•On-site Labor Service5upgrades (Next Business Day6or Same Day7)
available
1For a complete copy of our Guarantees or Limited Warranties, please write Dell, USA, L.P.,
One Dell Way, Round Rock, TX 78682.2
2Available within a 125-mile radius of over 80 metropolitan areas. Customers not located
within a 125-mile radius of the stocking locations are not eligible for this offering. Available in
US only.
3The replacement unit may not arrive until the following business day if dispatched after
4:00pm. Dell will dispatch a replacement unit to the customer site within 4 hours of
determining the hardware problem.
4For 7x24 service, Dell will dispatch a replacement unit within 4 hours of determining the
hardware problem.
5Service may be provided by third-party. Availability varies. Technician will be dispatched if
necessary following phone-based troubleshooting. A third-party provider under contract
with Dell may provide Service.
6To receive next business day service, Dell must notify the service provider before 5pm (depending on
service contract) customer time. Availability varies.
7Available within a 125-mile radius of over 80 metropolitan areas. Customers not located
within a 125-mile radius of the stocking locations are not eligible for this offering. For 7x24 or
5x10 service, Dell will dispatch a service technician within 4 hours of determining the
hardware problem. For 5x10 service, the service technician may not arrive until the following
business day if dispatched after 4:00 pm local time. Not available with any other Dell systems.
Available in the U.S. only.
Dell and PowerConnect are trademarks of Dell Computer Corporation. Other trademarks and
trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks
and names or their products. Dell disclaims proprietary interest in the marks and names of
others.
©Copyright 2001 Dell Computer Corporation. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any
manner whatsoever without the express written permission of Dell Computer Corporation is
strictly forbidden. For more information contact Dell. Dell cannot be responsible for errors in
typography or photography.