NETGEAR FS518 - Switch User manual

M-FS518NA-1
September 2000
NETGEAR , Inc.
4500 Great America Parkway
Santa Clara, CA 95054
USA
Phone: 1-888-NETGEAR
E-mail: [email protected]
www.NETGEAR.com
Installation Guide for
the Model FS518
Fast Ethernet Switch
with Gigabit Uplinks

ii
© 2000 by NETGEAR, Inc. All rights reserved.
Trademarks
NETGEAR™ is a trademark of NETGEAR, Inc. Windows® is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Other
brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. Information is subject to
change without notice. All rights reserved.
Statement of Conditions
In the interest of improving internal design, operational function, and/or reliability, NETGEAR reserves the right to
make changes to the products described in this document without notice.
NETGEAR does not assume any liability that may occur due to the use or application of the product(s) or circuit
layout(s) described herein.
Certificate of the Manufacturer/Importer
It is hereby certified that the Model FS518 Fast Ethernet Switch has been suppressed in accordance with the conditions
set out in the BMPT-AmtsblVfg 243/1991 and Vfg 46/1992. The operation of some equipment (for example, test
transmitters) in accordance with the regulations may, however, be subject to certain restrictions. Please refer to the notes
in the operating instructions.
Federal Office for Telecommunications Approvals has been notified of the placing of this equipment on the market and
has been granted the right to test the series for compliance with the regulations.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Compliance Notice: Radio Frequency Notice
Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a ClassA digital device, pursuant to
Part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when
the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency
energy. If it is not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, it may cause harmful interference to
radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference, in which
case users will be required to take whatever measures may be necessary to correct the interference at their own expense.
EN 55 022 Statement
This is to certify that the Model FS518 Fast Ethernet Switch is shielded against the generation of radio interference in
accordance with the application of Council Directive 89/336/EEC,Article 4a. Conformity is declared by the application
of EN 55 022 Class A (CISPR 22).
Warning: This is a Class A product. In a domestic environment, this product may cause radio
interference, in which case the user may be required to take appropriate measures.

iii
Bestätigung des Herstellers/Importeurs
Es wird hiermit bestätigt, daß das Model FS518 Fast Ethernet Switch gemäß der im BMPT-AmtsblVfg 243/1991 und
Vfg 46/1992 aufgeführten Bestimmungen entstört ist. Das vorschriftsmäßige Betreiben einiger Geräte (z.B. Testsender)
kann jedoch gewissen Beschränkungen unterliegen. Lesen Sie dazu bitte die Anmerkungen in der Betriebsanleitung.
Das Bundesamt für Zulassungen in der Telekommunikation wurde davon unterrichtet, daß dieses Gerät auf den Markt
gebracht wurde und es ist berechtigt, die Serie auf die Erfüllung der Vorschriften hin zu überprüfen.
Voluntary Control Council for Interference (VCCI) Statement
Voluntary Control Council for Interference (VCCI) Statement
This is a Class A product based on the standard of the Voluntary Control Council for Interference by Information
Technology Equipment (VCCI). If this equipment is used in a domestic environment, radio disturbance may arise.When
such trouble occurs, the user may be required to take corrective actions.
Canadian Department of Communications Radio Interference Regulations
This digital apparatus (Model FS518 Fast Ethernet Switch) does not exceed the Class A limits for radio-noise emissions
from digital apparatus as set out in the Radio Interference Regulations of the Canadian Department of Communications.
Règlement sur le brouillage radioélectrique du ministère des Communications
Cet appareil numérique (Model FS518 Fast Ethernet Switch) respecte les limites de bruits radioélectriques visant les
appareils numériques de classe A prescrites dans le Règlement sur le brouillage radioélectrique du ministère des
Communications du Canada.

iv
Customer Support
For assistance with installing and configuring your NETGEAR system or with questions or problems following
installation:
• Check the NETGEAR Web page at
http://www.NETGEAR.com.
• Call Technical Support at the phone number listed on the Support Information Card that shipped with your switch.
Defective or damaged merchandise can be returned to your point-of-purchase representative.
Internet/World Wide Web
NETGEAR maintains a World Wide Web home page that you can access at the universal resource locator (URL)
http://www.NETGEAR.com .A direct connection to the Internet and a Web browser such as Internet Explorer or Netscape
are required.

Contents v
Contents
Chapter 1
Introduction
Benefits of Using Switching Technology .........................................................................1-1
Types of Ethernet Switches ............................................................................................1-2
Model FS518 Switch Overview .......................................................................................1-3
Features .........................................................................................................................1-4
Chapter 2
Physical Description
Front Panel .....................................................................................................................2-1
1000BASE-SX Fiber Ports .......................................................................................2-3
Normal/Uplink Push Button ......................................................................................2-3
LEDs ........................................................................................................................2-4
Rear Panel ......................................................................................................................2-6
Chapter 3
Applications
Desktop Switching ..........................................................................................................3-2
Segment Switching .........................................................................................................3-3
Chapter 4
Installation
Preparing the Site ...........................................................................................................4-1
Checking Package Contents ..........................................................................................4-1
Installing a Switch ...........................................................................................................4-2
Installing the Switch on a Flat Surface .....................................................................4-2
Installing the Switch in a Rack .................................................................................4-3
Connecting Devices to the Switch ..................................................................................4-5
Verifying Installation ........................................................................................................4-6

vi Contents
Chapter 5
Troubleshooting
Network Adapter Cards ..................................................................................................5-2
Configuration ..................................................................................................................5-2
Switch Integrity ...............................................................................................................5-2
Autonegotiation ...............................................................................................................5-2
Appendix A
Technical Specifications
General Specifications ................................................................................................... A-1
Appendix B
Connector Pin Assignments
RJ-45 Plug and Vista RJ-45 Connector ......................................................................... B-1
Duplex SC Plug and Duplex SC Connector ................................................................... B-2
Appendix C
Cabling Guidelines
Fast Ethernet Cable Guidelines .....................................................................................C-1
Category 5 Cable ..........................................................................................................C-2
Category 5 Cable Specifications .............................................................................C-2
Twisted Pair Cables .......................................................................................................C-3
Patch Panels and Cables ...............................................................................................C-4
Fiber Optic Cables .........................................................................................................C-5
Fiber Cable Specifications .............................................................................................C-5
Gigabit Cable Guidelines ........................................................................................C-5
Index

Figures vii
Figures
Figure 2-1. Front Panel of the Model FS518 Switch ...................................................2-1
Figure 2-2. Vista RJ-45 Connector with Built-In LEDs ...............................................2-2
Figure 2-3. 1000BASE-SX Fiber Connection .............................................................2-3
Figure 2-4. Rear Panel of the Model FS518 Switch ...................................................2-6
Figure 3-1. Model FS518 Switch Used as a Desktop Switch .....................................3-2
Figure 3-2. Model FS518 Switch Used as a Segment Switch ....................................3-3
Figure 4-1. Attaching Mounting Brackets to the Model FS518 Switch .......................4-3
Figure 4-2. Tx/Rx Connection Between Switches ......................................................4-5
Figure 4-3. Connecting to the Model FS518 Fast Ethernet Switch ............................4-6
Figure B-1. RJ-45 Plug and Vista RJ-45 Connector with Built-In LEDs ..................... B-1
Figure B-2. Duplex SC Connector and Duplex SC Plug Connection ......................... B-2
Figure C-1. Straight-Through Twisted Pair Cable .......................................................C-3
Figure C-2. Crossover Twisted Pair Cable .................................................................C-3
Figure C-3. Category 5 UTP Patch Cable with Male RJ-45 Plug at Each End ..........C-4

viii Figures

Tables ix
Tables
Table 2-1. LED Descriptions ....................................................................................2-5
Table 5-1. Troubleshooting Information ....................................................................5-1
Table B-1. RJ-45 Plug and Vista RJ-45 Connector Pin Assignments ...................... B-2
Table C-1. Electrical Requirements of Category 5 Cable .........................................C-2
Table C-2. Electrical Requirements of Fiber Optic Cable .........................................C-5
Table C-3. Gigabit Cable Guidelines ........................................................................C-5

x Tables

Introduction 1-1
Chapter 1
Introduction
Congratulations on your purchase of the NETGEAR Model FS518 Fast Ethernet Switch. This
switch provides you with a low-cost, high-performance network solution and is designed to
support power workgroups operating at either 10 megabits per second (Mbps) or 100 Mbps.
To relieve server and backbone bottlenecks, the Model FS518 switch also has two Gigabit Ethernet
fiber uplink ports.
Benefits of Using SwitchingTechnology
A majority of installed networks today are based on shared network technology. With this
technology, a number of users or groups of users share a total available network bandwidth (or
network capacity) of 10 Mbps, 100 Mbps, or other amounts of network bandwidth. For example,
with a total of 10 users, the average bandwidth available to each user on a 10 Mbps network is
calculated as 10/10 Mbps, which equals 1 Mbps of bandwidth per user. On a 100 Mbps (Fast
Ethernet) network, the average bandwidth available to each of the 10 users is 100/10 Mbps, which
equals 10 Mbps of bandwidth per user.
Ethernet switches significantly increase network throughput by segmenting network traffic. They
check traffic coming in to each port to learn which network device is located on which segment.
Based on this information, switches forward cross-segment traffic only to the appropriate segment.
The traffic will not show up in the other segments because it is filtered out. In this way, network
capacity is fully reserved for traffic destined for that segment only, and other segments will not
be saturated with unnecessary traffic.
Ethernet switches provide private, dedicated, 10 Mbps (or 100 Mbps) capacity to each connected
PC/server or hub/workgroup segment, which is significantly higher than in a shared environment.
The higher bandwidth enables the use of applications such as multimedia, imaging, video, or
high-performance client-server functions among users who are spread out over the network.

Installation Guide for the Model FS518 Fast Ethernet Switch
1-2 Introduction
This improvement is accomplished very easily, with no change to the desktop (the network
interface cards or software and the network wiring). As a result, the performance upgrade and
the applications it enables are obtained very quickly and at a low cost.
When all network ports are operating at 100 Mbps and sending traffic to the server, the server
needs a faster transmission speed to avoid bottlenecks. The 1000 Mbps (Gigabit) ports add the
necessary increase in throughput.
Types of Ethernet Switches
Ethernet switches can be classified in different ways—as desktop switches or as segment switches.
A
desktop switch is designed to support one or a few PCs per port. It is generally used when the
individuals need the full 10 Mbps network throughput to support the applications. Often, these
switches support only a single MAC (media access control) address per port, have high-speed
100 Mbps ports to connect to fast servers, and are relatively inexpensive compared to a segment
switch. A
segment switch , in contrast, is designed to support an entire workgroup on each port,
with each port having significant memory buffering and supporting thousands of MAC addresses.
Switches can also be classified by speed. As the name suggests, 10 Mbps switches support only
10 Mbps connections. Similarly, 100 Mbps switches support only 100 Mbps connections. Usually,
10/100 Mbps switches have primarily 10 Mbps ports with only one or a few 100 Mbps ports.
Autosensing 10/100 Mbps switches support 10 Mbps or 100 Mbps connections on each port and
are the most versatile and adaptive type of switches. Gigabit (1000 Mbps) switch ports are used to
connect to shared network resources and network backbones at higher speed.

Installation Guide for the Model FS518 Fast Ethernet Switch
Introduction 1-3
Model FS518 Switch Overview
The NETGEAR Model FS518 Fast Ethernet Switch with Gigabit uplinks is an autosensing 10/
100 Mbps switch with two Gigabit uplink interfaces. This high-performance switch is developed
primarily to be used as a segment switch, even though it is priced as a desktop switch.
All of the UTP ports on the Model FS518 switch can adapt automatically to the speed of the
connected network or the PC, and the ports can operate at either 10 Mbps or 100 Mbps. In
addition, each port can automatically negotiate with the connected device to operate in full-duplex
mode. If the connected device is operating in half-duplex mode only or does not have the
capability to participate in the negotiation process, the port will default to half-duplex mode.
The Model FS518 switch can be used to partition a 10 Mbps or 100 Mbps network to enhance the
capacity of the network to support advanced applications. In addition, the switch provides a link
between traditional 10 Mbps networks and faster 100 Mbps networks. By installing a Model
FS518 switch, a user can connect any 10 Mbps or 100 Mbps device to the switch without worrying
about the running speed of the device. The Model FS518 switch provides a built-in upgrade path;
you can remove a 10 Mbps connection and replace the connection with a 100 Mbps connection
with little or no change to the rest of the network.
The Model FS518 switch can be effectively used to join multiple 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet
segments and to extend the reach of the network. Copper-based Fast Ethernet networks have a
network diameter of up to 200 meters. The Model FS518 switch can be used to join these
200-meter segments to enable them to function as a single logical network. With one Model FS518
switch, the reach extends to 400 meters.
The Gigabit Ethernet uplink ports on the Model FS518 switch can be used to connect to the
network backbone and shared network resources such as servers at 1000 Mbps. The full-duplex
1000BASE-SX ports allow users to connect at high speed to a wiring closet or server located from
2 to 525 meters away.
All 10/100 ports can autonegotiate the duplex mode with the connected device. If negotiation fails,
the ports default to half-duplex mode. Gigabit fiber ports will advertise their full-duplex operation
and negotiate flow control with the connected device. If negotiation fails, the ports will default to
full-duplex mode and no flow control.
Because the Model FS518 switch is an ISO media access control (MAC) layer device, the switch is
network protocol independent and compatible with all popular networks such as the Internet or
TCP/IP, NetWare, DECnet, Microsoft NETBEUI, and LANTASTIC.

Installation Guide for the Model FS518 Fast Ethernet Switch
1-4 Introduction
Features
The Model FS518 switch has the following key features:
• 16 autonegotiating (speed and duplex mode) 10/100 Mbps UTP ports to provide fast
information exchange, resource sharing, and client or peer-to-peer communication using
simple Category 5 unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cable
• 16 vista RJ-45 network ports with built-in LEDs to monitor individual port status
• Two autonegotiating (duplex mode and flow control) Gigabit fiber ports with standard SC
connectors
The ports support multimode optical fiber (SX) up to 525 meters (m) with 50 µ
m fiber cable.
With 62.5 µ
m fiber cable, the maximum distance is 260 m.
• Two 62.5/125 µ
m fiber cables included for connecting the Gigabit ports to servers or the
network backbone
• Autonegotiation supported by all 10/100 Mbps and Gigabit ports
• Automatic address-learning function to build the packet-forwarding information table
The table contains up to 8,000 MAC addresses (that is, the switch can support networks with
as many as 8,000 devices).
• Wire-speed filtering and forwarding to direct traffic to the appropriate route without slowing
down the traffic
• Store-and-forward forwarding mode to minimize erroneous packets on the network
• Aging function to automatically track changes in network configuration
• Minimum latency of packet transmission (leading edge to leading edge) less than 80 µ
s
• Easy plug-and-play installation with no software to configure, which saves time and
minimizes the potential for configuration errors
• Protocol independence and compatibility with all common protocols such as TCP/IP,
NetWare, DECnet, and Microsoft Networks
• Normal/Uplink push button to simplify network extension to 10/100 segments
• Connection to a hub using a simple, straight-through cable

Installation Guide for the Model FS518 Fast Ethernet Switch
Introduction 1-5
• Conformity to standards:
— IEEE 802.3u 100BASE-TX standard
— ISO/IEC 8802-3 and ANSI/IEEE 802.3 10BASE-T standards
— IEEE 802.3z 1000BASE-SX standard
• Rack Mount Kit provided for installing the switch in a standard 19-inch equipment rack or for
mounting on the wall

Physical Description 2-1
Chapter 2
Physical Description
This chapter describes the hardware features of the NETGEAR Model FS518 Fast Ethernet
Switch.
Front Panel
For easier management and control of the Model FS518 switch, familiarize yourself with the ports,
LEDs, and Normal/Uplink push button on the front panel of the switch, as illustrated in Figure 2-1.
Key:
1 = Power LED
2 = RX/TX LEDs
3 = FDX/COL LEDs
4 = 10/100 Mbps UTP ports with 10M or 100M Link LEDs on each port
5 = Normal/Uplink push button for port 16
6 = Gigabit Ethernet (1000BASE-SX) SC fiber ports
7 = Link LEDs for the Gigabit Ethernet ports
Figure 2-1. Front Panel of the Model FS518 Switch
6
6
4
9307FA
Normal/Uplink 1000M Link
10 11 12
FS518
MODEL
Fast Ethernet Switch
18
PORT
10/100Mbps
Ethernet
9
Green = FDX, Yellow = COL
Rx/Tx
14 15 1613 18
Power
2341678517
Tx Rx
1000M Link
Tx Rx
Rx/Tx
Green = FDX, Yellow = COL
1100M 10M 45 8
On = Link
13 16129
23
1
5
7
7

Installation Guide for the Model FS518 Fast Ethernet Switch
2-2 Physical Description
As Figure 2-1 shows, the Model FS518 switch is equipped with 16 autosensing 10/100 Mbps Fast
Ethernet UTP ports. The network access speed for the 10/100 Mbps ports is automatically sensed
and displayed on the front panel by the 10 Mbps or 100 Mbps Link LEDs.
The 10/100 Mbps ports support only unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cable using an 8-pin RJ-45
plug. Each of the 10/100 Mbps ports uses vista RJ-45 connectors that have built-in LEDs, as
illustrated in Figure 2-2. The LEDs, as described in Table 2-1 on page 2-5, indicate that the
connection to the port is valid and that the port is operating at either 10 or 100 Mbps.
For further information about the vista RJ-45 connector and the RJ-45 plug, refer to Appendix B,
“Connector Pin Assignments,”and Appendix C, “Cabling Guidelines.”
Key:
1 = 100M link LED
2 = 10M link LED
Figure 2-2. Vista RJ-45 Connector with Built-In LEDs
735EA
1 2

Installation Guide for the Model FS518 Fast Ethernet Switch
Physical Description 2-3
1000BASE-SX Fiber Ports
The Model FS518 switch has two1000BASE-SX fiber ports. These ports operate at 1000 Mbps
full-duplex mode exclusively and provide a standard duplex SC connector for 62.5/125 µ
m or
50/125 µ
m multimode fiber optic cable. Figure 2-3 shows a fiber optic cable connection to a
duplex SC connector. The Link LED to the right of the 1000BASE-SX fiber port indicates whether
or not proper signaling is established with the remote port. For further information about fiber
optic cables and connectors, refer to Appendix B, “Connector PinAssignments,”and Appendix C,
“Cabling Guidelines.”
Figure 2-3. 1000BASE-SX Fiber Connection
Normal/Uplink Push Button
The Normal/Uplink push button on the front panel of the switch, as illustrated in Figure 2-1,
allows you to select uplink (MDI) or normal (MDI-X) wiring for port 16 on the Model FS518
switch. This port is configured for normal wiring to connect to a PC when the push button is in
the out position. When the push button is pressed in, this port is configured for uplink wiring to
connect to another switch or to a hub, using a straight-through twisted pair cable.
Warning: Fiber optic equipment can emit laser or infrared light that might injure your
eyes. Never look into an optical fiber or connector port. Always assume that fiber optic
cables are connected to a light source.
8806FB
Tx Rx

Installation Guide for the Model FS518 Fast Ethernet Switch
2-4 Physical Description
LEDs
The LEDs on the front panel of the switch and two vista LEDs on each RJ-45 connector allow you
to identify the following information:
•Status of the power supply
•For each 10/100 Ethernet port:
–Network link at 10 Mbps or 100 Mbps
–Data transmission or receive activity
–Collision occurrence when in half-duplex mode or full-duplex mode
•For the fiber port:
–Link status (fiber port 17 or 18 operates only at 1000 Mbps)
–Data transmission or receive activity
–Full-duplex operation