Cabletron Systems bridges Manuel D’Utilisation
Ethernet
6-12
Ethernet Workgroup Design
The small office location is an ideal place to examine the suitability of stackable
networking devices. As these locations fall into a space between tiny workgroups
and full-scale facility networks, they are the target location for stackables.
networking devices. As these locations fall into a space between tiny workgroups
and full-scale facility networks, they are the target location for stackables.
The sections below describe the important criteria that need to be examined when
selecting a networking solution for a small office location. In many cases, these
criteria are exactly the same as those treated in the home office section discussed
previously. The presentation of these network design criteria is followed by an
example design, which supplies a small office situation and one solution to the
needs of that proposed network.
selecting a networking solution for a small office location. In many cases, these
criteria are exactly the same as those treated in the home office section discussed
previously. The presentation of these network design criteria is followed by an
example design, which supplies a small office situation and one solution to the
needs of that proposed network.
Abstracting the Design Process
When designing a small office implementation, the Network Designer follows a
decision making process that is essentially identical to that used for the design of
a home office. The differentiation between the two procedures is found more in
the responses to the issues raised by these criteria than by the actual criteria
themselves.
decision making process that is essentially identical to that used for the design of
a home office. The differentiation between the two procedures is found more in
the responses to the issues raised by these criteria than by the actual criteria
themselves.
Management
Management, again, adds control and monitoring functions to the networking
devices. The benefits of management come at a cost of higher final product prices,
and may not be fully recognized by extremely small or simplistic networks. The
small office level is truly the middle ground between situations where
management is essential and those where it is often not necessary.
devices. The benefits of management come at a cost of higher final product prices,
and may not be fully recognized by extremely small or simplistic networks. The
small office level is truly the middle ground between situations where
management is essential and those where it is often not necessary.
Media
The type of media to be used in a small office network is an important
consideration, as most of the network installations of comparable size involve
facilities with existing cable or where an installation of new cabling is planned.
This cabling is typically pulled through wall spaces and conduits, and is therefore
more difficult to change in the event that the networking devices selected by the
Network Designer do not match that cabling. Again, transceivers and media
converters are available to make the change from one media to another, but are
second-best solutions.
consideration, as most of the network installations of comparable size involve
facilities with existing cable or where an installation of new cabling is planned.
This cabling is typically pulled through wall spaces and conduits, and is therefore
more difficult to change in the event that the networking devices selected by the
Network Designer do not match that cabling. Again, transceivers and media
converters are available to make the change from one media to another, but are
second-best solutions.
Interconnection
The small office, while often standing alone, may need a path of expansion or
interconnection to later networks and workgroups. It is at these times that the
interconnection options available in any networking device become important.
Typically the interconnection devices that are most important from a network
design point of view are those which provide connections to either different
media of the same technology (PIMs) or to different networking technologies
altogether (BRIMs).
interconnection to later networks and workgroups. It is at these times that the
interconnection options available in any networking device become important.
Typically the interconnection devices that are most important from a network
design point of view are those which provide connections to either different
media of the same technology (PIMs) or to different networking technologies
altogether (BRIMs).