Cabletron Systems STS16-20D User Manual
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SmartStack STS16-20D/STS16-20R Token Ring Switches Installation and User Guide
Preparing for Installation
Figure 15. Scenario using a Stacker Link and a Matrix Switch
Figure 16 on the next page shows a network design where SmartStack STS16-20D/
STS16-20R uses network ports to connect to a remote SmartStack STS16-20RM
switch. In many Token Ring networks, the cabling layout requires such remote
extension of rings. When more than one network port at each end is used to connect
the same two switches they can be configured as a CrossLink which allows for a
data pipe with up to 32 Mbps times the number of ports in the pipe in bandwidth.
For a description of CrossLinks, see the section “CrossLink” on page 110.
STS16-20R uses network ports to connect to a remote SmartStack STS16-20RM
switch. In many Token Ring networks, the cabling layout requires such remote
extension of rings. When more than one network port at each end is used to connect
the same two switches they can be configured as a CrossLink which allows for a
data pipe with up to 32 Mbps times the number of ports in the pipe in bandwidth.
For a description of CrossLinks, see the section “CrossLink” on page 110.
As a general rule of thumb, you should combine SmartStack STS16-20D/STS16-
20R with SmartStack STS16-20RM because SmartStack STS16-20RM gives the
ultimate flexibility via its expansion module capability. Another good network
design rule of thumb is to reduce the number of rings in a switched network -
switched rings do not have the cabling limitations and the limitations on the number
of ring stations as the shared media Token Rings. The reduction of the number of
rings - ultimately leading to one single logical switched ring - may prove
advantageous if you want to reduce the number of hops across source routing
bridges, and limit the use of source routing bridging.
20R with SmartStack STS16-20RM because SmartStack STS16-20RM gives the
ultimate flexibility via its expansion module capability. Another good network
design rule of thumb is to reduce the number of rings in a switched network -
switched rings do not have the cabling limitations and the limitations on the number
of ring stations as the shared media Token Rings. The reduction of the number of
rings - ultimately leading to one single logical switched ring - may prove
advantageous if you want to reduce the number of hops across source routing
bridges, and limit the use of source routing bridging.