Nortel Networks 1000BASE-LX User Manual

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Chapter 2 Network configuration
209418-A
In any stack configuration, the following applies:
When you apply power to the stack, the base unit initializes and the entire 
stack powers up as a single logical unit.
You can attach an RS-232 communications cable to the console port of any 
switch in the stack.
You can downline upgrade the entire stack from any switch in the stack from 
the console interface, a Telnet session, the Web-based management interface, 
or any generic SNMP-based network management software.
You can access and manage the stack using a Telnet connection, the 
Web-based management interface, or any generic SNMP management tool 
through any switch port that is part of the stack configuration.
When you stack three or more switches, use the longer (1-meter) stacking 
max-return cable to complete the link from the last unit in the stack to the base 
unit.
IEEE 802.1Q VLAN workgroups
BayStack 420 switches support up to 32 port-based VLANs with IEEE 802.1Q 
tagging available per port. Ports are grouped into broadcast domains by assigning 
them to the same VLAN. Frames received in one VLAN can only be forwarded 
within that VLAN, and multicast frames and unknown unicast frames are flooded 
only to ports in the same VLAN.
Setting up virtual LANs (VLANs) is a way to segment networks to increase 
network capacity and performance without changing the physical network 
topology (
). With network segmentation, each switch port connects to a 
segment that is a single broadcast domain. When a switch port is configured to be 
a member of a VLAN, it is added to a group of ports (workgroup) that belong to 
one broadcast domain.
The BayStack 420 Switch allows you to assign ports to VLANs using the console, 
Telnet, Web-based management, or an appropriate SNMP-based application. You 
can assign different ports (and therefore the devices attached to these ports) to 
different broadcast domains. This feature allows network flexibility because you 
can reassign VLANs to accommodate network moves, additions, and changes, 
eliminating the need to change physical cabling.