Nortel BayStack 5510-24T Specifications page 2

Nortel Networks unique FAST stack-
ing design supports an optimal data
flow across the stack using a shortest
path algorithm.
Most vendors today employ a traditional
ring architecture, meaning that a packet
travels on the ring in only one direction. For
example, in a stack of eight switches, if a
packet needs to go from unit 2 to unit 3,
it can get there in a single hop. But if a
packet needs to go from unit 3 to unit 2,
then it has to traverse from 3 to 4, 4 to 5,
5 to 6, and so on until it reaches unit 2.
This requires seven hops.
Nortel Networks FAST stack design uses
the shortest past algorithm, which means
that the packet would traverse directly
from unit 3 to unit 2 in a single hop.
Figure 2. Innovative FAST stacking architecture—supporting up and downstream traffic
80 Gbps
640 Gbps
80 Gbps
Max. stacking
bandwidth for
80 Gbps
the stack
80 Gbps
80 Gbps
80 Gbps
80 Gbps
80 Gbps
2
The BayStack 5510-24T Switch offers 24 10/100/1000BASE-T RJ-45 ports for desktop
switching and two built-in GBIC ports for uplink. Port 23 and Port 24 offer configuration
flexibility as either a 10/100/1000 or a built-in SFP GBIC port. Both BayStack 5510-24T and
5510-48T switches may be combined in a single stack for maximum flexibility.
Innovative FAST stacking design
Nortel Networks innovative FAST (Flexible Advanced Stacking Technology) stacking design
of the BayStack 5510 allows for simultaneous bi-directional traffic flow on each stacking port
(Figure 2). In a full stack, this design yields up to 640 Gbps—the highest stacking bandwidth
in the industry today.
Switch fabric architecture offering non-blocking wire-speed performance
The BayStack 5510 Switches have a high-performance Layer 3 switching fabric with a
maximum of 160 Gbps forwarding bandwidth and wire-speed performance. The forwarding rate
for the BayStack 5510-48T is 71.4 Mpps (million packets per second) and for the BayStack
5510-24T is 35.7 Mpps
Layer 3 IP routing
The BayStack 5510 Switch architecture supports wire-speed Layer 3 IP routing across the
stack with static and local route support.
The BayStack 5510 switches support high-performance wire-speed IP routing between
VLANs. IP routing with static routes at the edge improves the network performance as the
packets do not have to go to the core and the routing takes place within the switch or stack.
The BayStack 5510 Switches support the DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)
Relay feature that provides the system with the ability to relay DHCP requests to the DHCP
server and eliminates the need for a DHCP server on every subnet. It forwards a request for
an IP address from a client to a DHCP server across subnets.
Software feature enhancements are planned to include support for routing protocols such as
Routing Information Protocol (RIP v1/v2)
As shown here, a unit
can simultaneously
have traffic flow to
each adjacent unit at
40 Gbps full duplex.
Upstream traffic
80 Gbps
stacking bandwidth
per switch
Downstream traffic
.
†
Compact form factor
The BayStack 5510 Switches are offered in a
compact one-rack unit high design. An eight
unit stack provides up to 384 10/100/1000
ports. This allows for significant space and
cost savings in the wiring closet.
Unit replacement feature
In the unlikely event that a switch fails in a
stack, the affected switch can easily be
replaced without disrupting the stack.
Using the unit replacement feature, the
configuration of the failed switch may be
copied from a server to the new switch. The
switch can then be put back in the stack and
the stack is rebuilt automatically without
service interruption.
Up to 16 built-in GBIC ports in a stack
BayStack 5510 Switches have two built-in
SFP GBIC ports for dedicated uplink
connectivity to network core switches such as
the Passport* 8600. This doubles the uplink
bandwidth as GBIC ports are not required