Getting To Know Your Switch; Introduction; Backbone Application - ZyXEL Communications MGS-3712 User Manual

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H A P T E R

Getting to Know Your Switch

This chapter introduces the main features and applications of the Switch.

1.1 Introduction

The MGS-3712 and MGS-3712F are layer 2 stand-alone Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) switches.
The MGS-3712 has four GbE dual personality interfaces with each interface comprising one
mini-GBIC slot and one 100/1000 Mbps RJ-45 port, with either port or slot active at a time. In
addition, the MGS-3712 has 8 100/1000 Mbps RJ-45 ports.
The MGS-3712F also has four GbE dual personality interfaces with each interface comprising
one mini-GBIC slot and one 100/1000 Mbps RJ-45 port, with either port or slot active at a
time. In addition, the MGS-3712F has 8 mini-GBIC slots.
There are three versions of the MGS-3712 and MGS-3712F, depending on power
requirements. These are the AC/DC, AC and DC versions.
With its built-in web configurator, managing and configuring the Switch is easy. In addition,
the Switch can also be managed via Telnet, any terminal emulator program on the console
port, or third-party SNMP management.
This section shows a few examples of using the Switch in various network environments.
See Chapter 37 on page 279

1.1.1 Backbone Application

The Switch is an ideal solution for small networks where rapid growth can be expected in the
near future. The Switch can be used standalone for a group of heavy traffic users. You can
connect computers and servers directly to the Switch's port or connect other switches to the
Switch.
In this example, all computers can share high-speed applications on the server. To expand the
network, simply add more networking devices such as switches, routers, computers, print
servers etc.
MGS-3712/MGS-3712F User's Guide
for a full list of software features available on the Switch.
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