Chapter 2: Installation; Installing The Gigabit 5-Port Workgroup Switch; Connecting Your Hardware Together And Booting Up; Tips On Switching Your Network - Linksys EG005W - Instant Gigabit Workgroup Switch User Manual

Chapter 2
Chapter 2:
Installation
Installing the EtherFast® Gigabit Ethernet Switch may
involve installing both an adapter and the Gigabit
Ethernet Switch. If you are integrating these items into an
existing network, some additional steps may be necessary
involving settings for your existing equipment. Consult
your network administrator for more information about
how the Gigabit Ethernet Switch will interface with your
existing network components.
Installing the Gigabit 5-Port Workgroup
Switch
The Switch's back panel has five RJ-45 ports. Each
10/100/1000 port automatically detects the speed and
duplex of the attached cabling to a network card, switch,
hub, etc. The ports operate in either 1000Mbps, 100Mbps,
or 10Mbps.
Each 10/100/1000 port on your Switch can connect to
workstations, file servers, hubs, routers or other switches.
Connections to the switch require Category 5 Ethernet
network cabling (Category 5e for Gigabit connections.
To connect a computer directly to the Switch, plug one
end of a standard network cable into the switch, and
then plug the other end of the cable into the computer's
network adapter.
Connecting Your Hardware Together and
Booting Up
Plug in the Gigabit Ethernet Switch's power cable. The
Power LED will light up. As devices make connections to
the Switch's ports, each port's corresponding FDX or ACT
LED will light up. The remaining LEDs will also light up
according to how your connection is made, e.g. full or half
duplex, 10Mbps, 100Mbps, or 1000Mbps.
If the Switch experiences excessive data collisions, verify
that your network cabling is securely crimped and installed
properly.
Gigabit 5-Port Workgroup Switch

Tips on Switching Your Network

Here are some of the ways the new Switch can help you
optimize your network speed:
Speed up Nodes from Your 10BaseT Network
In a 10BaseT network, connect your hubs, file servers,
and key users, such as network administrators, directly
to your Switch to channel dedicated bandwidth in full-
duplex mode (if operating in full-duplex) to each station.
The Switch will have dedicated communication with all
its connections simultaneously, whereas a hub will only
communicate in half-duplex transfer mode and broadcasts
information to all ports.
Conserving Bandwidth with 10Mbps, 100Mbps and
1000Mbps Segments
10BaseT and 100BaseTX hardware are not readily
compatible, but the Switch can designate network segments
of different speeds. This allows you to run one 100Mbps
segment to serve users without a need for considerable
speed, and a faster 1000Mbps segment devoted to users
who depend heavily on graphics, multimedia, database,
or other speed-intensive applications. With switched
segmentation, your 1000Mbps users will not be slowed
down by the users on the 10/100Mbps segment.
Run 10/100Mbps Peripherals in a 1000Mbps Network
Most of the network peripherals in place today run at
10/100Mbps, since 100BaseTX has been the standard
network speed to date. These peripherals, designed to
operate at 100Mbps, cannot readily communicate with
1000BaseTX equipment.
required for cable and DSL connections, which are quickly
becoming very popular ways to access the Internet. The
Switch provides your 10BaseT equipment and cable and
DSL lines with a 10Mbps interface while still running your
Fast Ethernet devices at 100Mbps or your Gigabit devices
at 1000Mbps.
Strengthen Data Transfers through Signal Regeneration
The Switch functions as a repeater, which regenerates
data signals as they pass through it. This feature acts as a
safeguard to deter data loss and ensure that transmissions
arrive at their destination intact. Switches positioned
between hubs can preserve your data's integrity and
eliminate your need to buy and use repeaters in your Fast
Ethernet or Gigabit network.
Configuration
A 10Mbps interface is also
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