Chapter 2. Product Overview; Hardware Benefits - IBM s-series Installation And User Manual

Chapter 2. Product Overview

This chapter contains an overview of the IBM Ethernet Switch B08S and B16S
Layer 2 and Layer 3 switches. Designed for medium to large enterprise backbones,
these devices are modular switches that provide the enterprise network with a
complete end-to-end Enterprise LAN solution, ranging from the wiring closet to the
LAN backbone.
Through the remainder of this guide, these products will be referred to as the B08S
and the B16S. When reference to a specific model is not required, the general
terms switch, product, or device will be used to refer to all the models. The term
s-series may also be used to collectively refer to these switch products.

Hardware benefits

The s-series switches provide the following benefits:
v The management module is non-blocking, with a adjustable switch fabric module
v The management modules have a console port and a 10/100/1000 port that
v The management modules are interchangeable between the IBM Ethernet Switch
v Optional dual management modules provide 100% redundancy.
v The crossbar (xbar) architecture enables the management module to switch 30
v The interface modules and power supplies are interchangeable between the IBM
v The management, switch fabric, and interface modules are hot swappable, which
v The devices have a passive backplane.
v Completely separate data and control planes, which results in uncompromised
v Distributed data and control planes, which results in uncompromised wire-speed
© Copyright IBM Corp. 2009
and twelve combination Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) copper or fiber ports that provide
connectivity to your existing management network.
provide connectivity to your existing management network. The management
modules optionally support 2-port 10-GbE ports or 8-port GbE fiber and copper
ports.
s-series models. However, you cannot mix IPv4 and IPv6 modules together in the
same chassis.
Gigabits per second between each interface module and within the management
module.
Ethernet Switch s-series models. However, you cannot mix IPv4 and IPv6
modules together in the same chassis.
means you can remove and replace them while the chassis is powered on and
running.
switching performance, increased reliability of both planes, and increased
security of the control plane in the event of a Denial of Service (DoS) attack on
the data plane.
performance for the data plane and faster and more efficient performance of
management functions for the control plane.
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