2
Network Planning
Application Examples
The SMC8150L2 is not only designed to segment your network, but also to provide
a wide range of options in setting up network connections. Some typical applications
are described below.
Collapsed Backbone
The SMC8150L2 is an excellent choice for mixed Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, and
Gigabit Ethernet installations where significant growth is expected in the near future.
In a basic stand-alone configuration, it can provide direct full-duplex connections for
up to 50 workstations or servers. You can easily build on this basic configuration,
adding direct full-duplex connections to workstations or servers. When the time
comes for further expansion, just connect to another hub or switch using one of the
Gigabit Ethernet ports built into the front panel, or a Gigabit Ethernet port on a
plug-in SFP transceiver.
In the figure below, the 50-port Gigabit Ethernet Switch is operating as a collapsed
backbone for a small LAN. It is providing dedicated 10 Mbps full-duplex connections
to workstations and 100 Mbps full-duplex connections to power users, and 1 Gbps
full-duplex connections to servers.
Figure 2-1 Collapsed Backbone
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