Switching Technology; Features; Chassis - D-Link DES-6300 User Manual

Modular L3 Ethernet Switch User's Guide

Switching Technology

Another key development pushing the limits of Ethernet technology is in the field of switching
technology. A switch bridges Ethernet packets at the MAC address level of the Ethernet protocol
transmitting among connected Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, or Gigabit Ethernet LAN segments.
Switching is a cost-effective way of increasing the total network capacity available to users on a local
area network. A switch increases capacity and decreases network loading by making it possible for a
local area network to be divided into different segments which don't compete with each other for
network transmission capacity, giving a decreased load on each.
The switch acts as a high-speed selective bridge between the individual segments. Traffic that needs to
go from one segment to another (from one port to another) is automatically forwarded by the switch,
without interfering with any other segments (ports). This allows the total network capacity to be
multiplied, while still maintaining the same network cabling and adapter cards.
For Fast Ethernet or Gigabit Ethernet networks, a switch is an effective way of eliminating problems of
chaining hubs beyond the "two-repeater limit." A switch can be used to split parts of the network into
different collision domains, for example, making it possible to expand your Fast Ethernet network
beyond the 205 meter network diameter limit for 100BASE-TX networks. Switches supporting both
traditional 10Mbps Ethernet and 100Mbps Fast Ethernet are also ideal for bridging between existing
10Mbps networks and new 100Mbps networks.
Switching LAN technology is a marked improvement over the previous generation of network bridges,
which were characterized by higher latencies. Routers have also been used to segment local area
networks, but the cost of a router and the setup and maintenance required make routers relatively
impractical. Today's switches are an ideal solution to most kinds of local area network congestion
problems.

Features

The DES-6300 is a high performance modular switch platform that allows a customized array of Layer 2
and Layer 3 functions to be easily installed and managed in a single device. The Switch is ideal for
expanding enterprise networks and environments where traffic volume and needs fluctuate.
Switch features include:

Chassis

The chassis is the main unit that modules and power supplies are installed into. A CPU module and a
power supply module come preinstalled in the chassis.
Chassis features include:
♦ Six slots for installing networking modules (plus one slot reserved for the CPU)
♦ Two slots for installing redundant power supply modules
♦ 31.99 Gigabit/sec. (Gbps) backplane switching fabric
♦ Hot-swappable design for power supply modules
♦ Networking modules warm-swappable (except CPU module)
♦ Ears and screws for rack mounting
7