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Ethernet Connection, cont’d
Fiber Matrix 6400 Switcher • Ethernet Connection
A-6
Subnetting — A Primer
It is not the purpose of this manual to describe TCP/IP protocol in detail. However,
some understanding of TCP/IP subnetting (a subnet is a subset of a network — a
set of IP devices that have portions of their IP addresses in common) is necessary in
order to understand the interaction of the Fiber Matrix switcher and the mail server
gateway. To understand subnetting at the level required to install and operate the
Fiber Matrix switcher, you must understand the concepts of a gateway, local and
remote devices, IP addresses and octets, and subnet masks and octets.
Gateways
The Fiber Matrix switcher can communicate with the e-mail server that the
switcher uses for e-mail notification directly (if they are on the same subnet) or
the communication can be routed via a gateway (a computer that provides a link
between different subnets).
Local and remote devices
The local and remote devices are defined from the point of view of the function
being described. In this manual, subnetting is an issue when you are using
the controlling PC to set TCP/IP and e-mail values in the Fiber Matrix (see “IP
Settings/Options window” in chapter 5, “Matrix Software”, and “Email Settings
page” in chapter 6, “HTML Operation”). When you are setting up the variables for
e-mail notification, which may include subnetting, the matrix switcher is the local
device and the e-mail server is the remote device.
IP addresses and octets
Valid IP addresses consist of four 1-, 2-, or 3-digit numeric subfields, properly called
octets, separated by dots (periods) as shown below. Each octet can be numbered
from 000 through 255. Leading zeroes, up to three digits total per octet, are
optional. Values of 256 and above are invalid.
192.168.254.254Typical IP Address:
Octets
Subnet masks and octets
The subnet mask (shown below) is used to determine whether the local and remote
devices are on the same subnet or different subnets. The subnet mask consists
of four numeric octets separated by dots. Each octet can be numbered from
000 through 255. Leading zeroes, up to three digits total per octet, are optional.
Each octet typically contains either 255 or 0. The octets determine whether or not
the same octets of two IP addresses will be compared when determining if two
devices are on the same subnet.
255.255.0.0Typical Subnet Mask:
Octets
255 indicates that this octet will be
compared between two IP addresses.
0 indicates that this octet will not be
compared between two IP addresses.