GE 1601-9026-A3 Switch User Manual


 
16 MULTILINK ETHERNET COMMUNICATIONS SWITCH – QUICKSTART GUIDE
QUICKSTART GUIDE
5.1.2 Fiber
Longer distances possible, limited only by attenuation
Immune to electrical noise
More difficult termination and splicing
Slightly higher cost for cable
Two categories:
• multi-mode
• single-mode
5.2 Supported Network Topologies
With either media supported topologies include: star, mesh and ring. The port that
connects one switch to another is often called the uplink port and with many switches the
uplink port can operate at much higher baud rates than the standard ports. The link
formed by the connection of of several switches higher speed uplink ports is often referred
to as a backbone.
5.2.1 Star Architecture
Single Point of failure before loss of communications
Additional Ethernet switches Required
Network Recovery in approximately 6 ms per Ethernet switch
5.2.2 Mesh Architecture
Multiple Points of failure required before loss of communications
Ring
Mesh
Star