Nortel Networks 1000ASE-XD - Manual (Page 54)

54 Chapter 2 Network configuration
209418-A
In any stack configuration, the following applies:
• When you apply power to the stack, the base unit initializes and the entire
stack powers up as a single logical unit.
• You can attach an RS-232 communications cable to the console port of any
switch in the stack.
• You can downline upgrade the entire stack from any switch in the stack from
the console interface, a Telnet session, the Web-based management interface,
or any generic SNMP-based network management software.
• You can access and manage the stack using a Telnet connection, the
Web-based management interface, or any generic SNMP management tool
through any switch port that is part of the stack configuration.
• When you stack three or more switches, use the longer (1-meter) stacking
max-return cable to complete the link from the last unit in the stack to the base
unit.
IEEE 802.1Q VLAN workgroups
BayStack 420 switches support up to 32 port-based VLANs with IEEE 802.1Q
tagging available per port. Ports are grouped into broadcast domains by assigning
them to the same VLAN. Frames received in one VLAN can only be forwarded
within that VLAN, and multicast frames and unknown unicast frames are flooded
only to ports in the same VLAN.
Setting up virtual LANs (VLANs) is a way to segment networks to increase
network capacity and performance without changing the physical network
topology (
Figure 11 ). With network segmentation, each switch port connects to a
segment that is a single broadcast domain. When a switch port is configured to be
a member of a VLAN, it is added to a group of ports (workgroup) that belong to
one broadcast domain.
The BayStack 420 Switch allows you to assign ports to VLANs using the console,
Telnet, Web-based management, or an appropriate SNMP-based application. You
can assign different ports (and therefore the devices attached to these ports) to
different broadcast domains. This feature allows network flexibility because you
can reassign VLANs to accommodate network moves, additions, and changes,
eliminating the need to change physical cabling.