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Enterasys Networks 700 User Manual

Page 54

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The MultiSwitch 700 Device View

2-34

Managing the Module

If Auto-Negotiation is the selected mode, the Current Operational Mode field
will indicate which mode was selected by the link partner. See

Setting the

Desired Operational Mode

, on

page 2-35

, for more information.

Advertised Abilities

For 100Base-TX ports which have been configured to operate in Auto-Negotiation
mode, this field allows you to select which of the operational modes available to
the port can be selected by the negotiating link partners.

During Auto-Negotiation, each of the link partners will advertise all selected
modes in descending bandwidth order: 100Base-TX Full Duplex, 100Base-TX,
10Base-T Full Duplex, and 10Base-T. Of the selected abilities, the highest mode
mutually available will automatically be used. If there is no mode mutually
advertised, no link will be achieved.

If you have selected a specific operational mode for your 100Base-TX port, the
Advertised Abilities do not apply; the selected Advertised Abilities also do not
restrict the local node’s ability to set up a link with a partner who is not currently
Auto-Negotiating.

Remote Capabilities

When the local node is set to Auto-Negotiation, this field will display the
advertised abilities of the remote link — even if the remote link is not currently set
to auto-negotiate. Possible values for this field are:

100Base-TX Full Duplex

100Base-TX

10Base-T Full Duplex

10Base-T

!

CAUTION

If you choose to select a specific mode of operation (rather than auto-negotiation), you
should be sure that the link partner supports the same mode. Otherwise, no link will be
achieved.

If you select a Full Duplex mode and the link partner supports the same wire speed but not
Full Duplex, a link will be achieved, but it will be unstable and will behave erratically.

If you select Auto-Negotiation, the local node will try to match the mode of the link
partner, even if the link partner is not set to auto-negotiate, and even if the local node
must use a mode which it is not currently advertising.

NOTE

Auto-Negotiation is not currently supported for 100Base-FX ports.