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Configuration Basics

Configuration Basics

This chapter begins with a brief description of a LightStream network. It then discusses configurable objects in the order that you encounter them as you configure a LightStream 2020 (LS2020) node. For instance, it describes chassis and line cards first because you must configure them before you can configure ports on the line card. It then describes configuration items (such as PVCs and bridging) that can be defined only after ports have been configured.

Network Overview

LS2020 switches are connected to one another by trunk connections. Edge connections link LS2020 nodes to devices outside the LS2020 network backbone (see Figure 2-1).


Figure 2-1: An LS2020 Network

For edge connections, the LS2020 switch provides

For trunk connections, the LS2020 switch provides

Physical Components

This section describes only the physical components of an LS2020 switch that have configurable attributes. For a description of all switch components see the LightStream 2020 System Overview.

Chassis

The chassis is the basic configurable unit. Attributes associated with the chassis include chassis ID number, name, physical location, and line cards.

Each LS2020 chassis contains

Backup NP and switch cards may also be present. Figure 2-2 shows a logical block diagram of these components. Each component is described in one of the following sections.


Figure 2-2: Logical Diagram of an LS2020 Node

Network Processor Cards

The NP is the principal computational and storage device in an LS2020 node. Each node has one or two NPs. In a system with two NPs, one is primary (active) and the other is secondary (backup). The secondary NP automatically becomes active if the primary NP fails. One NP occupies slot 1, and the other, if present, occupies slot 2. Each NP is connected to a floppy disk drive (for loading software such as LS2020 application programs) and to a hard disk (for storage of the applications, configuration, and other data).

Configuration attributes associated with an NP include IP addresses and SNMP agent attributes.

Interface Modules

An interface module includes a line card and an access card, which work together to transfer data. A line card provides higher layer data transfer functions. An access card provides the active logic for the physical layer interface for each port (line drivers/receivers, etc.). Each line card, therefore, is associated with an access card that determines the physical layer interface supported for its ports, such as OC-3c, T3, or EIA/TIA-449. In most cases, various access cards are available for each line card.


Note EIA/TIA-232 and EIA/TIA-449 were known as recommended standards RS-232 and RS-449 before their acceptance as standards by the Electronic Industries Association (EIA) and Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA).

Table 2-1 shows currently available line cards and their associated access cards.


Table  2-1: Available Interface Modules
Line Card Access Card Number of Ports
Low-speed line card (LSC) Low-speed access card (LSAC) 8
Medium-speed line card (MSC) T3 medium speed access card (T3 MSAC)
E3 medium speed access card (E3 PLCP MSAC)
E3 medium speed access card (E3 G.804 MSAC)
2
2
2
Cell line card (CLC) OC-3c single-mode access card (OC3AC SM)--1/2 port
OC-3c multimode mode access card (OC3AC MM)--1/2 port
T3 access card (T3AC)--4/8 port
E3 access card (E3AC)--4/8 port
1 or 2
1 or 2
4 or 8
4 or 8
Packet line card (PLC) FDDI access card (FAC)
Ethernet access card (EAC)
Fiber Ethernet access card (FEAC)
T1 Circuit emulation access card (CEMAC)
E1 Circuit emulation access card (CEMAC)
2
8
8
8
8

Most interface modules can operate as either edge or trunk modules. (The exceptions are the PLC-based modules, which can operate only as edge modules.) Edge modules help transfer data between the LS2020 switch and external devices. Trunk modules help transfer data between LS2020 switches.

Settings in the switch's local configuration database, which are read at power-up, determine whether an interface module operates as a trunk or an edge. The configuration dictates the firmware and software to be used; the hardware is identical, whether the module is used as a trunk or as an edge.

Table 2-2 shows the services and physical layer interfaces that the edge modules support. Table 2-3 shows the services and physical layer interfaces that the trunk modules support.

Configurable attributes at the card level are name and type. After you specify these attributes, the configurator allows you to configure port-level attributes for the individual ports.


Table  2-2: Edge Module Services

Edge Module

Service
Physical Layer
Interface
LSC with LSAC
Frame relay or
frame forwarding
EIA/TIA-449, V.35, X.21, T1, E1
MSC with MSAC
CLC with T3AC--4 or 8 port

MSC with MSAC
CLC with E3AC--4 or 8 port

CLC with OC3AC SM--1 or 2 port
CLC with OC3AC MM--1 or 2 port
ATM UNI T3


E3


OC-3c
PLC with FAC
FDDI MIC Multimode
Dual attach station
PLC with EAC Ethernet AUI, 10BaseT
PLC with FEAC Fiber Ethernet 10BaseFL (FOIRL)
PLC with CEMAC Clear channel T1
E1

Table  2-3:
Trunk Module Services

Trunk Module

Service
Physical Layer
Interface
LSC with LSAC
Low-speed trunk T1, E1
MSC with MSAC
CLC with T3AC--4 port

MSC with MSAC
CLC with E3AC--4 port

CLC with OC3AC SM--1 port
CLC with OC3AC MM--1 port
Medium-speed trunk T3


E3


OC-3c

Virtual Channel Connections

Virtual channel connections (VCCs) connect source and destination hosts across an LS2020 network. Each VCC is associated with a software-selected route through the network. Route definition is based on the service requirements of the VCC. All traffic associated with that VCC follows the same route.

A frame relay or ATM UNI source host can be connected to multiple destination hosts and can have multiple connections with the same destination host. Similarly, an FDDI or Ethernet source can have multiple connections to one or more LAN hosts. However, a frame forwarding host can have only one connection to another device. The frame forwarding service provides a virtual wire between the two end systems. Each of the connections mentioned here has a separate VCC in each direction: from Node A to Node B and from Node B to Node A.

The LS2020 node establishes VCCs in either of two ways--by provisioning or by implicit setup. These methods are described in the following subsections.

Provisioning

You must provision for VCCs for the following line cards when the cards are configured as edge connections:

Provisioning requires that you define the endpoints of VCCs by configuring them manually through the PVC configurator. All VCCs set up in this way are permanent virtual circuits (PVCs). They are considered permanent for four reasons:

You can provision for a PVC before the network is brought online or while the network is operating. When you provision for a PVC, you specify the ports where it begins and ends. You also set a number of VCC attributes:

The PVC configurator allows you to configure PVC attributes for both ends of the PVC at the same time.

Implicit Setup

The PLC uses implicit VCC setup. Implicit setup occurs when the PLC determines that a VCC with the desired characteristics does not exist between two endpoints. When this happens, the PLC works with the NP to establish a VCC to the destination and then routes the data across it. Although you do not provision for this type of VCC, you still need to configure the PLC and its port-level attributes.

The VCCs that are set up implicitly are not considered permanent for two reasons:

Bridging

The LS2020 switch operates as a fully compliant IEEE 802.1d-1990 bridge. The switch supports translation and transparent bridging for Ethernet-to-FDDI, Ethernet-to-Ethernet, and FDDI-to-FDDI connections. The PLC and associated access cards provide the hardware and software needed to interface to FDDI and Ethernet LANs.

Virtual LAN Internetworking

Virtual LAN internetworking (VLI) allows you to separate network management, administration, performance, and scalability from the physical aspects of the network. Through VLI, the LS2020 switch allows you to partition network devices according to the problem you are trying to solve.

Release 2.1 supports VLI workgroups. Workgroups provide access control and are used when organizations require administrative subdivision of their members into distinct communities of interest. These communities of interest, the workgroups, use restricted access rights to provide privacy for their members. The workgroup also limits the effect of organization-specific activity, so that members of other workgroups are not affected.

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