Cisco 2950 Software Configuration Guide - Page 44

Network Configuration Examples Chapter 1 Overview Network Configuration Examples This section provides network configuration concepts and includes examples of using the switch to create dedicated network segments and interconnecting the segments through Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet connections. • "Design Concepts for Using the Switch" section on page 1-10 • "Small to Medium-Sized Network Configuration" section on page 1-13 • "Collapsed Backbone and Switch Cluster Configuration" section on page 1-14 • "Hotel Network Configuration" section on page 1-15 • "Service-Provider Central-Office Configuration" section on page 1-18 • "Large Campus Configuration" section on page 1-19 • "Multidwelling Network Using Catalyst 2950 Switches" section on page 1-20 • "Long-Distance, High-Bandwidth Transport Configuration" section on page 1-22 Design Concepts for Using the Switch As your network users compete for network bandwidth, it takes longer to send and receive data. When you configure your network, consider the bandwidth required by your network users and the relative priority of the network applications they use. Table 1-3 describes what can cause network performance to degrade and how you can configure your network to increase the bandwidth available to your network users. Table 1-3 Increasing Network Performance Network Demands Suggested Design Methods Too many users on a single network segment and a growing number of users accessing the Internet • Create smaller network segments so that fewer users share the bandwidth, and use VLANs and IP subnets to place the network resources in the same logical network as the users who access those resources most. • Use full-duplex operation between the switch and its connected workstations. • Increased power of new PCs, workstations, and servers • High demand from networked applications (such as e-mail with large attached files) and from bandwidth-intensive applications (such as multimedia) • Connect global resources-such as servers and routers to which network users require equal access-directly to the Fast Ethernet or Gigabit Ethernet switch ports so that they have their own Fast Ethernet or Gigabit Ethernet segment. • Use the Fast EtherChannel or Gigabit EtherChannel feature between the switch and its connected servers and routers. Bandwidth alone is not the only consideration when designing your network. As your network traffic profiles evolve, consider providing network services that can support applications such as voice and data integration and security. Table 1-4 describes some network demands and how you can meet those demands. 1-10 Catalyst 2950 and Catalyst 2955 Switch Software Configuration Guide 78-11380-10