Dell PowerConnect 3324 User's Guide - Page 43

Instructions for setting up the device and hardware are provided in the preceding sections. For a first-time installation, the standard device installation is performed. There are other special functions which can be performed, but this suspends the installation process and results in a system reboot. This option is described later in this section. General Configuration Information Dell™ PowerConnect™ 3324/3348 is provided with pre-defined implemented features and setup configuration. Auto-Negotiation Auto-negotiation allows a device to advertise modes of operation and share information with another device that shares a point-to-point link segment. This automatically configures both devices to take maximum advantage of their abilities. Auto-negotiation is performed completely within the physical layers during link initiation, without any additional overhead to either the MAC or higher protocol layers. Autonegotiation allows the ports to do the following: • Advertise their abilities. • Acknowledge receipt and understanding of the common modes of operation that both devices share. • Reject the use of operational modes that are not shared by both devices. • Configure each port for the highest-level operational mode that both ports can support. If connecting a port of the switch to the network interface controller (NIC) of a workstation or server that does not support auto-negotiation or is not set to auto-negotiation, both the switching port and the NIC must be manually set with the Web browser interface or CLI commands to the same speed and duplex mode. NOTICE: If the station on the other side of the link attempts to auto-negotiate with a port that is manually configured to full duplex, the auto-negotiation results in the station attempting to operate in half duplex. The resulting mismatch may lead to significant frame loss. This is inherent in the auto-negotiation standard. Configuring the PowerConnect 3324/3348 Switch 43