ZyXEL MES-3728 User Guide - Page 23

CHAPTER 1 Getting to Know Your Switch This chapter introduces the main features and applications of the Switch. 1.1 Introduction The Switch is a layer-2 standalone Ethernet switch with additional layer-2, layer-3, and layer-4 features suitable for metro ethernets. The Switch has twenty-four 10/ 100 Mbps Ethernet ports and two mini-GBIC slots. It also has two GbE dual personality interfaces with each interface comprising one mini-GBIC slot and one 100/1000 Mbps RJ-45 port, with either port or slot active at a time. The Switch is available in AC/DC, AC and DC models. With its built-in web configurator, managing and configuring the Switch is easy. In addition, the Switch can also be managed via Telnet, any terminal emulator program on the console port, or third-party SNMP management. See Chapter 42 on page 359 for a full list of software features available on the Switch. This section shows a few examples of using the Switch in various network environments. 1.1.1 Backbone Application The Switch is an ideal solution for small networks where rapid growth can be expected in the near future. The Switch can be used standalone for a group of heavy traffic users. You can connect computers and servers directly to the Switch's port or connect other switches to the Switch. MES-3728 User's Guide 23