Install guide

Rapier Layer 3 Gigabit Switch Software Release 2.1.0 21
Rapier Switch Software Release 2.1.0
C613-10200-01 Rev A
Resetting Ethernet ports at the hardware level discards all frames queued for
reception or transmission on the port, and restarts autonegotiation of port
speed and duplex mode. This clears any packets stuck in a queue, for instance
after a broadcast storm, and may sometimes make a non-operational port
operational again. Ports are reset using the command:
RESET SWITCH PORT=port-list
Auto negotiation of port speed and duplex mode
Each of the 10/100 Ethernet ports on the switch can operate at either 10Mbps
or 100 Mb per second, in either full duplex or half duplex mode. In full duplex
mode a port can transmit and receive data simultaneously, while in half duplex
mode the port can either transmit or receive, but not at the same time. This
versatility makes it possible to connect devices with different speeds and
duplex modes to different ports on the switch. Such versatility also requires
that each port on the switch know which speed and mode to use.
Autonegotiation allows the ports to adjust their speed and duplex mode to
accommodate the devices connected to them. Each 10/100 Ethernet port can be
either configured with a fixed speed and duplex mode, or configured to
autonegotiate speed and duplex mode with a device connected to it to
determine a speed and mode that will allow successful transmission. If another
autonegotiating device is connected to the switch, they will negotiate the
highest possible common speed and duplex mode (Table 6). Setting the port to
a fixed speed and duplex mode allows it to support equipment that cannot
autonegotiate. 10/100 Ethernet ports will autonegotiate by default when they
are connected to a new device. To change this setting, use the command:
SET SWITCH PORT=port-list
SPEED={AUTONEGOTIATE|10MHALF|10MFULL|100MHALF|100MFULL|10
00MHALF|1000MFULL}
Autonegotiation can also be activated at any time after this, on any port that is
set to autonegotiate by using the command:
ACTIVATE SWITCH PORT=port-list AUTONEGOTIATE
The AUTONEGOTIATE parameter specifies that the port is to activate the
autonegotiation process. The port will begin to autonegotiate link speed and
duplex mode.
On the first Rapier 24 switch to be released the Gigabit uplink ports always use
1000 Mbps full duplex mode, but these can also autonegotiate with peers in
order to successfully pass the negotiation phase to get to successful operation.
(This is a limitation on the B1 revision switch silicon, and may be lifted in later
revisions.)
Flow control
Ethernet flow control is designed to cope with the situation where packets
received on an Ethernet port are queued due to a limitation in available
bandwidth on the port or ports out which those packets are switched. The
Table 6: Autonegotiation preferences for Ethernet ports
Preference 10/100 Ethernet ports Gigabit uplink ports
Highest 100 Mbps Full duplex 1000Mbps Full duplex
100 Mbps Half duplex
10Mbps Full duplex
Lowest 10Mbps Half duplex