Cabletron Systems MMAC-Plus™ Remote Management for the 9E312™ Ethernet Switch Module and 9E423™ Series Ethernet SmartSwitch Module
Notice Cabletron Systems reserves the right to make changes in specifications and other information contained in this document without prior notice. The reader should in all cases consult Cabletron Systems to determine whether any such changes have been made. The hardware, firmware, or software described in this manual is subject to change without notice.
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Contents Chapter 1 Introduction Using the 9E312 and 9E423 User’s Guide ................................................................. 1-2 Related Manuals............................................................................................................ 1-3 Software Conventions .................................................................................................. 1-4 Common 9E312 and 9E423 Window Fields .......................................................
Contents Chapter 3 9E312/9E423 Module Bridging Bridging Basics .............................................................................................................. 3-1 More on Transparent Bridging............................................................................. 3-2 An Overview of Remote Bridge Management.......................................................... 3-2 The Bridge Status Window ..........................................................................................
Chapter 1 Introduction How to use this guide; related guides; software conventions; getting help; 9E312 and 9E423 firmware versions Welcome to the Cabletron Systems MMAC-Plus Remote Management for the 9E312™ Ethernet Switch Module and 9E423 ™ Series Ethernet SmartSwitch Modules User’s Guide. We have designed this guide to serve as a simple reference for using SPECTRUM Element Manager for the 9E312-12 Ethernet Switch Module, and the 9E423-24 and 9E423-36 Ethernet SmartSwitch Modules for the MMAC-Plus.
Introduction switching on physical layer information, the INB allows your network infrastructure to be protocol independent. The INB backplane consists of two channels (INB-1 and INB-2), each featuring a 64-byte wide data path capable of a sustained data transfer rate of 2 Gigabytes/second (4 Gigabytes/second for the combined channels). Currently, the connectivity modules will connect to one or the other channel.
Introduction For information about management functions which are accessed via the SPECTRUM Element Manager platform, consult the Installing and Using SPECTRUM Element Manager and SPECTRUM Element Manager Utilities User’s Guides; for more information about monitoring and controlling a configured MMAC-Plus chassis, refer to the Using MMAC-Plus Remote Management Guide.
Introduction Cabletron Systems’ Network Troubleshooting Guide Microsoft Corporation’s Microsoft Windows User’s Guide For more information about the capabilities of the 9E312 or 9E423 Modules, consult the appropriate hardware documentation. Software Conventions SPECTRUM Element Manager’s device user interface contains a number of elements which are common to most windows and which operate the same regardless of which window they appear in.
Introduction Device Name Displays the user-defined name of the device. The device name can be changed via the System Group window; see the Generic SNMP Management Module Guide for Windows for details. IP Address The Internet Protocol address assigned to the 9E312 or 9E423 Module; this field will display the IP address you have used to create the 9E312 or 9E423 Module in the MMAC-Plus Chassis Setup window or to create its icon via SPECTRUM Element Manager. IP addresses are assigned via Local Management.
Introduction Some buttons, like the two above, call up a menu listing the windows, screens, or commands available for that topic. Any menu topic followed by ... (three dots) — for example Statistics... — calls up a window or screen associated with that topic. Getting Help This section describes different methods of getting help for questions or concerns you may have while using SPECTRUM Element Manager.
Introduction By phone: Monday through Friday between 8 AM and 8 PM Eastern Standard Time at (603) 332-9400 By mail: Cabletron Systems, Inc. PO Box 5005 Rochester, NH 03866-5005 By CompuServe®: GO CTRON from any ! prompt By Internet mail: support@ctron.com FTP ftp.ctron.com (134.141.197.
Introduction 1-8 9E312 and 9E423 Firmware
Chapter 2 The 9E312/9E423 Module View Accessing the Module View; information displayed in the Module View window; the logical module view — menu structure and information, the Port Status display, the Chassis Manager window, the Device Type window; module management functions — setting device date and time, enabling and disabling ports; I/F Summary and Detail information The 9E312/9E423 Module View window is the main screen that immediately informs you of the status of your 9E312/9E423 Module via a color-
The 9E312/9E423 Module View 1. Using the mouse, click on the 9E312/9E423 Module icon to be monitored (in a map or the Device List View). The icon will be highlighted. 2. Select Device —> Manage from the SPECTRUM Element Manager platform’s menu bar, or select from the tool bar; the Module View window will appear. NOTE To model your 9E312/9E423 Module as an individual device from SPECTRUM Element Manager, you must make sure that you select Chassis Manager mode for launching the icon.
The 9E312/9E423 Module View By clicking in designated areas of the module’s graphical display (as detailed later in this chapter), or by using the menu bar at the top of the Module View window, you can access all of the menus that lead to more detailed device- and port- level windows. TIP When you move the mouse cursor over a management “hot spot” the cursor icon will change into a “hand” to indicate that clicking in the current location will bring up a management option.
The 9E312/9E423 Module View Port Status If management for your device supports a variable port display, this field will show the display currently in effect. If only a single port display is available — as is the case for the 9E312/9E423 Module — or if the default view is in effect, this field will state Default. MAC The physical layer address assigned to the interface through which SPECTRUM Element Manager is communicating with the 9E312/9E423 Module.
The 9E312/9E423 Module View Figure 2-3. 9E312/9E423 Module View Menu Structure The Device Menu From the Device Menu at the Module View window menu bar, you can access the following selections: • Device Type..., which displays a window containing a description of the device being modeled. • Edit Device Time... and Edit Device Date..., which allow you to set the 9E312/9E423 Module’s internal clock. • System Group..., which allows you to manage the 9E312/9E423 Module via SNMP MIB II.
The 9E312/9E423 Module View • Find Source Address..., which opens a window that allows you to search the 802.1d Filtering Database of the 9E312/9E423 to determine which switching interface a specified source MAC address is communicating through. If the MAC address is detected as communicating through the switch, the port display will flash to indicate the switch interface of interest. • Exit, which closes the 9E312/9E423 Module View window.
The 9E312/9E423 Module View The Bridge Port Menu The menu for the INB and Ethernet bridging interfaces offers three selections: • Performance Graph..., which brings up a statistics window specific to the selected interface. • Source Addressing...., which brings up a window allowing you to see which source addresses are communicating through a switch port when it is using 802.1d bridging. See Using Port Source Addressing in Chapter 3 for more information.
The 9E312/9E423 Module View LIS (Listening) (Magenta) The port is not adding information to the filtering database. It is monitoring Bridge Protocol Data Unit (BPDU) traffic while preparing to move to the forwarding state. BLK (Blocking) (Orange) The port is on-line, but filtering traffic from going across the 9E312/9E423 from one network segment to another. Bridge topology information will be forwarded by the port. BRK (Broken) (Red) The physical interface has malfunctioned.
The 9E312/9E423 Module View To view the Chassis Manager window: 1. Click on Help on the menu bar at the top of the Module View window. 2. Drag down to MIBs Supported, and release. Viewing the Device Type In addition to the graphical displays described above, the Device Type option on the Device menu and the Module Type option on the Bridge menu bring up windows that list the physical characteristics of the 9E312 or 9E423 Module and its ports: Figure 2-5.
The 9E312/9E423 Module View To edit the device time: 1. Click on Device on the Module View window menu bar to access the Device menu; drag down to Edit Device Time..., and release. The following change window, Figure 2-6, will appear. Figure 2-6. Edit Time Window 2. Enter the new time in a 24-hour hh:mm:ss format, either by highlighting the field you wish to change and using the up and down arrow buttons, or by simply entering the new value in the appropriate field. 3.
The 9E312/9E423 Module View Enabling and Disabling Bridge Ports From the Module View, you can enable or disable bridging at the interfaces supported by your 9E312/9E423 module. When you disable bridging at a port, you disconnect that port’s network from the bridge entirely. The port does not forward any packets, nor does it participate in Spanning Tree operations.
The 9E312/9E423 Module View that you specify. If the search is successful, the corresponding interface will flash in the Module View window. For more information on the Filtering Database and bridging in general, refer to Chapter 3, 9E312/9E423 Module Bridging. Use the Find Source Address option as follows: 1. Click to display the Device pull-down menu. 2. Drag to Find Source Address.... The following window will appear. Figure 2-8. Find Source Address Window 3.
The 9E312/9E423 Module View Figure 2-9. I/F Summary Window When you open the I/F Summary window, you will see fields which describe each interface on your device, as well as a bar graph and statistics which display each interface’s performance. There is also an UpTime field. This field lists the amount of time, in a days, hh:mm:ss format, that the device has been running since the last start-up. Interface Description Fields The following fields are listed for each interface.
The 9E312/9E423 Module View L. Sta Displays the current administrative status (logical status) of the interface. Possible administrative states are Up or Down. Interface Performance Statistics/Bar Graphs With the statistics and accompanying bar graphs to the right of the interface description fields, you can view the performance of your device interfaces at one glance. You can select the attributes of the statistics and graphs by using two menu buttons directly above the graphs.
The 9E312/9E423 Module View In Unknown Packets received by the device interface that were discarded because of an unknown or unsupported protocol. Out Octets Octets transmitted by the interface, including framing characters. Out Packets Packets transmitted, at the request of a higher level protocol, by the device interface to a subnetwork address (both unicast and non-unicast). Out Errors Outbound packets that could not be transmitted by the device interface because they contained errors.
The 9E312/9E423 Module View • • • • • • • Unicasts Multicasts Discarded Packets Error Packets Received Packets with unknown protocols Packets waiting to be transmitted Total Received and Transmitted Packets To open the Interface Detail window from the I/F Summary window: 1. Click in the descriptive area for the desired interface in the list. The interface will be highlighted. 2. Click on . An Interface Detail window will appear for that interface. Figure 2-10.
The 9E312/9E423 Module View (ifOutUcastPkts) “The number of subnetwork unicast packets delivered to a higher-layer protocol.” A unicast is a transmission sent to only one station. This field displays the number of unicasts received from, or transmitted to, a higher-layer protocol. Multicast (ifInNUcastPkts) “The number of non-unicast (i.e., subnetwork-broadcast or subnetwork multi-cast) packets received from a higher-layer protocol.” (ifOutNUcastPkts) “The number of non-unicast (i.e.
The 9E312/9E423 Module View The number of packets currently queued by the device for transmission. The amount of device memory devoted to buffer space, and the traffic level on the target network determine how large the output packet queue can grow before the device begins to discard packets. This statistic applies only to the Output Table. Packets Received Displays the total number of inbound packets. Packets Transmitted Displays the total number of packets transmitted onto the network.
The 9E312/9E423 Module View TIP The Test and Enable/Disable buttons attempt to set the ifAdmin Status OID to the Enable, Disable, or Test values. Not all device firmware will allow you to perform a SET of this MIB OID for all interfaces, so attempts to test or enable/disable an interface may result in a SET FAILED message. To test the current interface: 1. Click on . The current interface will now be operating in the test state. To disable the current interface: 1. Click on .
The 9E312/9E423 Module View 2-20 I/F Summary Information
Chapter 3 9E312/9E423 Module Bridging Bridge management overview; the Bridge Status window — viewing the window, field definitions, enabling and disabling bridging; the Bridge Performance Graphs — field definitions, configuring the graphs, bridge detail breakdown, bridge port detail background; the Bridge Spanning Tree window — fields defined, changing bridge Spanning Tree parameters; the Filtering Database window — field definitions, configuring the filtering database; the Duplex Modes window — field defi
9E312/9E423 Module Bridging In Source Route bridging, the source node sends “explorer” packets to a destination node that pass through a bridged network. Each bridge that sees the explorer packet will append Routing Information (in the form of LAN segment numbers) to it. When the destination node receives these explorer packets, it will return a response to the source node that contains the route information field indicating which bridge paths the explorer packets took.
9E312/9E423 Module Bridging • The Spanning Tree window shows bridge port information and protocol parameters relating to the Spanning Tree Algorithm (the method of determining the controlling bridge when a series of bridges are placed in parallel). • With the Filtering Database window, you can see the contents of the Static and Learned databases — the two address databases which construct the IEEE 802.1d Source Address Table.
9E312/9E423 Module Bridging Figure 3-1. The 9E312/9E423 Module Bridge Status Window Bridge Status Window Information Fields The following information is provided by the Bridge Status window for the 9E312/9E423 Module and for each switch interface that supports bridging. Note that the and buttons will be activated so that you can scroll the display to show all interfaces.
9E312/9E423 Module Bridging • Learning (Magenta) — The Forwarding database is being created, or the Spanning Tree Algorithm is being executed because of a network topology change. The port is monitoring network traffic, and learning network addresses. • Listening (Magenta) — The port is not adding information to the filtering database. It is monitoring Bridge Protocol Data Unit (BPDU) traffic while preparing to move to the forwarding state.
9E312/9E423 Module Bridging • Filtering Database... which invokes a window that lets you configure the 9E312/9E423 Module bridge’s acquired and permanent filtering databases to filter or forward traffic across the 9E312/9E423 Module (see Filtering Database, following). • Duplex Modes... which invokes a window that lets you configure an interface supported by the bridge to perform Ethernet full duplex switching (see Duplex Modes, following).
9E312/9E423 Module Bridging Performance Graphs You use the Bridge Performance Graphs to view a color-coded strip chart that shows you the traffic being bridged through all networks or an individual network supported by your device. You can configure the display to show bridge traffic (frames filtered, forwarded, or transmitted) — as well as the number of errors — experienced at the module level or at the interface level.
9E312/9E423 Module Bridging Bridge Performance Graph Window Fields You can select the following statistics to display in the Bridge Performance Graph or Bridge Port Performance Graph. Statistics are provided numerically (as an average or peak value) and graphically. The device is polled for the graphed information every 2 seconds, and numeric values are updated based on this poll. The graph updates at the fixed two second interval.
9E312/9E423 Module Bridging Configuring the Bridge Performance Graphs To configure the Bridge Performance Graph: 1. Using the mouse, click on (with green statistics to the right). The Forwarded pull-down menu will appear. Click on the desired mode. 2. Click on (with magenta statistics to the right). The Filtered pulldown menu will appear. Click on the desired mode. 3. Click on (with red statistics to the right). The Errors pull-down menu will appear. Click on the desired mode. 4.
9E312/9E423 Module Bridging Figure 3-3. Interface Statistics Window Interface Statistics Window Fields The following informational and statistics fields appear in the interface Statistics window. Three informational fields appear in the upper portion of the window: Description Describes the interface description (SNMB MIB-II ifDescription) for the currently selected port. Address Displays the MAC (physical) address of the selected port.
9E312/9E423 Module Bridging Non-Unicast Displays the number of packets transmitted to, or received from, this interface that had a source or destination address that is recognized by multiple devices on the network segment. The Non-Unicast field includes a count of broadcast packets — those that are recognized by all devices on a segment, and multicast packets such as Bridge BPDUs — those that are recognized by a group of devices (but not necessarily all devices) on a segment.
9E312/9E423 Module Bridging In a network design with multiple transparent bridges placed in parallel (i.e., attached to the same local network segment), only a single bridge should forward data through the LAN, leaving the remaining bridges on the segment in a standby state so that another can assume the bridging responsibility (should the currently active bridge go down).
9E312/9E423 Module Bridging Figure 3-4. Bridge Spanning Tree Window Configuring the Bridge Spanning Tree Window The Bridge Spanning Tree window displays STA parameters and allows you to alter parameters for the 9E312/9E423 Module bridge as a whole, and for each individual bridging interface. The currently selected bridging interface is highlighted in the lower right quadrant of the window. To alter the parameters of another interface, click on the appropriate Port X name listed in the quadrant.
9E312/9E423 Module Bridging TIP Part of a bridge’s Identifier is based on its MAC address. In most network installations, the difference between bridge performance may be negligible. You may, however, find your data bottle-necked in installations where both a low-performance bridge and a highperformance bridge are attached to the same LAN segment and the two (or more) bridges have the same Priority component set (e.g., at the default 8000 Hex).
9E312/9E423 Module Bridging Hello Time This parameter indicates, in seconds, the length of time the Root Bridge (or bridge attempting to become the Root) waits before resending Configuration BPDUs. The range for this field is 1 to 10 seconds, with a default value of 2 seconds. The Root Bridge sets the Hello Time. Max Age This parameter displays the bridge’s BPDU ageing timer. This controls the maximum time a BPDU can be retained by the bridge before it is discarded.
9E312/9E423 Module Bridging A lower assigned value gives the port a higher Priority when BPDUs are compared. The allowable range is 0-FF hexadecimal (0-255 decimal); the default is 80 hexadecimal. Path Cost Displays the cost that this port will contribute to the calculation of the overall Root path cost in a Configuration BPDU transmitted by this bridge port.
9E312/9E423 Module Bridging Changing Bridge Spanning Tree Parameters The Bridge Spanning Tree window allows you to update the following parameters for your 9E312/9E423 Module bridge. When you have finished making changes to the following individual parameters, you must click on at the bottom of the Spanning Tree window to write the changes to the device. NOTE Any values you set at the bridge will cause a Topology Change flag to be issued in the next Configuration BPDUs it transmits.
9E312/9E423 Module Bridging TIP If your bridge is not in a parallel configuration, you should disable Spanning Tree at the bridge by turning it to None to reduce bandwidth consumption. Remember, Spanning Tree causes BDPU traffic to be propagated on the network by the bridge — even though there are no other bridges on the segment to receive those BPDUs.
9E312/9E423 Module Bridging NOTE To ensure proper operation of the Spanning Tree Algorithm, the IEEE 802.1d specification recommends that you always observe the following relationship between Forwarding Delay, Max Age, and Hello Time: 2 x (Forwarding Delay - 1.0) > Max Age > 2 x (Hello Time +1.0) Changing Port Priority To change the part of the Port Priority used in priority comparisons: 1.
9E312/9E423 Module Bridging destination address is located on a different network, the bridge forwards the packet to the appropriate network. If the destination address is not found in the Filtering Database, the bridge forwards the packet to all networks. To keep Filtering Database entries current, older entries are purged after a period of time, which is called the Dynamic Ageing Time. The Filtering Database consists of two separate databases: the Static and the Learned Databases.
9E312/9E423 Module Bridging Figure 3-5. The Filtering Database Window NOTE When you first initialize the Filtering Database window, a message will appear to inform you that data is being retrieved. The message will disappear when all information has been returned from the Filtering Database, and you will be able to view and configure database entries. A scrollable Address Entry panel allows you to: • View the address entries in the Filtering Database. • Alter an entry’s type (e.g.
9E312/9E423 Module Bridging To access the Filtering Database window from the Bridge Status window: 1. Click on . The Bridge pull-down menu will appear. 2. Click on Filtering Database.... The Filtering Database window will appear. Filtering Database Window Fields The following fields are listed in the top portion of the Filtering Database window.
9E312/9E423 Module Bridging Source Port Indicates the port number on which the address entry was first detected. A question mark (?) indicates that the address entry was not a learned entry, but Port Filtering information applies to it (i.e., the entry is a created Permanent, Dynamic, or Static entry and has corresponding filtering information). Receive Port Indicates the number of the port on which a frame must be received in order for the entry’s Port Filtering information to apply.
9E312/9E423 Module Bridging NOTE When you reconfigure the Filtering Database and click OK, the screen will clear temporarily and a message will appear to indicate that the information is being updated. When the changes have been successfully set and the Filtering Database has updated, the screen information will be refreshed. If you change the window without clicking OK, then attempt to exit the window by clicking Cancel, a text box will appear stating “Changes have been made. Cancel them?”.
9E312/9E423 Module Bridging Changing the Port Filtering Action For a Static, Dynamic, or Permanent Filtering Database entry, you can change the Port Filtering action at each bridge port so that traffic with the associated source address will be filtered or forwarded at the port, as configured. 1. Scroll through the address list until the entry appears for which you want to define filtering information. 2.
9E312/9E423 Module Bridging 5. A Static filtering entry will be created in the database, which you can then configure as necessary. a. Specify the Type of Entry, Receive Port, and Port Filtering action on the new address entry as described in the previous sections. b. Click OK to set the changes to the Filtering Database. To delete an address: 1. Click to highlight the address entry in the Address Entry panel that you wish to delete from the filtering database. 2. Click on Delete.
9E312/9E423 Module Bridging TIP You can also open the Port Source Addresses window from the Module View by clicking on the front panel interface of interest and selecting the Source Addressing option from the menu that appears.
9E312/9E423 Module Bridging Duplex Modes The Ethernet switch interfaces on a 9E312/9E423 Module will support Full Duplex Switched Ethernet (FDSE) mode. Enabling Full Duplex mode on an interface allows the interface to receive and transmit packets at the same time. On an Ethernet connection that is not using full duplex mode, the interface can transmit or receive packets. The interface has to wait for one activity to be completed before switching to the next activity (receive or transmit).
9E312/9E423 Module Bridging Figure 3-9. Duplex Modes Window Duplex Modes Window Fields The following information is displayed in the Duplex Modes window. Interface: Lists the interfaces available on the 9E312/9E423 Module. NOTE Note that Duplex Mode should only be applied to the Ethernet switching interfaces (indexed 4 through 13 in the 9E312 Duplex Modes window; 6 through 29 in the 9E423-24 Duplex Modes window; and 6 through 41 in the 9E423-36 Duplex Modes window).
9E312/9E423 Module Bridging Setting the Duplex Mode You set an interface to use or not use Full Duplex Switched Ethernet by turning the Full Duplex capability ON or OFF from this window. To turn the Full Duplex mode ON or OFF: 1. In the Duplex Modes window highlight the interface you want to change. 2. Double-click on the highlighted interface. The interface list will be briefly grayed-out as the set is being made to the device.
Index A Adding Entries 3-25 Address 3-10, 3-22 Ageing Time 3-20, 3-22, 3-24 B BLK (Blocking) 2-8, 3-5 Boot Prom, revision 2-4 Bridge Menu 2-6 Bridge Performance Graphs 3-7 configuring the graph 3-8 Bridge Port Menu 2-7 Bridge Priority 3-13, 3-17 Bridge Protocol Data Units (BPDUs) 3-2, 3-12 Bridge Spanning Tree Changing Parameters 3-17 Bridge State on Interface 3-4 Bridge Status window 3-3 BRK 2-8, 3-5 disable a bridge network 3-6 Discarded 2-17, 3-11 Duplex Modes Window 3-29 Dynamic Ageing Time 3-20 Dyna
Index accessing the Interface Detail window 2-16 interface description fields 2-13 Interface 3-29 Interface Address 3-5 Interface Group window 2-15 statistics 2-16 testing or disabling an interface 2-18 Interface Speed 3-5 Interface Statistics Window 3-10 Interface Type 3-5 IP address 1-5, 2-3 L L.
