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How cascade connections operate
The method for cascading AdderView CATx units is straightforward
and requires no hardware settings or lengthy conguration process.
This is due to the Adder Port Direct communication system that
allows them to locate each other and share information.
The method of linking AdderView CATx units is the same
regardless of the cascade level, or number of devices attached. Put
simply:
• A single cascade link is made by connecting a COMPUTER
CONNECTIONS socket of one unit to a CATx USER PORTS
socket of the unit below it.
Such a single link would allow just one user from the higher
AdderView CATx unit to access any of the computer systems
attached to the lower one. However, a single link can cause a
bottleneck for multi-user systems and cause port numbering
problems, so the minimum permissible group link between
AdderView CATx units is a triple (quad cascade links are
recommended). These allow three or four users to simultaneously
access computer systems situated anywhere within the cascade
tree.
When triple or quad cascade links are made between units, each
AdderView CATx will automatically recognise the links and treat
them accordingly. The links within a triple or quad group will then
be allocated to users according to their general availability in that
group, not as specic individual lines. To do this, each link group
has an access number, which is determined by the ports to which
they are connected on the switch.
For instance, a quad group connected to computer ports 1, 2,
3 and 4 of an AdderView CATx unit would always be known as
41, the next quad group connected to ports 5 to 8 would always
carry the number 42, and so on. The diagram here summarises the
ports to which triple and quad groups must be connected and the
resulting group numbers attained in the positions here
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The central purpose of the link group system is that each user can
use a unique address to locate a particular computer. However, as
with the Internet, the route to get there could be slightly different
each time. This avoids any route blocking that could easily be
caused by other users occupying any specic link lines.
Note: Triple and quad link groups may be mixed on one unit
providing the differing link groups lie within appropriate port
boundaries shown opposite - see Tips for successful cascading
for more details.
Port boundaries and numbering for triple link groups
(sixteen port models use groups 31 to 35 only)
Port boundaries and numbering for quad link groups
(sixteen port models use groups 41 to 44 only)
See also
• Addressing computers in a cascade
• Connecting AdderView CATx units in cascade
• Testing specic links to cascaded computers
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