Ethernet Interfaces on SE
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OmniAccess 5740 Unified Services Gateway CLI Configuration Guide
Alcatel-Lucent
SWITCHED ETHERNET
Modern Ethernet implementations often look nothing like their historical
counterparts. The legacy Ethernet was long runs of coaxial cable providing
attachments for multiple stations, whereas, modern Ethernet networks use twisted
pair wiring or fiber optics to connect stations in a radial pattern. Where legacy
Ethernet networks transmitted data at 10 megabits per second (Mbps), modern
networks can operate at 1,000 Mbps or even in Gbps.
Switched networks replace the shared medium of legacy Ethernet with a
dedicated segment for each station. These segments connect to a switch, which
acts much like an Ethernet bridge, but can connect many of these single station
segments. Some switches today can support hundreds of dedicated segments.
FULL-DUPLEX ETHERNET
Ethernet switching gave rise to another advancement, full-duplex Ethernet. Full-
duplex refers to the ability of a network, to send and receive data at the same
time.
Legacy Ethernet is half-duplex, meaning information can move in only one
direction at a time. In a totally switched network, nodes only communicate with the
switch and never directly with each other. Switched networks also employ either
twisted pair or fiber optic cabling, both of which use separate conductors for
sending and receiving data. This allows end stations to transmit to the switch at
the same time that the switch transmits to them, achieving a collision-free
environment.
ALCATEL-LUCENT SPECIFIC OVERVIEW ON ETHERNET INTERFACES
The SE card is the main data processing center in the chassis. The SE card has
two external auto-negotiable copper Gigabit Ethernet interfaces. The GigE
interfaces can auto-negotiate, transmit and receive data packets at rates of 10/
100/1000 Mbps.
The LEDs on SE card indicate Active or Fault conditions. The LEDs on Gigabit
Ethernet ports of SE card indicate Link Status and Activity. The SE card can be
installed in slots 2, 3 in OmniAccess 5740 USG.