Overview

The FastHub 216T is a managed 16-port 100BaseT Class II repeater for workgroups and server farms. It is a member of an extended network system of stackable, modular LAN and WAN products that increase LAN performance, connect remote offices and users, and provide secure access. Figure 1-1 shows the network system units.

Figure 1-1: FastHub 216T in an Extended Network System of Stackable LAN and WAN Products

Feature Summary

The FastHub has 16 fixed 100BaseTX ports (with an alternative uplink port for connecting to other 100BaseTX hubs). Table 1-1 summarizes the FastHub features.

Table  1-1: Feature Summary

Feature	Description
Compatibility	IEEE 802.3u Class II repeater compliant. Compatible with the 100BaseT standard for interoperability with other 100BaseT products.
Performance	100-Mbps peak and aggregate throughput.
Manageability	Network management for port configuration and status. Supports Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), Telnet, terminal-based out-of-band management, and Remote Monitoring (RMON) for management and troubleshooting. Manageable by CiscoWorks and other SNMP-compatible management systems on a per port and per unit basis. Each port has a multifunction LED that shows link integrity, receive activity, and port enabled or disabled status. Bandwidth utilization for the FastHub is also shown through the port LEDs. A group collision LED shows collisions for all ports on the FastHub.
Redundancy	Supports connection to the optional Cisco redundant power system (RPS).

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Note Network management is built into the main board of the FastHub.

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Front Panel Description

The front panel of the FastHub provides 16 100BaseTX ports, a 100BaseTX uplink port, a set of LEDs, and a Mode button.

Ports

The ports on the front panel of the FastHub are all 100BaseTX ports with fixed RJ-45 connectors (see Figure 1-2). All ports are compatible with the 100BaseTX IEEE-802.3u specification and can connect to any 100BaseTX device through Category 5 unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) cable.

Figure 1-2:

Front Panel Ports

Ports 1x through 16x have their transmit (TD) and receive (RD) pairs internally crossed. Category 5 UTP crossover cable is required when connecting these ports to another hub, switch, or router (unless you are connecting to the uplink port on another FastHub or 100BaseT hub).

Port 16, which is to the right of port 16x, is the 100BaseTX uplink port. This uplink port is not internally crossed. Category 5 UTP straight-through cable is required when connecting this port to another FastHub 100BaseTX port or to the 100BaseTX port on another hub, switch, or router.

Caution You will disable both ports if you connect to both the uplink port (port 16) and port 16x.

For more information on connecting to these ports, see the "Connecting to the 100BaseTX Ports" section in the "Installing the FastHub" chapter.

LEDs

The FastHub LEDs enable you to monitor network activity and performance. Figure 1-3 shows the location of the LEDs and the Mode button, which you use to select the modes indicated by the port mode LED.

Figure 1-3: LEDs and Mode Button

RPS LED

The redundant power system (RPS) LED shows the status of the RPS (see Table 1-2).

Table  1-2: RPS LED Description

Color	RPS Status
Off	Power OK (RPS is not connected or RPS is not powered up).
Solid green	Power OK (RPS is powered up and OK).
Solid amber	Internal power supply is not powered up, RPS is connected but not OK.
Flashing green	RPS and FastHub internal power supply are both powered up. Only one power source can be supplying power to the FastHub. If you are using the RPS, the FastHub power cord must not be plugged in. If you are using the internal power supply, the RPS can be connected but must be powered down.

When the RPS is in use, turn off the internal power supply by unplugging the AC power cord.

SYSTEM LED

The system status (SYSTEM) LED shows whether the FastHub is powered up and indicates any problem with the main system board of the FastHub (see Table 1-3).

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Note The system status LED and RPS LED are used together to isolate internal power supply or RPS problems. See the "LED Indications" section in the "Troubleshooting" chapter for detailed information.

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Table  1-3: SYSTEM LED Description

Color	System Status
Off	FastHub is powered down.
Solid green	FastHub is powered up and operational; no power problems.
Solid amber	FastHub is powered up but may not be functioning properly; problem related to the main system board of the FastHub (not internal power supply or RPS).
Flashing amber	Power-on self-test (POST) failed.

COL LED

The group collision (COL) LED shows the frequency of collisions for all ports on the FastHub (see Table 1-4). The LED flashes amber if one or more ports on the FastHub are involved in a collision.

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Note The flash rate of the group collision LED increases with an increase in collisions; a high number of collisions causes the LED to appear solid amber.

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Table  1-4: COL LED Description

Color	System Status
Off	No activity
Flashing amber	Collision
Solid amber	High number of collisions

Port Mode and Port Status LED

The port mode LED indicates the mode you selected using the Mode button:

• Port status (STAT)

• Bandwidth utilization (UTL)

• Unit identification (ID)

The port status LEDs--located above the 100BaseTX ports--indicate the status of each individual port, depending on the mode you select.

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Note Port 16 (the uplink port) uses the port 16x port status LED.

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Mode Button

To change the mode being displayed by a port LED, press the Mode button to highlight in sequence each of the modes: STAT, UTL, and ID. The Mode button is independent of the Collision LED. When the desired mode is selected, release the button to make the change. As long as you hold the Mode button down, the mode does not change. The selected mode remains on for 30 seconds before returning to the default mode of STAT (port status).

STAT Mode

In port status (STAT) mode, each port status LED shows the status of the individual port (see Table 1-5).

Table  1-5: Port Status LED Description

Color	Port Status
Off	No link (link down).
Green	Link operational (with no activity).
Flashing green	Link operational (with activity).
Rapidly alternating green/amber	Faulty link1.
Alternating green/amber	FastHub reset in progress.
Solid amber	Port disabled (through in-band or out-of-band management).

UTL Mode

In utilization (UTL) mode, bandwidth usage is shown for the FastHub. The port LEDs show the current bandwidth and the peak bandwidth usage that occurred since the last reset.

The far-right solid green LED denotes the peak bandwidth that was recorded since the last reset. All LEDs to the left of the solid green LED operate in a scalable pattern, flashing green from left to right, to show the current bandwidth utilization. Table 1-6 lists the port LEDs and the bandwidth associated with each LED.

Table  1-6: Bandwidth Utilization LED Scale

LED	Mbps Activity
Port 1	0 to 6.25
Port 2	12.5
Port 3	18.75
Port 4	25
Port 5	31.25
Port 6	37.5
Port 7	43.75
Port 8	50
Port 9	56.25
Port 10	62.50
Port 11	58.75
Port 12	75
Port 13	81.25
Port 14	87.5
Port 15	93.75
Port 16	100

ID Mode

In unit identification (ID) mode, the LED for port 1 is solid green, indicating that the unit ID number for the FastHub is 1. The unit ID number coincides with the unit number displayed in the management console screens. For the FastHub 216T, the unit ID number is always 1.

Rear Panel Description

The rear panel of the FastHub (see Figure 1-4) provides connectors--an AC power receptacle, an RJ-45 console port, and a redundant power system (RPS) receptacle--and a reset button (unlabeled).

Figure 1-4:

Rear Panel Components

Power Receptacles

You can provide power to the FastHub either by using the internal power supply or by connecting the Cisco RPS to the RPS receptacle on the FastHub. Only one power source can be supplying power to the FastHub. Disconnecting power to the FastHub resets the FastHub itself.

If you want to use the internal power supply, which is an autoranging unit supporting input voltages of 90 to 127/200 to 250 VAC, use the supplied AC power cord to connect the AC power receptacle to an AC power outlet.

If you are using the RPS, the supplied AC power cord must not be plugged in. See the Cisco RPS documentation for detailed information on connecting to the RPS.

Warning Use the Cisco RPS (model NFS0600-9632PE) only to power the external device.

Console Port

You can configure and manage the FastHub through the management console by connecting the console port on the FastHub to a terminal or modem. The FastHub is supplied with the RJ-45-to-RJ-45 rollover cable and adapters you need to properly connect to a terminal or modem.

For additional information on connecting from this port, see the "Connecting to the Console Port" section in the "Installing the FastHub" chapter.

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Note If you are connecting the FastHub to a Sun workstation (or to a terminal that has a female DB-25 serial connector), you need to use a male-to-male gender changer to properly attach the supplied RJ-45-to-RJ-45 rollover cable and supplied RJ-45-to-DB-25 female DTE adapter to the terminal.

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Reset Button

The reset button, which is unlabeled, is used to reset network management for the FastHub. Located between the console port and RPS receptacle, the reset button is recessed within the back panel to prevent an accidental reset. Use a small screwdriver or other pointed object to press the reset button. For more information about resetting the FastHub, see the "Reset Methods" section in the "Troubleshooting" chapter.

Examples of Using the FastHub

This section describes several possible network configurations using the FastHub.

Workgroups

You can create 100-Mbps workgroups by interconnecting FastHubs (FastHub 116T, FastHub 216T, and FastHub 300 series), as shown in Figure 1-5.

Figure 1-5: FastHubs in a Workgroup Application

Server Farms

Using the FastHub, you can create 100-Mbps server farms to increase centralized and decentralized server performance, as shown in Figure 1-6.

Figure 1-6: FastHubs in a Server Farm Application

Extended Network System

A system of routers, switches, and hubs can be combined to create a high-performance network that extends beyond the main office LAN to connect to branch offices, remote sites, mobile users, and the Internet. Figure 1-7 is an application for an extended network system.

Figure 1-7: FastHub in an Extended Network Application