CONFIGURING THE TNETX3150 THUNDERSWITCH FOR THE CASCADE MODE

This application report explains how to configure the Texas Instruments (TI™) TNETX3150 ThunderSWITCH™ device for the cascade mode. The cascade mode configuration allows the Ethernet switch designer to double the number of ports in a design without increasing overall system complexity.

The ThunderSWITCH enables the original equipment manufacturer to support a modular design in either a 12/2 or 24/2 managed or unmanaged configuration. In the unmanaged configuration, ThunderSWITCH and the External Address Look-up Engine (EALE) support auto-configuration using EEPROMs.

Optionally, the OEM can replace the EEPROMs with a CPU for a managed configuration supporting Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), Virtual LANs (VLANs), remote monitoring (RMON), and Spanning tree.

This document contains block and interconnection diagrams, hardware and EEPROM configurations, jumper settings, and a parts list. An example details a step-by-step configuration of two ThunderSWITCH devices for the cascade mode. Throughput test results for the cascade mode configuration are included.

Go to the Engineering Design Center to locate information on other TI Semiconductor devices.

(c) Copyright 1998 Texas Instruments Incorporated. All rights reserved.
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