Cabletron Systems FRM User Manual - Hardware Overview
Product Overview
1-3
Hardware Overview
An FRM mounts into a SmartSwitch 9000, and connects to an Ethernet or Token Ring
(depending on the model of FRM) module in the chassis via a cable from a LAN
adapter port on the FRM. The FRM draws power from the chassis, but does not
interact with other SmartSwitch 9000 modules except the LAN interface module and
other FRM modules.
The intent of the FRM is to provide the functionality of a 24-port FRX6000 in a
module that occupies two slots in an existing SmartSwitch 9000 (thereby eliminating
the extra space that an FRX6000 would require).
Three i960 RISC-based line processors (RLPs) provide the serial interfaces, con-
necting various synchronous and asynchronous user devices to public or private net-
works. Each RLP supports up to seven protocols and up to 1024 simultaneous logical
terminations. (A link into one physical/logical port on the RLP and out another port
counts as two terminations.)
An earlier version of the FRM contains one RLP, providing eight serial
ports. This manual does not document that version, although all the same
functionality can be found in that FRM except the number of ports.
The following figure shows the basic hardware components.
Each RLP supports eight serial ports,
located on two attached Line Interface
Cards (LICs). The types of serial ports
depend on the types of LIC, which can
be (in any combination) V.35, RS-232,
or RS-422.
Each FRM also contains:
●
1.2GB hard disk
●
I/O box/cable assemblies for
RLP serial ports
●
Cable for connection to Smart-
Switch 9000 LAN module
Figure 1-2 Hardware Components
RLP
RLP
COM Port
SCSI Connector
for Diskette Drive
RLP
Ethernet Card
Keyboard Jack
Parallel Port
not used
VGA Port