Q.Just what is Distributed Management, and how does it differ from SNMP Management?
A. Distributed Management is an out-of-band management system for HP AdvanceStack 10Base-T and 100VG hubs. Using Distributed Management and HP Stack Manager software (included with Distributed Management hubs), the user can perform management from a Windows-based PC connected to the RS-232 console port of any hub in a chain. All of the chained hubs can then be accessed through the Distributed Management chain using HP Stack Manager. Stack Manager provides a customized graphical interface for each hub, with functions such as hub ID, counters display, activity gauges, port configuration, port statistics summary tables, and hub self-test. These features are available on all hubs with Distributed Management ports. Hubs with an optional SNMP Module installed have extended functionality both in Stack Manager and Interconnect Manager including security features, Ping/lPX/Link network tests, full modem support, password protection, authorized managers lists, and more. An SNMP Module installed in an AdvanceStack hub also allows in-band SNMP management of that hub from a network management station connected to the same network as the hub. In addition, chained hubs that do not have an SNMP module can also be accessed from an in-band management station by using HP Interconnect Manager, an integrated SNMP-based multivendor management software tool.
The following products are shipped standard with Distributed Management ports:
• J2600A AdvanceStack
10Base-T Hub-12
• J2601A AdvanceStack
10Base-T Hub-24
• J2602A AdvanceStack
10Base-T Hub-48
• J2410A AdvanceStack
100VG Hub 15
The J2603B AdvanceStack Ethernet SNMP Module can be added to the 10Base-T hubs above, and the J2414A AdvanceStack 100VG SNMP/Bridge Module can be added to the l00VG hubs to add SNMP management capabilities to your stack. The following products can be upgraded to have Distributed Management:
•J2610AAdvanceStack
10Base-T Hub-8U
•J2611AAdvanceStack
10Base-T Hub-16U
These two hubs are entry-level hubs with no management capabilities but have a "Distributed Management Slot" for the addition of a J2612A Distributed Management Module. This module includes the HP Stack Manager software and gives these hubs Distributed Management capabilities.
A. The external network numbers and the server internal network numbers need to be unique numbers. You need to configure both LAN and WAN ports on the router. Be sure to match LAN lPX numbers with the appropriate external network numbers. The WAN must have a unique network number and the WAN ports on both sites' routers connected to that WAN must have that same network number
A. Look on the HP JetDirect card self-test page or on the HP JetDirect EX or EX Plus3 external print server status/configuration page. Check whether an "I/O Not Ready" message is listed. If it is, l00k up the specific code (and any messages listed) in the HP JetDirect manuals. Also, examine the network statistics portion of the page, and l00k for anomalies like packets being transmitted successfully but no packets being received, or an excessive number of collisions or late collisions.
A. GIobal Data Supply has two products, Phone Tamer PT100 (single line phone patch) and PT200 (dual line phone patch), which can be used at both ends of the UTP cable. This splitter enables 100VG and phone (analog) to run on the same cable simultaneously. They may be contacted at:
A. On networks that are particularly busy or where there are several "hops" across routers, you may run into situations where the HP JetDirect card loses its connection to the file server. Other symptoms may include the 18 or 1B "Printer Number in Use" error on the self-test page (or status page).
One possible correction is to increase two timers on the Novell file server console. The two timers are: SPX watchdog abort timeout (in ticks) default=540, or SPX default retry count (in ticks) default=10. SPXCONFG.NLM controls the standard defaults for the SPX communications of the network. The file server uses SPX packets to communicate with the work-stations or with print servers such as our JetDirect print servers. Increasing these parameters increases the time the file server allows for communications from the JetDirect card.
To automatically reconnect and continue, make sure that "autocontinue" on the printer is set to "on." For more information, refer to the Novell documentation.
A. To cascade two 100VG hubs, connect the uplink port of the lower-level hub to any one of the downlink LAN ports of the upper-level hub with a standard 4-pair UTP cable.
A. The Switch-16 has 16 fixed ports; one of which may be used either as an AUl port or a 10Base-T port. There are two Auxiliary slots which may be used for 100VG Modules that will be available late 1995. With the Auxiliary slots fully utilized, the switch can support up to four 100VG ports as well as the 16 fixed 10Base-T ports. There is a push-button which allows port 16 to be configured in MDI or MDIX mode thus making a crossover cable unnecessary for connecting to a hub on port one. There is also a Network Monitoring port on the back for attaching a Sniffer Probe device to monitor any of the 16 10Base-T segments.
A. No, the HP Switch-16 can buffer up to 256 full-size packets per port (128 in, 128 out) for optimal network performance.