Frequently Asked Questions

Ethernet Routing Switch 5510

This document answers the most frequently asked questions
concerning the Ethernet Routing Switch 5510.

Q: What is the Ethernet Routing Q: Why is the introduction of Q: Why is Gigabit to the
Switch 5510? What kind of the Ethernet Routing Switch desktop important?
user would benefit from it? 5510 significant? A: The way in which businesses use
A: Ethernet Routing Switch 5510 is a A: The introduction of Ethernet Routing LANs is changing and the perform-
stackable 10/100/1000 Mbps Switch 5510 demonstrates Nortel’s ance requirement at the edge of
Ethernet Layer 3 routing switch that continuing technology innovation the network is becoming more
is designed to provide high-density for enterprise customers. With these demanding. As file sizes continue to
Gigabit desktop connectivity for switches, Nortel is delivering afford- grow, users need more bandwidth.
mid-size and large enterprise able Gigabit desktop connectivity Quite simply, the convergence of
customers’ wiring closets. Ethernet while future-proofing customers’ voice, video, data and storage enables
Routing Switch 5510 is available in investments in the wiring closet for users to do more from their desktop.
two models. The Ethernet Routing the long-term. IP Telephony and other collaborative
Switch 5510-48T Switch features
48 10/100/1000BASE-T RJ-45
ports and the Ethernet Routing
Switch 5510-24T supports 24
10/100/1000BASE-T RJ-45 ports.
Each switch supports two built-in
SFP (Small Form factor Pluggable)
GBIC ports for uplink and two
built-in stacking connectors.
Ethernet Routing Switch 5510 offers
a scalable and resilient solution,
providing exceptional security features
and support for enhanced conver-
gence while minimizing capital and
operational expenses.
 applications are driving more traffic
to the edge of the network. Enterprises
need to be able to address today’s
increased demands and still prepare
for the unknown demands of
tomorrow. By re-assessing how
they’re using the wiring closet, they
can achieve both goals, and be
assured that their investments will be
protected for a long time to come.
Q: Will the Ethernet Routing
Switch 5510 stack with
other Ethernet Routing
Switches?
A: Ethernet Routing Switch 5510 will
stack with other Ethernet Routing
Switches including 5520 and 5530.
However, as this is a new stacking
architecture, Ethernet Routing
Switch 5510 cannot be stacked with
the earlier switches such as Ethernet
Switch 470.
Q: Will Nortel continue to offer
the current Ethernet Routing
Switches along with these
new switches?
A: Yes. We will continue to manufacture
and market the existing Ethernet
Routing Switches as the earlier
switches address the 10/100 Mbps
desktop switching needs. With the
introduction of Ethernet Routing
Switch 5510, Nortel customers will
have a choice to migrate to the new
high-performance 10/100/1000
platform or stay with cost-effective
10/100 resilient stacks including
Ethernet Routing Switch 470 and
Ethernet Switch 460.
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Q: Do these switches support
Ethernet Switch Software?
A: Yes. Ethernet Switch Software (ESS)
is a single software image that allows
Ethernet Routing Switches 5510,
5520 and 5530 to stack together.
ESS also simplifies network operations
by reducing the number of steps
required for software upgrades. ESS
for Ethernet Routing Switch 5510 is
specific to this next generation of
stacking switches, with a software
image that supports this new archi-
tecture. Earlier Ethernet Switches such
as 470 and 460 support a different
software image of ESS — although
all share the same core software.
Q: What is the FAST stack
architecture?
A: Nortel’s innovative FAST (Flexible
Advanced Stacking Technology)
stacking design of the Ethernet
Routing Switch 5510 allows for
simultaneous bi-directional traffic
flow on each stacking port. In a full
stack, this design yields up to 640
Gbps — the highest stacking band-
width in the industry today. The
FAST stacking design also supports
an optimal data flow across the stack
using a shortest path algorithm. If a
packet needs to traverse across the
stack from one switch to the other,
this algorithm figures out the shortest
path to the destination switch.
Q: Do these switches support
Layer 3 routing?
A: Ethernet Routing Switch 5510 is a
Layer 3 routing switch, capable of
supporting Layer 3 routing in hard-
ware. Using Ethernet Switch Software
Release 5.0 or later, customers can
use advanced routing features such as
RIPv1, RIPv2 and OSPF.
Q: What are the resiliency
features?
A: Nortel’s unique Distributed Multi-
Link Trunking (DMLT) feature
allows trunked ports to span multiple
units of the stack for fail-safe
connectivity to mission-critical
servers and the network center.
The Split Multi-Link Trunking
(SMLT) feature eliminates single
points of failure in the network and
allows wiring closet switches, such as
the Ethernet Routing Switch 5510, to
have multiple active connections to the
network core. All links from a DMLT
can be active simultaneously, allowing
customers to load-balance their
network, double the bandwidth and
use all the ports they have paid for.
Utilizing DMLT, MLT, FAST stacking
and SMLT, Nortel has created the
next generation of flexible networking
solutions. Ethernet Routing Switch
5510 is architected to support
SMLT in the future.
With connectivity to the Ethernet
Routing Switch RPS 15 paired with
a –48V DC-to-DC converter module,
Ethernet Routing Switch 5510
delivers redundant power supply
(RPS) support crucial in mission-
critical environments.
Q: What are the security
features of the Ethernet
Routing Switch 5510?
A: The Ethernet Routing Switch 5510
offers the highest level of security
with features including Secure Shell
(SSH), IEEE 802.1x-based security
(also known as Extensible Authentica-
tion Protocol [EAP]), assignment of
proper VLAN and priority, user-
based policies, Simple Network
Management Protocol (SNMPv3),
 IP Manager List, MAC address-based
security and Remote Authentication
Dial-In User Service (RADIUS)
authentication.

Q: What are the QoS features

of the Ethernet Routing
Switch 5510? Why is QoS
important?
A: The QoS features of the Ethernet
Routing Switch 5510 allow users to
utilize bandwidth more efficiently,
optimizing existing network resources
and capabilities, as well as provide
packet classification and marking at
the edge of the network, simplifying
the QoS deployment at the aggrega-
tion and core of the network. By
classifying, prioritizing, policing and
marking LAN traffic, networks can
offer reliable connectivity and required
bandwidth for mission-critical appli-
cations to specific groups, users and Q: How should we differentiate Q: How should we differentiate
individual devices. the positioning of Ethernet the positioning of Ethernet
Routing Switch 5510 and Routing Switch 5510 and
Q: How are these switches
Ethernet Routing Switch Ethernet Routing Switch
managed?
1600? 8300?
A: Nortel offers a comprehensive set of
A: The Ethernet Routing Switch 5510 A: Both Ethernet Routing Switch 5510
management tools. These tools include
provides scalable 10/100/1000 Layer and Ethernet Routing Switch 8300
web-based management, Java™ Device
3 desktop connectivity. The Ethernet offer excellent desktop connectivity
Manager, CLI (Command Line
Routing Switch 1600 series provides solutions for the wiring closet.
Interface), QoS Wizard, Enterprise
Layer 3 Gigabit aggregation. Ethernet Routing Switch 5510 is a
Switch Manager, Enterprise Network
stackable solution whereas Ethernet
Management System and Enterprise
Routing Switch 8300 is a modular
Policy Manager.
solution.

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