Token Ring Switch Competitive Evaluation 3Com SuperStack II Switch 2000 TR - IBM 8272 Nways Token-Ring LAN Switch Model 108
Sponsor: 3Com Corp.
All Reports Sponsored by this Vendor
Document Number: 6278
Publication Date: 10/4/1996
Page Count: 6
Abstract
3Com Corporation commissioned The Tolly Group to evaluate the performance of the 3Com SuperStack II Switch 2000 TR and compare it to the performance of the IBM 8272 Nways Token-Ring LAN Switch Model 108. The frame-processing capabilities and frame latency of the switches were tested in store-and-forward and cut-through mode. The Flow Control feature of the Switch 2000 TR was also evaluated.
Test Results
The test results demonstrate that the 3Com SuperStack II Switch 2000 TR delivers higher throughput than the IBM 8272 Nways Token-Ring LAN Switch Model 108 at all frame sizes tested. The Switch 2000 TR also has significantly lower cut-through latency than IBM. In addition to support for transparent bridging, the SuperStack II Switch 2000 TR also provides support for source route bridging environments. The IBM 8272 (version SW TB-1.05) does not support source route bridging.
Further tests on the SuperStack II Switch 2000 TR demonstrated that the Flow Control feature can substantially reduce the number of input frames lost when an output port is oversubscribed.