Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Obtaining the Documentation. 1-1

1.1 CD-ROM.. 1-1

1.2 H3C Website. 1-1

1.3 Software Version Release. 1-2

Chapter 2 Documentation and Product Version. 2-1

2.1 Documentation and Software Version. 2-1

2.2 H3C S5500-EI Series Ethernet Switch Documentation Set 2-1

Chapter 3 Product Overview.. 3-1

3.1 Preface. 3-1

3.2 Product Models. 3-1

Chapter 4 Networking Applications. 4-1

4.1 Serving as a Convergence Layer Device. 4-1

4.2 Serving as a Access Layer Device. 4-1

Chapter 1  Obtaining the Documentation

H3C Technology Co., Ltd. provides various ways for you to obtain documentation, through which you can obtain the product documentations and those concerning newly added features. The documentations are available in one of the following ways:

l           CD-ROMs shipped with the devices

l           H3C website

l           Software release notes

1.1  CD-ROM

H3C delivers a CD-ROM together with each device. The CD-ROM contains a complete product document set, including the operation manual, command manual, installation manual, and compatibility manual. After installing the reader program provided by the CD-ROM, you can search for the desired contents in a convenient way through the reader interface.

The contents in the manual are subject to update on an irregular basis due to product version upgrade or some other reasons. Therefore, the contents in the CD-ROM may not be the latest version. This manual serves the purpose of user guide only. Unless otherwise noted, all the information in the document set does not claim or imply any warranty. For the latest software documentation, go to the H3C website.

1.2  H3C Website

Perform the following steps to query and download the product documentation from the H3C website.

Table 1-1 Acquire product documentation from the H3C website

1.3  Software Version Release

With software upgrade, new software features may be added. You can acquire the information about the newly added software features through software release notes.

Chapter 2  Documentation and Product Version

2.1  Documentation and Software Version

H3C S5500-EI Series Ethernet Switches  Operation Manual-Release 2102 and H3C S5500-EI Series Ethernet Switches  Command Manual-Release 2102 apply to S5500-EI series Ethernet switches with their software version being Release 2102.

2.2  H3C S5500-EI Series Ethernet Switch Documentation Set

Table 2-1 H3C S5500-EI series Ethernet switch documentation set

Chapter 3  Product Overview

3.1  Preface

H3C S5500-EI Series Ethernet Switches (hereinafter referred to as the S5500-EI series) are Gigabit Ethernet switching products developed by H3C. The S5500-EI series have abundant service features. They provide the IPv6 forwarding function and 10GE uplink interfaces.

Through H3C-specific cluster management, you can streamline network management. The S5500-EI series are designed as convergence and access devices for intranets and metropolitan area networks (MANs). Supporting IPv4/IPv6 dual-stack, the S5500-EI series provide abundant service features and routing functions and can also be used for connecting server groups in data centers.

3.2  Product Models

Table 3-1 Models in the H3C S5500-EI series

Chapter 4  Networking Applications

The S5500-EI series are designed as convergence layer switches or access layer switches for enterprise networks and MANs. The S5500-EI series provide 24 or 48 autosensing Gigabit Ethernet ports and four SFP Combo Gigabit optical interfaces. In addition, the S5500-EI series provide two extension slots. You can configure XFP/CX4 extension module and up to four 10GE ports are supported. Networking is very flexible. The S5500-EI series can apply to Gigabit Ethernet to the desktop (GTTD) access of enterprise networks, user access of campus networks, and connection of data center server clusters. Several typical networking applications are described as follows.

4.1  Serving as a Convergence Layer Device

In medium- and large-sized enterprises or campus networks, the S5500-EI series Ethernet switches can serve as convergence layer switches that provide high-performance and large-capacity switching service and support 10GE uplink interfaces, which provide larger bandwidth for the devices.

Figure 4-1 Application of the S5500-EI series at the convergence layer of enterprise networks/campus networks

4.2  Serving as a Access Layer Device

The S5500-EI series can serve as access layer switches that provide large access bandwidth and high port density. The S5500-EI series also provide PoE. Through Ethernet cables, the S5500-EI series can provide power to IP phone, WLAN AP, and other PD devices that support IEEE 802.3af to facilitate network maintenance and management.

Figure 4-2 Application of S5500-EI series at access layer