Nortel Network Ethernet Switch

All About Nortel Ethernet Switches

Founded in 1895 as the Northern Electric and Manufacturing Company, Nortel Networks has long been a trusted name in telecom and electronics manufacturing. They are most often used to connect computers and peripherals, whether you need to install a wired modem for home use or put together multiple modems for your office. With these multi-port switches, dozens of devices can be linked to create a network.

Commonly found parts on Nortel Ethernet switches include:

• Ethernet ports: The Ethernet cables plug into these ports. The 24- and 48-port switch units often plug into other switches or hubs. RJ-45 connectors are designed to fit into these openings.
• USB port: Many switches have a USB port so that updates can be loaded and system logs can be downloaded. Thumb drives are commonly used for these functions.
• Console port: This is also known as the management port. These sockets are specialized for use in administering the entire setup.
• Switch ID: This is a pull-out tab that contains the serial number and the MAC address of the unit. This is important because there are often several units in the network.
• Fans: Older Ethernet switches commonly contained cooling fans. Since the 2000s, this has become rarer. Most units produced with current technology do not require cooling fans.

The number of ports varies with the specific unit. Usually, these units have 24 or 48 ports. Some have up to 96 ports, but this is rare. Nortel Ethernet switches are typically designed to be compact. They generally max out at about 18 inches in width. Instead of creating large single units, the strategy has been to build stackable hardware. This is more convenient for most server rooms. These systems keep everything compact and customizable for users no matter how big or small their spaces are.

Speed varies with the model. In recent years, these switches have increased in power incredibly quickly. Commonly seen speeds include:

• Fast Ethernet: These switches operate at speeds of 10/100 Mbps. Examples of this type of switch include the Nortel Ethernet Switch 470-24T. This is designed for use in a managed network.
• Gigabit Ethernet: Gigabit Ethernet models reach speeds of 10/100/1000 Mbps. The 5510-48T is an example of a 48-port Gigabit Ethernet switch made by this firm.
• 10 Gigabit: These models reach speeds of 10/100/1000/10000 Mbps. The Nortel 8600 Ethernet routing switch is an example of this type of switch. It's unique in that it has just three ports.