Abstract: It is disclosed hereby that a switch system comprises a N:M switch circuit, a plurality of layer 2 switches, each comprising a plurality of packet processing channels, and a plurality of network interfaces, each comprising a fixed number of pairs of ports to be directly connected to the same number of devices. The N:M switch is coupled with the N number of the packet processing channels of the layer 2 switches at the N-side and with the M number of the ports of the network interfaces at the M-side. When a packet containing a destination to a receiving device sent by a sending device arrives at the network interface, the N:M switch establishes an electronic connection between an available packet processing channel and a port to which the sending device is connected, the packet passes through to the packet processing channel in which the packet is processed and stored.

Abstract: A physical switch system employing a N:M switch circuit, coupled with a layer 2 switch at one end and with a network interface at the other end, for data network system is disclosed. The N:M switch comprises N number of ports on one side and M number of ports on the other side, wherein N and M are not necessarily the same. Based on the addresses describing each of the ports, the N:M switch is capable of establishing electronic links between the ports on both sides and further disengaging the links therebetween upon detecting the completion of data transmission. The disclosed switch system provides an efficient switching mechanism of rescalabitity and modularity in network switch systems.

Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring and displaying the status of a local area network. The network includes a hub with ports for connection to various data terminal equipment in a star configuration and for connection to other hubs of the network. The hubs each have different types of plug-in modules which have ports for connecting the hub to different types of network cable such as fiber optic cable, unshielded twisted pair cable and shielded twisted pair cable. Information is automatically provided to a control console identifying the types of modules and the location of the modules in the hub so that an image of the actual hub can be displayed on the screen of the control console. The actual hub image shows the location and types of modules installed in the hub. In addition, information regarding the connection of each of the hubs to other hubs of the network is obtained and provided to the control console.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventing intrusive access to a network. The method and apparatus are implemented in a network having a star topology. Utilizing a network management module of a network concentrator as a centralized functional base, unauthorized Data Terminal Elements (DTEs) may be prevented from transmitting messages on a network. By providing a centrally located means by which a set of unique DTE addresses can be associated with a particular port on the network concentrator, valid DTE addresses can be associated with a message packet that contains the address of the transmitting DTE. If the DTE address matches those associated with the port from which it was received, the message packet is authorized. If the DTE address does not match those addresses associated with from which it was received, the message packet is unauthorized. When an unauthorized message packet is received, the port from which the frame was received, is partitioned.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for associating stations to a port on a network concentrator. The network concentrator implements a network having a Ring based topology. Associating stations to ports provides for the coupling of multiple stations to a single port. Three maps are created which describe the network, a port map, a station map and an exit station map. The port map identifies the ports having one or more stations coupled to it. The station map identifies each station in the network. The exit station map identifies for each port with a station coupled to it, the station which transmits data into the port. By identifying the stations between two exit stations on adjacent ports in the network concentrator, the stations coupled to a port are determined. The identification of exit stations is facilitated by the use of an exit station detection circuit located at the port.