M is a multi-port layer 2 device that is used for building our high performance switched campus network. Layer 2 switches are typically placed at the building level. A layer 2 switched network is necessary to eliminate the shared 10 MBPS media currently in use on the Montana Tech campus. An analogy is 250 users sharing a party line. Moving to a switched network is like giving each user their own private line.
Shared media is inherently prone to high collision rates, broadcast storms and high error rates.
Montana Tech's LAN has several HP 4000M switches installed and operational. Unlike any other switch, the modularity of the HP 4000M switch allows us to dynamically reapportion port densities and uplinks as network demands change without expensive chassis change-outs. Modules from any HP switch are transferable to any other HP layer 2 switch on campus. As users and applications place more demands on the network, each switch can be reconfigured to accommodate higher or lower port densities as required and faster uplinks if the traffic demands it. Also, the flexibility of these switches minimizes unused ports on any given switch.