Greetings

I have a Cisco Catalyst 2940 switch, eight ports. Ports 1-4 are connected to a media converter A. Ports 5-6 and 7-8 goes to two separate servers, B and C.
Let's say I want traffic from B->5->1->A then through some equipment (which just pushes the data) and back through A->2->6->C without the data just recognizing a shorter path B->5->6->C and thereby skipping the equipment in between.
Is this possible without a router? Ridiculous set-up? Yes, though the switch is the only means I have to connect to the media converter in this case.

Best regards
/Marc

Use vlans. Put ports 5 and 1 in one vlan, and 2 and 6 in another.

-Otanx

Thank you for replying!
Problem is, by putting them in diffirent vlans they will have to be assigned under diffirent netmasks as well, as each vlan needs its own unique netmask. And thus, they won't be able to communicate unless I use a router. But do tell me if I'm wrong, I'm a novice at this.

Best regards
Marc

Yes Mark, unless your switch is a layer 3 switch, in which case you can assign default gateway addresses for each vlan on the switch. By the way, if you subnet a network to create VLANs then the netmask will be the same. IP range will be different though.

Why not invest in a simple router that will provide the inter-vlan routing for you?

_________________
David
CCNA CCNP

It depends on the equipment on the other side of the media converter. Are they doing any routing? How I understand it you want the two devices to look like they are in the same network, but you have some kind of monitoring tools that you want to see the packets first (i.e. IPS/IDS). Using the two vlans will make the packet go out to the external equipment, then any signal they send back will come in on the second vlan. Vlans do not *have* to have separate net masks that is just how they are normally used.

-Otanx

It might be easier if you give us some reason as to what you are wanting to achieve, then we can suggest the best way to go forward.

_________________
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David
CCIE R&S #38338, CCIP, CCNP

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