Cabletron 6E123-50 Ethernet Module SmartSwitch 6000 Fast Ethernet FE-100FX

Cabletron 6E123-50 Ethernet Module SmartSwitch 6000 Fast Ethernet FE-100FX

The Cabletron Systems 6E123-50 is a managed Ethernet switching module designed for the SmartSwitch 6000 modular chassis. It provides multi-port 10BASE-T Ethernet switching via the chassis backplane and adds an FE-100FX 100BASE-FX Fast Ethernet fiber optic uplink port, allowing the chassis to connect to 100 Mbps fiber backbone infrastructure. The module integrates directly into the SmartSwitch 6000 via a high-density backplane connector and is managed through Cabletron's chassis management architecture.

Specifications & What's Included

• Manufacturer: Cabletron Systems
• Model / Part Number: 6E123-50
• Form Factor: Chassis module for SmartSwitch 6000
• Network Technology: 10BASE-T Ethernet / 100BASE-FX Fast Ethernet
• Fast Ethernet Uplink: FE-100FX — dual SC fiber optic port (100BASE-FX)
• Front Panel Ports: RJ-45 COM (management console) port
• Front Panel Indicators: RESET button; CPU LED; E1, E2, E3, E4 status LEDs
• Backplane Connectors: Dual high-density SCSI-style connectors + two 50-pin CHAMP connectors
• Management: Managed — integrates with SmartSwitch 6000 chassis management
• Compatible Chassis: Cabletron SmartSwitch 6000
• Includes: Module only — no chassis, cables, or accessories

Applications

The Cabletron SmartSwitch 6000 was a modular, high-density Layer 2 switching platform from the mid-to-late 1990s, aimed at enterprise wiring closets and data center distribution layers. Modules like the 6E123-50 slotted into the chassis to deliver switched 10BASE-T Ethernet to workgroups, while the FE-100FX uplink provided a 100 Mbps fiber connection to a distribution or core switch — a common Fast Ethernet uplink architecture of that era before Gigabit Ethernet became standard. The SmartSwitch 6000 competed in the same space as Cisco Catalyst 5000 and Bay Networks System 5000 chassis platforms. Today these modules are primarily sought for maintaining legacy Cabletron SmartSwitch 6000 installations still in service, as spare or replacement cards in environments that have not yet migrated to current switching infrastructure.