A
B O U T
L
I N K
I
N T E G R I T Y
During normal operation, link integrity pulses are transmitted by all
point-to-point Ethernet devices. When an IMC Networks media convert-
er receives valid link pulses, it knows that the device to which it is
connected is up and sending pulses, and that the copper or fiber cable
coming from that device is intact. The appropriate “LINK” LED is lit to
indicate this. The IMC Networks media converter also sends out link
pulses from its copper and fiber transmitters, but normally has no way of
knowing whether the cable to the other device is intact and the link
pulses are reaching the other end.
FiberAlert
allows this information to be
obtained from the fiber, even when physical access to a remote device
(and its link integrity LED) is not available.
W
H A T
I
S
F
I B E R
A
L E R T
?
FiberAlert
lets you know
when a fault occurs on
your fiber loop by stopping
data transmissions and
affecting fiber LEDs on
both sides of your net-
work. If a media converter
is not receiving a fiber link,
FiberAlert
disables the
media converter's fiber
transmitter, thus mirroring the link status of the opposite end of the fiber.
Both fiber link LEDs on either end of the link should extinguish, alerting
you to the fault.
Using
FiberAlert
, a local site administrator is notified of a fault and can
quickly determine where a cable fault is located without having to go to
the remote site.
For more information on
FiberAlert
, please visit the IMC Networks Web
site at
www.imcnetworks.com/to-fa.htm
. If you are unsure of how best to
implement this features in your configuration, please contact
IMC Networks technical support via phone at (800) 624-1070 (U.S. and
Canada), +32-16-550880 (Europe) or via e-mail at:
.
IMC Networks product with
enabled —
Remote Site stops transmitting
Local Link LED is OFF indicating a break in the fiber loop
FiberAlert
Cable Break
XMT
RCV
LED
Remote Site
Local Site
LED OFF = Broken Link
LED
XMT
RCV
3
N O T E
FiberAlert should only be activated on one side of a media extender. Activating
the feature on both sides would keep both transmitters off indefinitely.
Installing McPC Gigabit
To install
McPC Gigabit
, perform the following steps:
• Turn off the power on your PC.
• Remove the cover.
• Find an empty slot (preferably
an ISA slot).
• Align
McPC Gigabit
in the slot.
• Mount
McPC Gigabit
by screw-
ing its bracket to the computer
casing.
• Make sure
McPC Gigabit
does
not extend past the edge of
your case.
• Attach the keyed mini-power
connector to
McPC Gigabit
.
• Attach the male end of the “Y”
connector to a standard size
power connector in your com-
puter.
• Replace the cover.
• Attach the cables between
McPC Gigabit
and the devices that will be interconnected.
Installation Troubleshooting
• During installation, first test your fiber and twisted pair connections
with
FiberAlert
disabled. Then enable
FiberAlert
, if desired, just
before final installation. This will reduce the feature’s interference
with testing.
•
FiberAlert
should only be enabled on one side of a media conver-
sion. Enabling it on both sides would keep both transmitters off
indefinitely.
• To test
McPC Gigabit
by itself, you must have an appropriate fiber
patch cable. First, connect
McPC Gigabit
to the twisted pair device
with a twisted pair cable. Next, loop a single strand of fiber from
the transmit port to the receive port of your media converter.
Finally, verify that you have both twisted pair and fiber link on your
media converter.
• Make sure that you are using the appropriate twisted pair cable
(i.e. crossover or pass-through). Gigabit Ethernet requires Cat-5
cabling and patch cords.
4
NOTE:
McPC Gigabit
does NOT
plug into the mother board.
N O T E
McPC Gigabit
only needs power
from the computer; no additional
power source is necessary