iMcV-Giga-MediaLinX
9
FX LINKLOSS, TX LINKLOSS, FIBERALERT, LINK FAULT PASS
THROUGH, FAR END FAULT
iMcV-Giga-MediaLinX TX/SFP includes troubleshooting features: FiberAlert,
FX LinkLoss, and TX LinkLoss, that can help locate "silent failures" on the
network. This section explains how FiberAlert and LinkLoss work, how they
react in a network configuration, which should be understood before
attempting to enable any of these features.
** WARNING **
Installing modules without understanding the effects of LinkLoss and FiberAlert can cause functioning units
to appear flawed or even non-functional.
LINK INTEGRITY
During normal operation, link integrity pulses are transmitted by all point-to-
point Ethernet devices. When a B+B SmartWorx media converter receives
valid link pulses, it knows that the device to which it is connected is
intact/active and sending pulses, and the copper or fiber cable coming from
that device is intact. The appropriate “LNK” (link) LED is lit to indicate this.
The B+B SmartWorx 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. The combination of FiberAlert and LinkLoss allows this information to be
obtained, even when physical access to a remote device (and its link integrity
LED) is not available.
FX LINKLOSS (FXLL)
FX LinkLoss is a troubleshooting feature. When a fault occurs on the fiber
segment of a conversation, FX LinkLoss detects the fault and passes this
information to the twisted pair segment. If a media converter is not receiving a
fiber link, FX LinkLoss disables the transmitter on the media converter’s
twisted pair port. This results in a loss of link on the device connected to the
twisted pair port. FXLL LED will then blink to indicate the fiber port has lost link
reporting the fault to the copper port.
