BOX CONTENTS
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Veri-Net+ Link Tester
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RJ-45 Coupler
•
9 Volt Alkaline Battery
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User Guide
BATTERY
The Veri-Net+ operates on one 9 volt alkaline battery.
Remove the battery cover at the
bottom of the unit and insert the
battery with the terminal orientation
as shown. Battery polarity is
marked on the back of the battery
cover and inside the battery well
for reference.
TECHNICAL OVERVIEW
The IEEE 802.3u Standard for 100BaseTX (Fast
Ethernet) requires LAN equipment to use a signaling
system to establish a Link between two devices called
Link Partners. Standard Ethernet uses a single Normal
Link Pulse to establish the Link. Fast Ethernet
equipment (and some recent 10baseT products) use a
burst of Fast Link Pulses(FLPs) to transmit a Link Code
Word defining the configured capabilities of the device
and to report faults . If both Link Partners have Auto-
negotiation capability, a Link is established based on the
following priority:
1. 100BaseTX Full Duplex
2. 100BaseT4
3. 100BaseTX Half Duplex
4. 10BaseT Full Duplex
5. 10BaseT Half Duplex
The IEEE 802.3u Standard does
not
require Fast
Ethernet equipment to support Auto-negotiation or more
than one 100baseT mode of operation. A second type
of signaling called Parallel Detection (a continuous MLT-
3 waveform) can also be used to establish a Fast
Ethernet Link. Parallel Detection signaling does
not
differentiate between half duplex and full duplex mode
which can lead to poor network performance if both Link
Partners are not properly configured. Most Ethernet LAN
equipment can be manually configured to a specific
mode of operation. Equipment in this “commanded”
mode of operation may establish a Link with either a
Link Code Word, an NLP or a Parallel Detection (MLT-3)
signal. Knowing the type of signaling used on a Link is
critical to optimizing system performance. The Veri-Net+
detects and decodes the different Link signals on
Standard and Fast Ethernet networks and displays the
equipment configuration, signaling type and reported
faults. The Veri-Net+ does not test 100BaseT4.
OPERATION
The Veri-Net+ test consists of three steps:
detecting Link signals, transmitting Link signals and
Auto-negotiating.
Insert the Veri-Net+
plug end in to the RJ-45
port of a hub, switch,
network interface card,
wall outlet, or attach to a
UTP or STP cable with
the RJ-45 coupler.
Press and release
the “TEST” button. The
first wire pair (from node
to network) is scanned for two seconds. If Link
signals are detected, the indicator(s) for the
operational modes or fault condition are illuminated.
After one second, the Veri-Net+ automatically
transmits a pattern of Link signals to the Link Partner.
The “LAN” indicator blinks on and off as the signals
are transmitted. The Link indicator on the hub or
switch at the far end will also blink indicating which
port is connected to the Veri-Net+. (Hubs/switches
have different Link indicator time delays. The blink rate
of the equipment may not exactly match the blink rate of
the Veri-Net+. Determine the blink pattern directly at a
hub/switch port prior to running tests from a remote
outlet.) When no signals are detected on the first wire
pair, the unit scans the second wire pair (from network to
node) for two seconds. Link signals are decoded and
the indicator(s) for the modes or fault are lit. After one
second, the Veri-Net+ transmits Link signals continu-
ously to the NIC. The Link light on the NIC will light
verifying two-way Link communications.
If no signals are detected, the “NO LINK” indicator
is illuminated and the Veri-Net+ automatically transmits
a tone pattern on both wire pairs. The “NO LINK”
indicator blinks when the tone is being transmitted. A
standard tone probe can be used with the Veri-Net+ to
locate the physical layer problem.
The Veri-Net+ also detects Links with incorrectly
installed reversed polarity pairs and displays “NO LINK”
for this condition. (Links using NLP or FLP signaling
only.)
AUTO-NEGOTIATION
When two or more operational mode indicators are
lit, the Link being tested is
capable of Auto-negotiat-
ing to the highest common
level of operation with a
Link Partner.
After the Veri-Net+
begins transmitting Link
signals, the Link Partner
will Auto-negotiate to the
10TX mode and the Veri-
Net+ indicators for the
negotiated mode will light verifying the Auto-negotiation
function.
(Note: Auto-negotiation timing varies greatly therefore
not all equipment will complete Auto-negotiation with
the Veri-Net+. For equipment with long time constants,
the capabilities are displayed but the negotiation to the
10TX mode does not occur. Test a known good port to
determine equipment response time.)
