ABOUT THIS MANUAL
This document supports revision “xx/10” of the GX/X.
Please refer to the serial number label on the GX/X for
the revision number of your product. This revision
incorporates the following improvements to the GX/X:
1. Product enhancements now prevent unpredictable
behavior under undefined or incompatible DIP-Switch
selections.
2. LINK MODES have been increased to include RFD+LS
and RFD+LP modes. Improvements to LED behavior
have been made to accommodate these new link modes.
OVERVIEW
The
iConverter
GX/X manageable two-port Gigabit
Ethernet switch and media converter is a member of
the modular
iConverter
product family. It provides
fiber-to-fiber conversion for extending network distances
and connecting dissimilar fiber network connections.
The
iConverter
GX/X regenerates, reshapes and re-times
the fiber optic signal, and multiple GX/X converters can
be cascaded to extend total network distances.
iConverter
®
GX/X User Manual
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The GX/X can be used as a standard two-port fiber
converter. It can also use its two additional 10/100 backplane
ports to connect to adjacent modules and accommodate
flexible network configurations like In-Band management
and multi-module configurations. The
iConverter
19-Module,
5-Module or 2-Module Chassis have backplanes that
facilitate connectivity between adjacent modules.
The GX/X can be used in an unmanaged or managed
fashion. When unmanaged, it can be installed in a chassis
without a management module and can be configured by
using two onboard DIP-Switches. To be managed, a
Network Management Module (NMM) or an
iConverter
module with built-in management (such as a GX/TM or
10/100M) must be installed in the same chassis.
Advanced Features
The GX/X features Port VLAN and Tag VLAN, which allow
control of traffic flow among the fiber ports and chassis
backplane ports. It also features Port Access Control,
which facilitates enabling and disabling of individual ports.
The GX/X supports reporting of MIB statistics. Statistics
are available for 32 variables per port, reporting a wide
range of real-time packet statistics to provide
performance and operational monitoring.
NOTE: Using the advanced features listed above
requires the use of an NMM or an
iConverter
module
with built-in management (such as a GX/TM or 10/100M)
and
NetOutlook
™
Management Software, or third-party
SNMP management software or Telnet.
For information on using and configuring these advanced
features, please refer to the
NetOutlook
Management
Software user manual.
GX/X MODEL NUMBER REFERENCE CHART
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PORT STRUCTURE
Using a 4-port switch design, the GX/X features two
front-plane 1000Mbps fiber ports (Port 1 is the top port,
and Port 2 is the lower port nearest the thumb screw).
It also features two 10/100 Ethernet backplane ports
(“A” and “B”) that can connect to adjacent modules
within the same chassis.
When the GX/X “A” and “B” Ethernet backplane ports are
enabled (using the “BPAEN” and “BPBEN” DIP-Switches),
they connect via the backplane of the chassis to the
slots on the left and right sides of the GX/X module.
When another switch-based module with backplane port
connections such as a second GX/X or an NMM is installed
in an adjacent slot, it can be connected via the backplane
to the GX/X to facilitate a multi-module configuration.
GX/X APPLICATION EXAMPLE
Chassis
Backplane
GX/X Module
Internal
10/100/1000
switch chip
Fiber
1000 port
Fiber
1000 port
NMM Module
NMM
front /
back
select
NMM UTP
10 port
4Tx Module
Internal
10/100
switch chip
4-port 10/100 UTP
Switch
“A” Link
“B” Link
A Port
B Port
A Port
B Port
A Port
B Port
Slot 1
(odd)
Slot 2
(even)
Slot 3
(odd)
Fig. 1 In-Band Managed GX/X Application
Fig. 1 depicts a chassis with three modules plugged into
three of its adjacent backplane slots (beginning with an
odd-numbered slot). The adjacent slots are connected
via the backplane using the “A” and “B” 10/100 links. In
this example, the module on the left is a Network
Management Module (NMM) connecting via its A
backplane port to the GX/X, facilitating “In-Band”
management (via the fiber uplink). The module on the
right is a 4-port 10/100 switch module (4Tx) connecting
via its B link port to the GX/X, facilitating a 4-port 10/100
Ethernet switch with a fiber uplink configuration. This
3-module configuration provides an effective 4-port
10/100 managed switch with a gigabit fiber uplink and a
fiber link to another
iConverter
chassis configuration in a
daisy chain.
This example shows how the GX/X can be used either as a
traditional managed or unmanaged media converter or as
a building block to create flexible and effective network
switch configurations.
For more information on individual chassis A and B
backplane links, refer to the specific chassis’ user manual.
LINK MODES
In order to accommodate different user needs, the GX/X
supports five different linking modes (see Fig. 2).
In Link Segment (LS), a port transmits a Link signal
independently of any received Link at any other port.
For example, the UTP transmits a Link regardless of
the fiber receiving a Link [Fig. 2(a) & (b)].
In Link Propagate (LP), a port transmits a Link signal
only when receiving a Link at its other port. For example,
the UTP transmits a Link only when receiving a Link at
the fiber port [Fig. 2(c)].
In Remote Fault Det Link Segment (RFD+LS),
the fiber port transmits a Link signal only when receiving
a Link at the fiber port. As a result, fiber faults (no Link
received at the fiber) are looped-back and can be
reported to the network core [Fig. 2(d)].
In “Remote Fault Det Link Propagate” (RFD+LP)
mode, a port transmits a Link signal only when both
itself and the other port are receiving Link signals. A
loss of a received Link signal at a port is “Looped-back”
and the port stops transmitting a Link signal. The same
loss of Link is propagated to the other port which also
stops transmitting the Link signal. For example, the
loss of Link into P2 causes both P1 and P2 ports to stop
transmission of the Link signal [Fig. 2(e)].
NOTE: Connecting two converters with both acting in RFD
mode is not supported and will cause a “deadly embrace”
lockup.
When the fiber is set to Auto-Negotiation Mode, the
device receiving the fault acts as if it is in RFD mode
[Fig. 2(d), (e) and (f)].
NOTE: In older versions of firmware, RFD was not
defined on ports set to Auto-Negotiation.
“Symmetrical Fault Detection” (SFD) mode operates
similarly to the Remote Fault Detection (RFD) mode.
In SFD mode, the loss of a received Link at P1 is
Looped-Back to P1 and propagated to P2, causing both
to stop transmitting the Link signal [Fig. 2(f)] and also
causing blinking in a connected GX/X P1 “Link” LED
indicator.
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Port 1
Port 2
Connecting two converters which are both set to SFD is
permitted and facilitates a dual-loop-back feature where
P1 fiber faults can be reported to both ends of the network.
NOTE: Converters in SFD mode must be deployed in pairs,
and the “LS” DIP-Switch position must also be selected.
Switch 1 Converter A
Converter B Switch 2
(a)
LS
Fiber
Fiber
Fiber
Fiber
LS
Switch 1 Converter A
Converter B Switch 2
LS
(b)
LS
(c)
Switch 1 Converter A
Converter B Switch 2
LP
LP
(d)
Switch 1 Converter A
Converter B Switch 2
LP
RFD+LS
(e)
Switch 1 Converter A
Converter B Switch 2
SFD
SFD
(f)
Switch 1 Converter A
Converter B Switch 2
LP
RFD+LP
LED Status depends on connected device
LED Lit
LED Blinking
LED Off
LED Status (Blinking/off) depends on connected device
Fig. 2 GX/X Link Modes
iConverter
GX/X
Port 1
(Fiber Type /
Distance /
Wavelength)
Port 2
(Fiber Type /
Distance /
Wavelength)
Connector Types
SC
MT-RJ
LC
MM / 220m /
550m
1
/ 850nm
MM / 220m /
550m
1
/ 850nm
8542-00
8544-00
-
MM / 220m /
550m
1
/ 850nm
SM / 12km /
1310nm
8543-10
-
-
SM / 12km /
1310nm
SM / 12km /
1310nm
8543-11
8545-11
8547-11
SM / 34km /
1310nm
SM / 34km /
1310nm
8543-22
-
8547-22
SM / 34km /
1310nm
SM / 80km /
1550nm
8543-23
-
-
SM / 80km /
1550nm
SM / 80km /
1550nm
8543-33
-
8547-33
MM / 220m /
550m
1
/ 850nm
SM / SF / 20km
/ Tx 1310nm,
Rx
1550nm
8550-01
-
-
MM / 220m /
550m
1
/ 850nm
SM / SF / 20km
/ Tx 1550nm, Rx
1310nm
8551-01
-
-
Consult the factory for wide temperature (-40 to 60º C) and extended
temperature (-40 to +75º C) models.
When using single-fiber (SF) media converter models, the Tx
wavelength on one end has to match the Rx wavelength on the other
1
62.5/125µm, 100/140µm multimode fiber up to 220m. 50/125µm
multimode fiber up to 550m. Refer to the fiber cable manufacturer for
multimode distance specifications.
