Allied Telesis AT-FS232 Series User manual

AT-FS232
AT-FS232/1
AT-FS232/2
AT-FS232/3
AT-FS232/4
Bridging Converters
Installation Guide
PN 613-50358-00 Rev B

Copyright 2003 Allied Telesyn, Inc.
960 Stewart Drive, Suite B, Sunnyvale, CA 94085, USA
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior
written permission from Allied Telesyn, Inc.
Ethernet is a registered trademark of Xerox Corporation. All other product names,
company names, logos or other designations mentioned herein are trademarks or
registered trademarks of their respective owners.
Allied Telesyn, Inc. reserves the right to make changes in specifications and other
information contained in this document without prior written notice. The information
provided herein is subject to change without notice. In no event shall Allied Telesyn,
Inc. be liable for any incidental, special, indirect, or consequential damages whatsoever,
including but not limited to lost profits, arising out of or related to this manual or the
information contained herein, even if Allied Telesyn, Inc. has been advised of, known, or
should have known, the possibility of such damages.

iii
Electrical Safety and Emission Compliance
Statement
Standards: This product meets the following standards.
U.S. Federal Communications Commission
Declaration Of Conformity
Manufacturer Name: Allied Telesyn, Inc.
Manufacturer Address: 960 Stewart Drive, Suite B
Sunnyvale, CA 94085, USA
Manufacturer Telephone: [phone]
Declares that the product: Bridging Converter
Model Numbers: AT-FS232, AT-FS232/1,
AT-FS232/2, AT-FS232/3,
AT-FS232/4
This product complies with FCC Part 15B, Class B Limits:
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject
to the following two conditions: (1) This device must not cause harmful
interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired operation.
Radiated Energy
Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits
for a Class B digital device pursuant to Part 15 of FCC Rules. These
limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful
interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses
and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in
accordance with instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio or
television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment
off and on. The user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one
or more of the following measures:
- Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
- Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver.
- Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to
which the receiver is connected.
- Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
Changes and modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer
or registrant of this equipment can void your authority to operate this
equipment under Federal Communications Commission rules.
Industry Canada
This Class B digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian
Interference-Causing Equipment Regulations.
Cet appareil numérique de la classe B respecte toutes les exigences du
Règlement sur le matériel brouilleur du Canada.

Electrical Safety and Emission Compliance Statement
iv
RFI Emission FCC Class B, EN55022 Class B,
VCCI Class B, C-TICK
 1
Warning: In a domestic environment this product may cause radio
interference in which case the user may be required to take adequate
measures.
 2
Immunity EN55024
 3
Warning: This product requires shielded cables to comply with emission
and immunity standards. If it is used with unshielded cables, the user may
be required to take measures to correct the interference problem at their own
expense.
 4
Electrical Safety EN60950, UL60950
 5
Laser EN60825
 6
Warning Class 1 Laser product.
 7
Warning Do not stare into the Laser beam.
 8
At time of installation, the Fiber Optic Lasers comply with FDA Radiation
Performance Standard 21CFR Subchapter J, applicable at date of
manufacture.
This is a “Class 1 LED Product”.
 9
Important: Appendix B contains translated safety statements for installing
this equipment. When you see the
 , go to Appendix B for the translated
safety statement in your language.
Wichtig: Anhang B enthält übersetzte Sicherheitshinweise für die
Installation dieses Geräts. Wenn Sie
 sehen, schlagen Sie in Anhang B
den übersetzten Sicherheitshinweis in Ihrer Sprache nach.
Vigtigt: Tillæg B indeholder oversatte sikkerhedsadvarsler, der vedrører
installation af dette udstyr. Når De ser symbolet
 , skal De slå op i tillæg
B og finde de oversatte sikkerhedsadvarsler i Deres eget sprog.
Belangrijk: Appendix B bevat vertaalde veiligheidsopmerkingen voor het
installeren van deze apparatuur. Wanneer u de
 ziet, raadpleeg
Appendix B voor vertaalde veiligheidsinstructies in uw taal.
Important: L'annexe B contient les instructions de sécurité relatives à
l'installation de cet équipement. Lorsque vous voyez le symbole
 ,
reportez-vous à l'annexe B pour consulter la traduction de ces instructions
dans votre langue.
Tärkeää: Liite B sisältää tämän laitteen asentamiseen liittyvät käännetyt
turvaohjeet. Kun näet
 -symbolin, katso käännettyä turvaohjetta
liitteestä B.
Importante: l’Appendice B contiene avvisi di sicurezza tradotti per
l’installazione di questa apparecchiatura. Il simbolo
 , indica di consultare
l’Appendice B per l’avviso di sicurezza nella propria lingua.
Viktig: Tillegg B inneholder oversatt sikkerhetsinformasjon for installering
av dette utstyret. Når du ser
 , åpner du til Tillegg B for å finne den
oversatte sikkerhetsinformasjonen på ønsket språk.
Importante: O Anexo B contém advertências de segurança traduzidas para
instalar este equipamento. Quando vir o símbolo
 , leia a advertência de
segurança traduzida no seu idioma no Anexo B.

AT-FS232 and AT-FS232/x Series Installation Guide
v
Importante: El Apéndice B contiene mensajes de seguridad traducidos
para la instalación de este equipo. Cuando vea el símbolo
 , vaya al
Apéndice B para ver el mensaje de seguridad traducido a su idioma.
Obs! Bilaga B innehåller översatta säkerhetsmeddelanden avseende
installationen av denna utrustning. När du ser
 , skall du gå till Bilaga B
för att läsa det översatta säkerhetsmeddelandet på ditt språk.

vii
Table of Contents
Electrical Safety and Emission Compliance Statement ......................iii
Table of Contents .........................................................................................vii
Welcome to Allied Telesyn .......................................................................... ix
Where to Find Web-based Guides ................................................................... ix
Document Conventions .................................................................................... ix
Contacting Allied Telesyn ................................................................................. x
Online Support ........................................................................................... x
Email and Telephone Support ................................................................... x
Returning Products .................................................................................... x
For Sales or Corporate Information .......................................................... x
Chapter 1
Overview .......................................................................................................... 1
External Power Supply ..................................................................................... 5
12VDC Power Supply ................................................................................. 5
12-50VDC Power Supply ............................................................................ 5
Key Features ...................................................................................................... 6
Status LEDs ....................................................................................................... 7
Twisted Pair Port ............................................................................................... 8
Port Speed ................................................................................................... 8
Duplex Mode ............................................................................................... 8
Auto MDI/MDI-X ........................................................................................ 9
Fiber Optic Port ................................................................................................. 9
Port Speed ................................................................................................... 9
Duplex Mode ............................................................................................... 9
Mode Selection Button .................................................................................... 10
Link Test ................................................................................................... 10
MissingLink .............................................................................................. 10
Smart MissingLink .................................................................................. 11
Bridging Converter Performance .................................................................... 11
DIP Switches .................................................................................................... 12
MAC Address Table ......................................................................................... 12
Store and Forward ........................................................................................... 12
Network Topologies ......................................................................................... 13

Table of Contents
viii
Chapter 2
Installing the Bridging Converter ........................................................... 15
Verifying Package Contents ............................................................................ 15
Planning the Installation ................................................................................ 16
Selecting a Site .........................................................................................18
Reviewing Safety Guidelines ................................................................... 19
Installing the Bridging Converter ..................................................................20
Connecting a 12VDC Powered Unit ........................................................24
Wiring and Connecting a 12-50VDC Powered Unit ...............................25
Warranty Registration ....................................................................................29
Chapter 3
Troubleshooting ...........................................................................................31
Appendix A
Technical Specifications ............................................................................35
Physical ............................................................................................................35
Environmental .................................................................................................35
Electrical Rating .............................................................................................. 35
Agency Certifications .......................................................................................36
Fiber Optic Port Specifications .......................................................................37
Pinout Assignments ......................................................................................... 39
Appendix B
Translated Safety and Emission Information .......................................41

ix
This guide contains instructions on how to install the AT-FS232 and
AT-FS232/x Series Bridging Converters.
Where to Find Web-based Guides
The Allied Telesyn web site at www.alliedtelesyn.com offers you an easy
way to access the most recent documentation, software, and technical
information for all of our products. For product guides, select “Support &
Services” from our web site.
Document Conventions
This guide uses the following conventions:
Note
Notes provides additional information.
Caution
Cautions indicate that performing or omitting a specific action may
result in equipment damage or loss of data.
Warning
Warnings indicates that performing or omitting a specific action may
result in bodily injury.
Welcome to Allied Telesyn

Welcome to Allied Telesyn
x
Contacting Allied Telesyn
This section provides Allied Telesyn contact information for technical support
as well as sales or corporate information.
Online Support
You can request technical support online by accessing the Allied Telesyn
Knowledge Base from the following web site: http://kb.alliedtelesyn.com.
You can use the Knowledge Base to submit questions to our technical support
staff and review answers to previously asked questions.
Email and Telephone Support
For Technical Support via email or telephone, refer to the Support & Services
section of the Allied Telesyn web site: http://www.alliedtelesyn.com.
Returning Products
Products for return or repair must first be assigned a Return Materials
Authorization (RMA) number. A product sent to Allied Telesyn without a
RMA number will be returned to the sender at the sender’s expense.
To obtain a RMA number, contact Allied Telesyn’s Technical Support at our
web site: http://www.alliedtelesyn.com.
For Sales or Corporate Information
You can contact Allied Telesyn for sales or corporate information at our web
site: http://www.alliedtelesyn.com. To find the contact information for your
country, select “Contact Us” then “Worldwide Contacts.”

1
Chapter 1
Overview
The AT-FS232 and AT-FS232/x Series Bridging Converters include the
following models:
The AT-FS232 and AT-FS232/x Series Bridging Converters are designed to
extend the distance of your network by converting Fast Ethernet data
between twisted pair cabling and fiber optic cabling. These dual-port bridging
converters can also improve the performance of your network by dividing it
into smaller, more manageable segments.
Each bridging converter features a 100Base-FX fiber optic port and a 10Base-
T/100Base-TX twisted pair port. The fiber optic port has a SC connector and a
maximum operating distance of 2 kilometers (1.24 miles) to 90 kilometers
(55.8 miles), depending on the model. The twisted pair port has a RJ-45
connector with a maximum operating distance of 100 meters (328 feet).
The fiber optic port operates at 100 Mbps, while the twisted pair port operates
at 10 Mbps or 100 Mbps. Both ports feature half- and full-duplex operation.
AT-FS232 and AT-FS232/x Series Bridging Converters can be installed on a
desktop or in an AT-MCR12 chassis. These bridging converters are easy to
install and do not require software configuration or management.
❑AT-FS232 ❑AT-FS232/3
❑AT-FS232/1 ❑AT-FS232/4
❑AT-FS232/2

Overview
2
Figure 1 illustrates the front panel of the AT-FS232 Bridging Converter.
Figure 1 AT-FS232 Front Panel
Figure 2 illustrates a front panel of an AT-FS232/x Series Bridging Converter.
Figure 2 AT-FS232/x Series Front Panel (AT-FS232/1 Model)
The back panel of the AT-FS232 and AT-FS232/x Series Bridging Converters
features a DC power connector and DIP switches for manually configuring the
ports.
Note
The AT-FS232 and AT-FS232/x Series Bridging Converters are offered
with two different DC power connectors: 12VDC and
12-50VDC.
SINGLE MODE

AT-FS232 and AT-FS232/x Series Installation Guide
3
Figure 3 illustrates the back panel of the AT-FS232 and AT-FS232/x Series
Bridging Converters with a 12VDC power connector.
Figure 3 Back Panel of the AT-FS232 and AT-FS232/x Series Bridging Converters
(12VDC Power Connector)
Figure 4 illustrates the back panel of the AT-FS232 and AT-FS232/x Series
Bridging Converters with a 12-50VDC, 3-prong power connector.
Figure 4 Back Panel of the AT-FS232 and AT-FS232/x Series Bridging Converters
(12-50VDC, 3-Prong Power Connector)
12 V D C
21 34
1222
PORT
10
100
HALF
FULL
OFF
ON
DUPLEX
MODE AUTO NEG
SPEED
(Mbps)
12-50VDC
21 34
1222
PORT
10
100
HALF
FULL
OFF
ON
DUPLEX
MODE AUTO NEG
SPEED
(Mbps)

Overview
4
Table 1 lists the maximum operating distances for the bridging converters.
Table 1 Maximum Operating Distances
Model
100Base-FX 10Base-T/100Base-TX
Connector
Maximum
Operating
Distance1
1. Maximum distance for 100 Mbps optical datalinks is dependent on the following factors: type of optical fiber,
duplex mode of both end-nodes, and maximum optical loss budget for each of the optical fiber at the operating
optical wavelength.
Connector
Maximum
Operating
Distance2
2. Maximum distance can only be obtained when the UTP/STP cabling is installed and verified to TIA/EIA 568A
Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling Standard.
AT-FS232 SC 2 km (1.24 mi) RJ-45 100 m (328 ft)
AT-FS232/1 SC 15 km (9.3 mi) RJ-45 100 m (328 ft)
AT-FS232/2 SC 40 km (24.8 mi) RJ-45 100 m (328 ft)
AT-FS232/3 SC 70 km (43.4 mi) RJ-45 100 m (328 ft)
AT-FS232/4 SC 90 km (55.8 mi) RJ-45 100 m (328 ft)

AT-FS232 and AT-FS232/x Series Installation Guide
5
External Power Supply
12VDC Power Supply
The 12VDC-version bridging converters come with the AC/DC power adapter
illustrated in Figure 5. This is an approved safety compliant AC power
adapter for the 100 and 240V AC versions with an unregulated output of
12VDC.
Figure 5 AC/DC Power Adapter for the 12VDC Version Bridging Converter
12-50VDC Power Supply
Figure 6 illustrates the power connector included with the 12-50VDC-version
bridging converter. This connector is used to wire and connect a 12-50VDC-
version bridging converter.
Figure 6 Power Connector for the 12-50VDC Version Bridging Converter
The 12-50VDC-version bridging converters do not come with a power supply.
It must be purchased separately. Approved power supplies include:
❑An AT-PWR237 power adapter (12V or 15V output). This power
adapter can be ordered separately from your Allied Telesyn sales
representative.
❑A regulated power supply (SELV power source per IEC 60950) - rated
minimum 12-50VDC, 0.5A.
Note
Use only power sources that are UL Listed (QQGQ or EPBU), TUV
Licensed, or other Safety Agencies approved, and that are suitable for
country of use.

Overview
6
Key Features
The AT-FS232 and AT-FS232/x Series Bridging Converters have the following
features:
❑LEDs for unit and port status
❑Auto MDI/MDI-X
❑Mode selection button that toggles between Link Test, MissingLink  ,
and Smart MissingLink
❑DIP switches for configuring the ports
❑Half- or full-duplex operation on both ports
❑RJ-45 twisted pair connector
❑SC fiber optic connector
❑Data packet forwarding and filtering at full wire speed (10 Mbps to
100 Mbps and 100 Mbps to 100 Mbps)
❑Store and forward switching mode
❑Automatic address learning and aging
❑IEEE 802.3u compliant Auto-Negotiation
❑For use on a desktop or in an AT-MCR12 chassis

AT-FS232 and AT-FS232/x Series Installation Guide
7
Status LEDs
Table 2 defines the LEDs for the AT-FS232 and AT-FS232/x Series Bridging
Converters.
Table 2 Status LEDs
LED Color Description
PWR Green Power is applied to the unit.
AUTO NEG Green
OFF
Auto-negotiation on the twisted pair port is enabled.
Auto-negotiation on the twisted pair port is disabled.
100M Green
OFF
The twisted pair port is operating at 100 Mbps.
The twisted pair port is operating at 10 Mbps.
LNK Green
Blinking
A valid link has been established on the port.
Data is being received or transmitted on the port.
FD/COL Green
OFF
Blinking
The bridging converter is operating in full-duplex mode.
The bridging converter is operating in half-duplex mode.
Collision are detected on the port.
Mode Status
ML Green MissingLink is enabled.
SML Green Smart MissingLink is enabled.
LT Green Link Test is enabled.

Overview
8
Twisted Pair Port
The AT-FS232 and AT-FS232/x Series Bridging Converters have one
10Base-T/100Base-TX twisted pair port. The twisted pair port features a
RJ-45 connector.
Port Speed
The twisted pair port is compliant with the 10Base-T and 100Base-TX
standards and is capable of either 10 Mbps or 100 Mbps operation. You can set
the port speed manually or, since the port is IEEE 802.3u Auto-Negotiation
compliant, you can let the bridging converter set the port speed automatically.
With Auto-Negotiation, the speed of the port is set automatically by the
bridging converter after it determines the speed of the end-node connected to
the port. Auto-negotiation is designed to ensure that the port on the bridging
converter and the end-node are operating at the same speed and that they are
communicating at the highest possible common speed of the devices.
Duplex Mode
Duplex mode refers to how an end-node receives and transmits data. If an
end-node can receive or transmit data, but not both simultaneously, the end-
node is operating in what is referred to as half-duplex mode. If an end-node
can both receive and transmit data simultaneously, the end-node is said to be
operating in full-duplex mode. Naturally, an end-node capable of operating in
full-duplex can handle data much faster than an end-node that can only
operate in half-duplex mode.
The twisted pair port on the AT-FS232 and AT-FS232/x Series Bridging
Converters can operate in either half-or full-duplex mode. It is IEEE 802.3u-
compliant and uses Auto-Negotiation to set the duplex mode setting for you
automatically. If desired, Auto-Negotiation can be disabled and you can set
the duplex mode manually.
Note
In order for the twisted pair port on the AT-FS232 and AT-FS232/x
Series Bridging Converters to successfully Auto-Negotiate its duplex
mode with an end-node, the end-node should also be using Auto-
Negotiation. Otherwise, a duplex mode mismatch can occur. The twisted
pair port, using Auto-Negotiation, will default to half-duplex if it detects
that the end-node is not using Auto-Negotiation. This will result in a
mismatch if the end-node is operating at a fixed duplex mode of full-
duplex.

AT-FS232 and AT-FS232/x Series Installation Guide
9
Auto MDI/MDI-X
An RJ-45 twisted pair port on a 10 Mbps or 100 Mbps Ethernet network
device can have one of two possible wiring configurations: MDI or MDI-X. The
RJ-45 port on a PC, router, or bridge is typically wired as MDI, while the
twisted pair port on a bridging converter or hub is usually MDI-X.
When the twisted pair port on the AT-FS232 and AT-FS232/x Series
converters is set to Auto-Negotiation, the port features automatic MDI/MDI-
X. The RJ-45 port automatically determines the configuration of the port on
the end-node and then configures itself appropriately. This features allows
you to use either a straight-through or crossover cable when connecting an
end-node to the twisted pair port.
When the port on the AT-FS232 or AT-FS232/x Series converter is not set to
Auto-Negotiation, the port defaults to MDI-X. To connect to an end-node that
has the same wiring configuration, such as MDI-X to MDI-X, you would use a
crossover twisted pair cable. To connect to an end-node that has different port
wiring configuration, such as MDI to MDI-X, you would use a straight-
through cable.
Fiber Optic Port
The AT-FS232 and AT-FS232/x Series Bridging Converters have one
100Base-FX fiber optic port. The fiber optic port features an SC connector.
Port Speed
The fiber optic port is compliant with the 100Base-FX standard and has a
fixed operating speed of 100 Mbps. The end-node connected to the fiber optic
port on the bridging converter must also be able to operate at 100 Mbps.
Duplex Mode
The fiber optic port on the bridging converter can operate in half- or full-
duplex mode. You must set the duplex mode manually using the DIP switches
on the back of the unit.

Overview
10
Mode Selection Button
Link Test
The link test is a fast and easy way for you to test the connections between the
bridging converter ports and the end-nodes that are connected to the ports. If
a network problem occurs, you can perform a link test to determine which port
is experiencing a problem, and so be able to focus your troubleshooting efforts
on the cable and end-node where the problem resides.
To perform a link test, toggle the Mode Selection button until the LT LED is
green. The LNK LEDs for the ports should now be green, indicating that they
were able to establish a link with their end-nodes. If a LNK LED is off, the
port could not establish a link. Refer to “Troubleshooting” on page 31 for
suggestions on how to remedy the problem.
Note
Performing a link test does not interfere with a bridging converter’s
ability to pass network traffic.
MissingLink
The MissingLink feature enables the ports on the bridging converter to pass
the “Link” status of their connections to each other. When the bridging
converter detects a problem on one of the ports, such as the loss of connection
to an end-node, the bridging converter shuts down the connection to the other
port, thus notifying the end-node that the connection has been lost.
For example, if the twisted pair cable to the 10Base-T/100Base-TX port on the
bridging converter were to fail, the unit would respond by dropping the link on
the 100Base-FX fiber optic port. In this way, the bridging converter notifies
the end-node connected to the fiber optic port that the connection on the
twisted pair port has been lost. If the failure had started with the fiber optic
cabling, the unit would drop the link to the twisted pair port.
The value to this type of network monitoring and fault notification is that
some devices can be configured to take a specific action in the event of the loss
of connection on a port. In some cases, the unit can be configured to seek a
redundant path to a disconnected end-node or send out a trap to a network
management station, and so alert the network administrator of the problem.