Allied Telesis AT-MC13 User manual

AT-MC13
Ethernet Media Converter
Installation Guide
PN 613-000660 Rev A

Copyright ©2006 Allied Telesis, Inc.
www.alliedtelesis.com
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written
permission from Allied Telesis, 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 Telesis, 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 Telesis, 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 Telesis, Inc. has been advised of, known, or should have known, the
possibility of such damages.

3
Electrical Safety and Emission
Compliance Statement
Standards: This product meets the following standards.
U.S. Federal Communications Commission
Declaration of Conformity
Manufacturer Name: Allied Telesis, Inc.
Declares that the product: Ethernet Media Converter
Model Numbers: AT-MC13
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
4
EMI FCC Part 15 Class B, EN55022 Class B,
VCCI Class B, C-TICK
Immunity EN55024
Electrical Safety UL 60950-1 (CULUS), EN60950-1 (TUV),
CE
Laser Safety EN60825-1

AT-MC13 Media Converter Installation Guide
5
Translated Safety Statements
Important: The indicates that a translation of the safety statement is
available in a PDF document titled “Translated Safety Statements”
(613-000405) posted on the Allied Telesis website at
www.alliedtelesis.com.

7
Contents
Electrical Safety and Emission Compliance Statement ................................. 3
Translated Safety Statements.............................................................................. 5
Preface ................................................................................................................ 9
How This Guide is Organized .............................................................................. 9
Document Conventions...................................................................................... 10
Where to Find Web-based Guides..................................................................... 11
Contacting Allied Telesis.................................................................................... 12
Online Support ............................................................................................ 12
Email and Telephone Support .................................................................... 12
Returning Products ..................................................................................... 12
Sales or Corporate Information................................................................... 12
Chapter 1
Overview ........................................................................................................... 13
Key Features...................................................................................................... 14
Status LEDs ....................................................................................................... 14
Twisted Pair Port................................................................................................ 15
Fiber Optic Port.................................................................................................. 15
Auto-negotiation................................................................................................. 15
Port Speed.................................................................................................. 15
Duplex Mode............................................................................................... 15
MDI/MDI-X Switch.............................................................................................. 17
NORMAL/LNK TST Button................................................................................. 18
MissingLink ................................................................................................. 18
Link Test ..................................................................................................... 19
External Power Adapter ..................................................................................... 20
Network Topologies ........................................................................................... 21
Standalone Topology .................................................................................. 21
Back-to-Back Topology............................................................................... 22

Contents
8
Chapter 2
Installation ........................................................................................................ 23
Verifying Package Contents............................................................................... 23
Planning the Installation..................................................................................... 24
Selecting a Site .................................................................................................. 24
Reviewing Safety Precautions ........................................................................... 25
Installing an AT-MC13 Media Converter ............................................................ 27
Cabling an AT-MC13 Media Converter .............................................................. 28
Powering on an AT-MC13 Media Converter ...................................................... 30
Warranty Registration ........................................................................................ 31
Chapter 3
Troubleshooting............................................................................................... 33
Appendix A
Technical Specifications ................................................................................. 37
Physical.............................................................................................................. 37
Temperature....................................................................................................... 37
Electrical Rating ................................................................................................. 37
Agency Certifications ......................................................................................... 38
Fiber Optic Port Specifications........................................................................... 38
RJ-45 Twisted Pair Port Pinouts ........................................................................ 39
ST Connector..................................................................................................... 40
AT-MCR1 Chassis ............................................................................................. 41
AT-MCR12 Chassis ........................................................................................... 41
Appendix B
Cleaning Fiber Optic Connectors ................................................................... 43
Using a Cartridge-Type Cleaner ........................................................................ 44
Using a Swab..................................................................................................... 46

9
Preface
This guide contains instructions on how to install an AT-MC13 Ethernet
Media Converter.
How This Guide is Organized
This guide contains the following chapters and appendices:
Chapter 1, ”Overview” on page 13
Chapter 2, ”Installation” on page 23
Chapter 3, ”Troubleshooting” on page 33
Appendix A, ”Technical Specifications” on page 37
Appendix B, ”Cleaning Fiber Optic Connectors” on page 43
This preface contains the following sections:
“Document Conventions” on page 10
“Where to Find Web-based Guides” on page 11
“Contacting Allied Telesis” on page 12

Preface
10
Document Conventions
This document uses the following conventions:
Note
Notes provide additional information.
Caution
Cautions inform you that performing or omitting a specific action
may result in equipment damage or loss of data.
Warning
Warnings inform you that performing or omitting a specific action
may result in bodily injury.

AT-MC13 Media Converter Installation Guide
11
Where to Find Web-based Guides
The installation and user guides for all Allied Telesis products are
available in portable document format (PDF) on our web site at
www.alliedtelesis.com. You can view the documents online or download
them onto a local workstation or server.

Preface
12
Contacting Allied Telesis
This section provides Allied Telesis contact information for technical
support as well as sales or corporate information.
Online Support
You can request technical support online by accessing the Allied Telesis
Knowledge Base: www.alliedtelesis.com/kb. 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 Telesis web site: www.alliedtelesis.com.
Returning Products
Products for return or repair must first be assigned a return materials
authorization (RMA) number. A product sent to Allied Telesis without an
RMA number will be returned to the sender at the sender’s expense.
To obtain an RMA number, contact Allied Telesis Technical Support
group through the Allied Telesis web site: www.alliedtelesis.com.
Sales or Corporate Information
You can contact Allied Telesis for sales or corporate information on our
web site: www.alliedtelesis.com. To find the contact information for your
country, select Contact Us -> Worldwide Contacts.

13
Chapter 1
Overview
The AT-MC13 Ethernet Media Converter is designed to extend the
distance of your network by interconnecting twisted pair cabling to single-
mode or multimode fiber optic cabling or thinnet cabling. The AT-MC13
media converter allows you to interconnect LAN devices over large
distances.
The AT-MC13 media converter features a 10Base-T twisted pair port and
a 10Base-FL fiber optic port. The twisted pair port has an RJ-45
connector and a maximum operating distance of 100 meters (328 feet).
The fiber optic port has an ST connector and a maximum operating
distance of 2 kilometers (1.2 miles). This media converter operates at
10 Megabits per second (Mbps) and feature half- and full-duplex
operation.
The AT-MC13 media converter can be used on a desktop, in an
AT-MCR1 or AT-MCR12 chassis. This media converter is easy to install
and does not require software configuration or management.
Figure 1 and Figure 2 illustrate the front and rear panels of an AT-MC13
media converter.
Figure 1. AT-MC13 Media Converter Front Panel
Figure 2. AT-MC13 Media Converter Rear Panel
AT-MC13 ETHERNET MEDIA CONVERTER
NORMAL
LNK TST
10Base-FL 10Base-T
TX RX
MDI MDI-X
PWR
NORMAL
REC
LINK
REC
LINK
CLASS 1
LED PRODUCT
1197
12VDC
1199

Chapter 1: Overview
14
Key Features
The AT-MC13 media converter has the following key features:
LEDs for unit and port status
Full- or half-duplex mode operation
MissingLink™notifies end-nodes of link failures (fiber models only)
Link Test feature performs a link test on the media converter’s fiber
port
MDI/MDI-X switch that eliminates the need for a crossover cable
NORMAL/LNK TST button that performs a link test on the media
converter
External AC/DC power adapters (North America, Continental, or
Europe)
Standard, compact size for desktop use or in an AT-MCR1 or
AT-MCR12 chassis
Status LEDs
Table lists the LEDs for the AT-MC13 media converter.s
Table 1. AT-MC13 LED
LED Color Description
PWR Green Power is applied to the media converter.
NORMAL Green
OFF
The media converter is operating in normal
mode.
The media converter is operating in link test
mode.
REC Green
OFF
The port is either receiving or transmitting data.
The port is not receiving or transmitting data.
LINK Green A link has been established at 10 Mbps.

AT-MC13 Media Converter Installation Guide
15
Twisted Pair Port
The AT-MC13 media converter has one 10Base-T twisted pair port. The
twisted pair port features a RJ-45 connector. The maximum operating
distance for the twisted pair port is 100 meters (328 feet) when operating
at 10 Mbps.
Fiber Optic Port
The AT-MC13 media converter has one 10Base-FL port. The fiber optic
port features an ST connector. The maximum operating distance for the
fiber optic port for both the AT-MC13 is 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) when
operating at 10 Mbps.
Auto-negotiation
Port Speed
The twisted pair port is compliant with the 10Base-T standards and is
capable of 10 Mbps operation. Since the port is IEEE 802.3u auto-
negotiation compliant, the media converter sets the port speed
automatically. With auto-negotiation, the speed of the port is set
automatically by the media 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 media 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.
The fiber optic port is compliant with the 10Base-FL standards and can
auto-negotiate the operating speed. The end-node connected to the fiber
optic port on the media converter must also be able to operate at 10 Mbps
or auto-negotiate the operating speed.
Note
The end-nodes connected to the ports on the media converter
must be able to operate at the same speed.
Duplex Mode
Duplex mode refers to the way an end-node sends and receives data on
the network. An end-node can operate in either half- or full-duplex mode,

Chapter 1: Overview
16
depending on its capabilities. An end-node that is operating in half-duplex
mode can either send data or receive data, but it cannot do both at the
same time. An end-node that is operating in full-duplex mode can send
and receive data simultaneously. The best network performance is
achieved when an end-node can operate at full-duplex, since the end-
node is able to send and receive data simultaneously.
The twisted pair port and fiber optic port on the media converter can
operate in half-duplex, full-duplex, or auto-negotiate the duplex mode.
The media converter sets the duplex mode automatically through auto-
negotiation. With auto-negotiation, if the end-node is capable of full-
duplex, the port is set automatically to full-duplex mode. If the end-node is
capable of half-duplex, the port is set automatically to half-duplex mode.
The AT-MC13 media converter can operate in full-duplex, half-duplex, or
auto-negotiate the duplex mode. However, the end-nodes connected to
the AT-MC13 media converter must operate in the same duplex mode to
avoid a duplex mode mismatch, which can result in poor network
performance.
Figure 3 shows an example of a duplex mode mismatch. A repeater (Unit
1), capable of operating in half-duplex mode only, is connected to the
10Base-FL port on the media converter, while a switch (Unit 2), capable
of either half- or full-duplex mode, is connected to the 10Base-T port on
the media converter.
Figure 3. Example of a Duplex Mode Mismatch
In attempting to auto-negotiate with Unit 1, the media converter will
determine that the repeater is capable of half-duplex only and will set the
port connected to the unit appropriately. In auto-negotiating with Unit 2,
the media converter will determine that the switch can manage full-duplex
and will set the port connected to the switch to full-duplex. The result is a
duplex mode mismatch, with one unit operating in half-duplex and the
other unit operating in full-duplex. You could resolve this duplex mode
mismatch by manually configuring Unit 2, if possible, so that the port
connected to the media converter is set to half-duplex.
AT-MC13 ETHERNET MEDIA CONVERTER
NORMAL
LNK TST
10Base-FL 10Base-T
TX RX
MDI MDI-X
PWR
NORMAL
REC
LINK
REC
LINK
CLASS1
LEDPRODUCT
1201
Unit 1 Unit 2
10/100Base-TX Repeater Media Converter 10/100Base-TX Switch

AT-MC13 Media Converter Installation Guide
17
MDI/MDI-X Switch
An RJ-45 port on a 10 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
switch or hub is usually MDI-X.
To connect two 10 Mbps network devices together that have dissimilar
port wiring configurations, such as MDI to MDI-X, you use a straight-
through cable. To connect two network devices that have an RJ-45 port
with the same wiring configuration, such as MDI to MDI, you use a
crossover cable.
The RJ-45 port on the media converter features an MDI/MDI-X switch,
shown in Figure 4. You can use this switch to configure the twisted pair
port on the media converter as either MDI or MDI-X. This feature allows
you to use a straight-through cable regardless of the type of end-node
connected to the port.
Figure 4. MDI/MDI-X Switch
AT-MC13 ETHERNET MEDIA CONVERTER
NORMAL
LNK TST
10Base-FL 10Base-T
TX RX
MDI MDI-X
PWR
NORMAL
REC
LINK
REC
LINK
CLASS 1
LED PRODUCT
1203
MDI MDI-X

Chapter 1: Overview
18
NORMAL/LNK TST Button
The AT-MC13 media converter features a NORMAL/LNK TST (Normal
MissingLink/Link Test) button, shown in Figure 5. The button allows you
to perform a link test on the ports on the media converter. This button also
allows you to activate the MissingLink feature on the unit. This button sets
the fiber port into an artificial link transmission state for testing without the
twisted pair port being connected.
When the NORMAL/LNK TST button is in the IN (default) position, the
NORMAL LED is green indicating that the media converter is functioning
normally. For a link test, set the switch in the OUT position. Be sure to set
the switch back to the default position after performing a link test. If the
switch is left in the OUT position, the media converter will not function
properly..
Figure 5. NORMAL/LNK TST Switch
The MissingLink and Link Test features are described below.
MissingLink
The MissingLink feature allows the ports on the media converter to pass
the “Link” status of their connections to each other. When the media
converter detects a problem with one of the ports, such as the loss of
connection to a node, the media converter shuts down the connection to
the other port, thus notifying the node that the connection has been lost.
For example, if the twisted pair cable to the AT-MC13 were to fail, the
media converter would respond by dropping the link on the fiber optic
port. In this way, the AT-MC13 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 media converter
would drop the link to the twisted pair port.
AT-MC13 ETHERNET MEDIA CONVERTER
NORMAL
LNK TST
10Base-FL 10Base-T
TX RX
MDI MDI-X
PWR
NORMAL
REC
LINK
REC
LINK
CLASS 1
LED PRODUCT
1204
NORMAL
LNK TST

AT-MC13 Media Converter Installation Guide
19
The value to this type of network monitoring and fault notification is that
some hubs and switches 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.
Note
The MissingLink feature is disabled when you perform a link test
with the NORMAL/LNK TST button. Consequently, to ensure that
the MissingLink feature is activated on the media converter, always
set the button to the NORMAL (IN) position during normal network
operations.
Link Test
A link test is a fast and easy way for you to test the connections between
the ports on the media converter 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, so that you can focus
your troubleshooting efforts on the cable and end-node where the
problem resides.
A link test is performed when the NORMAL/LNK TST button is in the LNK
TST (OUT) position.
Note
Performing a link test does not interfere with a media converter’s
ability to pass network traffic.

Chapter 1: Overview
20
External Power Adapter
An external AC/DC power adapter, shown in Figure 6, is provided with the
media converter for use on a desktop. The power adapter supplies
12 VDC to the media converter. Allied Telesis supplies an approved
safety compliant AC power adapter for the 120 V AC and 240 V AC
versions with an unregulated output of 12 VDC at 1 A. The power
required for the media converter is 12 VDC, 500 mA.
Note
The power adapter is not used if you install the media converter in
an AT-MCR1 or AT-MCR12 chassis.
Figure 6. External AC/DC Power Adapter (North American Version)
1207