Black Box TS027A-R3 User manual

VERI-NET+ Link Tester
Copyright 2001. Black Box Corporation.
All rights reserved.
1000 Park Drive, Lawrence, PA 15055-1018
724-746-5500 Fax [phone]
FEBRUARY 2001
TS027A-R3
CUSTOMER
SUPPORT
INFORMATION
Call our Technical Support Specialists to
discuss your application.
For 24-hour technical support:
Call 724-746-5500 or fax [phone]
To order: Call 724-746-5500
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Mail Order: Black Box Corporation,
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LINK SIGNAL TYPE
Three different signals can be used to establish a
Link: a Link Code Word, an NLP or an MLT-3 waveform.
The Link Code Word is specific in both Link speed
and duplex mode. The
NLP is specific in speed
(10Mbps) but ambiguous
in duplex mode (half or
full). The MLT-3
waveform is also specific
in speed (100Mbps) but
ambiguous in duplex
mode. Duplex modes for
equipment that use NLP or
MLT-3 signaling must be carefully managed to
ensure proper Link operation.
Example: Most 10/100 switches when configured to
either 100Mbps full duplex or half duplex mode use the
same MLT-3 signal to setup a Link. If a switch port that is
set to 100Mbps full duplex is connected to a NIC set for
Auto-negotiating, the NIC will establish a half duplex
Link based on the MLT-3 signal from the switch. The
duplex configuration mismatch will cause the Link to
perform poorly due to high error rates and collisions.
The Veri-Net+ indicates an MLT-3 signal by
alternately blinking the 100TX and 100FD indicators. An
NLP signal is indicated by alternately blinking the 10TX
and 10FD indicators. When this condition exists, the
Link Partners must be configured as follows:
-same speed and duplex mode
-one in half duplex mode and one in Auto-
negotiation mode
-both in Auto-negotiating mode
for the Link to operate properly. Duplex mismatch is a
common network problem. For improved network
management, the Veri-Net+ warns the user when
ambiguous duplex mode Link signals are detected.
BATTERY LIFE
Auto Power Down -The Veri-Net+ will automatically
turn off after approximately 12 minutes of operation.
Low Battery - When the battery is below the level
required for the Veri-Net+ to operate properly, the
“FAULT” indicator blinks on and off.
APPLICATIONS
Network Planning - Identify capabilities of installed
equipment for LAN upgrades without opening the case.
Installation - Verify physical layer connectivity to the far
end. Link activation signals verify two way continuity and
identify connected hub/switch port.
Trouble Calls - Reduce troubleshooting time by
ensuring the Link is active and no faults are detected.
Locate physical layer problems with built-in tone
generator and standard tone probe.
Moves, Adds and Changes - Identify correct wire pair
with tone generator feature and verify Link is operating
after punching down new connections.
Network Management - Test current configuration of
installed equipment to determine if modes have been
configured manually and type of Link signaling used.

BOX CONTENTS
•Veri-Net+ Link Tester •RJ-45 Coupler
•9 Volt Alkaline Battery •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.)