GE MultiLink User manual

MultiLink
Ethernet Communications Switch
Quickstart Guide
Firmware Revision 3.x
Manual P/N: 1601-9026-A3
Manual Order Code: GEK-113393B
Copyright © 2009 GE Multilin
GE Multilin
215 Anderson Avenue, Markham, Ontario
Canada L6E 1B3
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]
Internet: http://www.GEmultilin.com
*1601-0220-A3*
IISO9001:2000
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GE Multilin's Quality
Management System is
registered to ISO9001:2000
QMI # 005094
UL # A3775
Digital Energy
Multilin

These instructions do not purport to cover all details or variations in equipment nor provide
for every possible contingency to be met in connection with installation, operation, or
maintenance. Should further information be desired or should particular problems arise
which are not covered sufficiently for the purchaser’s purpose, the matter should be referred
to the General Electric Company.
To the extent required the products described herein meet applicable ANSI, IEEE, and NEMA
standards; but no such assurance is given with respect to local codes and ordinances
because they vary greatly.
© 2009 GE Multilin Incorporated. All rights reserved.
GE Multilin Multilink Quickstart Guide for revision 3.x.
Multilink is a registered trademark of GE Multilin Inc.
The contents of this manual are the property of GE Multilin Inc. This documentation is
furnished on license and may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the permission
of GE Multilin. The content of this manual is for informational use only and is subject to
change without notice.
Part numbers contained in this manual are subject to change without notice, and should
therefore be verified by GE Multilin before ordering.
Part number: 1601-9026-A3 (July 2009)

TABLE OF CONTENTS
MULTILINK ML1600/2400 ETHERNET COMMUNICATIONS SWITCH – QUICKSTART GUIDE TOC–I
Table of Contents
1. PREPARATION ...................................................................................................... 1
PRECAUTIONS ...............................................................................................................................1
DETERMINING MOUNTING LOCATION ......................................................................................1
2. MECHANICAL INSTALLATION ........................................................................ 3
TABLE-TOP OR SHELF MOUNTING ............................................................................................3
RACK MOUNTING - ML2400 ...................................................................................................3
DIN-RAIL / PANEL MOUNTING - ML1600 ............................................................................4
Mounting Dimensions with Metal Brackets............................................................6
DIN-RAIL / PANEL MOUNTING - ML1200/ML800 ...........................................................7
Mounting Dimensions for ML1200/ML800 with metal brackets..................7
3. ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION ........................................................................... 9
POWERING THE UNIT - ML2400 .............................................................................................9
POWERING THE UNIT - ML1600 .............................................................................................10
POWERING THE UNIT - ML1200/ML800 .............................................................................10
UL REQUIREMENTS FOR DC-POWERED UNITS ......................................................................11
ALARM CONTACTS .......................................................................................................................11
DIELECTRIC STRENGTH (HI-POT) TESTING ................................................................................12
4. CONNECTING A MANAGEMENT CONSOLE TERMINAL TO THE UNIT ... 13
DESCRIPTION ................................................................................................................................13
ML2400/ML1600 .................................................................................................................13
ML1200/ML800....................................................................................................................14
5. INTRODUCTION TO TWISTED PAIR & FIBER OPTIC ETHERNET LANS .. 15
ETHERNET PHYSICAL LAYER: TWISTED PAIR COPPER VS FIBER OPTIC ................................15
Twisted Pair copper cable ..............................................................................................15
Fiber ..........................................................................................................................................16
SUPPORTED NETWORK TOPOLOGIES ........................................................................................16
Star Architecture.................................................................................................................16
Mesh Architecture..............................................................................................................16
Ring Architecture................................................................................................................17
10BASE T AND 100BASET MEDIA .........................................................................................17
Unshielded Twisted Pair cable: ....................................................................................17
Ethernet: Unshielded Twisted Pair..............................................................................18
6. CONNECTING ETHERNET MEDIA ................................................................... 20
DESCRIPTION ................................................................................................................................20
CONNECTING ST-TYPE FIBER OPTICS (TWIST-LOCK) ..............................................................20
CONNECTING SC-TYPE FIBER OPTICS (SNAP-IN) ....................................................................21
CONNECTING SINGLE-MODE FIBER OPTICS ............................................................................21
CONNECTING RJ45 TWISTED PAIR ..........................................................................................21
CONNECTING GIGABIT MEDIA USING GBICS.........................................................................22
7. HUBS AND SWITCHES ........................................................................................ 23
FIBER OPTIC ETHERNET: .............................................................................................................23
Wavelengths of light.........................................................................................................23
SINGLE AND MULTI-MODE CABLE .............................................................................................24
Fiber Cable Cross Section and Physical Specifications.....................................24
Single mode fiber - Less attenuation per unit distance ...................................25
8. OPTICAL POWER BUDGET ................................................................................ 26
ASSIGNING AN IP ADDRESS TO THE MULTILIN SWITCH .........................................................27
ASSIGNING ASTATIC IP ADDRESS TO APERSONNEL COMPUTER ..........................................33
CONFIGURING THE SWITCH PORTS FOR UR REDUNDANT OPERATION ................................39

TOC–II MULTILINK ML1600/2400 ETHERNET COMMUNICATIONS SWITCH – QUICKSTART GUIDE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
9. TAGGED VLANS & RING ONLY MODE- .......................................................... 42
Background:..........................................................................................................................42
CONFIGURING TAGGED VLANS............................................................................................... 42
Configuring a VLAN within the switch.......................................................................43
CONFIGURING THE MULTILINK SWITCH FOR RING ONLY MODE ......................................... 49
10. MULTILINK FIRMWARE UPDATES ................................................................ 57
UPDATING MULTILINK FIRMWARE ........................................................................................... 57
SELECTING THE PROPER VERSION ........................................................................................... 57
UPGRADING USING ASERIAL CONNECTION- COMMAND LINE INTERFACE ....................... 57
UPDATING USING THE ENERVISTA WEB INTERFACE SOFTWARE ........................................ 62
Using FTP................................................................................................................................62
Using TFTP..............................................................................................................................63

MULTILINK ETHERNET COMMUNICATIONS SWITCH – QUICKSTART GUIDE 1
Multilink
Ethernet Communications Switch
QuickStart Guide
Digital Energy
Multilin
QuickStart Guide
1 Preparation
1.1 Precautions
Before installing the equipment, it is necessary to take the following precautions if the
equipment is mounted in an enclosed or multiple rack assembly:
1. Ensure the environmental temperature is less than or equal to 50°C.
2. Please ensure 1U (1.75") gap is provided above each switch in the enclosure
for heat dissipation.
3. Placement of the equipment must not overload or unevenly load the rack
system.
4. Verify the equipment's power requirements to prevent overloading of
electrical circuits.
5. Verify that the equipment has a reliable and uncompromised grounding path.
6. Equipment is to be installed by service personnel in a restricted operation
area.
This chapter describes installation of the MultiLink Ethernet Switch, as well as connection
of the various Ethernet media types.
1.2 Determining Mounting Location
For mounting instructions, refer to Section 2, below.
The location of a Unit switch is dependent on the physical layout of the network. The Unit is
typically placed in a central location where groups of network devices need to
communicate. These switches are typically rack mounted in a wiring closet, but because

2 MULTILINK ETHERNET COMMUNICATIONS SWITCH – QUICKSTART GUIDE
QUICKSTART GUIDE
they have rubber feet they can also be installed on a shelf or table top unit. The compact
size allows the Unit to be easily placed in an office or lab area, and it can also be either
shelf of wall-mounted.
Locate a power source within six feet (2 meters) of the intended Unit site. The rugged metal
case will normally protect the switch from accidental damage in a lab or workplace
setting. Maintain an open view of the front to visually monitor the status LEDs.

QUICKSTART GUIDE
MULTILINK ETHERNET COMMUNICATIONS SWITCH – QUICKSTART GUIDE 3
2 Mechanical Installation
2.1 Table-top or Shelf Mounting
The Unit can be mounted on a table-top or any suitable horizontal surface. It has four
rubber feet to provide stability without scratching finished surfaces.
2.2 Rack Mounting - ML2400
Installation of a MultiLink Ethernet Switch in a 19-inch rack is a simple procedure. When
properly installed, the front-mounted LED status indicators should be in plain view and
easy to read. Rack-mount installation requires special 19-inch rack-mounted brackets and
screws (included with the Unit). These brackets attach to the front sides of the switch,
which is then typically fastened into a standard 19" RETMA rack as shown below.
FIGURE 1: Rack mounting
NOTE
Note Please ensure 1U (1.75") gap is provided above each switch in the enclosure for heat
dissipation.
FIGURE 2: Mountings for Unit units rack-mounted in a frame
754733A1.CDR
754734A1.CDR

4 MULTILINK ETHERNET COMMUNICATIONS SWITCH – QUICKSTART GUIDE
QUICKSTART GUIDE
The 23-inch brackets and the ETSI (European metric, approximately 21") brackets are also
available for rack-mounting of the Unit. These brackets are popular in the
telecommunications industry where they are a standard for central office rack-mounting
purposes. The 23-inch and the ETSI brackets are mainly used for larger equipment
assemblies in rack-mounting frames where the rack-mount equipment is typically
accessed in operation from both sides.
The bracket mounting holes in the sides of the Unit permits it to be mounted in various
ways. The same holes fit all three types (19", ETSI, 23") of brackets. The mounting for the 23"
is illustrated above. The brackets may be attached flush with the front, or attached in the
center for a set-back mounting which may reduce cabling torque.
The optional 23" brackets and the ETSI (21") brackets each come as a pair in a package,
along with the necessary screws for attaching the brackets to the sides of the Unit. They
must be ordered as line items.
2.3 DIN-Rail / Panel Mounting - ML1600
The Unit is designed for use in a “factory floor” industrial environment. It is available with
optional DIN-rail brackets to mount it securely in a metal factory floor enclosure,
maintained vertically for proper convection cooling of the unit. The Unit requires two DIN-
rail mounting clips or latches for secure mounting – contact GE Multilin for ordering
information.
FIGURE 3: Unit with DIN-rail clips
The DIN rail latching clips are mounted on the upper rear corners of the unit. Two threaded
holes are provided on the sides of Unit for DIN-rail mounting purposes. Two #10-32 ×3/8
PHIL. PAN with star washer screws are included with the DIN-rail brackets. The two heavy
duty DIN-rail latches are designed to be manually accessible from the top when the unit is
installed on a DIN-rail.
754708A1.CDR

QUICKSTART GUIDE
MULTILINK ETHERNET COMMUNICATIONS SWITCH – QUICKSTART GUIDE 5
FIGURE 4: DIN-rail latch (detail)
To install the Unit with the DIN-rail brackets and latches, hold the unit in the vertical
position with the bottom out and with the top toward the DIN-rail. Position the latches over
the top of the DIN-rail, then snap the latches into holding position by moving the bottom of
the switch inwards to a vertical position. The heavy-duty DIN-rail latches and brackets will
hold the Unit securely in position, even with cabling attached to the unit.
To release the Unit from the DIN-rail, simultaneously press down the top of the DIN-rail
latches to release the switch, which can then be dismounted by pulling the bottom out.
Once the bottom of the Unit is rotated out, the DIN-rail latch is not engaged and the switch
can be moved up and out, free of the DIN-rail mounting.
The following figure shows the vertical mounting of the Unit on a DIN-rail track for proper
convection cooling. Note there is air space in the rear, as the Unit is held out from the rear
of the panel by the mounting brackets. The Unit design uses the case for cooling (patent
pending) and needs to be mounted vertically with air flow space in the front, rear, and
sides.
FIGURE 5: Unit mounted vertically with DIN-rail brackets and latches
754709A1.CDR
754710A1.CDR

6 MULTILINK ETHERNET COMMUNICATIONS SWITCH – QUICKSTART GUIDE
QUICKSTART GUIDE
The DIN-Rail mounting brackets and latches are optional and need to be ordered as
separate items.
2.3.1 Mounting Dimensions with Metal Brackets
Each MultiLink Unit is supplied with metal mounting brackets and screws to mount the unit
securely. It is recommended to mount the Unit vertically for proper cooling and long-life
reliability. It is also advisable to mount the unit with space for air movement around the top
and the sides, typically a minimum of 1 inch.
The back of the Unit unit is held out from the panel or wall behind it, creating a rear space
of about ¼ inch or 1 cm. This allows air circulation and cooling of the rear part of the case.
Since the Unit uses special internal thermal techniques (patent pending) to move the heat
generated by the electronic components inside into the case, the case may be quite warm
to the touch during normal operation.
The unit can be mounted using the brackets turned outside (normal) or inside (if space is
tight). Attach the mounting bracket either outside or inside as shown in the illustration
below (dotted line shown for the brackets inside). The spacing for the mounting screws into
the supporting wall or panel is a rectangle 11.89" ×7.85" center-to-center.
FIGURE 6: Unit mounting dimensions
754711A1.CDR