Specifications

©
2002, David K. Z. Harris
48
Pg. 48
© 2002
David K. Z. Harris
Modular Adapters Will Help!
Ø Pre-wired + labeled = trusted
² Troubleshooting is faster
² Easy to spot the wrong part
² Easy to tell what the right part is
Ø Small cost over parts cost to you
² Your time is worth more than that
Ø Get a Passive Signal Tracer!
² Invaluable tool for physical layer
Many of the higher-density console servers use an RJ-45 connection, to save
space over the DB-n predecessors. However, most of the vendors have
different wiring schemes, so you need to know *which* RJ-45 format your
adapter is wired for.
If you are moving into a new shop, where the adapters have been built when
they were needed, you may find that they are not well labeled, and that the
internal wiring probably varies from one adapter to another.
If I don’t know the heritage of an adapter, I can’t be sure that it’s wired for the
proper RJ-45 wiring scheme, and that all of the DB-n pins are connected to the
correct places. I’ll have to spend time to open the adapters to check the wiring
(and maybe spend more time to fix them).
For only a little more than the raw parts cost, I can get an adapter that’s been
wired to my specifications, tested, and labeled. When I see the label, I know
what the wiring scheme is, and I can trust that the wiring in the adapter is
correct. My time is worth more than the incremental costs.
Get a good passive signal tracer (or more than one). These will also save you
time and frustration.