Specifications

Ethernet Interface Processor (EIP) Installation and Configuration 3
Product Description
Ethernet is most similar to IEEE 802.3 10Base5. Both of these protocols specify a bus topology
network with a connecting cable between the end stations and the actual network medium. Both
protocols require a device that acts as an interface between the end stations in this case, the EIP) and
the actual network medium (cable). The Ethernet specifications call this device a transceiver and it
is connected to the station with a transceiver cable. The IEEE 802.3 specifications refers to the same
type of device as a media attachment unit (MAU) and to the cable as an attachment unit interface
(AUI). Both transceiver cables and AUIs can connect to the EIP ports directly.
EIP Description
The Ethernet interface processor (EIP) provides two, four, or six high-speed AUI (10 Mbps) ports;
Figure 1 shows a six-port EIP. Each port supports both Ethernet Version 1 and IEEE 802.3/Ethernet
Version 2 interfaces. A 16-million-instructions-per-second (mips) bit-slice processor provides a
high-speed data path between the EIP and other interface processors. The EIP firmware (microcode),
which contains card-specific software instructions, resides in a ROM in socket U101.
Figure 1 Ethernet Interface Processor (EIP)
You can install interface processors in all available interface processor slots. (Refer to Figure 6,
Figure 7, Figure 8, Figure 9, or Figure 10, depending on your chassis type.) Each Ethernet port
requires an Ethernet transceiver or a media attachment unit (MAU) and a transceiver cable or
attachment unit interface (AUI) to connect to the external network.
Ethernet Interface Ports
The two, four, or six Ethernet connectors on the EIP are standard 15-pin female AUI connectors.
Each port supports both Ethernet Version 1 and IEEE 802.3/Ethernet Version 2 interfaces; the EIP
senses the type of connection from the interface cable you connect and adjusts automatically for the
appropriate interface type. The ports are independent, so you can mix both versions on one EIP.
Slide-type cable locks are standard on all ports; however, an adapter kit is included with each EIP so
that you can change the locks to the jackscrew type to accommodate your interface cables. Refer to
the section “Ethernet Connector Locks” on page 6 for a description.
H2005
U101,
microcode ROM
Enabled
0
1
2
3
4
5
Collision
Transmit
Receive