User guide

Summit GbX Installation and User Guide 1
SummitGbX
™
Installation and
User Guide
This document describes the features and installation of the Summit
™
Gigabit Ethernet
Fiber-Optic Extender (GbX).
S
UMMIT
GbX O
VERVIEW
The SummitGbX Gigabit Ethernet Fiber Optic Extender greatly increases the maximum
single mode fiber interconnect distance between Gigabit Ethernet switches from the
standard IEEE 802.3z distance of 500 meters to 80 km (50 miles), or more. The
attenuation characteristics of the installed fiber plant determine the maximum distance
that can be achieved. Links beyond 100 km are possible using an optical amplifier
option.
The SummitGbX is fully compatible with the Gigabit Ethernet IEEE 802.3z standard for
fiber optic interfaces.
Network management and loopback control functions are provided by an RS-232c port.
The SummitGbX supports full duplex operation as defined in IEEE 802.3x. This results
in 2 Gbps of actual link bandwidth, and provides lower latency, due to simultaneous
transmit and receive operations.
Figure 1 shows how the SummitGbX Extender offers network planners an important,
and fundamentally different, way to configure Gigabit Ethernet network by giving users
interconnect distances up to 100 km. In most cases, the SummitGbX allows much
greater freedom in the use of Summit and BlackDiamond
™
switches, as distance
limitations cease to be a factor.