Instruction manual

6 MULTILINK ML2400 ETHERNET COMMUNICATIONS SWITCH – INSTRUCTION MANUAL
MULTILINK MC-E10 & MC-E100 CONVERTER SWITCH
The Multilink MC-E10 models provide several options of 100Mb fiber flavor (SC, MTRJ and
LC) connectors.
The Multilink MC-E10 is a premium rated unit suitable for temperature un
-controlled
outdoor applications, and is specially designed with premium-grade extended
temperature components. Mounting options include panel-mounting, DIN-rail, or rack-
mount tray. Choices of models for external AC or internal DC power are available. Ambient
operating temperature is between –40°C to +75°C. Storage temperature rating is between
–40°C to +85°C depending on the power source used.
3.3 Multilink MC-E10 & MC-E100 Series chassis (2+1) with two 10/100 (RJ-45) ports + one
(10 or 100) Fiber port
The Multilink MC-E10 & Multilink MC-E100 Series chassis house one main PC board. The
power supply unit may be external AC as well as Internal DC. The front side of the chassis
has two twisted-pair 10/100 switched ports and one 10 or 100Mb fiber port. Both the RJ-
45 ports of the Multilink MC-E10 & Multilink MC-E100 Converters support auto-cross (MDIX)
operation performing the auto-cross function under auto-negotiation mode only. The
10Mb fiber (Model Multilink MC-E100) is factory configured at Half-duplex, and 100Mb fiber
(Model Multilink MC-E10) at Full-Duplex.
Dual LEDs to indicate operating status of ports are mounted on the top as well as front for
extra viewing advantage while rack-mounted. There is a power (PWR) indicator for the unit
to validate that the unit is turned ON. For each port, there are Link and Activity (LK/ACT)
LED’s on the top of the unit indicating that the media cables are connected correctly and
also indicating when there is traffic (flashing). These LK/ACT LED’s are repeated on the
front as LA1 (port 1), LA2 (port 2), and LA3 (port 3).
The single-fiber port has been offered as an ST connector (Single or Multi-mode) for (Model
Multilink MC-E100) and as an SC/Small form-factor connector (MTRJ-multi mode and LC-
Single mode) for 100 Mb (Model Multilink MC-E10). The “F- H” manual-Switch provided
underneath the fiber port, allow the user to fix the fiber port at 10 or 100Mb Half or Full
Duplex mode as per the requirement by sliding the manual switch. See Section 4.4.
The external DC power plug connector or “jack” is in the right rear of the chassis, whereas
the internal DC input terminal is provided on the rear side of the unit.
3.4 Frame Buffering and Latency
Multilink MC-E10 & Multilink MC-E100 Series Converters are store-and-forward switches.
Each frame (or packet) is loaded into the Switch’s memory and inspected before
forwarding can occur. This technique ensures that all forwarded frames are of a valid
length and have the correct CRC, i.e., are good packets. This eliminates the propagation of
bad packets, enabling all of the available bandwidth to be used for valid information.
While other switching technologies such as "cut-through" or "express" impose minimal
frame latency, they will also permit bad frames to propagate out to the Ethernet segments
connected. The "cut-through" technique permits collision fragment frames, which are a
result of late collisions, to be forwarded to add to the network traffic. Since there is no way
to filter frames with a bad CRC (the entire frame must be present in order for CRC to be
calculated), the result of indiscriminate cut-through forwarding is greater traffic