Psiber Data Systems LanMaster 25 - Manual (Page 2)

BOX CONTENTS
•
LanMaster 25 Link Tester
•
RJ-45 Coupler
•
9 Volt Alkaline Battery
•
User Guide
BATTERY
The LanMaster 25 operates on one 9 volt alkaline
battery. Remove the battery cover
at the bottom of the unit and insert
the battery with the terminal
orientation as shown. Battery
polarity is marked on the back of
the battery cover and inside the
battery well for reference.
TECHNICAL OVERVIEW
The IEEE 802.3u Standard for 100BaseTX (Fast
Ethernet) requires LAN equipment to use a signaling
system to establish a Link between two devices called
Link Partners. Standard Ethernet uses a single Normal
Link Pulse to establish the Link. Fast Ethernet
equipment (and some recent 10baseT products) use a
burst of Fast Link Pulses(FLPs) to transmit a Link Code
Word defining the configured capabilities of the device
and to report faults . If both Link Partners have Auto-
negotiation capability, a Link is established based on the
following priority:
1. 100BaseTX Full Duplex
2. 100BaseT4
3. 100BaseTX Half Duplex
4. 10BaseT Full Duplex
5. 10BaseT Half Duplex
The IEEE 802.3u Standard does not require Fast
Ethernet equipment to support Auto-negotiation or more
than one 100baseT mode of operation. A second type
of signaling called Parallel Detection (a continuous MLT-
3 waveform) can also be used to establish a Fast
Ethernet Link. Parallel Detection signaling does not
differentiate between half duplex and full duplex mode
which can lead to poor network performance if both Link
Partners are not properly configured. Most Ethernet LAN
equipment can be manually configured to a specific
mode of operation. Equipment in this “commanded”
mode of operation may establish a Link with either a
Link Code Word, an NLP or a Parallel Detection (MLT-3)
signal. Knowing the type of signaling used on a Link is
critical to optimizing system performance.The LanMaster
25 detects and decodes the different Link signals on
Standard and Fast Ethernet networks and displays the
equipment configuration, signaling type and reported
faults. The LanMaster 25 does not test 100BaseT4.
OPERATION
The LanMaster 25 test consists of three steps:
detecting Link signals, transmitting Link signals and
Auto-negotiating.
Insert the LanMaster 25
plug end in to the RJ-45
port of a hub, switch,
network interface card,
wall outlet, or attach to a
UTP or STP cable with
the RJ-45 coupler.
Press and release
the “TEST” button. Wire
pair 3,6 (Link signals from
network) are scanned for
two seconds. If Link signals are detected, the
indicator(s) for the operational modes or fault condition
are illuminated. After one second, the LanMaster 25
automatically transmits a pattern of Link signals to the
Link Partner. The “LAN” indicator blinks on and off as
the signals are transmitted. The Link indicator on the
hub or switch at the far end will also blink indicating
which port is connected to the LanMaster 25. (Hubs/
switches have different Link indicator time delays. The
blink rate of the equipment may not exactly match the
blink rate of the LanMaster 25. Determine the blink
pattern directly at a hub/switch port prior to running tests
from a remote outlet.) When no signals are detected on
the first wire pair, the unit scans wire pair 1,2 (Link
signals from node) for two seconds. Link signals are
decoded and the indicator(s) for the modes or fault are
lit. After one second, the LanMaster 25 transmits Link
signals continuously to the NIC. The Link light on the
NIC will light verifying two-way Link communications.
If no signals are detected, the “NO LINK” indicator
is illuminated and the LanMaster 25 automatically
transmits a tone pattern on both wire pairs. The “NO
LINK” indicator blinks when the tone is being
transmitted. A standard tone probe can be used with
the LanMaster 25 to locate the physical layer problem.
The LanMaster 25 also detects Links with
incorrectly installed reversed polarity pairs and displays
“NO LINK” for this condition. (Links using NLP or FLP
signaling only.)
AUTO-NEGOTIATION
When two or more operational mode indicators are
lit, the Link being tested is
capable of Auto-negotiat-
ing to the highest common
level of operation with a
Link Partner.
After the LanMaster
25 begins transmitting Link
signals, the Link Partner
will Auto-negotiate to the
10TX or 100TX mode and
the LanMaster 25 indica-
tors for the negotiated
mode will light verifying the Auto-negotiation function.
(Note: Auto-negotiation timing varies greatly therefore not
all equipment will complete Auto-negotiation with the
LanMaster 25. For equipment with long time constants,
the capabilities are displayed but the negotiation to the
10TX or 100TX mode does not occur. Test a known good
port to determine equipment response time.)