A fiber media converter is a simple networking device that makes it possible to connect two dissimilar media types such as twisted pair with fiber optic cabling. They were introduced to the industry nearly two decades ago, and are important in interconnecting fiber optic cabling-based systems with existing copper-based, structured cabling systems. They are also used in metropolitan area network (MAN) access and data transport services to enterprise customers.
Media conversion types
A Fast Ethernet media converter (100BASE-TX to 100BASE-FX)
Fiber media converters support many different data communication protocols including Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, T1/E1/J1, DS3/E3, as well as multiple cabling types such as coax, twisted pair, multi-mode and single-mode fiber optics. Media converter types range from small standalone devices and PC card converters to high port-density chassis systems that offer many advanced features for network management.
On some devices, Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) enables proactive management of link status, monitoring chassis environmental statistics and sending traps to network managers in the event of a fiber break or even link loss on the copper port.
Fiber media converters can connect different local area network (LAN) media, modifying duplex and speed settings. Switching media converters can connect different speed network segments. For example, existing half-duplex hubs can be connected to 100BASE-TX Fast Ethernet network segments over 100BASE-FX fiber.
When expanding the reach of the LAN to span multiple locations, media converters are useful in connecting multiple LANs to form one large campus area network that spans over a limited geographic area. As premises networks are primarily copper-based, media converters can extend the reach of the LAN over single-mode fiber up to 160 kilometers with 1550 nm optics.
Wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) technology in the LAN is especially beneficial in situations where fiber is in limited supply or expensive to provision. As well as conventional dual strand fiber converters, with separate receive and transmit ports, there are also single strand fiber converters, which can extend full-duplex data transmission up to 120 kilometers over one optical fiber.
Other benefits of media conversion include providing a gradual migration path from copper to fiber. Fiber connections can greatly extend the reach and reduce electromagnetic interference.
Also fiber media converters pose as an alternative solution for switches not supporting fiber; ordinary switches can use fiber media converters to connect to a fiber network.
Simple converters – when the data encoding on both media is identical and no recoding is required – consist of two medium-dependent interfaces joined together back-to-back in a dual-simplex fashion. They can transport either half-duplex or full-duplex traffic but both sides must match.
Switching converters work like a network bridge and can connect two half-duplex segments without joining their collision domains.
Managed converters are usually of the switching kind and can additionally be managed by a network connection or a local console. However, most often pluggable transceivers are used instead when appropriate equipment already exists.
Fiber Media Converter ni kifaa cha mtandao rahisi ambayo inafanya kuwa inawezekana kuunganisha aina mbili tofauti za vyombo vya habari kama vile twisted jozi na fiber optic cabling. Wao walikuwa kuletwa katika sekta ya karibu miongo miwili iliyopita, na ni muhimu katika kuunganisha fiber optic cable-msingi mifumo na zilizopo shaba-msingi, muundo cable mifumo. Wao pia ni kutumika katika mtandao wa eneo la mji mkuu (MAN) upatikanaji na huduma za usafirishaji wa data kwa wateja wa biashara. Fiber Ethernet Media Converter (FETC) - Fiber Ethernet Media Converter (FETC) ni aina ya teknolojia ya kuunganisha data ya aina mbalimbali, ikiwa ni pamoja na Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, T1 + E1 + J1 + DS3 + E3, pamoja na aina mbalimbali za cable kama vile coax, twisted pair, multi-mode na single-mode fiber optics. Aina za media converter mbalimbali kutoka ndogo kujitegemea vifaa na PC kadi converters kwa high bandari-wingi chassis mifumo ambayo kutoa vipengele vingi ya juu kwa ajili ya usimamizi wa mtandao. Katika baadhi ya vifaa, Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) inawezesha usimamizi wa hali ya kiungo, kufuatilia takwimu za mazingira ya chassis na kutuma mitego kwa wasimamizi wa mtandao katika tukio la kuvunjika kwa nyuzi au hata kupoteza kiungo kwenye bandari ya shaba. Fiber vyombo vya habari converters inaweza kuunganisha tofauti mitandao ya eneo la ndani (LAN) vyombo vya habari, kurekebisha duplex na kuweka kasi. Kubadilisha vyombo vya habari waongofu wanaweza kuunganisha tofauti kasi ya sehemu ya mtandao. Kwa mfano, hubs zilizopo za nusu-duplex zinaweza kuunganishwa na sehemu za mtandao wa 100BASE-TX Fast Ethernet juu ya nyuzi za 100BASE-FX. Wakati wa kupanua kufikia LAN kupanua maeneo mbalimbali, vyombo vya habari waongofu ni muhimu katika kuunganisha LANs mbalimbali kuunda moja kubwa chuo eneo mtandao kwamba span juu ya eneo ndogo ya kijiografia. Kwa kuwa mitandao ya ndani ya nyumba ni msingi wa shaba, waongofu wa vyombo vya habari wanaweza kupanua kufikia LAN juu ya nyuzi moja hadi kilomita 160 na optics ya 1550 nm. Wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) ni teknolojia ya mtandao wa ndani (LAN) ambayo inasaidia sana katika hali ambapo fiber ni katika ugavi mdogo au gharama kubwa kwa ajili ya utoaji. Pamoja na kubadilisha fiber mbili za kawaida, na bandari tofauti za kupokea na kutuma, kuna kubadilisha fiber moja, ambayo inaweza kupanua uhamisho wa data kamili ya duplex hadi kilomita 120 juu ya fiber moja ya macho. Faida nyingine za kubadilisha vyombo vya habari ni pamoja na kutoa njia ya uhamiaji wa hatua kwa hatua kutoka shaba hadi nyuzi. Viunganishi vya nyuzi vyaweza kupanua sana upatikanaji na kupunguza kuingiliwa na umeme. Pia fiber media converters pose kama ufumbuzi mbadala kwa swichi si kusaidia fiber; swichi ya kawaida inaweza kutumia fiber media converters kuunganisha kwa mtandao fiber. Converters rahisi <unk> wakati data encoding juu ya vyombo vya habari vyote ni sawa na hakuna recoding inahitajika <unk> ni pamoja na mbili kati-kutegemea interfaces alijiunga pamoja nyuma-kwa-nyuma katika njia ya dual-simple. Wanaweza kusafirisha ama nusu-duplex au full-duplex trafiki lakini pande zote mbili lazima mechi. Switching converters kazi kama daraja mtandao na inaweza kuunganisha mbili nusu-duplex sehemu bila kujiunga na uwanja wao mgongano. Managed converters ni kawaida ya aina ya kubadili na inaweza pia kusimamiwa na uhusiano wa mtandao au console ya ndani. Hata hivyo, mara nyingi transceivers pluggable ni kutumika badala yake wakati vifaa sahihi tayari ipo.