Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Patch Panel

Patch Panel Overview

Typically, LAN-based IP telephones use external power converters located at or near the desktop. The inline-power patch panel eliminates the need for external power sources; it is a standalone chassis that can be co-located with the Catalyst switch to provide -48 VDC power directly to the telephone through existing Catalyst family 10/100BaseTX switching modules. When used with an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), the inline-power patch panel can provide power to the telephone even in a power failure.

The inline-power patch panel has 48 RJ-45 input ports and 48 RJ-45 output ports (see Figure 1). There are two RJ-45 connectors per port for a total of 48 ports. Each input connector is internally connected to a corresponding output connector (input connector 1 is connected to output connector 1, and so on).

The RJ-45 ports serve as the physical network interfaces to the inline-power patch panel. The lower bank of ports provide 10/100-Mbps connection to the switch through RJ-45 connector pins 1, 2, 3, and 6. The top bank of ports provide -48 VDC power to the IP telephones through RJ-45 connector pins 4, 5, 7, and 8, in addition to transparently passing 10/100 Mbps data traffic on pins 1, 2, 3, and 6.

Front Panel Description

This section describes the front-panel features of the inline-power patch panel:

•48 RJ-45 client ports for connecting to IP telephones

•48 RJ-45 switch ports for connecting to 10/100BaseTX switch ports

•Unit status LED (see Table 1)

•Port status LED (see Table 2)

•AC-input connector

•ESD receptacle

Figure 1 Inline Power Patch Panel Front Panel

Table 1 Unit Status LED Description
Color	Description
Green	Power successfully applied to all ports.
Red	Power problem on one or more ports.
Off	No AC-input power to inline-power patch panel.

Table 2 Port Status LED Description
Color	Description
Green	Power successfully applied to port.
Flashing Green and Amber	Power problem on the port.
Amber	Power not applied to the port.
Off	No AC-input power to inline-power patch panel.

FRONT VIEW ENLARGED

BACK VIEW ENLARGED

110 BLOCK

PUNCH DOWN TOOL

Patch Panel

Patch Panel Overview

Front Panel Description

This section describes the front-panel features of the inline-power patch panel:

•48 RJ-45 client ports for connecting to IP telephones

•48 RJ-45 switch ports for connecting to 10/100BaseTX switch ports

•Unit status LED (see Table 1)

•Port status LED (see Table 2)

•AC-input connector

•ESD receptacle

Figure 1 Inline Power Patch Panel Front Panel

Table 1 Unit Status LED Description
Color	Description
Green	Power successfully applied to all ports.
Red	Power problem on one or more ports.
Off	No AC-input power to inline-power patch panel.

Table 2 Port Status LED Description
Color	Description
Green	Power successfully applied to port.
Flashing Green and Amber	Power problem on the port.
Amber	Power not applied to the port.
Off	No AC-input power to inline-power patch panel.

FRONT VIEW ENLARGED

BACK VIEW ENLARGED

110 BLOCK

PUNCH DOWN TOOL

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Computer Networks and Topology

Network

A collection of computers, servers, mainframes, network devices, peripherals, and/or various other devices connected to one another allowing for data to be shared and used. A great example of a network is the Internet, connecting millions of people all over the world together.

Below is an example image of what a home network or small office network may look like. As can be seen below, this network is setup to enable all computers and other devices with network abilities, such as the Tivo, to communicate with each other as well as share the single Internet connection.

Bus topology

A type of network setup where each of the computers and network devices are connected to a single cable or backbone. Below is a visual example of a simple computer setup on a network using the bus topology.

Ring topology

Also known as a ring network, the ring topology is a type of computer network configuration where each network computer and device are connected to each other forming a large circle (or similar shape). Each packet is sent around the ring until it reaches its final destination. Today, the ring topology is seldom used. Below is a visual example of a simple computer setup on a network using a ring topology.

Star topology

Also known as a star network, a star topology is one of the most common network setups where each of the devices and computers on a network connect to a central hub. A major disadvantage of this type of network topology is that if the central hub fails, all computers connected to that hub would be disconnected. Below is a visual example of a simple computer setup on a network using the star topology.