Preparing for Installation and Network Connections

Safety Recommendations

Ensuring Safety with Electricity

Preventing Electrostatic Discharge Damage

Preparing for Network Connections

Distance Limitations

Connecting the Route Processor to a Network

Ethernet Port Connections

Auxiliary and Console Port Connections

Auxiliary Port Connections

Console Port Connections

Connecting Interface Modules to a Network

UTP Connections

Fiber-Optic Connections

Preparing for Installation and Network Connections

This chapter describes how to prepare for connecting cables to the Route Processor and interface modules, and includes the following sections:

Warning Before you install, operate, or service the system, read the Site Preparation and Safety Guide. This guide contains important safety information you should know before working with the system.

Note All components that you ordered with your system are installed in the chassis when it ships to you. Refer to the Catalyst 8510 Campus Switch Router Chassis Installation Guide for initial
installation information.

Safety Recommendations

Follow these safety recommendations to ensure your safety and to protect the equipment:

Keep the chassis area clear and free of dust during and after installation procedures.
Keep tools and chassis components away from walk areas.
Fasten your tie or scarf and roll up your sleeves. Do not wear loose clothing, jewelry (including rings and chains), or other items that could get caught in the chassis.

Warning Before working on equipment that is connected to power lines, remove jewelry (including rings, necklaces, and watches). Metal objects will heat up when connected to power and ground and can cause serious burns or weld the metal object to the terminals.

Ensuring Safety with Electricity

The interface modules and redundant (second) power supplies are designed for removal and replacement while the system is operating without presenting an electrical hazard or causing damage to the system.

Follow these guidelines when working with any electrical equipment:

Never install equipment that appears to be damaged.
Do not begin any procedures requiring access to the chassis interior before locating the emergency off switch for the room in which you are working.
Do not work alone when potentially hazardous conditions exist.
Never assume that power is disconnected from a circuit; always check.

Warning Before working on a system that has an on/off switch, turn off the power and unplug the power cord.

Warning This unit might have more than one power cord. To reduce the risk of electric shock, disconnect the two power supply cords before servicing the unit.

Do not perform any action that creates a potential hazard to people or makes the equipment unsafe.
Do not begin any procedure before carefully examining your work area for possible hazards such as moist floors, ungrounded power extension cables, and missing safety grounds.

In addition, use the guidelines that follow when working with any equipment that is disconnected from a power source but still connected to telephone wiring or other network cabling.

Use caution when installing or modifying telephone lines.
Never install telephone jacks in wet locations unless the jack is specifically designed for wet locations.
Never touch uninsulated telephone wires or terminals unless the telephone line is disconnected at the network interface.

Warning Do not work on the system or connect or disconnect cables during periods of lightning activity.

Preventing Electrostatic Discharge Damage

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) damage, which occurs when electronic cards or components are improperly handled, can result in complete or intermittent failures. The route processor and interface modules each consist of a printed circuit card that is fixed in a metal carrier. EMI shielding and connectors are integral components of the carrier. Although the metal carrier helps to protect the cards from ESD, use an antistatic strap whenever you handle the Route Processor or interface modules. Handle the modules by the edges only; never touch the cards or connector pins.

Caution Always tighten the captive installation screws on the route processor and interface modules when you are installing them. These screws prevent accidental removal of the route processor and
interface modules, provide proper grounding for the system, and help to ensure that the bus connectors are properly seated in the backplane.

Follow these guidelines for preventing ESD damage:

Always use an ESD-preventive wrist or ankle strap and ensure that it makes good skin contact.

Always handle modules by the faceplates and carrier edges only; avoid touching the card or any connector pins.

Always connect the equipment end of the strap to one of the captive installation screws on an installed interface module or power supply before removing any module. (See Figure 2-1.)
Always place the removed module component side up on an antistatic surface or in a static shielding bag. If the module is to be returned to the factory, immediately place it in a static shielding bag.
Always avoid contact between the modules and clothing. The wrist strap protects only the card from ESD voltages on the body; ESD voltages on clothing can still cause damage.

Caution For safety, periodically check the resistance value of the antistatic strap. The measurement should be between 1 and 10 megohms (Mohm).

Figure 2-1: Placement of Electrostatic Discharge Wrist Strap

Preparing for Network Connections

When preparing your site for network connections to the chassis, consider these factors related to each type of interface:

Cables required for each interface type (fiber-optic or twisted-pair)
Distance limitations for each signal type
Additional interface equipment needed

Before installing the device, have all additional external equipment and cables on hand. To build your own cables, see "Cable and Port Pinouts."

Distance Limitations

The length of your networks and the distances between connections depend on the type of signal, the signal speed, and the transmission media (the type of cabling used to transmit the signals). For example, fiber-optic cable has a greater channel capacity than twisted-pair cabling.

Note The distances and rate limits in this chapter are the IEEE-recommended maximum speeds and distances for signaling. However, you can get good results at speeds and distances far greater than these if you understand the electrical problems that might arise and can compensate for them. However, do so at your own risk.

The following distance limits are provided as guidelines for planning your network connections before installation.

Networking standards set recommended maximum distances between stations using fiber-optic and unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cable. The recommended maximum cable lengths are listed in Table 2-1.

Table 2-1: Maximum Transmission Distances

Transceiver Speed Cable Type Maximum Distance Between Stations

10/100 Mbps

Category 5 UTP

328 feet (100 meters)

100 Mbps

Multimode fiber

1640 feet (500 meters)

1000 Mbps

Multimode fiber

1640 feet (500 meters)

Transceiver Speed	Cable Type	Maximum Distance Between Stations
10/100 Mbps	Category 5 UTP	328 feet (100 meters)
100 Mbps	Multimode fiber	1640 feet (500 meters)
1000 Mbps	Multimode fiber	1640 feet (500 meters)

Note For more information, see "Cable and Port Pinouts."

Connecting the Route Processor to a Network

This section describes how to connect the route processor to a network and includes the following sections:

Before connecting the route processor to a network, consider the following:

Type of cable required for each interface:
- Straight-through Ethernet for the RJ-45 Ethernet port

Note The Ethernet port on the route processor cannot be used as a routed port. This port is for remote system management.

Null-modem EIA/TIA-232 for the auxiliary port
Straight-through EIA/TIA-232 for the console port

Distance limitations for each signal type
Any additional interface equipment you need

Before making the connections, have all additional external equipment and cables on hand. For ordering information, contact a customer service representative. To build your own cables, see the cable pinouts in
"Cable and Port Pinouts."

Ethernet Port Connections

Use a straight-through Ethernet cable with RJ-45 male connectors (see Figure 2-2) to connect between the Ethernet port and an Ethernet network. Table B-1 lists the Ethernet cable connector pinouts.

Figure 2-2: RJ-45 Ethernet Cable Connector

Auxiliary and Console Port Connections

The route processor includes one EIA/TIA-232, data terminal equipment (DTE) auxiliary port and one EIA/TIA-232, DCE console port (see Figure 2-3). These ports provide access to the device either remotely (with a DTE device) or locally (with a console terminal). This section describes important cabling information to consider before connecting a DTE device to the auxiliary port or a console terminal (an ASCII terminal or PC running terminal emulation software) to the console port.

The console and auxiliary ports differ in that the auxiliary port supports hardware flow control and modem control, and the console port does not. Flow control paces the transmission of data between a sending device and a receiving device. Flow control ensures that the receiving device can absorb the data sent to it before the sending device sends more. When the buffers on the receiving device are full, the sending device receives a message to suspend transmission until the data in the buffers is processed. Because the auxiliary port supports flow control, it is ideally suited for use with the high-speed transmissions of a modem. Console terminals transmit at slower speeds than modems; therefore, the console port is ideally suited for use with console terminals.

Figure 2-3: Auxiliary and Console Ports

EIA/TIA-232 supports unbalanced circuits at signal speeds of up to 64 kbps. Figure 2-4 shows the connectors at the network end of the adapter cable for DTE and DCE connections.

Figure 2-4: EIA/TIA-232 Adapter Cable Connectors, Network End

Auxiliary Port Connections

The auxiliary port on the route processor is a male, EIA/TIA-232, DTE, DB-25 plug. (See Figure 2-4.) Attach a device to access the Catalyst 8510 from the network. The asynchronous auxiliary port supports hardware flow control and modem control. The auxiliary port requires a null-modem EIA/TIA-232 cable. Table B-2 lists the signals used on this port.

Console Port Connections

The console port on the route processor is a female, EIA/TIA-232, DCE, DB-25 receptacle. (See Figure 2-4.) Both data set ready (DSR) and
data carrier detect (DCD) activate when the system is running.
The Ready To Send (RTS) signal tracks the state of the Clear To Send (CTS) input. The console port does not support modem control or hardware flow control. The console port requires a straight-through EIA/TIA-232 cable. Table B-3 lists the signals used on this port.

Note The console port is an asynchronous serial port; any devices connected to this port must be capable of asynchronous transmission. (Asynchronous devices are the most common type of serial device.)

Before connecting to the console port, check your terminal's documentation to determine the baud rate. The baud rate of the terminal must match the default baud rate (9600 baud) of the port you use. Set up the terminal as follows:

9600 baud
8 data bits
No parity
1 stop bit

Connecting Interface Modules to a Network

All interfaces on the interface modules are bidirectional. The interface modules support interfaces that connect to Layer 2 or Layer 3 devices. (See Figure 2-5.)

Figure 2-5: Interface Module Connections

UTP Connections

For UTP traffic, use an RJ-45 connector (see Figure 2-6 ) to connect the interface modules to an external device. To connect a Catalyst 8510 CSR to a router (such as the Cisco 7500) with a UTP cable, use a straight-through cable. To connect the device to a switch (such as the Catalyst 5500), use a crossover cable.

Figure 2-6: RJ-45 Ethernet Cable Connector

Note For cabling information, see the "Ethernet Cable Connector Pinouts" section.

Fiber-Optic Connections

For fiber-optic traffic, use an SC-type connector (see Figure 2-7) to connect the interface modules to an external device.

Figure 2-7: SC-Type Fiber-Optic Network Interface Connector

Note For cabling information, see the "Connecting Interface Modules to a Network" section.

Warning Because invisible laser radiation may be emitted from the aperture of the port when no cable is connected, avoid exposure to laser radiation and do not stare into open apertures.

Table of Contents

Preparing for Installation and Network Connections