Media Converters - Noob question

[fiza]

I am looking at a local primary which has media converters connecting 2 buildings. The media converter in the main building looks like its playing up as all the lights come on and then off in a loop. I have rebooted it and then it works for a couple of minutes and then does the lights thing again. To me it looks like it needs replacing.

It doesn't have any branding on it. The only thing written on it is "1000Base-TX to 1000Base-FX Media Converter". The fibre is an SC connection. I am Googling but I can only find 1000BASE-SX fiber to 1000Base-T like this one

 

Am I looking at the right item?

[robk]

Assuming there is a media converter at the other end as well I would suggest replacing the pair. That way you get round any incompatability issues between types etc, and then have a spare working unit for next time one of the other links has the same problem.

[southhamster]

Startech.com do a good range with most connector options.

[sted]

honestly if your switches support it id junk both media convertors and get gbic modules for the switches media convertors seem doomed to die frequently

[robk]

@sted is correct if you have switches that can take modules that saves a device sometimes not possible though.

[sted]

@sted is correct if you have switches that can take modules that saves a device sometimes not possible though.

 

its not to much that as I have had so many media convertors die at one school I seemed to replace one a week

[fiza]

honestly if your switches support it id junk both media convertors and get gbic modules for the switches media convertors seem doomed to die frequently

 

Need a quick fix. Have ordered 2 media converters for next day delivery.

Long term I will look at getting gbic modules for the switches.

[twin--turbo]

are you sure it says 1000 and not 100?

 

I found a MC on Friday that I was seriously not expecting to find! explains why I was experiencing a random issue I was not expecting.

 

TT

[sparkeh]

Media converters are one of the worst bits of kit I've dealt with. They seem to break very easily. Moving to gbic modules saves a lot of frustration.

[twin--turbo]

Media converters are one of the worst bits of kit I've dealt with. They seem to break very easily. Moving to gbic modules saves a lot of frustration.

 

At my old place our sister schools NM left over christmas one year. His Second in command was left behind. Due to building work the had a couple of power outages. "Second" Could not get the network back up so I went over as the switchgear was Cisco.

 

I found a 4507RE core switch which I was expecting, but it had 10 copper cables going to 10 MC's.. At the far end of each fibre was another MC connecting to 3560's... "Second" had restarted a few ot the MC's at the core without success. I restarted a couple of the far end MC's and those links came up. 15 mins later we had everything back up and running........ tens of thousands of pounds of switching hobbled by not using SFP's.

 

 

The one I am removing tomorrow is supposed to be 1Gb but I suspect it is the root cause of our wan link dropping packets the backup window. Rather annoyed as there was no reason for it to be there!

 

TT

[fiza]

are you sure it says 1000 and not 100?

 

I found a MC on Friday that I was seriously not expecting to find! explains why I was experiencing a random issue I was not expecting.

 

TT

 

Yeh definitely 1000base-tx to 1000base-fx. Has it printed on the front.

[twin--turbo]

1000fx does not exist. 100fx does.

 

if it is 100 and your stepping up to !m then distance may be an issue dependant on the actual installed fibre. But you should be able to dipswitch down to 100 anyway.

 

TT

[fiza]

1000fx does not exist. 100fx does.

 

if it is 100 and your stepping up to !m then distance may be an issue dependant on the actual installed fibre. But you should be able to dipswitch down to 100 anyway.

 

TT

 

It's what was printed on the device.

[twin--turbo]

there is only one place that should be , starts with BI and ends with N.

 

Hopefully the new ones will be better, although the same junk generally does the rounds at this level of networking... seen white box junk that is basically re-badged 20 year old Allied telesyn stuff that was dodgy even before Allied tried to sell it...

 

Best of luck !