A fiber media converter is a simple

networking Network, networking and networked may refer to: Science and technology * Network theory, the study of graphs as a representation of relations between discrete objects * Network science, an academic field that studies complex networks Mathematic ...

device that makes it possible to connect two dissimilar media types such as

twisted pair Twisted pair cabling is a type of wiring used for communications in which two conductors of a single circuit are twisted together for the purposes of improving electromagnetic compatibility. Compared to a single conductor or an untwisted b ...

with fiber optic cabling. They were introduced to the industry in the 1990s, and are important in interconnecting fiber optic cabling-based systems with existing copper-based,

structured cabling In telecommunications, structured cabling is building or campus cabling infrastructure that consists of a number of standardized smaller elements (hence structured) called subsystems. Structured cabling components include twisted pair and op ...

systems. They are also used in metropolitan area network (MAN) access and data transport services to

enterprise Enterprise (or the archaic spelling Enterprize) may refer to: Business and economics Brands and enterprises * Enterprise GP Holdings, an energy holding company * Enterprise plc, a UK civil engineering and maintenance company * Enterprise ...

customers.

Media conversion types

Fiber media converters support many different data communication protocols including

Ethernet Ethernet () is a family of wired computer networking technologies commonly used in local area networks (LAN), metropolitan area networks (MAN) and wide area networks (WAN). It was commercially introduced in 1980 and first standardized in 1 ...

Fast Ethernet In computer networking, Fast Ethernet physical layers carry traffic at the nominal rate of 100 Mbit/s. The prior Ethernet speed was 10 Mbit/s. Of the Fast Ethernet physical layers, 100BASE-TX is by far the most common. Fast Ethern ...

Gigabit Ethernet In computer networking, Gigabit Ethernet (GbE or 1 GigE) is the term applied to transmitting Ethernet frames at a rate of a gigabit per second. The most popular variant, 1000BASE-T, is defined by the IEEE 802.3ab standard. It came into use ...

, T1/E1/J1, DS3/E3, as well as multiple cabling types such as

coax Coaxial cable, or coax (pronounced ) is a type of electrical cable consisting of an inner conductor surrounded by a concentric conducting shield, with the two separated by a dielectric ( insulating material); many coaxial cables also have a p ...

, multi-mode and single-mode fiber optics. Media converter types range from small standalone devices and

PC card In computing, PC Card is a configuration for computer parallel communication peripheral interface, designed for laptop computers. Originally introduced as PCMCIA, the PC Card standard as well as its successors like CardBus were defined and devel ...

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 A local area network (LAN) is a computer network that interconnects computers within a limited area such as a residence, school, laboratory, university campus or office building. By contrast, a wide area network (WAN) not only covers a large ...

(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 A campus network, campus area network, corporate area network or CAN is a computer network made up of an interconnection of local area networks (LANs) within a limited geographical area. The networking equipments (switches, routers) and transmi ...

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 In fiber-optic communications, wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) is a technology which multiplexes a number of optical carrier signals onto a single optical fiber by using different wavelengths (i.e., colors) of laser light. This techniq ...

(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.

Converter types

''Simple converters'' – when the speed and duplex settings on both media is identical – consist of two pairs of transmitters/receivers, each with their

medium-dependent interface A medium dependent interface (MDI) describes the interface (both physical and electrical/optical) in a computer network from a physical layer implementation to the physical medium used to carry the transmission. Ethernet over twisted pair also ...

s (when no data recoding is necessary) or their

media-independent interface The media-independent interface (MII) was originally defined as a standard interface to connect a Fast Ethernet (i.e., ) media access control (MAC) block to a PHY chip. The MII is standardized by IEEE 802.3u and connects different types of PHYs ...

s joined together back-to-back in a dual-simplex fashion. They can transport either half-duplex or

full-duplex A duplex communication system is a point-to-point system composed of two or more connected parties or devices that can communicate with one another in both directions. Duplex systems are employed in many communications networks, either to allow ...

traffic but both sides must match. '' Switching converters'' contain a

network bridge A network bridge is a computer networking device that creates a single, aggregate network from multiple communication networks or network segments. This function is called network bridging. Bridging is distinct from routing. Routing allows ...

and can connect two half-duplex segments without joining their

collision domain In physics, a collision is any event in which two or more bodies exert forces on each other in a relatively short time. Although the most common use of the word ''collision'' refers to incidents in which two or more objects collide with great fo ...

s. ''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 In radio communication, a transceiver is an electronic device which is a combination of a radio ''trans''mitter and a re''ceiver'', hence the name. It can both transmit and receive radio waves using an antenna, for communication purposes. Thes ...

are used instead when appropriate equipment already exists.

References

* Spurgeon, Charles E., ''Ethernet: The Definitive Guide'', Sebastopol, CA: O'Reilly & Associates, 2000 * ''Residential Network Cabling'', New York, NY: R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company, 2002 * ''The Switching Book'', Xylan: An Alcatel Company, 1999 {{Refend Media converter

Media conversion types

Converter types

See also

References