Port settings for ETBN backbone ports HowTo

This document describes how to configure the port settings of the ETBN backbone ports.

See Figure 1 below

                    <-dir1           dir2->
         .-------.         .-------.         .-------.
Line A --+       +---------+       +---------+       +--
         | ETBN1 |         | ETBN2 |         | ETBN3 |
Line B --+       +---------+       +---------+       +--
         '-------'         '-------'         '-------'
Line A
       MDI      MDI      MDI      MDI      MDI      MDI
       Master   Follower Master   Follower Master   Follower

Line B
       MDI      MDI      MDI      MDI      MDI      MDI
       Follower Master   Follower Master   Follower Master

  dir1 = (ethX5, ethX6)
  dir2 = (ethX7, ethX8)

Figure 1: Mdix and master/follower configuration for backbone nodes.

Note

It is strongly recommended that all cables used to connect ETBN nodes are crossover cables.

Note

Master follower configuration only applies when using Gbit ports.

Port configuration parameters

Port configuration parameters that may be used to improve link up and link down time for backbone ports.

Mdix-mode

Manual configuration allows for steps in connection phase to be skipped. MDIX configuration should be the same for all ports; either MDI for all ports or MDIX for all ports. IEC61375-2-5 specifies that one crossover shall occur on a line between two ports. This means that when a bypass-relay relays traffic, the relay needs to cancel out the crossover of one of the cables. This is done by making an additional crossover in the relay. With crossover cables, MDIX configuration should always be the same on both sides.

Gbit clock sync master/follower

Manual configuration allows for steps in connection phase to be skipped for 1000Mbit/s copper ethernet. Master/follower is not affected by crossover, hence every pair of ports that could be connected should include one master and one follower. This includes features such as bypass relays and rotation of ETBNs. Due to possible rotation of ETBNs, the direction of master/follower on line A and line B are opposite.

Speed-duplex

Setting fixed speed duplex forces the port to only communicate using this setting. This is required for disabling auto negotiation.

Auto negotiation

Disabling auto negotiation allows for faster connection times.

Configuring fastlink allows for faster link up/down times.

Configuration

This section show examples of how backbone ports could be configured for 100Mb/s and 1000Mb/s.

100Mb

  • Set fixed speed 100Mb full duplex.
  • Disable auto negotiation.
  • Set MDIX-mode to MDI.
  • Set fastlink enable.

Syntax

Example for ETBN1, the same configuration should be applied to all ETBNs.

etbn1:/#> configure
etbn1:/config/#> port ethX5
etbn1:/config/port-ethX5/#> speed-duplex 100-full
etbn1:/config/port-ethX5/#> no auto-negotiate
etbn1:/config/port-ethX5/#> fastlink
etbn1:/config/port-ethX5/#> mdix-mode mdi
etbn1:/config/port-ethX5/#> end
etbn1:/config/#> port ethX6
etbn1:/config/port-ethX6/#> speed-duplex 100-full
etbn1:/config/port-ethX6/#> no auto-negotiate
etbn1:/config/port-ethX6/#> fastlink
etbn1:/config/port-ethX6/#> mdix-mode mdi
etbn1:/config/port-ethX6/#> end
etbn1:/config/#> port ethX7
etbn1:/config/port-ethX7/#> speed-duplex 100-full
etbn1:/config/port-ethX7/#> no auto-negotiate
etbn1:/config/port-ethX7/#> fastlink
etbn1:/config/port-ethX7/#> mdix-mode mdi
etbn1:/config/port-ethX7/#> end
etbn1:/config/#> port ethX8
etbn1:/config/port-ethX8/#> speed-duplex 100-full
etbn1:/config/port-ethX8/#> no auto-negotiate
etbn1:/config/port-ethX8/#> fastlink
etbn1:/config/port-ethX8/#> mdix-mode mdi
etbn1:/config/port-ethX8/#> end
etbn1:/config/#> end
Applying configuration.
Configuration activated.  Remember "copy run start" to save to flash (NVRAM).

Gbit

  • Ports in dir1 line A should be master.
  • Ports in dir1 line B should be follower.
  • Ports in dir2 line A should be follower.
  • Ports in dir2 line B should be master.
  • Set fixed speed 1000Mb full duplex.
  • Disable auto negotiation.
  • Set fastlink 1000-t-up.
  • Set MDIX-mode to MDI.

Syntax

Example for ETBN1, the same configuration should be applied to all ETBNs.

etbn1:/#> configure
etbn1:/config/#> port ethX5
etbn1:/config/port-ethX5/#> gbit-cu-master
etbn1:/config/port-ethX5/#> speed-duplex 1000-full
etbn1:/config/port-ethX5/#> no auto-negotiate
etbn1:/config/port-ethX5/#> fastlink 1000-t-up
etbn1:/config/port-ethX5/#> mdix-mode mdi
etbn1:/config/port-ethX5/#> end
etbn1:/config/#> port ethX6
etbn1:/config/port-ethX6/#> no gbit-cu-master
etbn1:/config/port-ethX6/#> speed-duplex 1000-full
etbn1:/config/port-ethX6/#> no auto-negotiate
etbn1:/config/port-ethX6/#> fastlink 1000-t-up
etbn1:/config/port-ethX6/#> mdix-mode mdi
etbn1:/config/port-ethX6/#> end
etbn1:/config/#> port ethX7
etbn1:/config/port-ethX7/#> no gbit-cu-master
etbn1:/config/port-ethX7/#> speed-duplex 1000-full
etbn1:/config/port-ethX7/#> no auto-negotiate
etbn1:/config/port-ethX7/#> fastlink 1000-t-up
etbn1:/config/port-ethX7/#> mdix-mode mdi
etbn1:/config/port-ethX7/#> end
etbn1:/config/#> port ethX8
etbn1:/config/port-ethX8/#> gbit-cu-master
etbn1:/config/port-ethX8/#> speed-duplex 1000-full
etbn1:/config/port-ethX8/#> no auto-negotiate
etbn1:/config/port-ethX8/#> fastlink 1000-t-up
etbn1:/config/port-ethX8/#> mdix-mode mdi
etbn1:/config/port-ethX8/#> end
etbn1:/config/#> end
Applying configuration.
Configuration activated.  Remember "copy run start" to save to flash (NVRAM).