Board-level testing should allow access to the silicon for measurement, as well as to the magnetic devices and RJ-45 connector. The MAU is useful, because network test equipment frequently comes ready to test devices via a media-independent interface (MII) connection.
Typical vehicles for testing Fast Ethernet physical-layer (PHY) and transceiver devices are media-access units (MAUs) or network interface circuits (NICs). Testing is then done in a contained environment. The logical place to begin physical-layer testing is with the individual system, i.e., the network host or adapter. Covering methodologies to real examples will provide an understanding of the challenges faced in meeting IEEE conformance. Let's review the basics of Fast Ethernet testing.
Ethernet testing tools series#
Members may have their products tested in a series of both IEEE and interoperability scenarios-testing that has become a necessity for any company developing Fast Ethernet systems. In addition to the IEEE standards, the University of New Hampshire Interoperability Lab, Durham, N.H., has formed a Fast Ethernet consortium. Properly testing for forward migration, while maintaining backwards interoperability, shows that the network is evolving as a tool that maintains data integrity without compromise. Mixing this with interoperability testing of existing devices provides a robust environment for determining the overall fitness of the system. The IEEE has provided the standards by which the physical-layer and physical-medium devices must perform. Consequently, it's brought about a slew of testing and interoperability concerns.
Ethernet testing tools upgrade#
Coexisting with installed network devices, Fast Ethernet has become both legacy-compatible and capable of providing future migration to 100-Mbit/s connections as users upgrade their interconnect systems. Having emerged as the leader in desktop networking, Fast Ethernet is able to bring much needed bandwidth to users, while maintaining the integrity of Ethernet.Īdopting physical-layer conventions from the fiber distributed data interface (FDDI), Fast Ethernet has leveraged existing technology into the framework of a carrier-sense multiple-access/collision-detection (CSMA/CD) network, preserving users' and administrators' knowledge of network operation. Today's increase in computing power, coupled with the ability to share applications and data, has driven the modern networking infrastructure to new levels of speed and sophistication.
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