Fibre to 100Base T network converter HELP

svan · 23 Nov 2011 at 18:11

Hope you can help!

The school I work at has just had a new building constructed and it appears that a fibre connection is running from that to a new fibre patch panel.

The school currently runs a 100Base UTP RJ45 network.

I want to link this fibre patch panel to the RJ45 100Base T switch. We have 8 live fibre ports on the panel. Do I need a Fibre to RJ45 converter box for each of the 8 live ports or can you buy a switch type converter that has say 16, 24 or 32 ports?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

ChrisD. · 23 Nov 2011 at 18:19

You can get a rack mounted converter, they come in all different shapes and sizes.

svan · 23 Nov 2011 at 18:21

MilanoChris said:
You can get a switch.

Could you possibley point me in the right direction of one??

Are RJ45 main network is 100.. I think the fibre is 1000 does that have a bearing on what type of converter or switch we need?

Thanks for any help folks.

ChrisD. · 23 Nov 2011 at 18:46

I don't know where you'd buy one from, sorry, I just tell procurement what I need and they buy it. Sorry.

Most of our stuff is legacy 3Com from memory and I believe it's mostly auto-sensing. As long as you get 100Base T it should be fine.

ChrisD. · 23 Nov 2011 at 18:56

Actually thinking about it, I may be off in a wrong direction on this one.

So you have a dumb fibre panel, with 8 outputs, that you want to put into a 100Base T switch? What kind of Switch is it?

svan · 23 Nov 2011 at 19:01

MilanoChris said:
Actually thinking about it, I may be off in a wrong direction on this one.

So you have a dumb fibre panel, with 8 outputs, that you want to put into a 100Base T switch? What kind of Switch is it?

Just a basic Netgear Prosafe 10/100 switch

Caged · 23 Nov 2011 at 19:32

I'd look at getting a media and rate converter, that way you can upgrade your switch to gigabit later without having to change the media adaptor.

Allied Telesis tend to be my go-to for stuff like this:

http://www.alliedtelesis.co.uk/p-2144.html

You can get chassis for them as well to neaten up having 8 units:

http://www.alliedtelesis.co.uk/p-2274.html

svan · 23 Nov 2011 at 20:50

Thanks for all your info. It has made things very much more clearer.

Just one point tho.. with this media adaptor, does it matter what speed the fibre is currently running at??

Cheers

svan

svan · 23 Nov 2011 at 20:53

Upon checking the prices, these converters seem mighty expensive. Is there cheaper versions that would do the job?

Cheers

svan

Caged · 23 Nov 2011 at 23:28

Not really. Surely the budget that paid for the new building can pay to link it back to the main site?

Do you need to light up all of the fibres or is one pair going to do what you need?

svan · 23 Nov 2011 at 23:52

Caged said:
Not really. Surely the budget that paid for the new building can pay to link it back to the main site?

Do you need to light up all of the fibres or is one pair going to do what you need?

You have a point. If they have spent on the new build then what's a few extra for the right kit!

tbh. They have made live 4 points on one floor all next to each other.. Would it be a big job to get some other points on different floors patched into the new fibre panel??.. Sorry, lacking when it comes to fibre..

and

with this media adaptor, does it matter what speed the fibre is currently running at??

Caged · 23 Nov 2011 at 23:54

The fibre doesn't run at a speed as it's just a piece of glass (it can be rated at different speeds but it's new so that shouldn't be an issue). Unless you mean there's kit at the other end already?

These are media and rate converters, like I said earlier you can get media converters but that would mean you couldn't have a gigabit switch and one end and a 100meg at the other.

ChrisD. · 24 Nov 2011 at 10:12

I don't understand what they've done.

Have they simply put in a fibre link, with 8 pairs, and a dumb terminal at each end but no other connectivity?

svan · 24 Nov 2011 at 10:39

MilanoChris said:
I don't understand what they've done.

Have they simply put in a fibre link, with 8 pairs, and a dumb terminal at each end but no other connectivity?

Yes..

ChrisD. · 24 Nov 2011 at 10:53

Why don't you just buy two media converters, and use only one leg of the fibre for the downlink?

Without knowing your network, it's hard to advise really.

carte_blanche · 24 Nov 2011 at 16:03

if 100 is good and only point to point is needed then the Allied Telesyn (at-mc101xl) should drive the line ok.
about £60-£80 each.
going forward look at an hp procurve with gbics if you want to light up the other cores

svan · 24 Nov 2011 at 16:55

carte_blanche said:
if 100 is good and only point to point is needed then the Allied Telesyn (at-mc101xl) should drive the line ok.
about £60-£80 each.
going forward look at an hp procurve with gbics if you want to light up the other cores

Is that with also using the faster converts?

Thanks evb for all your help.

Svan

MikeHiow · 24 Nov 2011 at 19:03

I can't see the point of messing around with media converters.

You can buy something like a Netgear GS724T which is "semi-managed" and offers two SFP ports for around £120+vat, and then a couple of Gbit Fiber SFP modules for around £30+vat each.

You'll need a couple of fiber patch leads on top of that. I usually pay around £15 a pop from a local company, but I'm sure you could source them cheaper on the internet.