Basic Functionality And Operation Of A Fanout Panel - Nortel Passport 15000 Hardware Description

296 Chapter 5 Termination panels for FPs

Basic functionality and operation of a fanout panel

241-1501-200 5.2S2
When both FPs are in-service and power to the sparing panel resumes
• the LED of the active FP connection lights
• with Passport 15000 or 20000 FPs, the status of active traffic through the
sparing panel always aligns with the status of traffic through the FP pair
• an automatic or manual switchover to the mate can occur provided it is
in service
Fanout panels act as a cable distribution system that provides any of the
following functions, depending on the functional processor (FP) they support.
Fanout panels can
• provide a break-out (or fanout) for customer equipment connections so
that each port of an FP has its own termination point and access
• provide media conversion
• act as a concentrator, reducing the number of cables that are attached to
the front of a Passport 15000 or 20000
• provide a common grounding point for cables
• determine the type of connection (DCE or DTE) depending on which
connector is used
The connections between the fanout panel, the FPs, and all equipment up to
the far-end connection are intended to be Tx-to-Tx and Rx-to-Rx with
Passport equipment. When the Tx-to-Rx combinations get crisscrossed
between an FP, a termination panel, and the far-end termination, the effect of
one error nullifying another can establish a workable connection. It is
important that you label the connection information of each Tx and Rx
connection onto the end of the cable at each break in the cable path.
Fanout panels do not operate by software or require power. A fanout panel is
effectively a fan-in or fan-out patch panel. Some Passport sparing panels
automatically become a one-for-one fanout panel when power is cut off.