Installing An Optical Bypass Switch - 3Com 3C780 - LinkBuilder FDDI Base Unit User Manual

2-26 Installing the Hub

Installing an Optical Bypass Switch

In many network environments, mission-critical devices such as bridges,
routers, and hubs should be connected to the primary dual ring only if they are
equipped with an optical bypass switch (OBS). An optical bypass switch is a
device that prevents ring wrap in the event a node is powered off. Using an
optical bypass switch protects the integrity of the dual ring by rerouting the
signal in case of a station malfunction: the trunk ring is not broken.
If you want the protection provided by an optical bypass switch, purchase an
optical bypass switch with the plug configuration shown in Figure 2-10. 3Com
does not supply this device.
B
A
6-Pin mini-DIN
MIC connectors
Figure 2-10. Optical Bypass Switch