Alloy GCR2000SC.10 Gigabit Standalone/Rackmount Media Converter

The GCR2000SC.10 is a dual purpose Gigabit Ethernet Media Converter. It can be used as a standalone discrete device, or can be installed as a Media Converter Module into any Alloy 12-slot Media Converter Chassis. Whichever mode the GCR2000SC.10 is used in, it is a flexible solution ideal for a wide variety of media conversion applications in Gigabit Ethernet network environments. With dual 1000Base-T auto-sensing 10/100/1000Mbps RJ-45 and 1000Base-LX SC terminated singlemode ports, the GCR2000SC.10 is an ideal solution for UTP/STP copper to Gigabit Ethernet singlemode fibre media conversion tasks. The devices IEEE 802.3ab compliant RJ-45 port supports Gigabit, Fast Ethernet and Ethernet UTP/STP links at up to a 100 metres range, and the 1000Base-LX port has a maximum fibre cable range of up to 10 kilometres. 

The GCR2000SC.10 is a model from Alloy's GCR2000 Series of Dual Purpose Media Converters. As mentioned above, these converters can be used 'standalone' or installed in an Alloy DCR12 Series Media Converter chassis. Models in the series support most types of Gigabit media conversion, including 10/100/1000Mbps RJ-45 copper to 1000Base-SX multimode fibre (with either LC or SC connectors, maximum fibre cable range of 550 metres), 10/100/1000Mbps RJ-45 copper to 1000Base-LX singlemode fibre (LC or SC connectors for 10 or 30Km ranges), 10/100/1000Mbps RJ-45 copper to 1000Base-ZX singlemode fibre (LC or SC connectors for 50Km ranges), 10/100/1000Mbps RJ-45 copper to 1000Base-LX WDM singlemode/singlecore fibre (SC connectors with 20Km range, with send and receive datastreams mutliplexed over a single fibre core), and 10/100/1000Mbps RJ-45 copper to SFP providing support for any type of Gigabit Ethernet copper to multimode, singlemode or singlemode WDM application available via the installation of a mini-GBIC module. All models in the range are housed in a compact, highly durable all-metal case.

When used in 'standalone' mode as a discrete Media Converter device, all models in the GCR2000 Series can be powered either by an external plugpack (supplied with the Converter), or via a supplied USB cable which can derive power from any v1.1, v2 or V3 USB port. All GCR2000 Series models have four LEDs that monitor the operation status of the Converter, and also a DIP Switch array on the rear panel which are used to manually set LFP status (see below) and the configuration for Jumbo frame support (normal or cut-through). The RJ-45 port on all models are IEEE 802.3ab, auto-sensing MDI/MDIX, with speed, duplex mode and DTE/DCE mode automatically sensed and set.

A particular feature to note for all GCR2000 Series Gigabit Ethernet Media Converters is their support for Link Fault Passthrough (LFP) in both Far-end-Fault (FEF) and Forced Modes (FM). LFP allows these Media Converters to monitor both the fibre and copper RX ports for signal loss. In the case of a loss of RX signal on one media port, the Converter will automatically disable the TX signal to the other media port, thus passing through the link fault LED status. FEF mode enables the Converter to stop sending a link pulse to a LFP capable Converter on the other end of the cable; the link partner Converter will synchronously stop sending data, preventing loss of valuable data transmitted over an invalid link. Combining FM and FEF LFP functions supports troubleshooting and network security capability, as both end devices can be notified of a loss of fibre link and a managed switch connected to a GCR2000 Series Converter can be configured to disable the link and notify administrators of the event.