DiCon GP750 Switch
Avoid damaging the inputs of DCA-M modules. The front panel of many optical switches list the maximum power above which the switch is damaged. Be aware that the switch's maximum power level may far exceed the maximum safe power limits to DCA-M module inputs. Never exceed the maximum power level shown on the DCA-M module's front panel.
Example DiCon GP750 Switch's Switch IDs
The following picture shows how the GP750 switch modules are named. The ID strings for matrix switch modules include an "X" character and for 1 x N switches includes an "M" character. The ID string takes the form: <slot-ID>:<module-ID>. On the DiCon-GP750 shown here:
- Slot 1 switch is a 1 x 12 switch with an ID of SL1:M1.
- Slot 2 switches are 1 x 2 switches that have the following IDs: SL2:M1, SL2:M2, and SL2:M3. These switches include an Add port which is passive and not used with FlexOTO. The In, Out, and Drop ports are active.
- Slot 3 switch is 8 x 32 switch matrix with ID SL3:X1.
FlexOTO expects that the test equipment be connected to the switch ports as marked in the following table. You can disregard the switch's front panel INPUTS and OUTPUTS labels as these switches are bidirectional, and FlexOTO needs the larger number of ports to be assigned to Fixtures, Demultiplexers, and Impairments.
Because DiCon offers many configurations of installed switch modules, your switch may not match this picture.
Because switches SL1:M1, SL2:M1, SL2:M2, and SL2:M3 only have one switch output, an output is unavailable to a demultiplexer, impairment, or user instrument.
| Front Panel | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Switch SL1:M1 | Switches SL2:M1, SL2:M2, and SL2:M3 | Switch SL3:X1 | ||||
| Front Panel Label | Ports 1 through 12 | IN | Out and Drop | In | OUTPUTS (Ports 1 through 32) |
INPUTS (Ports 1 through 8) |
| Port Function in FlexOTO | Inputs From | Outputs To | Inputs From | Outputs To | Inputs From | Outputs To |
| DCA-M Modules | ● | ● | ● | |||
| Fixtures | ● | ● | ● | |||
| Demultiplexers | ● | ● | ||||
| Impairments | ● | ● | ||||
| User Instruments | ● | |||||
| Color definitions in table: | ||||||
| Switch ports that FlexOTO considers to be switch inputs. | ||||||
| Switch ports that FlexOTO considers to be switch ouputs. | ||||||
| Hardware Diagram Switch Block | Switch Setup Dialog (To open, click on Switch Block) |
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Switch drawings are representative examples as switch models often come in different configurations. FlexOTO supports other module/switch configurations that are not shown. For example, you may be using a DiCon GP750 that has different installed modules. The basic concepts still apply.
The number of fixtures tested, lane counts, and DCA-M channels all consume available switch ports. In the Available Port Connections table above, equipment shown as available may in fact be unavailable due to situations in which all available ports are already assigned. In these situations, you may be able to free up switch ports by using only one DCA-M channel or deleting a user instrument, impairment, or multiple fixtures. Of course, switches with more ports provide more flexibility.
Example Setup
This example shows two DWDM Fixtures being tested using a DiCon GP750 8 x 32 switch module. One acquisition engine is configured using an N1078A clock recovery module and an N1092D four channel oscilloscope. Notice that the DWDM fixture outputs are connected to the switch and not to the de-multiplexers. One de-multiplexer could have been used, but two will allow parallel testing of the two fixtures.
In this setup, a power meter is used to perform a user measurement. When the Test Program is run, FlexOTO must pause to allow the operator to manually or remotely perform the measurement. The results in asynchronous testing for which you should configure multiple FlexOTO Stations. Using multiple sessions allows other sessions to continue processing data while one sessions is paused waiting for user measurements.
Fiber optic cable colors do not imply any fiber function but simply help make the cable paths easier to see in the drawing.
On DiCon GP750 switches, FlexOTO uses reverse port direction. For example, Fixture outputs are connected to switch ports that are labeled as OUTPUTS on the switch's front panel. DCA-M inputs are connected to switch ports that are labeled as INPUTS on the switch's front panel.
