Installation Instructions for GroupE Dell Test-boxes
0. Open the package(s) and see what you have
You must have the articles below.
- A test-box installed on a Dell PowerEdge 650 or PowerEdge 750 with standard accessories
- A short serial-to-serial cable
- Dell manuals and original accessories, including European power cord
and one metallic Dell front cover
- Dell rack rails with original documentation
- A white Trimble Acutime2000 GPS antenna
- GPS antenna-to-DB25 cable (weather-resistant except the DB25
connector)
- DB25-to-UTP cable
- UTP-to-UTP connector (small, light grey rectangular box)
- An antenna ratchet mount with adjustable brackets
1. Arranging the Antenna and Cabling
A good view of satellites and a precise time resolution are the
essentials. For your GPS antenna, find a place that has the largest
possible clear view of the sky. While choosing that place, keep in mind
that you can use up to 300 meters of cat5 UTP cable in the building to
reach the test-box.
- Attach the antenna mounting to a suitable place. Remember that
you may need to adjust the antenna position anytime. So, do not forget to
leave a certain degree of freedom for its movements. The antenna, the
12-pin black connector, and the black cable is weather-resistant but not
the DB25 connector at the other end.
- Screw in the antenna and adjust the ratchet towards the largest
possible clear view of the sky.
- Connect the cable to the back of the antenna.
- Take the DB25 end of the cable inside the building.
- Attach the DB25-to-UTP cable. If this is not enough to reach the
test-box, use the UTP-to-UTP connector and extend it with a maximum of 300
meters of standard cat5 UTP cable.
NOTE 1: Do not use your existing active and/or intelligent cable switching
network in the building. You may safely use existing cat5 UTP wiring
through mechanical patch panels but active switching equipment would not
survive the +30 V DC from the test-box to the antenna. Mechanical routing
has been tested to work up to 300 meters. If you have some neighbours
testing radar equipment in the next building, your mileage may vary.
NOTE 2: If you use cable other than CAT5, do not extend the unused outputs
from the Trimble
(pins 6 and 7, and 8 and 10, respectively). This
has given interference problems in the past.
Also connect the two serial ports on the back of the Test-box with a
short serial cable.
2. Installing the Test-box
The test-box will not be directly accessible by the host and should be
directly reachable via network once booted. You may anyway need some
access for local maintenance. This would be done by:
- Plugging in a standard keyboard and a VGA monitor on the back or the front
of the testbox
Please note that none of the above should be needed in absence of
troubles.
PowerEdge 650
PowerEdge 750
Connections check-list:
- Short serial-to-serial cable:
At the back of the test-box you will find two DB9 connectors. One is on
the antenna interfacing card (black female, near four LEDs named 30V, 5V,
GPS, PPS) and the other is on the middle (male). Connect them together
with the supplied short serial-to-serial cable.
- Antenna connection:
The RJ45 connector near the serial port
at the other side of the LEDs is for the UTP cable coming from the
antenna. It has nothing to do with any kind of Ethernet except using the
same connector type. This is not a design flaw but a choice to allow you
to easily make your own custom length antenna cables. Attach it. Label the
cable and port (e.g. "NON-ETHERNET", "DO NOT CONNECT ETHERNET") according
to your needs.
- Ethernet: (PowerEdge 650)
The two RJ45 connectors on the right
are the Ethernet ports. Attach the network cable from your LAN to the most
left one, if seen from the backside.
- Ethernet: (PowerEdge 750)
The two RJ45 connectors at the centre
are the Ethernet ports. Attach the network cable from your LAN to the top
one.
Dell test-boxes are bare when they are out of the package and some
buttons are seen on the front panel. Before attaching the front panel
cover, examine the available buttons. When powered down the blue led of the
power button just right of the drive bays will blink, and when powered, will be
lit continuously. The NMI button has no function. There is no serial console
available either.
PowerEdge 650
PowerEdge 750
When all connections are done, power on the test-box. Wait a reasonable
time to boot if you do not watch it booting. It should come up with the
network parameters that you gave us in your application form. Try pinging
the test-box from several hosts. If you cannot, check your firewall
parameters and other related configuration. If everything goes well, send
us an e-mail to tt-ops@ripe.net. If you need further help, please do not
hesitate to contact us.
Appendix A
How to interpret the LEDs on the antenna interfacing card
There are four LEDs, all green, on the antenna interfacing card. They are
labeled as 30V, 5V, GPS, PPS.
- 30V : This is directly connected to the 30V supply output of
the
card. 30V DC is supplied to power the antenna. Must be lit on normal operation.
-
5V : This is directly connected to the 5V supply used internally by
the antenna interfacing card. Must be lit on normal operation.
-
GPS : This LED flashes whenever a tranmission happens from the
antenna to the antenna interfacing card. If this LED NEVER flashes, you
are likely to have some problems.
-
PPS : When enough satellites are seen and a time resolution is
achieved, the antenna sends 1 Hz. (i.e. one pulse/second) square wave to
the interfacing card. You can watch this on PPS LED after antenna starts
time resolution (i.e. within 1 hour after power up). If this does not
happen, it is most likely that your antenna does not see enough satellites
or you have some serious cabling problems.
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