Overview of Connecting the T640 Router to Management and Alarm Devices

For management and service operations, you connect the Routing Engine to an external console or management network through ports on the Connector Interface Panel (CIP). You can also connect the T640 router to external alarm-reporting devices through the alarm relay contacts on the CIP.

After you have installed the T640 Core Router into the rack, attach one or more external devices to the ports on the CIP that connect to the Routing Engines for management and service operations (see Figure 1). For specifications for the cable accepted by the Routing Engine management ports.

Figure 1: Routing Engine Management Ports and Alarm Relay Contacts

Connecting the T640 Router to a Network for Out-of-Band Management

To connect the Routing Engine to a network for out-of-band management, connect an Ethernet with RJ-45 connectors to the ETHERNET port on the CIP. One cable is provided with the router.

1. Turn off the power to the management device.
2. Plug one end of the Ethernet cable (Figure 2 shows the connector) into the appropriate ETHERNET port on the CIP. The ports labeled HOST 0 connect to the Routing Engine in the upper Routing Engine slot (RE0), and the ports labeled HOST 1 connect to the Routing Engine in the lower Routing Engine slot (RE1).
3. Plug the other end of the cable into the network device.

Figure 2: Routing Engine Ethernet Cable Connector

Connecting the T640 Router to a Management Console or Auxiliary Device

To use a system console to configure and manage the Routing Engine, connect it to the appropriate CONSOLE port on the CIP. To use a laptop, modem, or other auxiliary device, connect it to the appropriate AUXILIARY port on the CIP. Both ports accept an RS-232 (EIA-232) serial cable with a DB-9 female connector. One DB-9/DB-9 cable is provided with the router. To connect a device to the CONSOLE port, and another device to the AUXILIARY port, you must supply another cable.

To connect a management console or auxiliary device:

1. Turn off the power to the console or auxiliary device.
2. Connect one end (shown in Figure 3) of a serial cable with a DB-9 female connector into the appropriate CONSOLE or AUXILIARY port. The ports labeled HOST 0 connect to the Routing Engine in the upper Routing Engine slot (RE0), and the ports labeled HOST 1 connect to the Routing Engine in the lower Routing Engine slot (RE1).
3. Using a 2.5-mm flat-blade screwdriver, tighten the screws on the connector.
4. Attach the other end of the cable to the console or auxiliary device.

Figure 3: Console and Auxiliary Serial Port Connector

Connecting the T640 Router to an External Alarm-Reporting Device

To connect the router to external alarm-reporting devices, attach wires to the RED ALARM and YELLOW ALARM relay contacts on the CIP. A system condition that triggers the red or yellow alarm LED on the craft interface also activates the corresponding alarm relay contact.

The terminal blocks that plug into the alarm relay contacts are supplied with the router. They accept wire of any gauge between 28-AWG and 14-AWG (0.08 and 2.08 mm²), which is not provided. Use the gauge of wire appropriate for the external device you are connecting.

To connect an external device to an alarm relay contact:

1. Prepare the required length of wire with gauge between 28-AWG and 14-AWG (0.08 and 2.08 mm²).
2. While the terminal block is not plugged into the relay contact, use a 2.5-mm flat-blade screwdriver to loosen the small screws on its side. With the small screws on its side facing left, insert wires into the slots in the front of the block based on the wiring for the external device. Tighten the screws to secure the wire.
3. Orient the terminal block according to the labels to the left of the appropriate relay contact (NC means “normally closed, C means “common,” and (NO means “normally open”).
4. Plug the terminal block into the relay contact and use a 2.5-mm flat-blade screwdriver to tighten the screws on the face of the block.
5. Attach the other end of the wires to the external device.

If attaching a reporting device for the other kind of alarm, repeat the procedure.

Connecting PIC Cables to the T640 Router

The router supports PICs that use various kinds of network cable, including multimode and single-mode fiber-optic cable. For information about the type of cable used by each PIC, see the PIC guide for your router.

You connect PICs to the network by plugging in network cable. To connect cable to the PICs (see Figure 4, which shows a fiber-optic PIC):

1. Have ready a length of the type of cable used by the PIC. For cable specifications, see the T640 Core Router PIC Guideand M Series, MX Series, and T Series Network Cable and Transceiver Overview..
2. If the PIC cable connector port is covered by a rubber safety plug, remove the plug.

   Warning: Do not look directly into a fiber-optic transceiver or into the ends of fiber-optic cables. Fiber-optic transceivers and fiber-optic cable connected to a transceiver emit laser light that can damage your eyes.

   Caution: Do not leave a fiber-optic transceiver uncovered except when inserting or removing cable. The safety cap keeps the port clean and prevents accidental exposure to laser light.

3. Insert the cable connector into the cable connector port on the PIC faceplate.
4. Arrange the cable in the cable management system to prevent it from dislodging or developing stress points. Secure the cable so that it is not supporting its own weight as it hangs to the floor. Place excess cable out of the way in a neatly coiled loop in the cable management system. Placing fasteners on the loop helps to maintain its shape.

   Caution: Avoid bending fiber-optic cable beyond its minimum bend radius. An arc smaller than a few inches in diameter can damage the cable and cause problems that are difficult to diagnose.

   Caution: Do not let fiber-optic cable hang free from the connector. Do not allow fastened loops of cable to dangle, which stresses the cable at the fastening point.

Figure 4: Attaching a Cable to a PIC