Net.

Storm GbE Impairment Generator

The ALBEDO Telecom [Link] is a handheld tester which is capable to emulate different degradations or impairments that
are often found in Ethernet / IP networks. Thanks to this capability, [Link] is useful in determining whether a network
application or device is appropriate for operation in such networks.

Port B Leave Screen

Summary LED Test Connector Button Cursors
Rubber Boot
(Left) Panel Home Panel Rubber Boot
Port A
Summary LED Shortcut (Right)

Colour
[Link]
GbE Impairment Generator BACK
Screen Confirm
Button
ENTER

HOME SUM

RUN

EVENT Summary
Shortcut
PWR

LEDS F1 F2 F3 F4 Start / Stop

DC
Button

Power Event Insertion

Platform Connector LED Button
LEDs Panel
Function Panel DC / Charge On / Off
Shortcut
Buttons LED Button

Figure 1: [Link] Front view. The tester presents results by means a colour screen and the LEDs. The configuration is
performed through the keyboard.

The [Link] has an external DC input but it also has internal batteries. This makes this tester suitable both for laboratory
applications and field applications which require versatile and reliable operation.
Within your [Link] test kit you will find the following items:
• One [Link] test unit.
• One AC/DC adapter with a power cord specific for your country.
• One Carrying bag.
• Two Cat. 5e cables with RJ-45 connectors certified for operation at 1 Gb/s rates.
• Two SFPs for connection to optical interfaces (if ordered).
• Two MMF or SMF cables to be used with the SFPs (if ordered).
• One CD-ROM with user documentation.
• One printed copy of this user manual (if ordered).
Check with your distributor the availability of other optional items for your [Link] unit.

ALBEDO Telecom - B6523022

C/ Joan d’Àustria, 112 - Barcelona - 08018 - Spain
[Link]

© 2012 ALBEDO Telecom S. L. All Rigths Reserved

 Quick User Guide: [Link] GbE Impairment Generator

1. Important Notice
Operation, manipulation and disposal warnings for your [Link] unit are listed below.

1.1. Warranty
The ALBEDO Telecom [Link] is supplied with a warranty that includes replacement of damaged or faulty components in
the terms and period described in the ordering information. This Warranty does not apply to:
1. Product subjected to abnormal use or conditions, accident, mishandling, neglect, unauthorized alteration, misuse,
improper installation or repair or improper storage.
2. Product whose mechanical serial number or electronic serial number has been removed, altered or defaced.
3. Damage from exposure to moisture, humidity, excessive temperatures or extreme environmental conditions.
4. Damage resulting from connection to, or use of any accessory or other product not approved or authorized by the Com-
Albedo Telecom - B6523022 - Joan d’Àustria, 112 - Barcelona - 08018 - [Link]

pany;
5. Product damaged from external causes such as fire, flooding, dirt, sand, weather conditions, battery leakage, blown
fuse, theft or improper usage of any electrical source.

1.2. Battery Safety

The ALBEDO Telecom [Link] tester contains a built-in battery, improper use of which may result in explosion. Do not heat,
open, puncture, mutilate, or dispose of the product in fire. Do not leave the device in direct sunlight for an extended period of
time, which could cause melting or battery damage.

1.3. WEEE Notice

This product must not be disposed of or dumped with other waste. You are liable to dispose of all your electronic or electrical
waste equipment by relocating over to the specified collection point for recycling of such hazardous waste. For more
information about electronic and electrical waste equipment disposal, recovery, and collection points, please contact your
local city centre, waste disposal service, or manufacturer of the equipment.

2. The Tester
Interaction with [Link] is based on a high resolution colour screen, different kinds of status LEDs, and a keyboard. These
are the keyboard elements:
• Cursors: Enable navigation through the graphical user interface. Including menus, keyboards and configuration lists. To
leave a menu or configuration list, the left arrow can be used. In menus, the right arrow enters in the lower level menu or
list.
• ESC: Leaves the current panel (menus, lists, and special panels).
• ENTER: In menus, enters in the lower level menu or list. In a configuration list, it selects the current item and leaves. In
keyboards and some special panels, it selects the current item without leaving.
• HOME: Shortcut to the Home panel. From any menu, list, or special panel, it returns directly to Home.
• SUMMARY: Displays the Summary panel. If the Summary panel is already shown, it returns to the previous panel.
• LEDS: Displays the LEDs panel. If the LEDs panel is already shown, it returns to the previous panel.
• EVENT: Starts (and sometimes stops) the event insertion. The exact way this button works depends on the actual event
insertion mode. For example, if single event inversion is configured, each time you press EVENT a new event will be
inserted but if continuous insertion is the current configured value, you will need to press EVENT during event insertion
to stop the action.
• RUN: This button starts / stops a new test. Some results (LEDs, some analogue values) are available without an ongoing
test. Most of the configuration is blocked during a test execution.
• Function keys (F1, F2, F3, F4): These keys do not have a fixed purpose. Their associated action depends on the panel
being displayed.
• On/Off key: If the tester is in off status, push to switch it on. If the tester is on, use this key to switch it off (long push).
There are four LEDs (PWR, DC, Port A summary, Port B summary). Their description is given below:
• PWR: Displays the current tester on / off status. The green colour is displayed under normal operation conditions.
Orange and red are shown to indicate a low battery load.
• DC: This led is lit when the DC input is connected. Orange indicates a charging batteries status and green means that
the internal batteries are ready.
• Port A / Port B Summary: These LEDs provide a permanent indication of the current input signal (or signals) status. The
LEDs summarize the Port A and Port B information given by the event LEDs. If any event LEDs for a test port is in ‘red’
status, the port summary led will be set to ‘red’. If any event LED is ‘orange’ but there is no ‘red’ event, the summary led
will be set to ‘orange. The ‘green’ colour is used when no events are found in the input signal. Finally, the LED is
switched of when the port is disabled.

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 Quick User Guide: [Link] GbE Impairment Generator

2.1. Test Connectors

The [Link] is connected to the DUT / SUT through the test connector panel. Ports and elements included in this panel are
described in the following list:

SFP SFP RJ-45 RJ-45

Port A Port B Port A Port B
Albedo Telecom - B6523022 - Joan d’Àustria, 112 - Barcelona - 08018 - [Link]

Port A Port B Port A Port B

SFP 10/100/1000BASE-T

SD

SD Card

Figure 2: [Link] test connector panel. Connection to the DUT / SUT is done in this panel

• RJ-45 Port A. This is the first full featured 10/100/1000BASE-T port for Ethernet transmit and receive.
• RJ-45 Port B. This is the second full featured 10/100/1000BASE-T port for Ethernet transmit and receive. This port is
identical to the RJ-45 Port A.
• SFP Port A. This port is used to connect the tester to the network through an optical interface with the help of an SFP
module.
• SFP Port B. This port is used to connect the tester to the network through an optical interface with the help of an SFP
module. This port is identical to the SFP Port A.
• SD Card: Slot for SD Cards. These cards can be used as external storage devices.

2.2. Platform Connectors

There is a connector panel specifically devoted to the platform ports. This panel includes capabilities like remote control and
external device connection. A more detailed description is given below:

RJ-45
Power printer or console USB Slave USB Master
connector connector

DC IN Printer / Console Ethernet

15V Max.

RJ-45 Analogue audio

general purpose input / output
LAN connector

Figure 3: [Link] platform connector panel. This panel includes connectivity to USB devices,

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 Quick User Guide: [Link] GbE Impairment Generator

• Power connector: The input must be 12 V DC, 4 A. A suitable external AC/DC adapter for your country is provided with
the tester.
• RJ-45 printer or console. Console connector. This interface is prepared for connecting a serial printer.
• USB Slave. Use a USB cable with Slave type connector (Type B, Device) for this port. Currently this port enables con-
nection of a PC to the tester and access to the internal tester file system.
• USB Master: Use a USB cable with a Master type connector (Type A, Host) for this port. Currently this port is used for
software upgrades and connection of external storage devices.
• RJ-45 general purpose LAN connector: This is the platform Fast Ethernet connector (10/100BASE-T). It is used for
remote management of the test unit.
• Analogue audio input / output: It is a 2.5 mm audio jack for connecting external speakers and microphone.

3. The Graphical User Interface

Albedo Telecom - B6523022 - Joan d’Àustria, 112 - Barcelona - 08018 - [Link]

The [Link] graphical user interface is based in a 480 x 272 colour screen and a set of keys attached to the front panel.
Some of these keys have a permanent purpose but the specific function for some other keys depend on the context.

Port B Date and Time Current Panel

Softleds
Port A
Softleds

Menu items

Figure 4: [Link], the Home panel.

The keyboard and the screen allow the user setting configuration values, starting tests and displaying results. The user is
always aware of the current status of the received signal through the Softleds shown on the left. The Softleds are always
displayed and they work even when there is no test running. On the top side of the screen there is a header zone which
contains information about the current tester status (date, time, tests running, event insertion active) and an identifier for the
currently displayed panel.
Most of the graphical user interface panels are menus containing a variable number of items. All the menus are available from
the Home panel. Users can press the HOME button at any time to go to the Home panel. The Home panel contains the
following menu items:
• Test: Contains configuration items related with general test configuration like delayed test settings, performance objec-
tives, event insertion, and report configuration.
• Setup: Provides access to test resource configuration. For the impairment generation application, the setup submenus
contain configuration of Port A and Port B.
• Results: This item enables the user to browse test results. Most of them are not available if a measurement has not been
previously started but there are some exceptions to this rule like the LEDs.
• File: File management menus. Includes configuration, result and report file management. Files can be deleted, copied,
exported or imported.
• System: Provides platform management tools. For example language selection, screensaver configuration and others.
There are two special panels as well. These are the Summary panel and the LEDs panel. The Summary provides some details
about the current configuration and results. The LEDs panel gives extended the information about the received signal status

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 Quick User Guide: [Link] GbE Impairment Generator

already given by the Softleds. Both the Summary panel and the LEDs panel can be displayed at any moment by pressing the
SUM and LEDS buttons.
Albedo Telecom - B6523022 - Joan d’Àustria, 112 - Barcelona - 08018 - [Link]

Figure 5: [Link] test results represented as a counter list

Menus and submenus are organized in a tree. The root of the tree is the Home panel and the leaves are configuration or result
panels. Results are usually presented in a list or a table. If all results cannot be simultaneously displayed, then the user is
allowed to use the cursors up and down to browse the list.
Configuration panels are usually selection lists. Sometimes you can select only one simultaneous item in the list and
sometimes selection of several items at the same time is possible. Keyboards are available if selection through lists is not
possible. There is one keyboard for numeric settings and one for alphanumeric settings.

(a)

(b)

(c)

Figure 6: Different kinds of configuration panels: (a) Selection list, (b) Alphanumeric keyboard, (c) Numeric keyboard.

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 Quick User Guide: [Link] GbE Impairment Generator

4. Running Tests
Most of the results provided by [Link] are not available until you start a test. This section provides a high level description
of the procedure to follow to configure your unit, start a test and review the results.
1. Configure the tester to send / receive signals in the right operation mode and through the right ports. Connect it to the
network.
2. Program the test start time and duration with the help of the Program menu (within Test) or start the test immediately by
pressing RUN.
Note: Most of the configuration is blocked when there is an ongoing test.
3. Wait for the test to finish or press RUN to finish immediately.
4. Check the test results in the Results menu.
Note: All test results are upgraded in real time as the test progresses. That means that is not really necessary to wait for
the test to finish to check current results.
Albedo Telecom - B6523022 - Joan d’Àustria, 112 - Barcelona - 08018 - [Link]

5. Upgrading the Unit

The test unit software can be upgraded with the help of a USB memory stick. Before proceeding with the upgrade copy the
ALBEDO software to the root directory in the memory stick. The file name of the upgrade package must not be modified. The
USB must have a FAT32 file system.
Once the USB memory stick is ready. Follow this procedure to install the new software:
1. Switch the unit off
2. Press HOME and ENTER simultaneously and, without releasing the keys, press the On / Off button.
3. Now, keeping all three the keys pressed, wait until you hear a beep. Then release the keys.
The ALBEDO Software Installer is loaded and executed. An informative panel displays the [Link] software version
number found in the storage device.
4. Press ENTER to continue with the installation process.
5. Select Install or Upgrade. Install regenerates all the software in the unit even if it is up to date. Upgrade regenerates only
the software that has changed since the last upgrade. Use Install (F2 key) if you need to recover the unit after operation
failure due to corrupted software. Use Upgrade (F1 key) otherwise.
6. Confirm your previous selection by pressing ENTER or cancel with ESC.
7. Wait for the installation process to finish.
Note: The full process may take a few minutes.
Note: Do no disconnect the unit or remove the USB memory stick during installation.
8. Press ENTER to close the Software Installer and finish the installation process.
The unit will be automatically restarted. The new software will be loaded.

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