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Hi,

I'm currently playing with a NetOptics tap-module,
basically a splitter that replicates TX signals
between two network devices, sending them to
two gigabit cards (since full-duplex and two
TX signals need it).

(http://www.netoptics.com/gig-tap.html)

The great benefits of this device are switch CPU
savings (you don't need to have soft-replication
on the switch itself, since the optical signal
is replicated) and sometimes price.

The network cards i'm using are 3com 3c985-SX,
based on the Tigon-II chipset from ex-alteon.

I would recommend this solution to anyone, if I
didn't have the following problem: with only
an attached TX fiber, the card is unable to get
its link up, and won't read the signal.

I had a look at the (old) alteon developpement
kit, and at the freebsd kernel driver. It seems
there is a way to push the card into 'non-negociation'
and to force link up, with LNK_SENSE_NO_NEG, but
as far as I tried, this doesn't work.

Another solution could be uploading a dedicated
firmware to the card. I don't know R4000, and there
seems to be no more documentation from nortel about
this topic.

Did anyone successfully read from a gigabit NIC with
only a TX cord plugged in ? Is there a way to physically
force a link-up with some special patchcord ?

I'm very unaware of the physical layer principles,
so I'm quite embarrassed here.

Sorry to post here if it's not appropriate, good luck
everyone.. :)

-- 
Kalou
Plan to be spontaneous tomorrow

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