As is known to all, fiber media converter is a simple networking device which can connect two dissimilar media types such as twisted pair cable with fiber optic cable. And it can support many different data communication protocols including Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, etc. According to the network to points, media converters can be divided into managed media converters and unmanaged media converters. This article will tell about these two kinds of media converters.
Managed media converter supports carrier-grade network management. It is more costly than the unmanaged media converter, but it has the ability to provide additional network monitoring, fault detection and remote configuration functionality not available with an unmanaged media converter. Typically, managed media converters are equipped with remote Web / SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) interface, which enables network administrators to easily monitor and setup the converter, the transmission speed and duplex through web/SNMP browsers. The managed media converters are mostly suitable for those environments requiring a medium to large-scale deployment of media converters. Managed 10/100/1000 Ethernet media converter module is the smart choice for IT professionals.
Unmanaged media converter simply allows devices to communicate, and does not provide the same level of monitoring, fault detection and configuration as equivalent managed media converter. Connect the devices to the unmanaged media converter and they usually communicate automatically. With “plug and play” feature, unmanaged media converters are easy to install and troubleshoot. But the advantage is when a network issue is occurring, there is no way to access the media converter to see exactly what might be causing the issue. Unmanaged media converter is a great choice for newbies if you want a plug and play fiber network cable installation.
The managed media converters are aimed at users that require a response time of milliseconds. They are especially suitable for organizations that need to manage and troubleshoot the network remotely and securely, allowing network managers to reach optimal network performance and reliability. They can be used on any segment of a network where the traffic has to be monitored and controlled as they enable complete control of data, bandwidth and traffic. The unmanaged media converters are mostly used to connect edge devices on network spurs, or on a small stand-alone network with only a few components. They are suitable for any network that wants to simplify the installation of access points.
This article describes some basic information about the managed media converters and unmanaged media converters as well as their usage. The information may not be comprehensive. It’s just a reference. As a leading supplier in optical communication industry, FS.COM provides a series of managed and unmanaged media converters with various configurations. For the details, you can visit www.fs.com or contact us over sales@fs.com.