Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!snorkelwacker!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!proteon.com!sdb
From: sdb@proteon.com (Scott D. Baker)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.proteon
Subject: Re: "Classic ProNET-80 Problems"
Message-ID: <9003201958.AA18440@monk.proteon.com>
Date: 20 Mar 90 19:58:51 GMT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The Internet
Lines: 61


Mike,

I'd like to address your questions on what you term as the "classic"
ProNET-80 problem.

What's termed as the "data sensitivity" or "classic" problem is evident in
ProNET-80 networks when one or more phase lock loop (PLL) circuits is mis-
aligned.  These PLL's are present on the CTL card and the fiber optic modems. 
0xEB is a ProNET-80 near-worst-case data pattern.  A nibble of 0xE is 001110
on the wire, a nibble of 0xB is 011100 on the wire. This concatenates to
001110011100001110011100, which has very poor transition density.

As (differential) square waves on the wire you will have a near perfect
sub-rate square wave:

      +--+--+--+     +--+--+--+           +--+--+--+     +--+--+--+     
      |        |     |        |           |        |     |        |     
+--+--+        +--+--+        +--+--+--+--+        +--+--+        +--+--+

 0  0  1  1  1  0  0  1  1  1  0  0  0  0  1  1  1  0  0  1  1  1  0  0
 <------0xE------> <------0xB------> <------0xE------> <------0xB------>


There are two primary reasons for PLL's to be out of alignment:  initial
mis-alignment, or extreme variances in operating temperatures.

What I have found to be the most effective way to troubleshoot these problems
is to basically follow what Cliff had outlined:

    o "clear" the interface statistics on all devices attached to the
      80 Mbps ring,

    o Perform some large file transfers over the 80 Mbps ring and note
      the interface statistics for the ProNET-80 interface.

         Specifically note the number of Input Parity Errors (IPE) and
         the number of Input Packets.  The occurrence of IPE should not 
         be greater than 1 IPE per 1000 Input Packets during optimal
         operation.

    o The node experiencing more than 1 IPE per 1000 Input Packets is
      indicating that the link is degraded between that unit and its
      upstream neighbor.  Several types of links may be involved,
      including copper, fiber, wire centers, fiber optic modems, etc.

    o From that point we can apply what Cliff had suggested: isolate the
      components by swapping with other units and measure the results.

In response to your question, "Is it true that Proteon, concentrating on
FDDI replacing ProNET-80, does not give full effort in resolving the
problem?".  As a Technical Support Engineer, I can confidently respond with
a definitive "Absolutely NOT !", and I certainly hope that our users feel the
same way!

Please feel free to call customer service at (508) 898-3100 if you would
like to talk directly to a Technical Support Engineer.

                                  Scott Baker
                                  Technical Support Engineer
                                  Proteon, Inc.