Removing and Installing Port Adapters
•Handling Port Adapters
•Online Insertion and Removal
•Warnings and Cautions
•Port Adapter Removal and Installation
•Connecting a Serial Cable
Handling Port Adapters
Note When port adapter slot is not in use, a blank port adapter must fill the empty slot to allow the router to conform to electromagnetic interference (EMI) emissions requirements and to allow proper airflow across the port adapters. If you plan to install a new port adapter in a slot that is not in use, you must first remove the blank port adapter.
Caution
When powering off the router, wait a minimum of 30 seconds before powering it on again.
Caution
Always handle the port adapter by the carrier edges and handle; never touch the port adapter components or connector pins. (See
Figure 3-1.)
Figure 3-1 Handling a Port Adapter
Online Insertion and Removal
Several platforms support online insertion and removal (OIR) of port adapters; therefore, you do not have to power down routers when removing and replacing a PA-T3+ in the Cisco 7200 series routers, Cisco 7200 VXR routers, Cisco 7201 router, Cisco 7301 router, or Cisco 7401ASR router.
Although the Catalyst 6000 family FlexWAN module, Cisco 7304 PCI port adapter carrier card, and VIP support OIR, individual port adapters do not. To replace port adapters, you must first remove the FlexWAN module, Cisco 7304 PCI port adapter carrier card, or VIP from the router and then replace port adapters as required. If a blank port adapter is installed on the FlexWAN module, Cisco 7304 PCI port adapter carrier card, or VIP on which you want to install a new port adapter, you must first remove the FlexWAN module, Cisco 7304 PCI port adapter carrier card, or VIP from the router and then remove the blank port adapter.
Caution
To prevent system problems, do not remove port adapters from the FlexWAN module, Cisco 7304 PCI port adapter carrier card, or VIP, or attempt to install other port adapters when the system is operating. To install or replace port adapters, first remove the FlexWAN module, Cisco 7304 PCI port adapter carrier card or VIP from the router.
It is wise to gracefully shut down the system before removing a port adapter that has active traffic moving through it. Removing a port adapter while traffic is flowing through the ports can cause system disruption. Once the port adapter is inserted, the ports can be brought back up.
Note As you disengage the port adapter from the router or switch, OIR administratively shuts down all active interfaces in the port adapter.
OIR allows you to install and replace port adapters while the router is operating; you do not need to notify the software or shut down the system power, although you should not run traffic through the port adapter you are removing while it is being removed. OIR is a method that is seamless to end users on the network, maintains all routing information, and preserves sessions.
The following is a functional description of OIR for background information only; for specific procedures for installing and replacing a port adapter in a supported platform, refer to the "Port Adapter Removal and Installation" section.
Each port adapter has a bus connector that connects it to the router. The connector has a set of tiered pins in three lengths that send specific signals to the system as they make contact with the port adapter. The system assesses the signals it receives and the order in which it receives them to determine if a port adapter is being removed from or introduced to the system. From these signals, the system determines whether to reinitialize a new interface or to shut down a disconnected interface.
Specifically, when you insert a port adapter, the longest pins make contact with the port adapter first, and the shortest pins make contact last. The system recognizes the signals and the sequence in which it receives them.
When you remove or insert a port adapter, the pins send signals to notify the system of changes. The router then performs the following procedure:
1. Rapidly scans the system for configuration changes.
2. Initializes newly inserted port adapters or administratively shuts down any vacant interfaces.
3. Brings all previously configured interfaces on the port adapter back to their previously installed state. Any newly inserted interface is put in the administratively shutdown state, as if it was present (but not configured) at boot time. If a similar port adapter type is reinserted into a slot, its ports are configured and brought online up to the port count of the originally installed port adapter of that type.
Note Before you begin installation, read Chapter 2, "Preparing for Installation" for a list of parts and tools required for installation.
Warnings and Cautions
Observe the following warnings and cautions when installing or removing port adapters.
Caution
Do not slide a port adapter all the way into the slot until you have connected all required cables. Trying to do so disrupts normal operation of the router or switch.
Note If a port adapter lever or other retaining mechanism does not move to the locked position, the port adapter is not completely seated in the midplane. Carefully pull the port adapter halfway out of the slot, reinsert it, and move the port adapter lever or other mechanism to the locked position.
Caution
To prevent jamming the carrier between the upper and the lower edges of the port adapter slot, and to ensure that the edge connector at the rear of the port adapter mates with the connection at the rear of the port adapter slot, make certain that the carrier is positioned correctly, as shown in the cutaway illustrations in the
"Port Adapter Removal and Installation" section.
Warning When performing the following procedures, wear a grounding wrist strap to avoid ESD damage to the card. Some platforms have an ESD connector for attaching the wrist strap. Do not directly touch the midplane or backplane with your hand or any metal tool, or you could shock yourself.
Port Adapter Removal and Installation
In this section, the illustrations that follow give step-by-step instructions on how to remove and install port adapters. This section contains the following illustrations:
•FlexWAN Module—Removing and Installing a Port Adapter
•Cisco 7200 Series Routers and Cisco 7200 VXR Routers—Removing and Installing a Port Adapter
•Cisco 7201 Router—Removing and Installing a Port Adapter
•Cisco 7301 Router—Removing and Installing a Port Adapter
•Cisco 7304 PCI Port Adapter Carrier Card—Removing and Installing a Port Adapter
•Cisco 7401ASR Router—Removing and Installing a Port Adapter
•VIP—Removing and Installing a Port Adapter
FlexWAN Module—Removing and Installing a Port Adapter
Cisco 7200 Series Routers and Cisco 7200 VXR Routers—Removing and Installing a Port Adapter
Cisco 7201 Router—Removing and Installing a Port Adapter
Cisco 7301 Router—Removing and Installing a Port Adapter
Cisco 7304 PCI Port Adapter Carrier Card—Removing and Installing a Port Adapter
You can install one single-width port adapter in a Cisco 7304 PCI Port Adapter Carrier Card. This section provides step-by-step instructions for removing and installing a port adapter in a Cisco 7304 PCI Port Adapter Carrier Card.
Warning When performing the following procedures, wear a grounding wrist strap to avoid ESD damage to the Cisco 7304 PCI Port Adapter Carrier Card. Some platforms have an ESD connector for attaching the wrist strap. Do not directly touch the midplane or backplane with your hand or any metal tool, or you could shock yourself.
To remove and install a port adapter in a Cisco 7304 PCI Port Adapter Carrier Card, refer to Figure 3-2 and do the following:
Step 1 If the Cisco 7304 PCI Port Adapter Carrier Card is still in the router, you must remove the Cisco 7304 PCI Port Adapter Carrier Card before removing a port adapter.
Step 2 To remove the port adapter from the Cisco 7304 PCI Port Adapter Carrier Card, turn the port adapter lock from its locked and horizontal position shown in A of Figure 3-2 to its unlocked and vertical position shown in B of Figure 3-2.
Step 3 Grasp the handle of the port adapter and pull the port adapter from the Cisco 7304 PCI Port Adapter Carrier Card. (You have already disconnected the cables from the port adapter when removing the Cisco 7304 PCI Port Adapter Carrier Card).
Step 4 To insert the port adapter in the Cisco 7304 PCI Port Adapter Carrier Card, locate the guide rails inside the Cisco 7304 PCI Port Adapter Carrier Card that hold the port adapter in place. They are at the top left and top right of the port adapter slot and are recessed about an inch, as shown in C of Figure 3-2.
Step 5 Carefully slide the port adapter in the Cisco 7304 PCI Port Adapter Carrier Card until the port adapter makes contact with the port adapter interface connector. When fully seated, the port adapter front panel should be flush with the face of the Cisco 7304 PCI Port Adapter Carrier Card.
Step 6 After the port adapter is properly seated, turn the port adapter lock to its locked and horizontal position, as shown in A of Figure 3-2.
Figure 3-2 illustrates how to remove and install a port adapter in a Cisco 7304 PCI Port Adapter Carrier Card.
Figure 3-2 Cisco 7304 PCI Port Adapter Carrier Card—Port Adapter Removal and Installation
Cisco 7401ASR Router—Removing and Installing a Port Adapter
VIP—Removing and Installing a Port Adapter
Connecting a Serial Cable
On a single one-port PA-T3+, you can use two 75-ohm coaxial cables (one for the receive port [RCVR] and one for the transmit [XMTR] port). You can use four 75-ohm coaxial cables on the two-port PA-2T3+. Cisco 75-ohm coaxial cables are available only from Cisco Systems.
Caution
You can attach only an EIA/TIA-612 or EIA/TIA-613 serial cable to the PA-T3+ installed in your router. Attaching a serial coaxial cable of another interface type to the port adapter could damage your router or the hardware at the network end of the cable.
Each T3 link requires separate receive and transmit connections to your external T3 equipment.
To connect the 75-ohm coaxial cables to the PA-T3+ port adapter, follow these steps:
Step 1 Attach the 75-ohm coaxial cables directly to the BNC ports on the PA-T3+. Attach one end of a cable to the port labeled XMTR and one end of a second cable to the port labeled RCVR. (See Figure 3-3.)
Note We strongly recommend that you fasten together your transmit and receive cables along their entire length, as shown in . Doing so reduces the effects of EMI. You can use standard heat-activated shrink tubing or cable ties for this purpose.
You can also use a 75-ohm coaxial cable pair that is available from Cisco Systems.
Figure 3-3 Attaching 75-ohm Coaxial Cables to a PA-T3+
Caution
To prevent system problems and to maintain the proper cable connection sequences, connect the receive and transmit ports on your PA-T3+ as indicated in Step 2.
Step 2 Attach the network ends of your two 75-ohm coaxial cables to your external T3 equipment as follows:
•Attach the coaxial cable from the PA-T3+ XMTR port to the RX port on your external T3 equipment.
•Attach the coaxial cable from the PA-T3+ RCVR port to the TX port on your external T3 equipment.