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Connect the MX304 to the Network

Tools and Parts Required to Connect the MX304 Router to External Devices

To connect the router to external devices, you need the following tools and parts:

  • Electrostatic discharge (ESD) grounding wrist strap (provided in the accessory kit)

Connect the MX304 Router to External Devices and Cables

Figure 1 shows the front panel of the MX304 Routing Engine. All the connections to the router are made through the Routing Engines. The external devices are connected through the Routing Engine.

Figure 1: Routing Engine Ports Routing Engine Ports
  1
—

Management (MGMT) port LED (left)

  8
—

Management (MGMT) port

  2
—

Management (MGMT) port LED(right)

  9
—

Reset button

  3
—

Offline and Online LED

10
—

Console port

  4
—

Disk 0 LED

11
—

Offline button

  5
—

Disk 1 LED

12
—

Major and Minor Alarm LED

  6
—

Active LED

13
—

OK/Fail LED

  7
—

USB port

 

Connect the Router to an Out-of-Band Management

To connect the Routing Engine to a network for out-of-band management, connect an Ethernet cable with RJ-45 connectors to the MGMT port on the Routing Engine interface. One Ethernet cable is provided with the router. To connect to the MGMT port on the Routing Engine interface:

Note:

Use shielded CAT5e cable for connecting the CONSOLE and MGMT ports in Routing Engine for INDIA only.
  1. Turn off power to the management device.
  2. Plug one end of the Ethernet cable (Figure 2 shows the connector) into the MGMT port on the Routing Engine interface.
  3. Plug the other end of the cable into the network device.
Figure 2: Out-of-Band Management Cable Connector Out-of-Band Management Cable Connector
Table 1: Out-of-Band Management Port on the Routing Engine

Label

Description

MGMT

Dedicated management channel for device maintenance. System administrators also use it to monitor and manage the router remotely.

Connect the Router to a Console Device

To configure and to manage the Routing Engine, use a system console to connect to the appropriate CON port on the Routing Engine interface. The console port is used to connect a laptop or console terminal to configure the router. See Figure 4 and Figure 5. The console port accepts a cable with an RJ-45 connector.

Note:

We no longer include the RJ-45 console cable with the DB-9 adapter as part of the device package. If the console cable and adapter are not included in your device package, or if you need a different type of adapter, you can order the following separately:

  • RJ-45 to DB-9 adapter (JNP-CBL-RJ45-DB9)

  • RJ-45 to USB-A adapter (JNP-CBL-RJ45-USBA)

  • RJ-45 to USB-C adapter (JNP-CBL-RJ45-USBC)

If you want to use RJ-45 to USB-A or RJ-45 to USB-C adapter you must have X64 (64-Bit) Virtual COM port (VCP) driver installed on your PC. See, https://ftdichip.com/drivers/vcp-drivers/ to download the driver.
Note:

Use shielded CAT5e cable for connecting the CONSOLE and MGMT ports in Routing Engine for INDIA only.

To connect to a management console:

  1. Turn off power to the console device.
  2. Plug the RJ-45 end of the serial cable (see Figure 3) into the CON port on the Routing Engine interface.
  3. Plug the socket DB-9 end into the device's serial port.
    Note:

    For console devices, configure the serial port to the following values:

    • Baud rate—9600

    • Parity—N

    • Data bits—8

    • Stop bits—1

    • Flow control—none
Figure 3: Console and Auxiliary Cable Connector Console and Auxiliary Cable Connector
Figure 4: Connect a Router to a Management Console Through a Console Server Connect a Router to a Management Console Through a Console Server
Figure 5: Connect a Router Directly to a Management Console Connect a Router Directly to a Management Console
Table 2: Console Port on the Routing Engine

Label

Description

CONSOLE

Connect a laptop or console terminal to configure the router.

Connect the MX304 Router to External Clocking and Timing Devices

SUMMARY 

The router supports external clock synchronization for Synchronous Ethernet, and external inputs.

Figure 6: Timing Interface Ports Timing Interface Ports

  1. 10MHz (one input and one output), 1PPS (one input and one output)

  2. ToD—Time-of-day (TOD)

  3. BITS—Building-integrated timing supply (BITS)

  4. GM/PTP—PTP grandmaster clock port

Connect 1-PPS and 10-MHz Timing Devices to the Router

The router has two 2x1 DIN 1.0/2.3 right angle connectors that support 1-PPS-IN, 1-PPS-OUT, 10-MHz-IN, and 10-MHz-OUT timing ports.

Note:

MX304 can be configured as a timing primary or a client device. If the MX304 is configured as a timing primary device, the router gets 1-PPS-IN and 10-MHz-IN input (connected to the ports marked IN) from the timing source and sends 1-PPS-OUT and 10-MHz-OUT to a client device. If the MX304 is configured as a timing client device, it receives 1-PPS-IN and 10-MHz-IN (connected to ports marked IN) as input from the timing source.

Note:

Ensure a cable of 3 m or less in length is used for the 10-MHz and 1-PPS connectors.

To connect the DIN cable to the external clocking input port:

  1. Connect one end of the DIN cable connectors to the 1-PPS-IN and the 10-MHz-IN ports marked IN on the router.

    If the MX304 is a timing primary device, use the 1-PPS-OUT and the 10-MHz-OUT ports marked OUT to connect to a client router or device.

  2. Connect the other end of the DIN cable to the 10-MHz or 1-PPS source network equipment.
    Note:

    Ensure that the 10-MHz or 1-PPS source network equipment contains a low voltage complementary metal oxide semiconductor (LVCMOS) of 50 ohms or is compatible with low-voltage transistor-transistor logic (LVTTL) (3.3v).

Table 3: Clocking Port on the Rear Panel

Label

Description

10MHz- IN

1PPS-IN

1 PPS input port

10 MHz input port

10MHz-OUT

1PPS-OUT

1 PPS output port

10 MHz output port

Connect a Time-of-Day Device to the Router

A time-of-day port labeled ToD on the front panel of the Timing Interface Board enables you to connect external timing devices.

To connect the router to a ToD external timing device:

  1. Attach an electrostatic discharge (ESD) grounding strap on your bare wrist, and connect the strap to one of the ESD points on the chassis.
  2. Plug one end of the RJ-45 cable into the ToD port on the front panel of the Timing Interface Board.
  3. Plug the other end of the RJ-45 cable into the ToD timing device.
  4. Verify that the LEDs for the ToD port on the router are lit steadily green.
  5. Configure the port. See Configuring Clock Synchronization Interface on MX Series Routers.
Table 4: Time-of-Day Port on the Timing Interface Ports

Label

Description

ToD

ToD RJ-45 port.

Table 4 shows the ToD pinouts.

Table 5: ToD RJ45 Connector Pinout
Pin Signal Description
1 No connect  
2 No connect  
3 ToD TX ToD Transmit
4 GND  
5 GND  
6 ToD RX ToD Receive
7 No connect  
8 No connect  

Connect a BITS External Clocking Device to the Router

The router has an external building-integrated timing supply (BITS) port labeled BITS on the rear panel of the chassis.

To connect the router to a BITS external clocking device:

  1. Attach an electrostatic discharge (ESD) grounding strap on your bare wrist, and connect the strap to one of the ESD points on the chassis.
  2. Plug one end of the RJ-45 cable into the internal clock port on the rear panel.
  3. Plug the other end of the RJ-45 cable into the BITS external clocking device.
  4. Verify that the LEDs for the BITS port are lit steadily green.
  5. Configure the port. See Configuring Clock Synchronization Interface on MX Series Routers.

Table 5 shows the ToD pinouts.

Table 6: BITS Port on the Rear Panel

Label

Description

BITS

Building-integrated Timing Supply (BITS) clock interface port.
Table 7: BITS RJ45 Connector Pinouts
Pin Signal Description
1 R RING Receive Ring
2 R RING Receive TIP
3 No connect  
4 T RING Transmit Ring
5 T TIP Transmit Tip
6 No connect  
7 No connect  
8 No connect