Ethernet 10/100/1000BASE-T Application Software Datasheet

Features & Benefits

TDSET3 Ethernet Compliance Testing

• Automated Compliance Testing for 10, 100, and 1000BASE-T PHY Verification
• Designed for use with MSO/DPO5000, DPO7000, and DPO/DSA/MSO70000 Series Oscilloscopes

SR-ENET Ethernet Triggering and Analysis

• Automated Trigger (MSO/DPO5000 only), Decode, and Search for 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX Ethernet

• Designed for use with MSO/DPO5000, DPO7000, and DPO/DSA/MSO70000 Series Oscilloscopes

DPO4ENET Ethernet Triggering and Analysis

• Automated Trigger, Decode, and Search for 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX Ethernet
• Designed for use with the MDO4000 and MSO/DPO4000B Series Oscilloscopes

Applications

• 10BASE-T Ethernet
• 10BASE-Te Ethernet
• 100BASE-TX Ethernet
• 1000BASE-T Ethernet

 

Tektronix offers comprehensive, integrated tool sets for validating the physical layer of IEEE 802.3 Ethernet devices, and for developing and debugging Ethernet-based systems.

The Tektronix TDSET3 Ethernet Compliance Test application (Opt. ET3) and selected Tektronix oscilloscopes provide one-button testing for 10/100/1000BASE-T test suites as specified by the IEEE standard for compliance testing. TDSET3 automates compliance testing and allows engineers to perform the required tests efficiently and reliably right on the bench.

The Tektronix MDO4000 and MSO/DPO4000B Series oscilloscopes with the DPO4ENET Serial Application Module and MSO/DPO500, DPO7000C, DPO/DSA/MSO70000C, DPO/DSA70000D Series oscilloscopes with the SR-ENET application simplify analysis of Ethernet waveforms when validating and debugging Ethernet-based systems. The DPO4ENET and SR-ENET applications offer automated trigger, decode, and search for 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX Ethernet, enabling fast and efficient validation and debug.

TDSET3 – Automated Ethernet Physical Layer Compliance Testing

Ethernet compliance testing has some unique measurement challenges:

• Generating the “disturbing” signal requires tools to generate both pattern data and noise to provide real-world noise for return loss measurements

• There are many individual amplitude, timing, return loss, and template tests required for each Ethernet variant:
  • The 10BASE-T standard specifies 22 tests per port plus fault tolerance and CMRR
  • The 100BASE-TX standard outlines 12 tests per port plus CMRR and more
  • The 1000BASE-T standard calls for 80 tests per port plus BER, CMRR, and more
• Because of the large number of individual tests, compliance testing takes a lot of setup and measurement time, and makes repeatable measurement results difficult to achieve quickly
• Performing return loss measurements can be expensive if using a vector network analyzer. Tektronix provides a patented, cost-effective method using an arbitrary waveform generator (AWG) and oscilloscope

 

The TDSET3 provides automated compliance testing for 10, 100, and 1000BASE-T PHY verification, including:

• Compliance and margin testing for accurate analysis and improved interoperability
• Time- and frequency-domain measurements made with single analysis instrument
• Jitter and timing measurements with and without filters
• Amplitude, linearity, and droop testing for transmitter performance
• Frequency domain measurements including return loss and power spectral density
• User-defined mode enables flexible parameter control for characterization and margin analysis
• Detailed test reports with margin and statistical information aid analysis

Wide Range of Tests

To ensure reliable information transmission over a network, industry standards specify requirements for the network’s physical layer. The TDSET3 Ethernet Compliance Test Software automates Ethernet physical layer tests for 10BASE-T, 10BASE-Te, 100BASE-TX, and 1000BASE-T in compliance with standards such as IEEE 802.3-2000 and ANSI X3.263-1995. The portfolio of tests includes core PMA and MDI tests such as Template, Distortion, Return Loss, Jitter (including the proposed alternate jitter method), and Common Mode Voltage.

Amplitude Domain Tests

The industry standards require the signals to have amplitudes within specified ranges to assure interoperability between devices. The amplitude tests vary with the signal speeds, but include such parameters as peak or peak-to-peak amplitude, overshoot, common mode voltage, and positive/negative pulse symmetry.

Return Loss Test

85/100/115 Ω plots for the 100BASE-TX Return Loss measurement.

The return loss of the cabling system can also affect interoperability. The standards define the minimum amount of attenuation the reflected signal should have relative to the incident signal. The Return Loss test measures the impedance, typically over the range of 100 Ω ±15%. TDSET3 ingeniously performs the Return Loss test for 85, 100, and 115 Ω (111 Ω for 10BASE-T) impedances as prescribed by the standards, using the same tools such as oscilloscopes and AWG used for other tests, enabling efficient usage of resources.

Time Domain Tests

Timing parameters of the signals are also specified by the standards. These tests include timing measurements such as rise time, fall time, and difference or symmetry between rise and fall times.

Jitter Tests

Peak-to-peak jitter on 100BASE-TX with single voltage crossing.

Jitter tests quantify the timing variations of the edges of the signal, using specified test patterns. These jitter measurements include the contributions from duty cycle distortion and the baseline wander. Jitter is determined by accumulating waveforms, measuring the width of the accumulated points at the eye crossing, and the peak-to-peak is inferred from minimum and maximum values in the tails of the histogram. For example, the figure above shows the jitter measurement on a 100BASE-TX signal.

Template Tests

Positive side AOI Template test of 100BASE-TX signal.

Template mask tests are often used to quickly verify that the transmitted signal meets industry-standard requirements. These template masks are defined so that signal distortions such as overshoot, jitter, incorrect rise and fall times, etc., will cause the mask test to fail. An example of a 100BASE-TX template mask test is shown above.

Test Report Generation

The unparalleled automation built into TDSET3 also enables faster validation including the tedious task of generating reports. The user can generate summary or detailed reports at a press of a button.

Test Fixtures

TF-GBE-BTP Basic Ethernet Test Fixture.

The TF-GBE Series of test fixtures supports many of the Ethernet compliance tests, providing convenient signal access, test points for accurate removal of disturbing signals, return loss calibration, and cross-connect circuits to connect to traffic generators and link partners. The TF-GBE-BTP is the basic test package for 10/100/1000BASE-T tests. The TF-GBE-ATP is the advanced test package which also includes a 1000BASE-T jitter test channel cable.

TF-GBE-EE Test Fixture for Energy Efficient Ethernet measurements on 10BASE-Te.

The TF-GBE-EE is an additional test fixture which is required to perform the Energy Efficient Ethernet measurements.

Complete Solution for Receiver Test

Tektronix offers a complete solution for creating and managing “disturbing” signals for accurate receiver stress testing. The Tektronix arbitrary waveform generators provide support for adding and removing the noise-related elements of the disturbing signal. Tektronix offers a complete set of instruments for Ethernet compliance tests and debug work; from oscilloscopes and probes, to compliance test software, test fixtures, and signal sources.

SR-ENET, 10BASE-T, and 100BASE-TX Triggering and Analysis

Debugging Ethernet-based embedded systems designs provides some complex measurement and analysis challenges:

• • Capturing specific Ethernet addresses and data
• • Displaying the elements of the Ethernet message in an understandable format, in a variety of formats, for a wide variety of engineers and technicians
• • Time-correlating Ethernet messages with analog and digital signals in the embedded system
• • Capturing long time windows of Ethernet traffic and then finding specific events within the acquired data

The optional SR-ENET application software, installed in an MSO/DPO5000, DPO7000C, DPO/DSA/MSO70000C, or DPO/DSA70000D Series oscilloscope, provides a robust set of tools for debugging embedded systems with 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX Ethernet, including:

• • Automated serial decode and search for Ethernet 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX
• • Serial triggering (MSO/DPO5000 Series only) on all the critical elements of an Ethernet 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX such as address, data, etc.
• • Decoding IPv4 internet protocol and TCP transport protocol
• • Decoding all the critical elements of each message. No more counting 1s and 0s!
• • Searching through long acquisitions using user-defined criteria to find specific messages
• • Event Table showing decoded serial bus activity in a tabular, time-stamped format for quick summary of system activity

Color-coded display of 100BASE-TX, showing preamble, MAC addresses, IP header, TCP header components of the serial signal

10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX Triggering

Trigger on packet content such as start frame delimiter (SFD), MAC addresses, MAC length/type, MAC client data, Q-tag control information, IPv4 and TCP header, TCP and IPv4 client data, end-of-packet, and FCS errors.

10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX Decode

The SR-ENET Ethernet Serial Application provides a higher-level, combined view of the individual signals that make up the 10BASE-T or 100BASE-TX bus, making it easy to identify where packets begin and end and identifying subpacket components such as preamble, SFD, MAC addresses, data, FSC, errors, etc.

Are you wasting time manually decoding the waveform? Tired of having to visually inspect the waveform to count clocks, determine if each bit is a 1 or a 0, combine bits into bytes, and determine the hex value? Let the oscilloscope with the SR-ENET application do it for you! Once you’ve set up a 10BASE-T or 100BASE-TX bus, the MSO/DPO5000, DPO7000C, DPO/DSA/MSO70000C, or DPO/DSA70000D Series will decode each packet on the bus, and display the value in hex, binary, or decimal in the bus waveform.

100BASE-TX decoded Event Table showing all packet information with time stamp information

10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX Event Table

In addition to seeing 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX decoded data on the bus waveform itself, you can view all captured packets in a tabular view much like you would see in a software listing. Packets are time stamped and listed consecutively with columns for each component (Time, Destination Address, Source Address, Length, Data, FCS/CRC, and Errors).

10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX Search

Triggering is very useful for isolating the event of interest, but once you’ve captured it and need to analyze the surrounding data, what do you do? In the past, users had to manually scroll through the waveform counting and converting bits and looking for what caused the event. With the SR-ENET application installed, you can enable the oscilloscope to automatically search through the acquired data for user-defined criteria including packet content. Each occurrence is highlighted by a search mark. Rapid navigation between marks is as simple as pressing the Previous (←) and Next (→) buttons on the oscilloscope front panel.

DPO4ENET – 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX Triggering and Analysis

Debugging Ethernet-based embedded systems designs provides some complex measurement and analysis challenges:

• Capturing specific Ethernet addresses and data
• Displaying the elements of the Ethernet message in an understandable format, in a variety of formats, for a wide variety of engineers and technicians
• Time-correlating Ethernet messages with analog and digital signals in the embedded system
• Capturing long time windows of Ethernet traffic and then finding specific events within the acquired data

 

The DPO4ENET application module, installed in an MDO4000 or MSO/DPO4000B Series oscilloscope, provides a robust set of tools for debugging embedded systems with 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX Ethernet, including:

• Automated serial triggering, decode, and search for Ethernet 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX
• Triggering on all the critical elements of an Ethernet 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX such as address, data, etc.
• Triggering on and decoding IPv4 internet protocol and TCP transport protocol
• Decoding all the critical elements of each message. No more counting 1s and 0s!
• Searching through long acquisitions using user-defined criteria to find specific messages
• Event Table showing decoded serial bus activity in a tabular, time-stamped format for quick summary of system activity

 

10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX Triggering

DPO4ENET triggering on a specific 10BASE-T MAC source address. A complete set of triggers, including triggers for specific MAC address, MAC length/type, MAC client data, IPv4 and TCP header content, TCP and IPv4 client data, and FCS errors, ensures you quickly capture your event of interest.

Trigger on packet content such as start frame delimiter (SFD), MAC addresses, MAC length/type, MAC client data, Q-tag control information, IPv4 and TCP header, TCP and IPv4 client data, end-of-packet, and FCS errors.

10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX Decode

Color-coded DPO4ENET display of 100BASE-TX, showing preamble, MAC addresses, IP header, TCP header components of the serial signal.

The DPO4ENET Ethernet Serial Application Module provides a higher-level, combined view of the individual signals that make up the 10BASE-T or 100BASE-TX bus, making it easy to identify where packets begin and end and identifying subpacket components such as preamble, SFD, MAC addresses, data, FSC, errors, etc.

Are you wasting time manually decoding the waveform? Tired of having to visually inspect the waveform to count clocks, determine if each bit is a 1 or a 0, combine bits into bytes, and determine the hex value? Let the MDO4000 or MSO/DPO4000B Series with a DPO4ENET Ethernet Serial Application Module do it for you! Once you’ve set up a 10BASE-T or 100BASE-TX bus, the MDO4000 or MSO/DPO4000B Series will decode each packet on the bus, and display the value in hex, binary, or ASCII in the bus waveform.

10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX Event Table

DPO4ENET 100BASE-TX decoded Event Table showing all packet information with time stamp information.

In addition to seeing 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX decoded data on the bus waveform itself, you can view all captured packets in a tabular view much like you would see in a software listing. Packets are time stamped and listed consecutively with columns for each component (Time, Destination Address, Source Address, Length, Data, FCS/CRC, and Errors).

10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX Search

10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX packet content triggering is very useful for isolating the event of interest, but once you’ve captured it and need to analyze the surrounding data, what do you do? In the past, users had to manually scroll through the waveform counting and converting bits and looking for what caused the event. With a DPO4ENET Ethernet Serial Application Module, you can enable the MDO4000 or MSO/DPO4000B Series oscilloscope to automatically search through the acquired data for user-defined criteria including packet content. Each occurrence is highlighted by a search mark. Rapid navigation between marks is as simple as pressing the Previous (←) and Next (→) buttons on the oscilloscope front panel.