Useful tips for using CrescentLink's Connector Tool

CrescentLink Desktop User Guide Series

Note: Starting in CrescentLink Desktop 5.0.2, all cables connected to a splice point will be available in the drop-down menus with alongside any equipment when using the connector tool and selecting the splice point first. If a cable is selected first, the connector tool requires another feature (cable or splice point) to be selected. 

Summary

The primary purpose of the Connector tool is to connect and display the cables down to each individual fiber strand. The first cable selected, we can see on the left showing the cable and segment information, as well as the corresponding aqua highlight. The second cable selected is highlighted in a salmon color, and each of the twelve fiber strands within each tube is represented by the fiber color. The color/cable connections match each other on the numbered lines, where you will also see the cable and segment information. The middle panel shows connector lines and indicates the type of splice.

Cable to Cable Connection

It is quite easy to connect any individual fiber strand from cable 1 to cable 2. In the image is shown how BFO 24 (aqua) strands 13-16 are being reconnected to BFO 24 (salmon) strands 1-4.

To connect cable to cable, follow the steps below:

1. Make sure that editing is enabled.
2. Select the Connector button.
3. Highlight the first cable (which will highlight aqua).
4. Highlight the second cable (will highlight in salmon). If the two cables are connected at a splice point a connection breakdown will appear.
   (An alternate way to do steps 3-4 above is to just select the splice point where these two cables meet and select the cables from the two drop-down options at the top of the window if you are using CrescentLink 5.0.2+.)
5. To splice fibers, select the two fibers that are being spliced together and highlight them.
6. To splice more than one fiber, hold shift to select a group or control to select individual fibers.

Note: Starting in CrescentLink Desktop 5.0.2, cable strands are highlighted red when their count does not match a connected cable strand's count. This function does not prevent or interfere with connections or tracing. It's a visual option that assists a user in verifying that cables are connected correctly. The option can be turned on/off by right-clicking on either cable in the Connector Tool window and selecting "Validate". 

Cable to Equipment Connection

This example connects a 24-fiber cable to the back of two patch panels inside a building.

1. Using the CrescentLink Connector tool, select the splice point that houses the equipment.
2. In the right drop-down, select Panel 1 back. Select fibers 1-12 on the left-hand side (either click and drag, or hold the Shift key to select multiple cables), and then select all ports on the right.
3. Once these are connected, click the right drop-down menu in the Connector window to select “Panel 2 back”. Connect fibers 13-24 to ports 1-12.
   
   

Equipment to Equipment Connection 

Creating and maintaining an Equipment-to-Equipment connection is very similar to the management of other types of connections, with only one major difference. That difference is that the two pieces of equipment will be located at the same splice location point.

As shown below, the aqua and salmon selection points are located at the same spot as displayed by the red arrow. The equipment panel (in aqua), and the splitter (in salmon), are shown in the connector screen to provide accurate connectivity.

Validate Connections Option

Right-clicking on any strand of a cable in the connector window will show a list of options. A recent addition is the Validate option which color codes strands that have a count associated with them. 

Connected strands that have different counts will show red (CrescentLink version 5) or maroon (CrescentLink version 6). 

Continue to the next article in the User Guide series: Modeling Path and Path Access using Network Manager