Fast New Connections: New generation CMOS Active Pixel Sensors with 60 (or more) megapixels demand faster technologies to get the data from the camera into the computer. 10 Gigabit Ethernet (officially IEEE Standard 802.3ae, commonly shortened to 10GbE or 10GigE) is the best technology for distances beyond the speed and distance limitations of USB 3.0. 10GbE comes in two cabling types - twisted pair copper cabling (10GBASE-T), or optical fiber cabling (10GBASE-SR). Optical fiber can greater distances than copper cabling. At the device, such as an SBIG Aluma camera with 10GbE capability or the Personal Computer with a 10Gigabit SFP+ network card or adapter, we use industry standard 10GBASE-SR transceivers (transmitter/receivers) to convert the electrical signals from the device into infra-red light for the fiber. The SFP+ (small form-factor pluggable +) transceiver is about the size of a finger, and slots into a socket in the device. The SFP+ socket is designed to hold the transceiver using a latching mechanism - just push the transceiver into the socket all the way until it clicks into place. It has a latching mechanism to stay in place, and can be removed. It also has a latch to retain the cable. The SFP+ 10GBASE-SR transceiver connects to 10Gbps Duplex Multi-Mode Fiber Optic Cable. The cable is Aqua (turquoise) in color, and has a LC connector on both ends, with two fibers, one for transmit, one for receive. Sometimes you will see a OM4 50/125um designation on it. CAUTION: Don't look into a powered-up optical transceiver or end of the cable, as infrared laser light may be present. The fiber optic cable is flexible, but should not be bent tightly. Usually the manufacturer will specify a minimum bend radius - so don't snap it tightly around corners. The LC connectors on each end have small round caps. You need to remove the caps before inserting it into the transceiver. The transceiver will usually make a click sound, and there is a latch to retain the cable. Troubleshooting problems: #1 the SFP+ transceiver isn't pushed in all the way. Push until it's latch clicks. #2 you forgot to take the cap out of the fiber side of the transceiver. Usually it is made of black rubber or plastic and needs to be removed before you can insert the cable. #3 you forgot to remove the tiny round caps off the end of the LC connectors on the end of the cable.
Colin: Can the AC455 connect directly to the Primaluce Eagle6 Thunderbolt4 port? Which available adaptor is needed if any? Do you think it can also connect to any computer with a Thunderbolt4 port? Ken
Hi Ken, You will need a Thunderbolt 10 gigabit ethernet adapter. There's a picture of one here, at the top: https://diffractionlimited.com/product/10gb-ethernet-adapters/ So it goes: Camera transceiver - fiber optic cable - transceiver in Thunderbolt adapter - Eagle 6 Thunderbolt 4 port. Eagle 6 - I haven't got my hands on the new Eagle 6 yet, as they just announced it. @Doug uses an Eagle 5 Pro and this setup, and he is pretty happy with it. Details of a specific model are in the AC455 manual.
Hi Doug (Hi Colin and Ken, sorry for partially hijacking the thread), I have similar setup as Ken describes (AC455 + PrimaLuceLabs Eagle with Thunderbolt ports. In the AC455 manual you provide detailed information on setting up the 10Gb ethernet port for proper data transfer. I am assuming these are not applicable for the thunderbolt ports? Are there any special instructions for using the thunderbolt ports? Regards, Vince
Once you install the Thunderbolt adapter, it will appear in the device manager as an Ethernet port. You will still need to configure that port as described in the user manual.
In addition to Doug's comment: If you are using the Sonnet Technologies Solo 3+ Thunderbolt to Ethernet adapter: 1. Install it in person, not remotely. You'll want to have a monitor, keyboard, and mouse attached to the computer with a Thunderbolt port. Don't try doing it remotely. Windows has some security settings that may block Thunderbolt devices from working. When you plug in the Thunderbolt adapter to the computer, you may get a pop-up notification and you may need to allow permission. Remote Desktop or other remote tools does not allow for this. 2. Device Drivers The documentation that came with the Sonnet Technologies Solo 3+ Thunderbolt adapter should tell you how to install the Windows Device Drivers. If you can't find it, go here: https://www.sonnettech.com/support/kb/kb.php?cat=548 The latest driver they have is version 3.1.7 3. Network configuration As described in the manual. If you are using a Solo 3+ Thunderbolt to Ethernet adapter, this is an actual Ethernet network interface you are adding to the PC. Just like if you had a Ethernet to USB adapter, or a PCIe card that gets installed inside. You will need to check the Network's settings. eg Disable all protocols (like IPv6) except for IPv4. Set the Advanced settings for RX Buffers = 4096 etc. Technical Reference material: You hopefully won't need this, but I'm including it just in case... Microsoft Kernel DMA Protection - this may prevent the Thunderbolt interface in the computer from working. Turn it OFF. Direct Memory Access allows the Thunderbolt network adapter to blast received data directly into the computer's RAM, bypassing the CPU. This is essential for speed - we're moving a huge amount of data with these high megapixel cameras. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/w...ecurity/kernel-dma-protection-for-thunderbolt Sometimes there are BIOS settings in the computer related to this. Marvell / Aquantia Chipset-based network cards and adapters Some motherboards and many network interface cards have a controller chip made by Marvell (formerly Aquantia). This includes the Atlantic family of chips including AQC100, AQC107, and others. The Solo unit has an AQC107. Other vendors with 10Gigabit Ethernet from Marvell/Aquantia include: Marvell AQtion, QNAP, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Asus, SuperMicro, and others. Marvell has publicly available drivers here: https://www.marvell.com/support/downloads.html# Categories = Marvell Public Drivers Platform/OS = Windows Part Number = AQC107 Intel 520/540/710 Network Cards For non-Solo network devices, the maker of the card will have drivers and documentation available. The Intel 82599 series of chips are used on many cards and some motherboards. For example, the Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X520-DA2 or similar. Intel has drivers available on their support site or through their Driver & Support Assistant. If you need anything else, let us know.
One more thing... there's a few tips on USB and Thunderbolt power management here: https://forum.diffractionlimited.co...connects-turn-off-usb-selective-suspend.7848/
