Ethernet Electrical Testing Software for 5/6 SeriesMSO

Get more visibility into your Ethernet designs with 1000BASE-T/100BASE-TX/10BASE-T PHY Measurement and Analysis on the 5 Series, 6 Series, and 6 Series B MSO. The combination of the oscilloscope, analysis software – Option 5-CMENET/6-CMENET, and a wide range of available analog probes enables you to perform detailed and accurate amplitude and timing measurements on your designs. The 12-bit analog-to-digital converters in the 5/6/6B Series MSO deliver precise measurement data.

Option 5-CMENET/6-CMENET is a standard specific application for Tektronix 5/6 Series and 6 Series B MSO oscilloscopes. This application includes compliance measurements that enable you to achieve new levels of debugging, efficiency, and accuracy. Option 5-CMENET/6-CMENET adds a long list of IEEE 802.3 and ANSI X3.263 specific measurements for different Ethernet standards to the standard jitter, timing, and signal quality measurements in the 5/6 Series MSO oscilloscopes.

Key features

• Comprehensive Ethernet PHY test coverage supporting multiple speeds.
• Highly optimized and intuitive user interface for quick test configuration and validation of electrical signals.
• Compliance and margin testing for accurate analysis and improved interoperability.
• Time-domain and frequency-domain measurements made with a single instrument.
• Jitter and timing measurements with and without filters.
• Amplitude and droop testing for transmitter performance.
• Detailed test reports with results, pass/fail info, test margin, and test specific waveform images.
• Configure test parameters and limits for debug and characterization.
• Configure multiple test runs and analyze the results.
• Preview the test mode waveform before running the tests.
• Additional Peak Distortion Vs Phase Offset and Error Values Vs Symbol Number plots for 1000BASE-T distortion tests.

Automated Ethernet physical layer compliance testing

Automated TekExpress Ethernet electrical testing with option 5-CMENET/6-CMENET requires an oscilloscope with minimum bandwidth of 1 GHz. This application provides automated compliance testing for Ethernet verification.

Executing all of the measurements manually is extremely time-consuming. TekExpress Ethernet software provides you an automation framework, enabling you to execute all of the measurements with less user intervention, such as when you need to change the connections.

TekExpress Ethernet software allows you to choose complete or selective testing of any of the transmitter electrical specifications. Tests are configured by following a step-by-step process. The software sets up the oscilloscope and automates the testing, guiding you to accurate and repeatable results. It generates a comprehensive, date-stamped test report with pass/fail results, waveforms, and data plots.

Software navigation follows a logical workflow for quick test setups, changes and review of test results. Valid testing requires proper cabling, probes, and connections between fixtures, instruments, and the device under test (DUT). The software provides setup instructions for each test, with images and reference illustrations showing correct configurations.

TekExpress Ethernet software requires a Tektronix 5/6/6B Series MSO oscilloscope with Option 5-WIN/6-WIN or SUP5-WIN/SUP6-WIN (Microsoft Windows 10). This is a Windows application and the software displays TekExpress Ethernet software and test reports on the oscilloscope display. However, for convenience an external monitor may be connected to the 5/6/6B Series MSO so test controls and reports can be viewed on the external display, while signal acquisition is observed on the primary oscilloscope display.

1000Base-T-Multi Pair testing

The 1000Base-T consists of four pairs of full duplex signals namely, Pair A, Pair B, Pair C, and Pair D. The compliance testing of the Ethernet testing requires all the four pairs/lanes of signals to be tested for all the parameters listed below the disturbing and non-disturbing options.

The traditional approach is testing of each pair sequentially. Most systems come with multiple ports. Testing four pairs of signals on each port sequentially can lead to very long test times and subsequently a longer time to market. The new approach tests all four pairs of signals at the same time in the non-disturbing signal mode testing. Parallel testing for pairs in non-disturbing signal mode leads to saving 30 minutes of test time as compared to running a single pair test four times. This leads to saving days of test time in characterization labs and hence, a faster time to market.

The multi-pair top up on 5-CMENET/6-CMENET enables both two pair and four pair parallel testing for non-disturbing signal mode. The two pair testing requires two probes and the four pair option requires four probes. The TC2 section of the TF-GBE-BTP provides parallel access to all the four pairs. The TekExpress application allows both options: Traditional approach of single lane testing and optionally, multi pair.

Amplitude tests

Timing tests

Jitter tests

Template tests

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.

Return Loss test

The return loss of the cabling system can affect interoperability of the system. The Ethernet standard defines 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%. The TekExpress Ethernet ingeniously performs the Return Loss test for 85, 100, and 115 Ω (111 Ω for 10BASE-T) impedances as prescribed by the standard, using the 5/6/6B Series MSO and AFG/AWG series used for other tests, enabling efficient usage of resources.

The TekExpress application enables two ways of testing. One where the AFG/AWG can be used in automated solution and the other where the S-parameter files from a TTR500 can be used for report generation. In the case of AFG/AWG, the application supports return loss testing on upto two pairs at a time. This helps reduce test time by half and thus, saving considerable amount of time.

Test report generation

TekExpress Ethernet allows you to quickly validate and generate detailed reports with images and setup details at the end of every execution.

Test fixtures

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 fixture package for 10/100/1000BASE-T tests. The TF-GBE-ATP is the advanced test fixture package which also includes a 1000BASE-T jitter test channel cable.