MDA and IOM

MDA stands for Media Dependent Adaptors, which are layer one media converters that connect with the IOM. The MDA receives inputs from various media, such as Cat cables, fiber, serial cables, etc. The MDA is essential for the completion of networking functionalities, acting as an intermediary between the chassis and the Layer one device it connects to. However, the IOM, virtualized in the 7705 SAR software, must be activated before the adapter cards, ports, and  can be pre-provisioned and configured. Activation of the IOM is achieved by assigning it a card slot ID and card type.