Introduction to High-density Modular System and Cabling Options

Data center and telecommunications rooms are rapidly outgrowing their footprints to meet increasing network demands. Keeping costs low and getting higher density are always the goals of data center managers. The modular system allows for rapid deployment of high density data center infrastructure as well as improved troubleshooting and re-configuration during moves, adds and changes. This article will talk about the modular system products and the associated cabling options.

Modular System Products

• Fiber Patch Panel

Fiber patch panels offer the highest level of scalability and density. High-density fiber patch panel or enclosure is an ideal solution for installation with space constraints, and available in flat and angled designs. The angled design increases rack density, managing high-density applications in one-fourth the area needed for conventional cable management systems.

• MTP/MPO Cassettes

There are two types of cassettes—LGX MTP/MPO cassette and HD MTP/MPO cassette. Both the two types provide secure transition between MTP and LC or SC discrete connectors. With LC or SC adapters on the front side and MTP at the rear, they are used to interconnect MTP backbones with LC or SC patching. The MTP cassettes contain factory controlled and tested MTP-LC fanouts to deliver optical performance and reliability. They can be used in 1RU or 3RU 19” multislot chassis.

 

The HD MTP/MPO cassette is more compact than the LGX MTP/MPO cassette. When using with patch panel, up to 5 HD MTP cassettes can be held in a 1RU HD chassis, but for LGX MTP cassette, only 3 cassettes can be held in it as shown in the above picture. Thus, the HD MTP cassette can improve the port density in the same 1RU panel and save more space.

• Fiber Adapter Panel

Fiber adapter panels snap quickly into the front of the fiber patch panels and enclosures for easy network deployment or moves, adds, and changes. They can house, organize, manage and protect fiber optic cables. For example, a 48 ports 1RU fiber enclosure can be loaded with four 12x MTP fiber adapter panels. It provides a comprehensive line of fiber distribution enclosures that offer a flexible and modular system for managing fiber terminations, connections, and patching in all applications.

 

Cabling Options for Modular System

High-density modular system features an innovative design allowing for a plug and play pre-terminated system configuration. Cable assemblies can be directly terminated and installed in the cassettes for fast and easy installation.

• MTP/MPO Trunk Cable

MTP/MPO trunk cables are used to interconnect cassettes, panels or ruggedized MPO fan-outs, spanning MDA, HDA and EDA areas, and to facilitate rapid deployment of high density backbone cabling in data centers and other high fiber environments reducing network installation or reconfiguration. They offer the flexibility in case any decision is made to change the connector style in the patch panels, new cassettes can be installed with the new connector style on the cross-connect side of the patch panel without having to change the connector on the cable trunk.

• MTP/MPO Harness Cable

MTP/MPO fanout assemblies route multifiber MTP connection into discrete connectors. They are used to directly interconnect MTP cassettes, panels or backbone MTP assemblies with the active equipment, saving costly data center rack space and easing fiber management.

Summary

The modular system is the choice to ease future expansion and for quick and easy system re-configuration, which can save space and meet the demand for high-density network infrastructure. The modular system products and associated cables are all available in FS.COM. For more details, please visit www.fs.com or contact sales@fs.com.

Source: www.fiberopticshare.com

Modular Patch Panel and Breakout Cabling: Which to Choose for Future-Proofing Network?

Coupled with emerging high-speed network standards and rapidly advancing technology, growing demand for faster access to larger volumes of data is having a profound impact on network infrastructure. As 40G becomes a standard option in data centers, the challenge of connecting 40G equipment with existing 10G equipment moves front and center. Two different types of solutions have been developed to connect 10G equipment with higher-speed equipment in the same data center: breakout cabling and modular patch panels. It is essential to understand the benefits and challenges of each type of solution in order to select the one that meets your current and future connectivity needs most effectively.

Breakout Cabling Solution

A breakout cable is a multi-strand cable, which is divided into multiple duplex cables. For instance, a 40G breakout cable has four individual 10G duplex cables totaling eight strands, while a 100G breakout cable has 10 duplex cables and 20 strands. A breakout cable has LC connectors at one end and an MTP/MPO connector at the other.

Working Principle, Benefits and Challenges

Let’s take an example to get clear the working principle of breakout cables. Assume you want to integrate 10G servers into a 40G network. For each port on the switch, you will need a breakout cable with an MTP/MPO connector on one end and four duplex LC connectors on the other end. The MTP/MPO connector plugs into the 40G switch port and each duplex LC connector plugs into a 10G port on each server.

 

The primary benefit of using the breakout cabling solution is that slower-speed equipment can be connected to higher-speed equipment successfully, such as the 10G servers and 40G switch. Although the breakout cables enable different speed equipment connection, they present some challenges, such as cable congestion, repair, flexibility and scalability. Breakout cables are difficult to reconfigure when you add or upgrade equipment, requiring frequent overhauls of cabling infrastructure. Not only is this approach costly and time-consuming, it limits your ability to plan properly for future growth. This is specially problematic given that future port and bandwidth growth will inevitably require integrating new network cabling standards.

Modular Patch Panel Solution

Modular patch panels are comprised of rack-mountable enclosures designed to house a range of modular, removable fiber cassettes. Supporting various fiber network cabling standards, the cassettes are easy to mix, match, add and replace as your connectivity needs grow and change.

Working Principle, Benefits and Challenges

The modular fiber cassettes are the key to this solution. The cassettes allow users to interconnect different fiber speeds simply by plugging standard, duplex LC cables into one side of the cassette, and MTP/MPO cables into the other side.

 

Modular patch panel solutions offer a range of benefits, including integrate diverse cabling standards, provide flexibility and scalability, reduce cable congestion and save space. Modular patch panel solutions allow the users to connect diverse network cabling standards seamlessly, such as 10/40/100/120G. When you need to integrate new cabling standards to support higher network speeds, you can simply swap existing cassettes with new cassettes that support the new standards. The network can grow and change on-demand, without the costly, labor-intensive hassle of replacing channels end-to-end. Moreover, reduced cable slack means less clutter, less confusion and an easily organized, better-labeled cabling infrastructure. By managing varying port densities and speeds in a single high-density patch panel, the users can save valuable rack space, helping to lower data center costs.

Although the modular patch panels have many advantages, they also have challenges. The biggest challenge is selecting a modular patch panel solution with the features and capacity to meet your current needs, as well as flexibility and scalability to adapt to and grow with your future needs.

Modular Patch Panel – A Solution for Future-Proofing Network

With increasingly higher network speeds always just around the corner, you want to make sure your investment in upgrading and building out your network infrastructure is spent wisely. Breakout cabling solutions served an important purpose when 40G switches first entered the marketplace and required immediate connectivity solutions. However, they require end-to-end replacement every time you upgrade equipment. Modular patch panel solution has been a game-changer. Designed for maximum connection density, flexibility, scalability and compatibility with both existing and emerging high-speed network standards, they allow users to seamlessly and conveniently integrate equipment with different network speeds to meet connectivity needs today, and cost-effectively future-proof network for tomorrow.

Source:  http://www.fiberopticshare.com