5 reasons IT Pros Choose Fiber Optic Cables

by Fiber-MART.COM

When assessing which type of network cable you want to install, which type should you go with? 

 

Copper has some advantages, including the fact that it already exists in many places and is less expensive to connect network devices. While fiber optic cables are more expensive, there are several advantages that make it a more enticing cable infrastructure solution than its copper counterpart.

 

5 reasons IT Pros Choose Fiber Optic Cables

 

1. Fiber optic transmission is faster.

 

Fiber optic versus copper wire transmission can be boiled down to the speed of photons versus the speed of electrons. While fiber optic cables don’t travel at the speed of light, they come very close—only about 31 percent slower.

 

 

2. Fiber optic transmission results in less attenuation.

 

When traveling over a long distance, fiber optic cables experience less signal loss than copper cabling. This is called low attenuation. Copper cables can only transmit information up to 9,328 ft due to power loss, whereas fiber cables can travel between 984.2 ft to 24.8 miles.

 

 

3. Fiber optic cables are impervious to electromagnetic interference (EMI).

 

Copper wires, if not properly installed, will produce electromagnetic currents that can interfere with other wires and wreak havoc on a network. Fiber optic cables, unlike copper cables, do not conduct electricity.

 

 

4. Light cannot catch on fire.

 

An added benefit of fiber optic cables is that they are not a fire hazard. This can also be attributed to the same reason that the cables do not produce EMI—there is no electric current traveling through the core.

 

 

5. Fiber optic cables do not break as easily.

 

This means that you will not have to worry about replacing them as frequently as copper wires. Even though the fiber is made of glass, copper wires are more prone to damage than fiber optic cables are.

 

The Takeaway

 

So, there you have it - five good reasons why people choose fiber cables over copper cables. One could argue that many of the advantages of using fiber cables can lead to a greater ROI. Keep this in mind when deciding whether to choose copper or fiber cabling.

 

 

Want to learn more about the importance of fiber cabling infrastructures? Download the free white paper, Specifying Fiber Infrastructure as a Critical Network Component, here.

Why Do We Need Different Categories of Cables?

by Fiber-MART.COM

Though fiber optic cabling is in full swing in recent years, it still can not take the place of the copper cabling completely. As one type of the copper cabling, Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) cable is most certainly by far the most popular cable around the world. Because UTP cables are used not only for networking but also for the in television, video, and telephone applications. When we talking UTP cables, we’ll likely come across Cat 5, Cat 5e, and Cat 6 cables with no clue as to what these designations mean. Why are they called as Cat with a number? Are these cables the tails of felines, and the number denotes how many of their nine lives remain? Of course, it is just a joke for the outsider. Cat here is short for “category”, and the number, such as 3, 5, 5e, 6 etc., refers to the generation of twisted pair Ethernet technology. Though it is said that the Cat 5 cable is the most popular of all UTP cables in use today, many new generation of UTP cables still come to the market. This cause us to think why we need different categories of cables?

 

From the above table, we can easily find that except Cat 1, the other categories of cables are designed for computer networking. For instance, Cat 2 is used mostly for token ring networks, supporting speeds up to 4 Mbps. For higher network speeds you must use Cat 4 or Cat 5 cable, but for 10 Mbps Cat 3 will suffice.

 

Actually, Cat 3, Cat 4 and Cat 5 cable are 4 pairs of twisted copper cables and Cat 5 has more twists per inch than Cat 3 therefore can run at higher speeds and greater lengths. The “twist” effect of each pair in the cables will cause any interference presented/picked up on one cable to be cancelled out by the cable’s partner which twists around the initial cable.

 

From Cat 5 cable, UTP cables began to be used in Ethernet application. And Cat 6 cable was originally designed to support gigabit Ethernet, although there are standards that will allow gigabit transmission over Cat 5 cable (here refers to Cat 5e). Though a Cat 5e cable infrastructure will safely accommodate the widely used 10 and 100 Mbps Ethernet protocols, 10BASE-T and 100BASE-T respectively, it may not satisfy the needs of the next Ethernet protocol, gigabit Ethernet (1000BASE-TX). Thus, Cat 6 Cable was developed to ensure 1000BASE-T performance as well as accommodate other protocols.

 

As for the 10 Gigabit Ethernet, Cat 7 cable came to the market. Cat 7 network cabling is used as a cabling infrastructure for 1000BASE-T (Gigabit Ethernet) and 10GBASE-T (10-Gigabit Ethernet) networks. Cat 7a is the enhanced version of Cat 7. It can perform up to frequencies of 1000 MHz and 40 Gbps.

 

Obviously, though fiber optic cable seems like the trend of future cabling, the development of copper cabling do not mean to stop. After seven generation of evolutions, Cat 8 cable was launched to the market in order to satisfy the 40G Ethernet (40GBASE-T). Cat 8 cable will contain four shielded twisted pairs and have a diameter about the same as Cat 6a and Cat 7a cables, but the bandwidth is specified to 2 GHz.

 

If you have read this far, you may clearly know why we need so many categories of cables. Of course, this does not mean that you should buy all of these cables home or you should use copper cabling instead of fiber optic cabling. Different categories of cables are with different characteristics and used for different applications. And copper cabling sometimes seems to be better than fiber optic cabling in short distance. You should choose the right cable according to your application and working environment.

 

fiber-mart is a professional manufacturer and supplier for network solutions, including fiber optic subsystems, components and copper network components. You could find all kinds of UTP cables or fiber optic patch cables, as well as a comprehensive solution of transceiver modules for different Ethernet protocols, such as 1000BASE-T SFP, 1000BASE-SX SFP, etc. For more information, please contact us directly by sending E-mail to sales@fiber-mart.com.

 

Supported Optics for Arista 7250QX-64

by Fiber-MART.COM

In 10G/40G data center, switches must not only provide high performance, scalability and density, but also should meet the requirements of system availability, reliability or functionality. The Arista 7250QX-64 is that kind of switch with advanced features. This article is going to introduce its architecture and its connecting solution.

 

Overview of Arista 7250QX-64

The Arista 7250QX-64 switch is one of Arista 7250X series which represent performance, scale and power efficiency in 2RU data center switches. As the adoption of 10G servers keeps increasing, the need for flexible, dense 10GbE/40GbE solutions is extremely urgent. The Arista 7250X is designed to build 10/40GbE data center in the configuration of 2U with 64 QSFP+ interfaces in a new category called spline (combined leaf and spine). These provide high density 1/10/40G in compact and energy efficient form factors, optimized airflow targeted for deployment as middle-of-row/end-of-row in server racks with wire speed layer 2 and layer 3 features. The Arista 7250X series greatly improve on the sides of performance, scalability, density and other features.

 

The Arista 7250QX-64 is a compact 2RU switch with 64 QSFP+ interfaces supporting up to 64x40GbE. With the feature of flexible 10G/40G options, each of QSFP+ port can be used as 4x10GbE for a 256x10GbE system combined the use of optical transceivers and cables of copper cables. Figure 1 shows Arista 7250QX-64 switch’s front view of 64 QSFP+ ports supporting 64x 40GbE or 256x 10GbE and rear view of 4x(N+1) fan modules, 1+1 hot-swappable power supplies, color coded PSU (program storage unit) and fans. It’s used in 10GbE and 40GbE data center offering high performance, low latency and scalable system powered by Arista EOS, the worlds most advanced network operating system.

 

Scalability and Flexibility

Since the Arista 7250QX-64 delivers line rate switching at layer 2 and layer 3, it’s helpful to save the network capital and operational costs for data centers by the faster and simpler network designs. When used with the combination of the Arista 7000 series of fixed and modular switches, the networks can scale to over 200,000 10G servers in a low-latency two-tier network that provides predictable and consistent application performance. The layer 2 and layer 3 multi-path design options provides maximum flexibility, scalability and network wide virtualization.

 

The Arista 7250QX-64 is ideal for the use of ultra-high density 40GbE switching in a compact fixed form-factor. With the combination of 10G and 40G connection, the switch can realize 40G to 10G migration. As Figure 2 shows, every QSFP+ port can be set as 4x10G. And this network can be achieved with one 40G QSFP+ PLRL4 and four 10G SFP+ transceivers connected by MTP-4LC harness cable directly.

 

Conclusion

The Arista 7250QX-64 is a good choice for 10G/40G data center because of its high performance, flexibility and scalability. To create the connection, fiber optics, cables and other cable management tools are needed. Choose a right vendor to your modern data center will help you save cost, save time and better management. fiber-mart.COM is your best choice.

How to Use MPO/MTP Cassettes for 10G, 40G & 100G Connectivity?

Data centers networks are changing significantly to accommodate the drive and demand for faster access to virtualised networks and cloud computing. Fiber and particularly pre-terminated fiber is now dominant in today’s data centres and high speed networks because of bandwidth capabilities, port density, security, upgradability and ease of installation. Within the pre-terminated fiber portfolio, MPO/MTP based networking has established itself as the leading technology. In this article, the knowledge of MPO/MTP cassette and how it is used for 10G, 40G and 100G connectivity will be introduced.

 

Three Common MPO/MTP Cassettes Overview

MPO/MTP cassette is a modular module which enables users to take the fibers brought by a trunk cable and distribute them to a duplex cable. As a pre-terminated fiber product, MPO/MTP cassettes are loaded with 12 or 24 fibers and have LC or SC adapters on the front side and MPO/MTP at the rear, this is to say, inside a standard MPO/MTP cassette module, there is a hydra cable. Since the interface of today’s most popular 10G optics is LC connector, at present, the three most widely used MPO/MTP cassettes are 1xMTP(12-Fiber) to 6xLC duplex cassettes, 2xMTP(2*12-Fiber) to 12xLC duplex cassettes and 1xMTP(24-Fiber) to 12xLC duplex cassettes. 

 

MPO/MTP Cassette for 10G Connectivity

For 10G connectivity, MPO/MTP cassette is used to connect 10G device to 10G device. As we know, if the distance between the two 10G devices is short, we can use a duplex LC patch cords for direct connection. However, if the distance is too long, we may have to use MPO/MTP cassette for interconnection or cross connection. 1xMTP(12-Fiber) to 6xLC duplex cassettes, 2xMTP(2*12-Fiber) to 12xLC duplex cassettes and 1xMTP(24-Fiber) to 12xLC duplex cassettes can be all used for 10G connectivity. 

 

MPO/MTP Cassette for 40G Connectivity

For 40G connectivity, MPO/MTP cassette is used to connect 10G device to 40G device. In 10G upgrade to 40G connectivity scene, if the distance between the 10G device and the 40G device is short, we can use a MTP-4 duplex LC patch cords for direct connection. However, if the distance is too long, we may also have to use MPO/MTP cassette for interconnection or cross connection. 1xMTP(12-Fiber) to 6xLC duplex cassettes, 2xMTP(2*12-Fiber) to 12xLC duplex cassettes and 1xMTP(24-Fiber) to 12xLC duplex cassettes can be all used for 40G connectivity. 

 

MPO/MTP Cassette for 100G Connectivity

For 100G connectivity, MPO/MTP cassette is used to connect 10G device to 100G device. In 10G upgrade to 100G connectivity scene, if the distance between the 10G device and the 100G device is short, we can use a MTP-10 duplex LC patch cords for direct connection. However, if the distance is too long, we may have to use MPO/MTP cassette for interconnection or cross connection. 1xMTP(12-Fiber) to 6xLC duplex cassettes, 2xMTP(2*12-Fiber) to 12xLC duplex cassettes and 1xMTP(24-Fiber) to 12xLC duplex cassettes can be all used for 100G connectivity. 

 

fiber-mart.COM MPO/MTP Cassettes Solutions

 

fiber-mart.COM offers a wide range of MTP/MPO cassettes including single-mode or multimode 1xMTP(12-Fiber) to 6xLC duplex cassettes, 2xMTP(2*12-Fiber) to 12xLC duplex cassettes and 1xMTP(24-Fiber) to 12xLC duplex cassettes, which allows for rapid deployment of high density data center infrastructure as well as improved troubleshooting and reconfiguration during moves, adds and changes. Besides, the fiber enclosure is also provided, which can hold three LGX MTP/MPO cassettes.