SFP28 and QSFP28 Transceivers Cabling Solutions

Due to the increasing number of connected devices in use and their need for fast cloud-based data processing, the Ethernet interconnect standard widely used in data centers is evolving to move data more quickly and efficiently, which has driven the development of a 25Gbps version of Ethernet. Before 25G Ethernet was proposed, the next speed upgrade for data centers was expected to be 40G Ethernet (using four lanes of 10G) with a path to 100G defined as using 10 lanes of 10G as shown in the following table. However, the 25G Ethernet standard can provide a path to 100G and achieve higher total bandwidth than 40G. This article will discuss the different connection methods between 25G SFP28 and 100G QSFP28 transceivers.

Note: 100G QSFP28 can be interfaced with 12-fiber MTP connector or duplex LC connector. In this post, the QSFP28 modules we mentioned all have MTP interface.

Direct Connectivity Solution

According to standard, since QSFP28 is 100G interface, SFP28 is 25G interface, four SFP28 transceivers must be needed to connect to one QSFP28 transceiver to achieve 25G to 100G transmission. In this scenario, an 8-fiber MTP-LC harness will be required to direct connect a QSFP28 port to the four corresponding SFP28 ports. This harness cable has four duplex LC connectors and the fibers will be paired in a specific way, assuring the proper polarity is maintained. Keep in mind that this direct connectivity method only recommended for short distance within a give row or in the same rack or cabinet.

Interconnect Solutions

Solution 1: This interconnect solution shown in the image below allows for patching on both ends of the optical network. The patching on the QSFP28 end is accomplished by using Type-A non-pinned MTP to non-pinned MTP jumper, which connects to the trunk cable, while the patching on the SFP28 end is accomplished using MTP modular cassette and duplex LC patch cable.

Solution 2: In this scenario, a Type-B non-pinned MTP to duplex LC breakout cassette will be used to breakout an 8-fiber QSFP28 transceiver into a 2-fiber SFP28 patching field. This solution does reduce the amount of system attenuation by removing a MTP connector pair, however, it would be that the port breakout module has a limited tail length. Besides, this cabling solution only works best when the active equipment being connected is within the same row.

Solution 3: This interconnect solution allows for an easy upgrade path moving from 2-fiber to 8-fiber connectivity. To connect to the SFP28s ports use the 8-fiber harness as shown in the following diagram, and an 12-fiber MTP trunk cable would be used from the adapter panel for the QSFP28 connectivity, thus allowing a mix and match upgrade patch without having to change out the patch panels. The SFP28 transceiver ports need to be located in the same chassis, which creates less flexibility.

All the products introduced in the above solutions including SFP28 transceivers, QSFP28 transceivers, MTP breakout cassette, MTP adapter panel, MTP trunk cable, etc. can be purchased in FS.COM. We provide free and the same day shipping to the US now.

How to Deploy High Density MTP/MPO Cables in 10G/40G/100G Migration?

Just as large enterprise settle into 10G networking, bandwidth intensive applications and big demands are forcing companies to adopt 40G or even 100G network speeds. To address the upgrading from 10G to 40G/100G more efficiently and effectively, high density MTP/MPO cables are a good solution. In this post, I’d like to introduce the deployment of MTP/MPO cables (MTP harness cable, MTP trunk cable and MTP conversion harness) in 10G/40G/100G migration.

10G to 40G Migration: 8-Fiber MTP Harness Cable

8-fiber MTP-LC harness cable is one commonly used solution to directly connect 10G device to 40G device. As the following image shows, the MTP harness cable is in conjunction with a QSFP+ port carrying 40GbE data rates, then breakouts into four LC duplex cables which will be plugged into four 10G SFP+ transceivers.

40G to 40G Connection

Solution 1: 12-Fiber MTP Trunk Cable

For 40G to 40G direct connection, 12-fiber MTP trunk cable is the first choice. In the following scenario, 12-fiber MTP trunk cables are needed to connect the 40G transceivers (four fibers transmit, four fibers receive, leaving four fibers unused), adapting to the QSFP+ ports on the two 40G switches.

Solution 2: 2x3 MTP Conversion Module

In this scenario, 2x3 MTP conversion module is used. For every two 12-fber MTP connectors in the backbone cable, you can create three 8-fiber links. There is an additional cost for the additional MTP connectivity, but that is offset by the cost savings from 100 percent fiber utilization in the structured cabling. The 2x3 conversion module must be used in pairs—one at each end of the link. As the following image shows, the eight live fibers from each of the three QSFP+ transceivers are transmitted through the trunks using the full 24 fibers. The second 2x3 module unpacks these fibers to connect to the 3 QSFP+ transceivers on the other end.

Solution 3: 2x3 MTP Conversion Harness

For those needing a direct connection with 100 percent fiber trunk utilization, 2x3 MTP conversion harness (two 12-fiber MTP connectors on one end going to three 8-fiber MTP connectors on the other end) is an alternative fanout solution available which has the same functionality as 2x3 conversion module. Connectivity of the conversion harness is identical to the 2x3 module, and they are interchangeable, but must be used in pairs—one (cable or module) at each end of the link.

10G to 100G Migration: 20-Fiber MTP Harness Cable

CFP is a very popular implementation when deploying 100G network. To achieve 10G to 100G migration, in this scenario, 20-fiber MTP MPO breakout cables will be used(ten fibers for transmit and ten fibers for receive, then breakout into ten duplex LC cables). Simply connect this cable to a CFP transceiver and the customer can access the 10 SFP+ individually transceiver pairs.

100G to 100G Connection: MTP Trunk Cable

For directly connecting switches with QSFP+ ports, 12-fiber MTP trunk cable can be used, while for connecting 100GBase-SR10 CFP equipped devices, 24-fiber MTP trunk cable will be deployed.

Conclusion

From the text above, we have introduced several 10G/40G/100G scenarios that use MTP/MPO cables for data transmission. MTP trunk cable is a common solution for device direct connection, MTP harness cable is used for easier upgrading to higher speed network, and MTP conversion harness can achieve 100% fibers utilization, saving costs. All the MTP/MPO cables that we mentioned can be purchased in FS.COM.

Understanding Array Polarity With Parallel Link

The use of pre-terminated fiber assemblies and cassettes is growing, and the deployment of systems with speeds up to and beyond 100G are on the horizon for many users. As a result, the issue of maintaining polarity in parallel fiber-optic links is becoming increasingly important. In the previous posts, we have introduced polarity in point-to-point duplex links which is achieved through what is known as an A-to-B patch cord. In this post, we are going to talk about array polarity with parallel link.

Array Polarity With Parallel Link Overview

Array polarity with parallel link has the corresponding Method A, B and C to establish polarity for parallel signals using an MPO transceiver interface with one row of fibers. For example, 40 Gigabit Ethernet over multimode fiber uses 4 transmit and 4 receive fibers in a 12-fiber array, or 4 lanes at 10Gbps. In order to understand these polarity methods more specifically, we can make a comparison with polarity methods for duplex signals. From the following table, we can easily find out that the breakout MTP cassette and the duplex fiber patch cords in duplex link are replaced with 12-fiber array patch cords that plug directly into the MTP adapter at the patch panel and into the equipment interface in parallel link.

Three Methods for Array Polarity With Parallel Link

Method A

Method A as shown below recognized in 568-C.0 uses Type A backbone on each end connected to a patch panel. On one end of the optical link, a Type A array patch cord is used to connect patch panel, while on the other end, a Type B array patch cord is used to connect patch ports to their respective parallel transceiver ports.

Method B

Also recognized in 568-C.0 uses Type B throughout-Type B array cable, Type B adapters and Type B array patch cords to achieve the whole optical link. More detailed information can be seen in the following image.

Method C

The proposed Method C as shown in the image below is similar to Method A, but it would use Type C trunk cable instead of Type A, and a Type C cross-over patch cord is required at one end and the other end uses Type B patch cable.

Note: An important point to remember is that MPO plugs use alignment pins. For a MPO connection, one plug is pinned and the other plug is unpinned. As MPO transceiver typically has pins, this convention leads to the following implementation on initial build out: 1) Patch cords from transceiver to patch panel are typically unpinned (female) on both ends. 2) Trunk cables are typically pinned (male) on both ends.

As duplex link, there are also three methods for parallel link. However, maintaining array polarity with parallel link is not as simple as it seems. This article can only provide some basic information about the polarity with parallel link. In the following updating, we will talk about more about array polarity system.

Efficiently and Conveniently Integrate 10G, 40G, and 100G Equipment With MTP Breakout Patch Panel

Not all that long ago, Ethernet networks that supported 10G speeds were considered amazingly fast, and now 40G is the norm in most data center. As 40G Ethernet becomes a standard in data centers, the challenge of connecting 40G equipment with existing 10G equipment moves front and center. Adding further complexity, it’s clear that organizations of all sizes also need to be prepared to integrate speeds of 100/120G and beyond. MTP breakout cable filled a pressing need when no other options were available, but using unstructured cabling makes installs, upgrades, changes, troubleshooting and repairs extremely inefficient. The emergence of MTP breakout patch panel allows you to seamlessly and conveniently integrate equipment with different network speeds to meet your connectivity need today.

The Nuts and Bolts of MTP Breakout Patch Panel

MTP breakout patch panel is integrated with a range of modular, removable fiber cassettes in a rack mount patch panel, which combines the functionality of breakout cables, the efficiency of structured cabling and the convenience of a pre-assembled kit. Breakout patch panel splits 40G QSFP+ and 100G CFP switch port into 10G duplex LC ports, which connect to devices’ SFP+ ports with high-quality off-the-shelf fiber patch cables.

Sparkles of MTP Breakout Patch Panel

Convenience and Efficiency: Pre-assembled panels including modular fiber breakout cassettes with build-in MTP cable and duplex LC ports makes it possible for quicker deployment. In addition, its structured cabling makes installs, upgrades, changes, troubleshooting and repairs quicker, easier and more cost-effective than using MTP breakout cables.

Space Saving: By managing varying port densities and speeds in a single high density patch panel, you save valuable rack space, helping to lower data center costs. A 1U 40G MTP breakout cable can provide 96 high-density duplex LC ports for 10G connection, while a 2U 100G MTP breakout patch panel can support up to 160 duplex LC ports.

Reduced Congestion: Reduced cable slack means less clutter, less confusion and an easily organized, better-labeled cabling infrastructure. You can also manage cables in any direction—horizontal or vertical, front or back.

Two Main MTP Breakout Patch Panel Solutions

1U 40G Breakout Patch Panel Supporting Base-8 Connectivity

Base-8 connectivity is supposed to be the most suitable network link which can supports popular 40G switches today and 100/400G networks tomorrow. High density 1U 40G MTP breakout patch panel shown in the following image is designed to connect 40G QSFP+ ports with 8-fiber MTP cables, mapping to the back of the panel, then breaking out as 48x10G on the front with duplex LC fiber cables.

2U 100G MTP Breakout Patch Panel Supporting Ultra High-Density Cabling

100G MTP breakout patch panel as shown below is designed in a standard 2U rack, which has the same working principle as 40G MTP patch panel, but instead of connecting 40GBase-SR4 ports, it connects 100GBase-SR10 ports with 24-fiber MTP cable (10 for Tx, 10 for Rx, leaving the rest 4 fibers unused) to the rear of the panel and then break out as 80x10 on the front with LC fiber cable.

With more and more high-speed equipment deployed in data center, integrating those different speed network poses a issue to IT managers. MTP breakout patch panel efficiently and conveniently solve this problem. It can support your ability to plan, deploy and upgrade your network to meet the growing demand for additional and higher speed.

Things Should Be Noticed Before Choosing 24-Fiber MPO Cable

In the process of migrating to greater bandwidth 40G and 100G network, MTP cabling system which provides high density and high performance plays an important role. Whether to use 12-fiber or 24-fiber MPO cable has been a hot topic in higher speed networking migration. In my previous blog Choosing 24-Fiber MPO/MTP Cabling for 40/100G Migration, we have indicated that MPO 24 fiber cable is more suitable for 40G and 100G network. Besides, with active equipment planning to use a single 24-fiber MPO interface for 100G and the channel currently requiring 20 fibers, many IT managers are also considering the use of 24-fiber MPO solutions. However, before choosing 24-fiber MPO cable, there are some facts that should be noticed.

The Higher the Fiber Count, the Higher the Loss

Optical loss budget is a big concern among data center managers, and due to limitations in the protocol, standards now require a total connector loss budget of 1.0 dB for 40G and 100G, but a 24-fiber MPO connector typically has a loss of 0.5dB which is much higher than 0.2dB that 12-fiber MPO connector has. This is mainly due to the fact that the more the fiber count, the higher the loss. The higher loss of the 24-fiber MPO limits data center managers to having just two mated pairs in a channel.

Note: Current proper polishing technique can address 24-fiber MPO to meet the low loss requirement as 12 fiber MPO connector. For example, 24-fiber MTP trunk cable in FS.COM only has 0.35dB insertion loss.

The Higher the Fiber Count, the More Difficult to Control End-Face Geometry

In a quality fiber connector, the fibers protrude slightly beyond the ferrule. When two fibers are mated using the right pressure, the fibers will deform slightly to fill in any gaps and provide a solid mating. Any variance in the pressure can impact the insertion loss and return loss on a fiber-to-fiber basis. To achieve consistence pressure, it is important to have a very flat ferrule after polishing with all the fibers protruding equally. With higher count arrays, like 24-fiber MPOs, there are more fibers to control, which can significantly increase the odds for height variance. For example, in the following 72-fiber array, if we look at this graphic of the middle two rows of fibers, we can see the variance in the height profile. The height variance becomes even more pronounced across more rows of fibers. Besides, it is more difficult to achieve a flat ferrule polishing on a large array area.

Although the polishing technique has been significantly improved, there still exists limitation to achieve a flat end-face and equal pressure over the array.

Standards and Testing Remain an Issue to 24-fiber MPO Cabling

100GBase-SR4 standard has be a reality and that most of users is running 100G over 8 fibers, rather than 20, which will render the 24-fiber MPO a dated interface for 100G Ethernet. In addition, the MPO cabling testing is far more complicated than duplex cabling testing. You have to gain very professional training, tools understanding that you can efficiently conduct multifiber testing. In other words, if there is any issue with the multifiber cabling, it’s not easy to troubleshoot it.

It's Still Your Choice

With the significant demand for higher speed 40GbE and 100GbE, MPO cabling has become more popular than ever. We have indicated that 24-fiber MPO cable reveals more advantages than 12-fiber MPO cable, however, before choosing it, there are more factors we have talked above that should be taken into consideration.

How to Deploy 10G, 40G, 100G in the Same Network

In 2010, 10G SFP+ became the primary equipment interface in data center applications. However, jump to 2017, as demand for greater bandwidth shows no signs of slowing, 40G and 100G transceiver shipments saw a whopping increase. While shipments of 40G and 100G modules are on the rise, the large majority of data center networks don’t undergo a whole replacement of 10G device with 40G or 100G device. Instead, many typically deploy necessary equipment to achieve the coexistence of 10G, 40G, and 100G in the same network. Read this post, and you will get detailed solution.

QSFP+ 40G to 10G

In the following scenario, an upgraded 40G switch is networked to existing 10G servers with a 1x24-fiber to 3x8-fiber MTP conversion cable. At the switch, a cassette combines three 40G ports (QSFP 8-fiber) on the 24-fiber trunk. In the server cabinet, each 40G port is segregated into 10G LC connections to support server connectivity.

Note: in this architecture, if you have existing 12-fiber MTP trunks, you can use a cassette with two 12-fiber MTP inputs that breakout into 3x8-fiber MTP strands, instead of deploying a new 24-fiber MTP trunk cable. However, if you have to move to denser and more complicated applications, the 24-fiber MTP solution makes for easier migration.

CFP2 100G Port (10x10)

Like the previous example, the following figure 2 also shows a similar scenario in existing 10G servers, but it uses 100Gbase-SR10 ports on the switch, which requires a 24-fiber connector to drive the 10x10 transceiver port. Instead of breaking into 8-fiber connections, it uses 24-fiber MTP patch cord from the switch to the patch panel in the top of the rack. A 24-fiber MTP trunk connects the switch and server cabinet. The MTP cassette at the top of the server cabinet converts the 100G port into ten individual 10G port with LC connectors.

Note: As in the figure 1, in this scenario, if you already have two 12-fiber MTP trunks, you can use 12-fiber MTP adapter panel, then a 2x12-fiber to 1x24-fiber MTP harness cable could be used at the switch to build the same channel.

New Installation for 40G/100G Deployment

Figure 3 shows an example of a completely new installation, using 40G/100G right out of the box without any 10G switches in the channel. This method has 40G or 100G port on the core switches, and 40G uplinks at the ToR switches. The patch panels at the top of each rack use MTP bulkhead, with all 8-fiber cords from one QSFP port to the next.

In this architecture, we can either use 24-fiber trunks that break into 40G ports, or create trunks with 8-fiber strands on every leg, with 8 fibers per 40G or 100G port, as shown in the diagram above. However, we have to pay attention that with 8-fiber legs, the density will become a challenge. In addition, 12-fiber MTP trunks are avoided in this scenario, since integrating existing 12-fiber trunks with 8-fiber connectivity on the patch cord creates fibers unused.

Deploying 10G, 40G, 100G in the same network can effectively avoid costly upgrades that require ripping out cabling and starting over with a new network architecture. This post have provided three solutions. All the devices in these three scenarios can be purchased in FS.COM. If you are interested, kindly visit FS.COM.

FAQs About OM5 Fiber Optic Cable

Data centers everywhere are moving quickly to manage ever-increasing bandwidth demands. And the emergence of cloud computing has acted as catalyst for driving even faster adopting of new network technology and higher bandwidth. Speeds as high as 40G and 100G Ethernet have already become mainstream in data centers, and the industry is working collaboratively on next-generation Ethernet development, such as 200G and 400G Ethernet. In this high speed migration, multimode fiber (MMF) plays an important role. As everyone knows, OM1/OM2/OM3/OM4 are commonly used multimode fibers in networking field, especially OM3 and OM4 are proven to be the future-proofing MMF. And now, a new types of MMF fiber medium—OM5, specified in ANSI/TIA-492AAAE and published in June 2016, is introduced. OM5 is being presented as a potential new option for data centers that require greater link distance and higher speeds, however, is it really a good solutions for data centers? This post will deal with this question from some FAQs about OM5.

Q: Does OM5 Offer a Longer Transmission Distance than OM4?

A: Actually, for all current and future multimode IEEE applications including 40GBase-SR4, 100GBase-SR10, 200GBase-SR4, and 400Gbase-SR16, the maximum allowable reach is the same for OM5 as OM4. According to a recently done application testing with 40G-SWDM4 transceivers, it shows that 40G-SWDM4 could reach 400 meters over OM4 cable, while over OM5 cable, the module can achieve link length up to 500 meters. Besides, if a data center is using non-IEEE-compliant 100G-SWDM4 transceivers, it proven that OM5 can support 150-meter reach—only 50 meters more than OM4. In addition, for most data centers, when transmission distance over 100 meters, IT managers will choose single-mode fiber.

Q: Does OM5 Costs Less?

A: As the matter of fact, OM5 cabling will costs about 50% more than OM4. Besides, with the considerably declined costs of single-mode transceivers over the past 12-18 month due to silicon photonics technologies and large hyperscale data centers buying in large volumes, more and more users will be pone to choose single-mode transceiver modules. For example, 100GBase-PSM4 using single-mode MTP trunk cable that can support 500-meter reach is only $750.

Q: Is OM5 Really Required for Higher Speeds?

A: All of the IEEE standards in next-generation 100/200/400G Ethernet will work either with SMF and MMF, but in most situations, these next-generation speeds will require single-mode fiber, since IEEE always strives to develop future standards that work with the primary installed base of cabling infrastructure, so customers can easily upgrade to new speeds. Besides, none of these current active IEEE standards addressing next-generation speeds will use SWDM technology.

Q: Will OM5 Create Higher Density from Switch Port?

A: As we all know, it is common in data center using 40GBase-SR4 to increase port density by breaking out 40G to 10G with MTP breakout module or MTP breakout cable. This is also a benefit of new 100GBaes-SR4 modules, which use OM4 cabling. However, if data center manager decides to use 100G SWDM4 modules with OM5 cabling, they cannot breakout into 25Gb/s channels, which will become a real issue as the 25Gb/s ecosystem fully develops and we begin to see more 25G to the server.

Summary

According to the questions we have discussed above, it is apparent that OM5 is not suitable for large data centers. As far as I’m concerned, for current high-speed network applications, OM3 and OM4 is still the most recommended multimode fibers.

100G QSFP28 and CFP Transceiver Cabling Solutions

By the end of 2016, 100G Ethernet has been widely deployed and becomes a significant portion in data center. Many network-equipment developers are motivated to introduce 100G devices like CFP and QSFP28 modules that consumes as little real estate and power as possible, while achieving necessary price points and delivering superior performance. This post is heading to talk about these two 100G modules and their cabling solutions.

CFP: Out With the Old

Specified by MSA among competing manufacturers, CFP is the first generation 100G transceiver which is designed after the SFP interface, but is significantly larger to support 100Gbps. As we all know, the original CFP has very large size, and in order to meet the need for higher performance and higher density in data center, there is the development of CFP2 and CFP4 specification, which specify a form-factor of 1/2 and 1/4 respectively in size of the original specification. Commonly used CFP/CFP2/CFP4 transceivers are available in 100GBase-SR10 and 100GBase-LR4.

QSFP28: In With the New

QSFP28 is the latest 100G form factor, which is a high-density, high-speed product solution designed for applications in the telecommunications, data center and networking markets. It utilizes four channels of respective signals with data rates up to 25Gbps to meet 100Gbps Ethernet requirement. 100GBase-SR4 and 100GBase-LR4 are two main types of QSFP28 module. The detailed specifications of these two QSFP28s are shown in the following table.

100GBase-SR10 Cabling Solution

100GBase-SR10 CFP uses a 24 strand MPO cable for connectivity (10 Tx and 10 Rx with each lane providing 10Gbps, leaving 4 channels unused). It can support maximum link length up to 100m and 150m respectively on OM3 and OM4 fiber cable. 100GBase-SR10 can also be used in 10x10 Gigabit Ethernet modes along with ribbon to duplex fiber breakout cables for connectivity to ten 10GBase-SR optical interface.

100GBase-SR4 Cabling Solution

Like 100GBase-SR10, 100GBase-SR4 QSFP28 also uses laser optimized OM3 and OM4 multimode fiber for indication. But 100GBase-SR4 QSFP28 utilizes 12f MPO trunk cable for connectivity (4 Tx and 4 Rx, leaving the middle four unused), which makes it possible to reuse 40GBase-SR4 fiber assemblies when upgrade from 40G to 100G.

100GBase-LR4 Cabling Solution

Both 100GBase-LR4 CFP and QSFP28 are both interfaced with LC connector. They uses WDM technologies to achieve 100G transmission over single-mode duplex LC fiber patch cable supporting the link length up to 10km.

Conclusion

As the need for high bandwidth is increasing, 100G Ethernet will widespread in data center quickly. Equipped with this basic information about 100G modules and their cabling solutions, we will have little worry upgrading to 100G Ethernet.

QSFP28 and CFP Transceiver Cabling Solutions

By the end of 2016, 100G Ethernet has been widely deployed and becomes a significant portion in data center. Many network-equipment developers are motivated to introduce 100G devices like CFP and QSFP28 modules that consumes as little real estate and power as possible, while achieving necessary price points and delivering superior performance. This post is heading to talk about these two 100G modules and their cabling solutions.

CFP: Out With the Old

Specified by MSA among competing manufacturers, CFP is the first generation 100G transceiver which is designed after the SFP interface, but is significantly larger to support 100Gbps. As we all know, the original CFP has very large size, and in order to meet the need for higher performance and higher density in data center, there is the development of CFP2 and CFP4 specification, which specify a form-factor of 1/2 and 1/4 respectively in size of the original specification. Commonly used CFP/CFP2/CFP4 transceivers are available in 100GBase-SR10 and 100GBase-LR4.

QSFP28: In With the New

QSFP28 is the latest 100G form factor, which is a high-density, high-speed product solution designed for applications in the telecommunications, data center and networking markets. It utilizes four channels of respective signals with data rates up to 25Gbps to meet 100Gbps Ethernet requirement. 100GBase-SR4 and 100GBase-LR4 are two main types of QSFP28 module. The detailed specifications of these two QSFP28s are shown in the following table.

100GBase-SR10 Cabling Solution

100GBase-SR10 CFP uses a 24 strand MPO cable for connectivity (10 Tx and 10 Rx with each lane providing 10Gbps, leaving 4 channels unused). It can support maximum link length up to 100m and 150m respectively on OM3 and OM4 fiber cable. 100GBase-SR10 can also be used in 10x10 Gigabit Ethernet modes along with ribbon to duplex fiber breakout cables for connectivity to ten 10GBase-SR optical interface.

100GBase-SR4 Cabling Solution

Like 100GBase-SR10, 100GBase-SR4 QSFP28 also uses laser optimized OM3 and OM4 multimode fiber for indication. But 100GBase-SR4 QSFP28 utilizes 12f MPO trunk cable for connectivity (4 Tx and 4 Rx, leaving the middle four unused), which makes it possible to reuse 40GBase-SR4 fiber assemblies when upgrade from 40G to 100G.

100GBase-LR4 Cabling Solution

Both 100GBase-LR4 CFP and QSFP28 are both interfaced with LC connector. They uses WDM technologies to achieve 100G transmission over single-mode duplex LC fiber patch cable supporting the link length up to 10km.

Conclusion

As the need for high bandwidth is increasing, 100G Ethernet will widespread in data center quickly. Equipped with this basic information about 100G modules and their cabling solutions, we will have little worry upgrading to 100G Ethernet.

Decoding Four types of 100G QSFP28 Transceiver

With the development of IP-based multimedia service, especially video service, network traffic has been continuously rising. As a result, 40G and 100G have emerged as the key technologies capable of supporting the growth in network bandwidth. After a lengthy period of hype, 40G technologies have finally widely been deployed. And now it is 100G’s turn. While 100G networking may seem excessive to many right now, there are many industries where that 100G speeds are quickly becoming necessary. This post will introduce four QSFP28 transceiver types that are commonly used in 100G data center.

QSFP-100G-SR4

QSFP-100G-SR4 or 100GBase-SR4 QSFP28 optical transceiver is a full duplex, photonic-integrated 100G module, which uses 4 fibers for transmit and 4 for receive, with each lane supporting 25Gbp, providing an aggregated data rate of 100Ggps as shown below on up to 70m of OM3 MMF and to 100m of OM4 MMF. Like 40GBase-SR4, 100Gbase-SR4 uses a MPO 12 cable with 4 strand for transmit and 4 for receive, allowing for existing 40GBase-SR4 fiber assemblies to be reused when higher performance is needed. This interface standard has been introduced alongside the 100G QSFP28 offerings now, arriving on the market in order to make any 40GbE to 100GbE upgrade as seamless as possible.

QSFP-100G-LR4

QSFP-100G-LR or 100GBase-LR4 QSFP28 is another 100G standard, which focuses on longer data transmission up to 10km over single-mode fiber. Like 40GBase-LR4, the 100GBase-LR4 is also a multilane optic. However, each lane’s data rate is increased to 25Gbps. It has duplex LC interface and uses WDM technologies to achieve 100G dual-way transmission over four different wavelengths around 1310nm that can be seen in the image below.

QSFP-100G-PSM4

Targeted to service the need on a parallel single-mode infrastructure, QSFP28 PSM4 module is a low cost solution to long reach data center interconnect. It uses four parallel fibers (lanes) operating in each direction, with each lane carrying a 25G optical transmission as shown below. Interfaced with MPO connector, it can support distance up to 500 meters over single-mode fiber, which covers a wide rage of applications in data center.

QSFP-100G-CWDM4

Backed by the CWDM4 MSA Group, QSFP28 CWDM4 is a 100G interface that address data communication links up to 2km in the data center. The CWDM4 architecture employs 4 lanes of 25Gbps using CWDM technology to transport 100G optical traffic across duplex LC single-mode fiber. Compared to 100GBase-LR4, CWDM4 is an alternative for long transmission distance in data center. The working principle can be seen in the following image.

Summary

100G Ethernet is no longer a fantasy, and it is on the way. QSFP28 is a key to the 100G deployment. In the part above, we have introduced four types QSFP28 modules widely used in 100G network. All of these modules that have been tested and are 100% compatible can be purchased in FS.COM. If you have any related requirement, kindly visit FS.COM.

Applications of MTP Conversion Harness Cable

As we all know, Base-8, Base-12 and Base-24 are three mainstream MTP backbones widely used for higher speed 40/100G data centers. Many of today’s legacy infrastructures are using a Base-12 MTP backbone design, however, experience shows us that this connector is not very suitable for higher rate switches or servers. And at present, base-8 is the preferred connector for 40G (SR4) transceivers, while Base-24 is often chosen for 100G transceivers (SR10). How could we convert the previously built Base-12 backbone to the currently popular Base-8 and Base-24 backbones, or how to migrate from 40G Base-8 backbone to 100G Base-24 backbone? There comes a solution—MTP conversion harness cable. MTP conversion cable is a type of MTP harness cable, allowing users to convert their existing MTP backbone cables to an MTP type which matches their active equipment. There are mainly three types of MTP conversion cables: Base-8 conversion harness, Base-12 conversion harness and Base-24 conversion harness. The following text will mainly introduce these three conversion cable types’ applications.

Base-8 Conversion Harness

Base-8 conversion harness , also referred to as 1x3 MTP conversion cable, is terminated with three Base-8 connectors at one end and one Base-24 connector at the other end. Three Base-8 connectors are combined inside the furcation housing, so that the single 24-fiber MTP connector can be plugged into the transceiver as shown in the image below. This conversion cable type allows users to convert their existing Base-8 MTP backbone trunks into a single 24 fiber MTP connector for use in SR10 (100G) deployment.

Base-12 Conversion Harness

There are two types of Base-12 conversion harness—2x3 MTP conversion cable and 2x1 MTP conversion cable shown in the following image. 2x3 MTP conversion cable, consisted of two Base-12 connectors combined inside the housing to produce three Base-8 connection at the other end of the assembly, is often used to convert pre-installed 12-fiber backbone trunks into Base-8 connections, so that 40G data rates can be achieved. 2x1 conversion cable is attached with two 12-fiber MTP connectors at one end and a single 24-fiber connector at the other end. This type of Base-12 conversion harnessallows users to convert the 12-fiber MTP backbone trunks into Base-24 connections for achieving 100G data rates.

Base-24 Conversion Harness

Base-24 conversion harness is exactly the same harness as Base-8 conversion cable, but it is used to convert a Base-24 connector into 3xBase-8 connectors in the backbone based on Base-24 design. A single Base-24 connection is split into three Base-8 connections providing users with three 40G ports as shown in the picture below.

Conclusion

MTP conversion harness cable provides a flexible solution for the conversion from existing Base-12 backbones to popular Base-8 and Base-24 connections, and it is also a cost-effective solution for the conversion between 40G and 100G. The features and usages of three MTP conversion cable types have been introduced above. According to your practical application, you can choose the most suitable one.

Why Choose Base-8 MTP Link for Future-Proofing Your Network?

When deploying a new fiber system, data center managers will always consider whether the system can be easily upgraded to higher data rate network or not in the future, since network reconfiguration will cost much time and money. So choosing a right fiber optic link is the very step to ensure an efficient, future-proof data center. Here, we highly recommend Base-8 MTP link for your home network or data center. Why? Please continue reading the following text.

More Flexible

As we all know, 40G and 100G applications prefer to use parallel SR4 optics (four fiber for transmitting and four fiber for receiving) to transmit data rates. Base-8 connectivity makes use of fiber links in increment of 8 versus 12 or 24, which can allow customers to patch directly to SR4 transceivers without having to convert connectors with different counts or waste fibers in the backbone. Therefore, if customers who still run 10G data rates deploy Base-8 MTP link at the very beginning could migrate to 40G, 100G or beyond without changing the current fiber link, which is more flexible and easy.

High Investment but High Return

Actually, compared to Base-12 and Base-24 backbones, Base-8 link requires higher investment, since more MTP connectors will be installed from the start. However, as we have mentioned above, Base-8 is the most suitable solution for SR4 applications which means that if managers plan to upgrade to higher speed 40/100G network, no additional conversion cable or conversion modules will be needed, bringing a higher return in the future.

100% Fiber Utilization

In most 40/100G cases, Base-12 backbones are more recommended to use between core switched and the equipment distribution area in the data center, but actually, there is no standardized transceiver using all 12 fibers in a Base-12 MTP connector. Besides, with more and more data center managers prefer to use SR4 interface in 40G and 100G applications, using Base-8 link can achieve 100% fiber utilization. So do you still insist on deploying Base-12 today and risk wasting 33% of backbone fibers as shown in the image below tomorrow, or going straight with Base-8 knowing that it will be the best investment in the future?

Summary

When deploying a new fiber link, we should consider in the long term instead of in the short term. All the proof that we have talked above have indicates that Base-8 MTP link will be the best solution for future-proofing your network. With Base-8 MTP link today, we can easily upgrade to 40G or higher speed network tomorrow.

100% Fiber Utilization with 2x3 MTP Conversion Cable

When faced with eight-fiber parallel applications, such as 40GBase-SR4 40 Gigabit Ethernet and 100GBase-SR4 100 Gigabit Ethernet, technicians who use conventional 12-fiber MTP cable will waste a third of the fibers in the cable plant (four fibers for transmitting and four fibers for receiving, leaving the middle four unused). To overcome this inefficiency, new 2x3 MTP conversion harness is introduced. 2x3 MTP conversion cable terminated with three 8-fiber MTP connectors on one end and two 12-fiber MTP connectors on the other end can convert the signal from three four-channel transceivers to two 12-fiber trunks, which means 100% utilization of a 12-fiber network. The following text will mainly talk about how 2x3 MTP conversion cable uses all the fibers in 10G to 40G and 40G to 40G connection.

10G to 40G Connection With 2x3 MTP Conversion Cable

Although upgrading from 10G to 40G Ethernet becomes common in most data centers, it is still impossible to replace all the 10G devices with 40G devices for more cost consumption. There are many solutions that we have introduced in the previous articles used to connect 10G to 40G equipment. 2x3 MTP conversion cable is a cost-effective one. The scenario can be clearly see from the following image. The three 8-fiber MTP connectors terminated at the 2x3 MTP conversion cable are directly plugged into the three 40GBase-SR4 modules(100% fiber utilization), then all cable assemblies will be plugged into the QSFP+ interfaced switch. The conversion from 40G to 10G is the most important step in this connectivity. Here we may use MTP or MPO LC cassette (2x12MTP-12xLC cassette) to connect two 12-fiber MTP connectors at the other end of the conversion cable to twelve duplex LC patch cables. Then all the LC cable assemblies with 10GBase-SR modules will be directly plugged into the SFP+ port switch. The whole connection do not waste any fiber.

Identifier	FS.COM Products	Description
A	S5850-48S6Q	48x 10GbE SFP+ with 6x 40GbE QSFP+ Switch
B	QSFP-SR4-40G	QSFP+ SR4 optics; 150m @ OM4 MMF, 100m@ OM3 MMF
C	2x3 MTP Conversion Cable	2xMTP to 3xMTP; 50/125μm MM (OM3)
D	2x12MTP-12xLC cassette	MTP-12 to LC UPC Duplex 24 Fibers MPO/MTP Cassette, 10G OM3, Polarity A
E	Duplex LC Patch Cable	Duplex LC; OM3
F	SFP-10G-SR	SFP SR optics; 300m over OM3 MMF
G	S3800-24F4S	20x 100/1000Base SFP with 4x 1GE Combo and 4x 10GE SFP+ Switch

40G to 40G Connection With 2x3 MTP Conversion Cable

In this scenario, the three 8-fiber MTP connectors at the end of the conversion cable are directly plugged into the 40G module, then into 40G switch. In order to make sure all the fibers can be used in this 40G to 40G connectivity, we may use a adapter panel to connect the two 12-fiber MTP connectors of the conversion cable to the two 12-fiber MTP connectors attached at the end of the other 2x3 MTP conversion cable. Then the three 8-fiber MTP harness end with 40G modules will be plugged into the QSFP+ port switch. If you feel confused with my sentences, more clear description is shown in the image below.

Identifier	FS.COM Products	Description
A	S5850-48S6Q	48x 10GbE SFP+ with 6x 40GbE QSFP+ Switch
B	QSFP-SR4-40G	QSFP+ SR4 optics; 150m @ OM4 MMF, 100m@ OM3 MMF
C	2x3 MTP Conversion Cable	2xMTP to 3xMTP; 50/125μm MM (OM3)
D	MTP Adapter Panel	Fiber Adapter Panel with 4 MTP(12/24F) Key-up/Key-down Adapters
E	2x3 MTP Conversion Cable	2xMTP to 3xMTP; 50/125μm MM (OM3)
F	QSFP-SR4-40G	QSFP+ SR4 optics; 150m @ OM4 MMF, 100m@ OM3 MMF
G	S5850-48S6Q	48x 10GbE SFP+ with 6x 40GbE QSFP+ Switch

Conclusion

You can gain great value to deploy 2x3 MTP conversion cable, which does not add any connectivity to the link and it allows 100 percent fiber utilization and constitute the most commonly deployed method. However, you have to notice that the use of the 2x3 MTP conversion cable assembly at the core spine switch is not desirable, because patching across blades and chassis is a common practice.

Practical Application of Fiber Enclosure

As part of overall cable-management system, fiber enclosure is used in a wide range of interconnect facility applications, from data centers to building backbone, horizontal, and entrance facilities to provide high density and safe cabling environment. Generally, there are two types of fiber enclosure often deployed in data centers: rack mount and wall mount fiber enclosure. Wall mount enclosure is for cable connecting between floor and floor, while rack mount enclosure is for cabling connecting between or within racks. Today, we’re going to talk about how to deploy these two fiber enclosure types in data center.

Fiber Enclosure Overview

Wall mount enclosure, as its name indicates, is usually installed on the wall for housing and distribution of fiber optic cables for indoor application, while rack mount enclosure is often used between or within racks. Wall mount enclosure and rack mount enclosure are often loaded with fiber adapter panels (LC, SC, or MPO fiber adapter panel are commonly used) and slack spools or sometimes with MPO LC cassette. Take the wall mount enclosure in FS.COM as an example, it is often loaded with 2, 4, 8 fiber adapter panels and 2 slack spools which can provide easy-to-manage environment for fiber patch cords. Besides, it can also be loaded with 2, 4, 8 MPO cassettes as shown below for maximum density in limited space while reducing installation time.

How Can We Apply Fiber Enclosure?

As more and more cabling used in data center, cable management becomes vital. Poor patch-cord management has proven to limit cool air getting to outside ports on networking equipment, which causes early failure. Fiber optic enclosure is a good way to support cable running and managing. The following image shows the fiber enclosure application in multi-floor data center.

As the picture shows, the rack mount enclosure loaded with MPO cassettes and wall mount enclosure holding MPO fiber adapter panel are used to manage MPO patch cable or standard LC fiber cable in high density data center. The fiber adapter panel serves as the intermediate connection between multi-floor data center backbone and patching cabling, while the MPO cassette can provide the connection between 40/100G and 10G devices. The MPO cassette in the rack mount enclosure can also be replaced by MPO adapter panel for direct trunk cable to fan-out interface. No matter how you run cables in the data center, you will always route and manage the fiber cables with flexible move, add and cut(MACs) with the help of fiber enclosure.

Conclusion

As IT managers are more prone to high density data center, it is time to use fiber enclosure for easy-managing your fiber optic cables. All the components we have mentioned above, including MPO cassette, MPO fiber adapter panel, MPO fiber cable, wall mount and rack mount fiber enclosure can be purchased in FS.COM. If you’re interested in, kindly visit FS.COM.

What Should We Prepare for 40/100G Migration?

As data center of all types continue to grow in terms of traffic and size, 40G and 100G Ethernet technology is no longer a pipe dream—it is well on the way and set to become the new standard for high bandwidth and intelligent architecture. Faced with this upcoming trend in data center, what preparation should we do? Read this post, and you will get some details.

LC or MPO Interfaced 40/100G Modules?

Normally, there are two interfaces that 40/100G transceivers use: LC and MPO. LC interfaced modules will be used over single-mode fiber for long distance data transmission, while MPO interfaced modules are commonly deployed with multimode fiber for short distance. However, there are also some transceivers not following this rule. For example, 40GBase-UNIV uses duplex LC connector, but it only supports 150 meters over OM3 or OM4 fiber, and 500 meters over single-mode fiber as we have mentioned in the previous post. Besides, 100GBase-PSM4 is a single-mode module, but it has MPO interface to achieve data transmission. Choosing LC or MPO interfaced 40/100G transceiver totally relies on the transmission distance that your practical application requires.

Type	Fiber and Distance	Connector
40GBase-SR4	100m(OM3) 150m(OM4)	MPO(male/female)
40GBase-LR4	10km(SMF)	Duplex LC
40GBase-UNIV	150m(OM3) 150m(OM4) 500m(SMF)	Duplex LC
100GBase-SR4	100m(OM3) 150m(OM4)	MPO (male/female)
100GBase-LR4	10km(SMF)	Duplex LC
100GBase-PSM4	500m(SMF)	MPO (male/female)

Keep Budgets Down with Pre-terminated Cabling System

Cost is always the most important factor that every IT managers and ordinary users will concern. Since the technology for 40G and 100G is not as mature as 10G, devices used in these high-speed networks are more expensive, so we should keep our budget down as possible as we can in every aspect in the process of 40/100G migration. Then pre-terminated cabling system is a good choice.

Pre-terminated cabling system contains factory manufactured cables and modular components with connectors already attached. It comes in a number of different forms, from connectorized fan-outs and attached or discreet cassette modules to cable bundles utilizing both fiber and copper with protective pulling grips installed over the connectors at one end. With these pre-terminated cabling, the need for labor to make terminations on site will be mitigated. And fewer labor means more savings on the labor bill. As report indicates, using the pre-terminated approach can achieve a saving of 57 percent.

	Punch Down Solution	Pre-terminated Cabling
Material Cost	1X	3.2X
Labor Cost	2X	1X
Total	1X	1.3X
Installation Time	10 Hrs	5 Hrs

Future-Proof Your Network with 24-Fiber Infrastructure

In many 40/100G cases, 12-fiber system is more recommended to use between core switched and the equipment distribution area in the data center, but actually, if you want to future-proof your network, try 24-fiber infrastructure. Why? Let’s have a quick comparison.

For typically 40GbE applications, the 4 right and 4 left fibers of a 12 fiber MPO connector are used for transmit and receive while the inner 4 fibers are left unused. For 24-fiber 40GbE application, all fibers are utilized in the MPO plug. 24 fibers, divided by the 8 fibers per circuit that are required, yields 3 full 40GbE connectors. For 100GbE applications, if we choose 12-fiber MPO connector, we need two connector and two MPO trunk cables, the middle 20 fibers are used for transmit and receive 10Gb/s while the 2 fibers on the right are left unused. However, in this case, we just need one MPO 24 connector and one 24f trunk cable. As data centers continue to be crowded with more cabling, with 24-fiber system, about 1-1/2 times more pathway space could be saved.

Conclusion

With the rapid increase in bandwidth consumption, the migration from 10GbE to 40/100GbE is inevitable. Proper interfaced transceiver, pre-terminated cabling system and 24-fiber infrastructure are required to build a cost-effective and high density 40/100G data center. If you’re interested in the components that we have mentioned above, kindly visit FS.COM.