Category Archives: Multimode fiber cables

Guide to Multimode Fiber Cabling in 40/100G Migration

Nowadays one and 10 Gbqs data rates are not adequate to meet the continued requirement for expansion and scalability in the data center, thus technology evolves and standards are completed to define higher data rates such as 40/100G Ethernet. In the meanwhile the cabling infrastructures installed today must provide scalability to accommodate the need for more bandwidth in support of future applications. OM3 and OM4 multimode cabling solutions have been proven to be a cost-effective solution for 40G data center. Today’s article will make you familiarize with this new Gigabit Ethernet and OM3/OM4 cabling to help you smoothly upgrade to 40G Ethernet.

Multimode Fibers in Data Center

Multimode fiber is more popular in data centers than singlemode fiber. Many people may know the reason—budget. Because the price of multimode fiber is typically much lower than singlemode fiber. Additionally, multimode fibers utilizes the low cost 850nm optical transceiver for both serial and parallel transmission. While singlemode fiber uses the expensive 1310nm and 1550nm transceiver and duplex fiber wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) serial transmission. Therefore, most data center designers would choose multimode fiber for 40/100G transmission.

OM3 and OM4 cable

There are four common types of multimode fibers available in the market—OM1, OM2, OM3 and OM4. Recently OM3 and OM4 cables are gradually taking place of OM1 and OM2 multimode cable. OM3 and OM4 are laser-optimized multimode fibers with 50/125 core, which are designed to accommodate faster networks such as 10, 40 and 100 Gbps. Compared with OM1 (62.5/125 core) and OM2 (50/125 core), OM3 and OM4 can support high data rate and longer distance. This is why OM3 and OM4 is more popular in data center.

The Ratification of IEEE 802.3ba

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.3ba 40G/100G Ethernet standard was ratified in June 2010. According to this standard, it includes detailed guidance for 40/100G transmission with multimode and singlemode fibers. But the standard does not have guidance for Category-based unshielded twisted-pair or shielded twisted-pair copper cable.

OM3 and OM4 are the only multimode fibers included in 40/100G standard. Because multimode fiber uses parallel-optics transmission instead of serial transmission due to the 850-nm vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) modulation limits at the time the guidance was developed. Compared to traditional serial transmission, parallel-optics transmission uses a parallel optical interface where data is simultaneously transmitted and received over multiple fibers. Table 2 shows the IEEE standards for 40 and 100 GbE.

IEEE standards for 40 and 100 GbE

The 40G and 100G Ethernet interfaces are 4x10G channels on four fibers per direction, and 10x10G channels on 10 fibers per direction, respectively. For 40GBASE-SR4 transceivers, it utilizes multimode fiber for a link length of 100m over OM3 and 150m over OM4. QSFP-40G-SR4 is Cisco 40GBASE-SR4 QSFP+ that can both operate over OM3 and OM4 cables to achieve 40G connectivity just as FTL410QE2C.

OM3 or OM4?

As noted before, OM3 and OM4 can meet the requirement for 40G migration cabling performance, that’s why they are being widely utilized in 40/100G migration. But OM3 and OM4, which is better for your infrastructure? There is no exact answer to this question as numerous factors can affect the choice. The working environment and the total costs are always the main factors to be considered when selecting OM3 or OM4 multimode cable.

OM3-and-OM4

OM3 is fully compatible with OM4. They use the same optical connector and termination of connector. The main difference between them is in the construction of fiber cable that makes OM4 cable has better attenuation and can operate higher bandwidth at a longer distance than OM3. On the other hand, the cost for OM4 fiber is higher than OM3. As 90 percent of all data centers have their runs under 100 meters, choosing OM3 comes down to a costing issue. However, in the long term, as the demand increases, the cost will come down. OM4 will become the most viable product in the near future.

Conclusion

No matter choosing OM3 or OM4 for your infrastructure, 40G migration is in the corner. OM3 and OM4 multimode cable featured by the high performance and low cost are the perfect solution for 40/100G migration. Fiberstore is committed to provide the best-service and high-quality products to customers. Our comprehensive range of products in OM3 and OM4 offer customers the ability to create the optimal network. For more information, you are welcome to contact us.

Multimode Fiber Optic Patch Cable

As we talk about multimode fiber optic patch cable, singlemode fiber optic patch cable will inevitably come into mind. We know that fiber optic patch cable can be divided into singlemode and multimode according to the types of the cable, but what’s the difference between singlemode and multimode patch cables? How many types are there of multimode patch cables? What’s the application of multimode patch cables? This text will solve the questions above one by one.

c6adbdb3bbe0312f0771bcbe348af8d3.image.550x550

Difference between Singlemode and Multimode Patch Cables

Optic patch cable is a cable with two connectors at both ends. The center of it is glass core which is optic transmission media. The diameter of glass core in multimode patch cable is 50μm~65μm, which is roughly comparable to the thickness of a human’s hair. The diameter of glass core in singlemode patch cable is 8μm~10μm.

The main difference between singlemode and multimode patch cables falls on the fiber cables.The lighting device of multimode fiber cable is LED, while singlemode fiber cable is LD. Multimode fiber cable allows multiple beams of light passing through, while singlemode fiber cable allows one beam of light passing through. As modal dispersion happens in multimode fiber cable, the transmission distance is relevantly nearer than singlemode fiber cable in which modal dispersion never happens. Therefore, multimode fiber cable is generally used in relevantly recent regions network connections, while the singlemode fiber cable is often used in broader regions.

Types of Multimode Fiber Optic Patch Cable

Multimode fiber optic cables can be divided into OM1, OM2, OM3, and OM4 based on the types of multimode fiber. The letters “OM” stands for Optical Multimode. OM1 and OM2 belong to traditional multimode fiber patch cable, while OM3 and OM4 belong to new generation fiber patch cable which provides sufficient bandwidth to support 10 Gigabit Ethernet up to 300 meters. The connector types include LC, FC, SC, ST, MU, MTRH, E2000, MPO, ESCON and so on. Different type of connector is available to different equipment and fiber optic cable.

By the optic fiber cable jackets, multimode fiber patch cable can be divided into PVC multimode patch cable, LSZH multimode patch cable, plenum multimode patch cable, and armored multimode patch cable. PVC is non-flame retardant, while the LSZH is flame retardant and low smoke zero halogen. Plenum is compartment or chamber to which one or more air ducts are connected and forms part of the air distribution system. Because plenum cables are routed through air circulation spaces, which contain very few fire barriers, they need to be coated in flame-retardant, low smoke materials. Armored fiber patch cable use rugged shell with aluminum armor and kevlar inside the jacket, and it is 10 times stronger than regular fiber patch cable.

Application of Multimode Fiber Optic Patch Cable

Multimode fiber optic patch cable is commonly used to connect optical transceiver with optic pigtail. OM1 and OM2 cables are commonly used in premises applications supporting Ethernet rates of 10Mbps to 1Gbps, which are not suitable though for today’s higher-speed networks. OM3 and OM4 are best options of Multimode today. For prevailing 10Gb transmission speeds, OM3 is generally suitable for distance up to 300 meters, and OM4 is suitable for distance up to 550 meters.

PVC/LSZH multimode fiber patch Cable

The best source on the Internet for cabling and connectivity products: multimode fiber optic cable, custom cable assembly, fiber optic patch cable, fiber optic cable.
Multimode, Plenum, connector Type, LC, MTRJ, SC, ST, features. Multimode, plenum, singlemode fiber, fiber Type 50/125 10 gig 9/125, length (In Meters) 1 M 2 M 3 M 4 M 5 M 6 M 7 M 9 M 10 M 15 M 20 M 30 M, page Date AM, fiber Optic Cable, Plenum, Multimode, 50/125, Duplex.

In Stock FO foot (30m) multimode duplex LC/ST 62.5 fiber cable – 3mm jacket 37.00 Qty. In Stock Back to Top Fiber Optic Cables – ST/ST Connectors Part No. Description CDN FO foot (1m) multimode duplex ST/ST 62.5 fiber cable – 3mm jacket 9.60 Qty. In Stock FO foot (2m) multimode duplex ST/ST 62.5 fiber.

Multimode Fiber Optic Patch Cords – 1m 2m 3m 5m 10m 15m

Fiber optic Patch Cable Multimode and Single Mode various size cable assemblies for fiber optic patch cord connection. Connect fiber optic panels and networks.
Fiber Optic Patch Cable ST to ST 10 Meter MultiMode (OM1) Duplex 2.0mm ofnr PVC Non-Plenum Jacket. PF-1353lclc-50-10M, fiber Optic Patch Cable 10 Meter LC-LC 50/125u MuliMode ofnr PVC- PepX pxid-1353. Fiber Optic Patch Cable LC to LC 10 Meter MultiMode 50/125 (OM3) Duplex Patch Cable 2.0mm ofnr PVC Non-Plenum Jacket. PF-1319lclc-15M, fiber Optic Patch.
In Stock FO foot (30m) multimode duplex LC/LC 62.5 fiber cable – 3mm jacket 39.70 Qty. In Stock FO foot (40m) multimode duplex LC/LC 62.5 fiber cable – 3mm jacket 48.10 Qty. In Stock FO foot (50m) multimode duplex LC/LC 62.5 fiber cable – 3mm jacket 56.50 Qty. In Stock Back to Top Fiber Optic.