DESIGN GUIDE

Table of Contents

Introduction
to Data Centers

SECTION

SECTION

Corning Cable Systems shall not be responsible for the performance of third-party products
or for any incorrect installation or installation in violation of Corning Cable Systems specifications and procedures.

Designing the Physical

Infrastructure

Chapter One: Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3

Chapter Four: Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-18

What is a Data Center? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

General Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

PoP Zone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Data Center Needs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-15

Server Zone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Intro to TIA-942 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15-16

Storage Zone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Redundancy in the Data Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17-18

Chapter Two: Data Center Networking Protocols . . . . . . 4-8

Chapter Five: Designing a Scalable Infrastructure. . . . 19-20

LAN Protocols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5

Structured Cabling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19-20

SAN Protocols. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8

Zone Distribution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Chapter Three: Fiber Type and Performance. . . . . . . . . . . 9-13

Chapter Six: Determining the Fiber Counts . . . . . . . . . . 21-25

OM3/OM4 Laser-Optimized 50/125 m

Logical Topologies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Multimode Fiber. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-10

Mapping Logical Architectures to TIA-942 . . . . . 22-24

Fiber vs. Copper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Future 40G/100G Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24-25

10G Electronics and Cooling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-11

Distance Capabilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Transceivers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

SECTION

OM3/OM4 EMBc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

SECTION

End Equipment Through Optical Fiber

Performance Metrics
and Administration

Chapter Eleven: Polarity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49-52

Deploying the Physical

Infrastructure

Chapter Twelve: Testing and Documentation. . . . . . . . 53-62

Cable System Testing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
End-to-End Attenuation Testing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53-58
Application Guidelines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Chapter Seven: Choosing Infrastructure Components 26-38

Background and Trace Interpolation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Preterminated Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Test Equipment: OTDR Analysis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Standard-Density Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27-31

Documentation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

High-Density Solutions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32-38

Maintenance and Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Chapter Eight: Writing a DC Request for Proposal. . . . 39-46

Chapter Thirteen: Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63-66

Steps Needed to Implement an RFP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Choosing a Labeling Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Generic Specifications for PretiumEDGE

Labeling Racks and Cabinets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39-44

Labeling Patch Panels and Fiber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64-66

Generic Specifications for Pretium EDGE

4U Housing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Chapter Nine: Procuring the Data Center Products . . . . . . 47
Channels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Chapter Ten: Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

SECTION

1U Housing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Generic Specifications for Pretium EDGE

Information and Tools

Glossary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67-80

Table of Contents | LAN-1160-EN | Page 1

Notes

SECTION

Chapter One:

Overview
A data center, as defined in TIA/EIA-942, Telecommunications Infrastructure Standard for Data Centers, is a
building or portion of a building whose primary function
is to house a computer room and its support areas.
The main functions of a data center are to centralize
and consolidate information technology (IT) resources,
house network operations, facilitate e-business and to
provide uninterrupted service to mission-critical data
processing operations.

Storage

This area of the data center is sometimes referred to

as the meet me room. It is typically the area where
the service provider enables access to their networks.
This area contains many routers and core switches.

Server Zone
This area of the data center provides the front-end
connection to the database servers. This area contains
many switches and servers. The protocols used to communicate in this area are 1 Gigabit and 10 Gigabit Ethernet.

Switching

PoP
Server Area
Server Area
Server Area

SAN

PoP

Server Area

PoP

Chapter One: Overview | LAN-1160-EN | Page 2

INFORMATION AND TOOLS

Figure 1.1
Functional Areas of the Data Center | Drawing ZA-3580

PERFORMANCE METRICS AND ADMINISTRATION

SAN

PoP Zone

DEPLOYING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Data centers can be classified as either enterprise (private)

data centers or co-location (co-lo)/hosting (public) data
centers. Enterprise data centers are privately owned and
operated by private corporate, institutional or government
entities. Enterprise data centers support internal data
transactions and processing, as well as Web Services
and are supported and managed by internal IT support.
Co-lo data centers are owned and operated by telcos
or unregulated competitive service providers and offer
outsourced IT services. Services that data centers typically
provide include Internet access, application or Web hosting,

content distribution, file storage and backup, database

management, fail-safe power, HVAC controls, security
and high-performance cabling infrastructure. As shown
in Figure 1.1, the functional areas of the data center can
be broken down into:
1. Switching
Point of Presence (PoP) Zone
Server Area Zone
2. Storage
Storage Area Network

DESIGNING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

What is a Data Center?

INTRODUCTION TO DATA CENTERS

Introduction to Data Centers

Storage Zone

Network Efficiency

This area of the data center provides the back-end

connection to data. This area contains many types of
storage devices. The protocols used to communicate in this
area are Fibre Channel Ethernet and small computer system
interface (SCSI).

Data centers have seen significant growth in size and numbers in the past few years and should continue to see significant growth in the future as networks continue to evolve
and move toward 100 Gigabit Ethernet. Due to the considerable growth in data centers, there is a need to have simple,
efficient cabling solutions that maximize space and facilitate
reduced installation time and costs. Preterminated solutions
are often the preferred solution as they provide higher fiber
density, reduced installation time and the ability to easily
facilitate moves, adds and changes (MACs).

Regardless of the type of data center to be implemented,

there are three fundamental issues, or concerns, that
should be addressed when evaluating each area of the
data center infrastructure:
1. Manageability
2. Flexibility and Scalability
3. Network Efficiency

Manageability
End users are looking for a higher performance, lowprofile solution for a more effective overall operation
of the network. Manageability is essential; without it, the
cabling infrastructure takes over the data center in a short
amount of time. To increase control over the data center
infrastructure, structured cabling should be implemented.
The key benefit of structured cabling is that the user
regains control of the infrastructure rather than living
with an unmanageable buildup of patch cords and an
abundance of unidentifiable cables.

Flexibility and Scalability

Flexibility and scalability of the cabling infrastructure
allow quick and easy changes with little to no impact on the
day-to-day operation of the data center, as well as reduced
risk that tomorrows technology will render an obsolete
infrastructure. Scalability of the data center is essential
for migration to higher data rates and for adding capacity
without major disruption of operations. The initial data
center must be designed so it can be scaled quickly and
efficiently as the requirements change. To meet the requirements and demands of the data center, the topology in the
data center, as well as the actual components used to implement the topology, must be explored. Both topology and
components, if chosen correctly, create an effective network,
save time and money, and create efficiency, manageability,
flexibility and scalability in the data center.

Corning Cable Systems preterminated optical fiber cabling

solutions streamline the process of deploying an optical
network infrastructure in the data center. A modular
design guarantees compatibility and flexibility for all optical
connectivity and easily scales as demands dictate and requirements change. The preterminated solutions also manage
fiber polarity, virtually eliminating it as a concern in network
design, installation or reconfiguration.
Corning Cable Systems newest preterminated solution,
Pretium EDGE Solutions, provides increased system density when compared to traditional preterminated systems and
offers the highest port density in the market. Custom-engineered components enable simple integration into common
SAN directors and switches, while the preterminated components allow for reduced installation time and faster MACs.
A well-planned infrastructure can last 15 to 20 years and
will have to be operational through multiple generations
of system equipment and data-rate increases. The following
chapters address all of the factors to be considered for a
well-designed data center cabling infrastructure.

Chapter One: Overview | LAN-1160-EN | Page 3

Data Center Networking Protocols

General

LAN
Core Switch

LAN Protocols

SAN
Switch

Ethernet

Ethernet

Ethernet is the most widely installed LAN data transmission

technology and is standardized as IEEE 802.3. Ethernet is
typically used in data center backbones to transmit data
packets from the core router to the access switch to the
server network interface card (NIC). Figure 2.2 illustrates
the Ethernet frame.

Edge
Switch
FC
Ethernet

7 OCTETS

SOURCE
ADDRESS

6 OCTETS
1 OCTET

Copper Cable

Figure 2.1
Typical Data Center Architecture Today | Drawing ZA-3468

TYPE

SOF

DESTINATION
ADDRESS

OM3

DATA

2 OCTETS
6 OCTETS

FCS

4 OCTETS
46-1500 OCTETS

Chapter Two: Data Centers Networking Protocols | LAN-1160-EN | Page 4

INFORMATION AND TOOLS

Figure 2.2
Ethernet Frame Format | Drawing ZA-3675

PERFORMANCE METRICS AND ADMINISTRATION

PREAMBLE

Server

DEPLOYING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

FC

Storage

Ethernet originally began as a bus-based application

with coaxial cable as the primary bus medium that was
eventually replaced with fiber and copper twisted-pair
media. Ethernet is now deployed in data center switch
networks with optical connectivity in the backbone and
copper connectivity that addresses short-length equipment interconnects.

DESIGNING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Data centers contain many network transmission protocols

for communication between electronic equipment.
Ethernet and Fibre Channel are the dominant networks,
with Ethernet providing a local area network (LAN)
between users and computing infrastructure while Fibre
Channel provides connections between servers and storage
to create a storage area network (SAN). See Figure 2.1.
To design a structured cabling system for a data center,
the designer should understand the different protocols
that are used in each area of the data center.

Data center Ethernet deployments operate at speeds of 1G

and 10G utilizing predominately OM3 and OM4 multimode
optical fiber. Multimode fiber installations usually operate
at 850 nm with VCSEL transceivers. OM3 and OM4 fibers
with 850 nm VCSEL transceivers provide significant
economic value propositions when compared to single-mode
fiber and DFB/FP transceivers.

INTRODUCTION TO DATA CENTERS

Chapter Two:

The IEEE 802.3z and 802.3ae task force groups released

standards for Gigabit Ethernet and 10 Gigabit Ethernet in
1998 and 2002, respectively. The primary 1G and 10G
physical media dependent (PMD) variants being deployed
are provided in Table 2.1.

Optical Receiver

Optical Transmitter

MTP Connector

MTP Connector

12

Future industry bandwidth drivers such as video applications, virtualization and I/O convergence are driving the
need for network data rates beyond 10G. In response to that
need, the IEEE 802.3ba task force was formed to develop
guidance for 40G and 100G Ethernet data rates. OM3 and
OM4 fibers are the only multimode fibers included in the
standard. 40/100G distances for OM3 and OM4 are 100 m
and 150 m, respectively. The 40/100G standard does not
include guidance for UTP/STP copper media.

40G Ethernet uses four 10G channels to transmit

and four 10G channels to receive while 100G Ethernet
uses ten 10G channel to transmit and ten 10G channel
to receive. See Figures 2.3 and 2.4.

1
Tx
Tx
Tx
Tx
Tx
Tx
Tx
Tx
Tx
Tx
Tx
Tx

Tx
Tx
Tx
Tx
Tx
Tx
Tx
Tx
Tx
Tx
Tx
Tx

Rx
Rx
Rx
Rx
Rx
Rx
Rx
Rx
Rx
Rx
Rx
Rx
1

Ethernet duplex fiber serial transmission with a directly

modulated 850 nm VCSEL has been used for data rates up
to 10G. Duplex fiber serial transmission becomes impractical
at 40/100G data rates due to reliability concerns when the
850 nm VCSEL is directly modulated across extreme temperatures in the data center. Ethernet 40/100G multimode
fiber PMDs (40GBASE-SR4 and 100GBASE-SR10)
uses parallel optics with OM3 and OM4 fibers to mitigate
the VCSEL reliability concern.

Fiber Position

Rx
Rx
Rx
Rx
Rx
Rx
Rx
Rx
Rx
Rx
Rx
Rx

Fiber Position

12

Figure 2.3
Parallel Optics for 100G Ethernet | Drawing ZA-3300

Optical Receiver

Optical Transmitter

MTP Connector

MTP Connector

12

Fiber Position

Tx
Tx
Tx
Tx

Tx
Tx
Tx
Tx

Rx
Rx
Rx
Rx
1

Fiber Position

Fibre Channel is a high-performance, low latency, duplex

fiber serial link application with data rates of 1 Gb/s, 2 Gb/s,
4 Gb/s, 8 Gb/s, 10 Gb/s and 16 Gb/s. It provides a very
reliable form of communication that guarantees delivery
of information. The Fibre Channel T11 technical committees are responsible for developing transmitting guidance.
Fibre Channel is used in the data center to transmit data

12

Optical Receiver

MTP Connector

Fibre Channel

Rx
Rx
Rx
Rx

Optical Transmitter

SAN Protocols

MTP Connector

Figure 2.4
Parallel Optics for 40G Ethernet | Drawing ZA-3299

from the server host bus adapter (HBA) to the SAN

director to the SAN storage. Similar to Ethernet, OM3
and OM4 fibers are the dominant fibers and media type
used in the SAN network. Fibre Channel networks to date

TABLE 2.1
1G: Multimode

1G: Single-mode

1000BASE-SX (OM3: 1000 m, OM4: 1000 m)

1000BASE-LX (SM: 10 km)

10G: Multimode

10G: Single-mode

10GBASE-SR (OM3: 300 m, OM4: 550 m)

10GBASE-LR (SM: 10 km)

Chapter Two: Data Centers Networking Protocols | LAN-1160-EN | Page 5

Throughput (MBps)

Line Rate (GBaud)

T11 Spec Technically

Completed (Year)

Market
Availability (Year)

1GFC

200

1.0625

1996

1997

2GFC

400

2.125

2000

2001

4GFC

800

4.25

2003

2005

8GFC

1600

8.5

2006

2008

16GFC

3200

14.025

2009

2011

32GFC

6400

28.05

2012

2014

64GFC

12800

57

2016

Market Demand

128GFC

25600

114

2020

Market Demand

FCS

EOF

Fibre
Channel
Header

FCoE
Header

Ethernet
Header

Fibre Channel Payload

Chapter Two: Data Centers Networking Protocols | LAN-1160-EN | Page 6

INFORMATION AND TOOLS

Figure 2.5
Fibre Channel Payload | Drawing ZA-3673

PERFORMANCE METRICS AND ADMINISTRATION

Data centers utilize multiple networks that present operational and maintenance issues as each network requires dedicated electronics and cabling infrastructure. As previously
discussed, Ethernet (LAN) and Fibre Channel (SAN) are
the typical networks in a data center. Fibre Channels T11
technical committee and the Institute of Electrical and

FCoE is simply a transmission method in which the Fibre

Channel frame is encapsulated into an Ethernet frame
at the server (Figure 2.5). The server encapsulates Fibre
Channel frames into Ethernet frames before sending
them over the LAN and de-encapsulates them when
FCoE frames are received. Server I/O consolidation
combines the NIC and HBA cards into a single converged
network adapter (CNA) which reduces server cabling and
power/cooling needs. At present, the Ethernet frame is
removed at the Ethernet edge switch to access the Fibre
Channel frame which is then transported to the SAN
directors. FCoE encapsulation standards activity takes
place at the Fibre Channel T11.3 committee.

CRC

Fibre Channel over Ethernet

Electronic Engineers (IEEEs) Data Center Bridging

committee are defining standards to converge the two into
a unified fabric with Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE).

DEPLOYING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

have exclusively used optical media for the backbone as

well as the interconnect into the electronics. SAN Fibre
Channel links are being designed and deployed today to
support migration to 16G. Maximum 16G OM3 and OM4
channel distances are 100 m and 125 m, respectively. Fibre
Channel single-mode fiber usage is minimal in the data
center but is exclusively used for synchronization between
primary and secondary data center sites. T11 activity has
recently started to develop 32G guidance. Initial objectives
are for a duplex fiber serial transmission solution with
OM3 and OM4 fibers for 70-100 m distance. Table 2.2
provides the T11 Fibre Channel speed roadmap.

DESIGNING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Product Naming

INTRODUCTION TO DATA CENTERS

TABLE 2.2: T11 Fibre Channel Speed Roadmap

TABLE 2.3: T11 Fibre Channel Speed Roadmap

Product Naming

Throughput (MBps)

Equivalent Line
Rate (GBaud)

T11 Spec Technically

Completed (Year)

Market
Availability (Year)

10GFCoE

2400

10.3125

2008

2009

40GFCoE

9600

41.225

TBD

Market Demand

100GFCoE

24000

103.125

TBD

Market Demand

Fibre Channel is a deterministic protocol that guarantees

delivery of information. Native Ethernet has not been
deterministic and has relied on transmission control
protocol (TCP) to retransmit dropped frames. With
FCoE, the Ethernet transport has been required to be
updated to ensure that frames/packets are lossless without
using TCP/IP protocol. The new enhanced Ethernet
standard is called converged enhanced Ethernet (CEE).
CEE standards activity takes place at the IEEE 802.1
Data Center Bridging working groups.
Table 2.3 provides the Fibre Channel Industry Association
(FCIA) FCoE speed roadmap. Where 10G FCoE utilizes
serial duplex fiber transmission, 40/100G FCoE speeds
will require parallel optics. Data centers should install
12-fiber MPO backbone cables with OM3 or OM4 fiber
today that can be used for 10G FCoE and to provide an
effective migration path to emerging parallel optics that
require an MPO interface into the switch electronics and
the server (Figure 2.6).
First generation FCoE implementation will focus on the
edge switch and server. Ethernet OM3 or OM4 fiber
optical uplinks will be received into the FCoE enabled edge
switch and then interconnected to the server CNA. Instead
of copper UTP interconnects, SFP+ direct attached twinaxial
copper cable is now used as the media with significantly
lower power and latency performance. The twinax copper
cable will be used for distances up to 7-10 m. Beyond that
distance, low-cost, ultra-short-reach (USR) SFP+ modules
and OM3 or OM4 optical fiber will be used. The encapsulated Fibre Channel frame is returned to the edge switch where

LAN
Core Switch
SAN
Switch
Ethernet

FCoE
Edge Switch

FC

FC

FCoE

Storage
Server
OM3
SFP+ Twinax

Figure 2.6
First Generation FCoE Architecture | Drawing ZA-3469

the Ethernet frame is removed to access the Fibre Channel

frame. The Fibre Channel frame is then transmitted to the
SAN network. See Figure 2.6. This architecture solution
reduces the server interconnect cabling and adapter card
number by at least 50 percent.
Second generation FCoE deployments are expected
to use FCoE enabled core switches and edge switches.
This architecture will continue to use basic Ethernet
optical uplinks from the core switch to the edge switch and
SFP+ twinax interconnects into the server. The difference
occurs when the FCoE frame is transmitted back through

Chapter Two: Data Centers Networking Protocols | LAN-1160-EN | Page 7

SAN
Switch

FCoE
Core Switch
FCoE

FCoE

FCoE
Edge Switch

FC

FCoE

SFP+ Twinax

Figure 2.7
Second Generation FCoE Architecture | Drawing ZA-3470

FCoE
Core Switch
FCoE

Storage
FCoE

FCoE
Edge Switch

FCoE

Server
OM3
SFP+ Twinax

Figure 2.8
Third Generation FCoE Architecture | Drawing ZA-3471

INFORMATION AND TOOLS

Chapter Two: Data Centers Networking Protocols | LAN-1160-EN | Page 8

PERFORMANCE METRICS AND ADMINISTRATION

FCoE offers a data center unified fabric solution that

simplifies operational and maintenance of the cabling
infrastructure. FCoE facilitates utilization of low-cost
Ethernet electronics and OM3/OM4 optical connectivity
to support 10/40/100G data rates.

Server
OM3

DEPLOYING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

The FCIA has adopted specific guidance relative to the

cabling physical layer. Optical connectivity shall be in
accordance with IEEE 802.3ae (10GBASE-SR) utilizing
OM3 or OM4 optical fiber. In addition, new installs
are recommended to be = < 100 m to be compatible with
emerging 40/100G Ethernet and 16/32G Fibre Channel.
The SFP+ is the preferred electronic interface for copper
and optical cable. This eliminates use of 10GBASE-T
copper UTP/STP cable.

Storage

DESIGNING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Third generation FCoE architecture mirrors the second

generation with the exception that the core switch now
forwards the FCoE frame directly to storage where
the Fibre Channel frame is accessed. This architecture
solution reduces the server interconnect cabling and
adapter card number by at least 50 percent, eliminates
the Fibre Channel HBA to SAN optical fiber trunk cable
and eliminates the core switch to SAN director fiber
trunk cable. See Figure 2.8.

INTRODUCTION TO DATA CENTERS

the edge switch to the core switch over the same optical
fiber previously used as the uplink to the server. At the
core switch, the FCoE frame is forwarded to the SAN
director where the Ethernet frame is removed and the
Fibre Channel frame is then transmitted to the storage
devices. This architecture solution reduces the server
interconnect cabling and adapter card number by
at least 50 percent and eliminates the Fibre Channel
HBA to SAN optical fiber trunk cable. See Figure 2.7.

Chapter Three:

Fiber Type and Performance

As fiber becomes more widely deployed in the data center,
a system designer should evaluate all the various grades of
multimode fiber optic cable to ensure the data center will
support current and future data rates. As data rates and
the physical size of data centers increase, the need for
designing a bandwidth and link-length scalable network
is more important then ever. The purpose of this chapter
is to familiarize the reader with OM3 and OM4 fiber types
and performance requirements needed to support local
area network (LAN) and storage area network (SAN)
applications commonly used in data centers.

OM3/OM4 Laser-Optimized
50/125 m Multimode Fiber
Data center LAN and SAN networks should be designed
to support legacy applications as well as emerging highdata-rate applications. The emergence of high-data-rate
systems such as 10, 40 and 100 Gigabit Ethernet and 8 and
16 Gigabit Fibre Channel has resulted in OM3 and OM4
multimode fibers being the dominant optical fiber types
deployed in the data center.
The TIA-492AAAC OM3 detailed fiber standard was
released in March 2002, and the TIA-492AAAD OM4
detailed fiber standard was released in August 2009. The
fibers are optimized for laser-based 850 nm operation and

include a minimum 2000 MHzkm effective modal bandwidth (EMB) for OM3 and 4700 MHzkm EMB for OM4.
The OM multimode fiber nomenclature originated in the
ISO/IEC-11801, second edition standard and has been
adopted into TIA standards such as TIA-568, Rev C.3.
In addition to OM3 and OM4, OM1 and OM2 designations
are included for standard 62.5 m and 50 m multimode
fibers, respectively. See Table 3.1.
Data center high data rates in conjunction with the desired
application distances support OM3 and OM4 as the default
choice fiber types. The small core size of 50/125 m fiber
yields an inherent higher bandwidth capability than other
multimode fibers such as OM1 fiber. Tables 3.2 and 3.3
provide OM3 and OM4 fibers distance capabilities for
Ethernet and Fibre Channel data rates.
Corning Cable Systems strongly recommends OM3 and
OM4 fibers for the data center. When compared to OM1
and OM2 multimode fibers, OM3/OM4 fibers have
the highest 850 nm bandwidth to accommodate longer
distances, provide more system budget margin and support
migration to higher data rates such as 16/40/100G.

TABLE 3.1
Optical Fiber
Cable Type

Fiber Reference

Wavelength

Overfilled Modal
Bandwidth-Length
Product (MHzkm)

Effective Modal
Bandwidth-Length
Product (MHzkm)

62.5/125 m
multimode (OM1)

TIA-492AAAA-A
IEC 60793-2-10
Type A1b

850
1300

200
500

Not Required
Not Required

50/125 m
multimode (OM2)

TIA-492AAAB
IEC 60793-2-10
Type A1a.1

850
1300

500
500

Not Required
Not Required

850 m
laser-optimized
50/125 m (OM3)

TIA-492AAAC-A
IEC 60793-2-10
Type A1a.2

850
1300

1500
500

2000
Not Required

850 m
laser-optimized
50/125 m (OM4)

TIA-492AAAD
IEC 60792-2-10
Type A1a.3

850
1300

3500
500

4700
Not Required

Chapter Three: Fiber Type and Performance | LAN-1160-EN | Page 9

1G

10G

40G

100G

OM3

1000

300

100

100

OM4

1000

550

150

150

4G

8G

16G

OM3

380

150

100

OM4

480

190

125

10G Electronics and Cooling

The Optical Advantage

A well-planned structured cabling system in the data center

will support both the applications of today as well as the
future. Corning Cable Systems data center solutions do
just that, allowing todays systems to grow gracefully as
requirements change without concern of obsolescence.
Fiber is the most attractive medium for structured cabling
because of its ability to support the widest range of applications at the fastest speeds for the longest distances.
Additionally, fiber has a number of intrinsic advantages
beneficial to any application at any speed. Fiber is immune
to electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency
interference (RFI), therefore its signals cannot be corrupted
by external interference. Just as it is immune to EMI from

10G optical switch electronics and server adapter cards

require less power to operate compared to 10G UTP copper. The high insertion loss of copper cables at the extended
frequency range needed to support 10G and the required
electronic digital signal processing (DSP) noise-reduction
circuitry means that energy consumption will inevitably be
higher than that of low-loss fiber interconnects. 10GBASESR SFP+ optical transceivers consume a maximum of 1.0
watt (typical 0.5 watt) per port compared to 6-8 watts per
port for a 10GBASE-T copper switch. SFP+ chassis line
cards are intended to support up to 48-64 ports, while
10GBASE-T cards are expected to have 8-16 ports.
10GBASE-SR server adapter cards typically use less

Chapter Three: Fiber Type and Performance | LAN-1160-EN | Page 10

INFORMATION AND TOOLS

Fiber vs. Copper

PERFORMANCE METRICS AND ADMINISTRATION

Cable, connectors, hardware and electronics are now readily

available to support usage of these 50 m fibers. The technical and commercial community has recognized the benefits
of OM3/OM4 as the fibers have been adopted into IEEE
40/100G and Fibre Channel 4/8/16G transmission standards as well as the TIA-568-G3 structured cabling and
connectivity standards. The 850 nm wavelength now offers
and will continue to offer the most economical solution
for data center applications based on electronic costs.
The data rate scalability of OM3 and OM4 fibers provides
the ultimate media solution for data center managers to
ensure their structured wiring systems support legacy as
well as future application needs.

outside sources, fiber produces no electronic emissions,

therefore it is not a concern of the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) or European emissions regulations.
Cross-talk does not occur in fiber systems and there are no
shared sheath issues as with multipair unshielded twisted-pair
(UTP) copper cables. Also, standards activity has shown
evidence of alien cross-talk between UTP copper cables that
cannot be corrected by electronic digital signal processing
(DSP). Because all-dielectric cables, as well as the new
dielectric armored cables, can be used, grounding concerns
can be eliminated and lightning effects dramatically reduced.
Optical fibers are virtually impossible to tap, making it the
most secure media type. Most importantly, optical bandwidth
cannot be adversely affected by installation conditions.
Compare this to the copper system impairments that an
installer can impact.

DEPLOYING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Expectation is that implementing an OM3/OM4 physical

layer solution should provide a 10-15 year service life
without recabling.

DESIGNING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

TABLE 3.3: 850 nm Fibre Channel Distance (m)

INTRODUCTION TO DATA CENTERS

TABLE 3.2: 850 nm Ethernet Distance (m)

As network speed grows, optical fiber

offers significant advantages over copper
10 Gbps Example
90%
Electricity cost savings by using
10G optical instead of 10G copper (%)

than nine watts to service up to 300 m, while announced

10GBASE-T cards use 24 watts to service up to 100 m.
Experts have stated that 10GBASE-T over CAT 6A or
CAT 7 twisted-pair can extend up to 100 m, but power
requirements hinder its cost-effectiveness. A 10G optical
system requires far fewer switches and line cards for equivalent bandwidth capability of a 10G copper system. Fewer
switches and line cards translate into less energy consumption for electronics and cooling to minimize operational
expenses and support environmental initiatives. See Figure
3.1. One optical 48-port line card equals three 16-port line
cards. As with the 10G copper switches, the 10G copper
server adapter cards high power consumption and cooling
needs result in a higher operational expense. The industry
10GBASE-T expectation is that three to four watts per
port will be the lowest achievable power consumption.

85%

80%

75%

Figure 3.2
Optical Cable (left) vs. Equivalent Copper Cabling | Photo LAN874

288

240

192

144

96

48

70%

High fiber density, combined with the small diameter of

optical cable, maximizes raised floor pathways and space
utilization for routing and cooling. Optical cables also offer
superior pathway usage when routed in aerial cable trays.
A 0.7-inch diameter optical cable would contain 216 fibers
to support 108 10G optical circuits. The 108 copper cables
required to provide equivalent capability would have a
5-inch bundle diameter. The 10G twisted-pair copper
cables physical design contributes to major patch panel
and electronic cable management problems. The larger
CAT 6A outer diameter impacts conduit size and fill ratio
as well as cable management due to the physical size and
increased bend-radius. Copper cable congestion in pathways
increases the potential for damage to electronics due to air

Number of 10G Ports

Figure 3.1
Electronics and Cooling Savings

cooling damming effects and interference with the ability

of ventilation systems to remove dust and dirt. Optical
cable offers significantly better system density and cable
management and minimizes airflow obstructions in
the rack and cabinet for better cooling efficiencies.
See Figures 3.2 and 3.3.

Figure 3.3
Copper Cable Management

Chapter Three: Fiber Type and Performance | LAN-1160-EN | Page 11

INTRODUCTION TO DATA CENTERS

End Equipment Through Optical Fiber

Distance Capabilities

Transceivers

Relative Cost

3.0

850 nm optics
1300 nm optics

2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5

SFP/SFP+ are the dominant transceivers used for data rates

1G to 16G (see Figure 3.5). Industry-standard multisource
alliances (MSAs) have defined the transceiver performance
attributes (wavelength, spectral width, Tx power, Rx power,
etc.) to insure interoperability and reliability. The SFP/SFP+
transceiver performance attributes are incorporated into
the Ethernet and Fibre Channel standards to specify system
requirements and capabilities. Most transceivers interface
with LC duplex connectors.
The QSFP transceiver will be used for 40G OM3/OM4
Ethernet parallel optics. The optical connector interface
will be the 12-fiber MPO-style connector. The CXP
transceiver will be used for 100G Ethernet parallel optics.
The optical connector interface will be the 24-fiber MPOstyle connector. Similar to the SFP/SFP+ transceiver, the
QSFP and CXP transceivers performance attributes are
incorporated into the 40/100G Ethernet standard to specify
system requirements and capabilities.

0.0

Figure 3.4
Relative Cost of Single-Mode vs. Multimode 10G Transceiver

Chapter Three: Fiber Type and Performance | LAN-1160-EN | Page 12

INFORMATION AND TOOLS

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

PERFORMANCE METRICS AND ADMINISTRATION

3.5

850 nm transceiver. See Figure 3.4. The 850 nm VCSEL

transceiver provides the optimum technical and economic
solution for high bit rate ( 1 Gb/s) operation that makes
OM3/OM4 the most deployed optical fibers in the data
center today.

DEPLOYING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

The transceiver is an electronic device that receives an

electrical signal, converts it into a light signal and launches
the signal into a fiber. It also receives the light signal and
converts it into an electrical signal as well. For data rates
=>1G, a multimode transceiver uses an 850 nm VCSEL and
a single-mode transceiver uses a 1310 nm fabry-perot (FP)
or distributed feedback (DFB) laser. Transceivers operating
at 1G and higher data rates migrated from light emitting
diodes (LEDs) to laser sources due to the LED modulation
rate limitation and wide spectral width. For systems operating at data rates greater than 622 Mb/s, lasers must be used.
VCSEL fabrication and packaging costs are significantly less
than for a single-mode FP/DFB laser. The relative cost of
an FP/DFB transceiver is typically 2-3 times the cost of an

Figure 3.5
SFP/SFP+ Transceiver | Drawing ZA-3674

DESIGNING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Span length, application and data rate are the determining

factors in the selection of fiber type and end equipment.
All must be considered in order to make the best overall
selection. OM3 and OM4 fibers are appropriate for the
majority of data center applications, as the associated optoelectronic transmission equipment is usually more economical than that for single-mode systems. Analysis of a specific
system design will lead to the selection of the most suitable
fiber type and end equipment, after which detailed consideration of the optical parameters for both fiber and the system
is necessary. The following is a discussion of the nature and
meaning of those optical parameters with which the designer should be familiar.

OM3/OM4 EMBc
For systems operating at data rates greater than 1 Gb/s,
TIA/EIA-455-220 and IEC 60793-1-49 bandwidth test
methods are used to measure the fiber effective modal
bandwidth (EMB) that include a series of small spot size
launches (approximately 5 m) indexed across the fiber core.
Measurements are made of the output pulse time delay and
mode coupling power of the fiber as a function of radial
position. These measurements are referred to as differential
mode delay (DMD) measurements. Data from these measurements can be analyzed by two methods to determine
whether the fiber meets the EMB requirement of a specific
application. The first method for translating DMD measurements into an EMB prediction is commonly referred to
as the DMD mask approach, where the leading and trailing
edges of each pulse are recorded and normalized in power
relative to each other. This normalization approach reduces
the raw DMD data to focus exclusively on time delay, where
the overall fiber delay is calculated as the difference between
the times for the slowest trailing edge and the fastest leading
edge in units of ps/m. In order for a fiber to be determined
as meeting the required minimum value of 2000 MHzkm
EMB for OM3 at 850 nm, the DMD data must conform to
one of six templates or masks and must not show a DMD
measurement greater than 0.25 ps/m for any of four specified radial offset intervals. In order for a fiber to be determined as meeting the required minimum value of 4700
MHzkm EMB for OM4 at 850 nm, the DMD data must
conform to one of three templates or masks and must not
show a DMD measurement greater than 0.11 ps/m for any
of four specified radial offset intervals. It should be noted
that this method provides only a pass/fail estimation against
the 2000 MHzkm and 4700 MHzkm requirements.

To ensure field performance, EMB is calculated for 10

actual laser sources which have been determined to represent the performance extremes of all encircled compliant
VCSELs. Of these 10 sources, the one yielding the lowest
EMBc value is taken to represent the minimum expected
performance level of all standards-compliant VCSELs, and
the EMBc value associated with this source is therefore
referred to as the minimum calculated EMB or minEMBc.
The primary advantage of the minEMBc method over the
DMD mask method is that the minEMBc method guarantees standards-compliant fiber performance under worst
case source/fiber interactions while providing an actual
value of bandwidth in the scalable units of MHzkm. The
minEMBc value can then be used to calculate bit rates and
link lengths for systems requiring EMB values other than a
minimum 2000 MHzkm. Corning Cable Systems recommends that multimode fiber intended for current or future
use at data rates 1 Gb/s should be specified according to
minEMBc values rather than pass/fail performance indicated
by the DMD mask method.

The newer method for predicting EMB from DMD data

is called calculated effective modal bandwidth (EMBc). As
mentioned, the DMD measurement characterizes a single
fibers modal performance in high detail, including both
modal time delay and coupling as a function of radial
position. With EMBc, the fibers performance is then
characterized by a series of 10 sources which are chosen
to span across a range of 10,000 encircled fluxed compliant
VCSELs. Conceptually, this is done by weighting the
individual DMD launches to approximate the radial power
intensity distribution of any desired VCSEL. Those
weightings are then combined with the raw DMD data to
construct an output pulse for that fiber/laser combination.
The resultant output pulse can then be used to calculate
EMB in units of MHzkm.

Chapter Three: Fiber Type and Performance | LAN-1160-EN | Page 13

Standards

SECTION

Chapter Four:

INTRODUCTION TO DATA CENTERS

Designing the Physical Infrastructure

DESIGNING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

A LAN is a network linking multiple devices in a single

geographical location. Typical LAN speeds are 1 Gb or
10 Gb Ethernet.
A SAN is an area in the network linking servers to storage
equipment, which introduces the flexibility of networking
to servers and storage. Speeds are typically 2G, 4G, 8G or
10G Fibre Channel.

As data centers face the continued need to expand and

grow, the fundamental concerns are constant. Data
center infrastructures must provide reliability, flexibility
and scalability in order to meet the ever-changing data
center network.
Reliability: Data center cabling infrastructures
must provide security and enable 24 x 365 x 7 uptime.
Tier 4 data centers have uptime requirements of 99.995
percent, less than one-half hour per year.

Chapter Four: Standards | LAN-1160-EN | Page 14

INFORMATION AND TOOLS

When designing a data center, several factors should be

taken into consideration, including standards compliance.
TIA-942, Telecommunications Infrastructure Standard for
Data Center, details several of the factors that should be
considered when designing a data center. When implementing a structured cabling solution, the standard recommends a star topology architecture to achieve maximum

Data Center Needs

PERFORMANCE METRICS AND ADMINISTRATION

There are two types of environments in the data center:

local area networks (LANs) and storage area networks
(SANs).

network flexibility. TIA-942 outlines additional factors

crucial to data center design, including recognized media,
cable types, recommended distances, pathway and space
considerations and redundancy. In addition to standards
compliance, the need for infrastructure flexibility to
accommodate future moves, adds and changes due to
growth, new applications, data rates and technology
advancements in system equipment must be considered.

DEPLOYING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

General Standards

 Flexibility: With the constant in data centers being

change, the cabling infrastructure must be modular
to accommodate changing requirements and easy to
manage and adjust for minimal downtime during
moves, adds and changes.
Scalability: Cabling infrastructures must support data
center growth, both in addition of system electronics
and increasing data rates to accommodate the need for
more bandwidth. The infrastructure must be able to
support existing serial duplex transmission and provide
a clear migration path to future parallel optic transmission. In general, the infrastructure should be designed
to meet the challenges of the data center over a 15- to
20-year service life.

Equipment distribution area (EDA): Allocated for

end equipment and shall not serve the purposes of
an ER, MDA or HDA.
Telecommunications room (TR): Supports cabling to
areas outside the computer room and shall meet the
specifications of ANSI/TIA-569-B.
The components of the cabling infrastructure, as defined
by TIA-942, are as follows:
Horizontal cabling
Backbone cabling
Cross-connect in the ER or MDA
Main cross-connect in the MDA

TIA-942

Horizontal cross-connect in the TR, HDA, MDA

TIA-942, Telecommunications Infrastructure Standards

for Data Centers, was released in April 2005. The purpose
of this standard is to provide information on the factors
that should be considered when planning and preparing
the installation of a data center or computer room.
TIA-942 combines within a single document all of the
information specific to data center applications. This
standard defines the telecommunications spaces, infrastructure components and requirements for each within
the data center. Additionally, the standard includes guidance as to recommended topologies, cabling distances,
building infrastructure requirements, labeling and
administration, and redundancy.

Zone outlet or consolidation point in the ZDA

Data Center Spaces and Infrastructure

The main elements of a data center, defined by TIA-942,
are the entrance room (ER), main distribution area
(MDA), horizontal distribution area (HDA), zone
distribution area (ZDA), equipment distribution area
(EDA) and telecommunications room (TR).
Entrance room (ER): The space used for the
interface between data center structured cabling
and interbuilding cabling, both access provider
and customer-owned. The ER interfaces with the
computer room through the MDA.
Main distribution area (MDA): Includes the main
cross-connect, which is the central point of distribution
for the data center structured cabling system and may
include a horizontal cross-connect when equipment
areas are directly served from the MDA. Every data
center shall include at least one MDA.
Horizontal distribution area (HDA):
Serves equipment areas.

Outlet in the EDA

Access
Providers
Horizontal
Cabling

(Carrier Equip and

Demarcation)

Access
Providers

Offices, Ops. Center,

Support Rooms

Backbone
Cabling

Entrance Room

Main Distribution Area

Telecom Room

(Routers, Backbone LAN/SAN

Switches, PBX, M13 Muxes)

(Office and Operations

Center LAN Switches)

Computer
Room

Horiz Dist Area

Horiz Dist Area

Horiz Dist Area

Horiz Dist Area

(LAN/SAN/KVM
Switches)

(LAN/SAN/KVM
Switches)

(LAN/SAN/KVM
Switches)

(LAN/SAN/KVM
Switches)

Equip Dist Area

Equip Dist Area

Equip Dist Area

Equip Dist Area

(Rack/Cabinet)

(Rack/Cabinet)

(Rack/Cabinet)

(Rack/Cabinet)

Zone Dist Area

Figure 4.1
TIA-942 | Drawing ZA-3301

Chapter Four: Standards | LAN-1160-EN | Page 15

Equip Dist Area

Horizontal
Cabling

Horizontal
Cabling

Zone Dist Area

(Rack/Cabinet)

90 m (Horizontal Dist.)
100 m (Channel Dist.)

Horiz Dist Area

(LAN/SAN/KVM
Switches)

Horizontal
Cabling

Equip Dist Area

90 m (Horizontal Dist.)
100 m (Channel Dist.)

(Rack/Cabinet)

Figure 4.2
Horizontal Distribution Area Topology | Drawing ZA-3581

Access Providers

Offices, Ops. Center,

Support Rooms

Main Distribution Area

(Routers, Backbone LAN/SAN
Switches, PBX, M13 Muxes)

Computer
Room

TIA-942 defines the maximum distance for backbone

cabling as being application and media dependent.
Zone Dist Area

Horizontal
Cabling

300 m optical
or 90 m copper

Equip Dist Area

(Rack/Cabinet)

(Rack/Cabinet)

Figure 4.3
Reduced Data Center Topology | Drawing ZA-3427

DEPLOYING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Equip Dist Area

DESIGNING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Depending on the type and size of the data center, the

HDA may be collapsed back to the MDA. This is a typical
design for enterprise data centers. In this scenario, the
cabling from the MDA to the EDA, with or without a
ZDA, is considered horizontal cabling. In a collapsed
design, horizontal cabling is limited to 300 m for optical
fiber and 90 m for copper.

INTRODUCTION TO DATA CENTERS

In a data center, including HDAs, the maximum distance

allowed for horizontal cabling is 90 m, independent of
media type. With patch cords, the maximum channel
distance allowed is 100 m, assuming 5 m of patch cord at
each end of the channel for connection to end equipment.
When a ZDA is used, horizontal cabling distances for
copper may need to be reduced.

PERFORMANCE METRICS AND ADMINISTRATION

INFORMATION AND TOOLS

Chapter Four: Standards | LAN-1160-EN | Page 16

Redundancy in the Data Center

TIER 1

TIER
3

2
TIER

Primary Entrance Room

Secondary Entrance Room

(Tier 1 and Higher)

(Tier 3 and Higher)

Offices,
Operations Center,
Support Rooms

TIER

TIER

Primary Dist Area

Telecom Room

COMPUTER
ROOM

TIER 4

(Tier 1 and Higher)

TIER 4

Tier IV Multiple paths, components,

all active
99.995% available
< 1/2 hour downtime/year

(Tier 2 and Higher)

TIER 3

Tier III Multiple paths, components,

but 1 active path
99.982% available

(Tier 1 and Higher)

DATA CENTER

Tier I No Redundancy
99.671% available
Tier II Redundant component, but 1 path
99.741% available

Secondary Customer
Maintenance Hole

TIER 1

TIA-942 includes four tiers relating to

various levels of redundancy (Annex G)

Primary Customer
Maintenance Hole

Secondary Dist Area

(Optional for Tier 4)

Horiz Dist Area

(LAN/SAN/KVM
Switches)

Horiz Dist Area

Horiz Dist Area

(LAN/SAN/KVM
Switches)

(LAN/SAN/KVM
Switches)

Cabling

Zone Dist Area

Optional
Cabling

Equip Dist Area

Equip Dist Area

Equip Dist Area

(Rack/Cabinet)

(Rack/Cabinet)

(Rack/Cabinet)

Figure 4.4
Tier Ratings for Data Centers | Drawing ZA-3582

Tier Ratings for Data Centers

Tier I Data Center: Basic

Additional considerations when planning a data center

infrastructure include redundancy and reliability. TIA-942
describes redundancy using four tiers to distinguish
between varying levels of availability of the data center
infrastructure. The tiers used by this standard correspond
to industry tier ratings for data centers, as defined by the
Uptime Institute. The tiers are defined as Tier I, II, III
and IV, where a higher tier rating corresponds to increased
availability. The requirements of the higher-rated tiers are
inclusive of the lower level tiers. Tier ratings are specified
for various portions of the data center infrastructure,
including telecommunications systems architectural and
structural systems, electrical systems and mechanical
systems. Each system can have a different tier rating,
however; the overall data center tier rating is equal to
the lowest of the ratings across the infrastructure.

A data center with a Tier I rating has no redundancy.

The data center utilizes single paths and has no redundant
components.
From the Uptime Institute
A Tier I data center is susceptible to disruptions from both
planned and unplanned activity. It has computer power
distribution and cooling, but it may or may not have a
raised floor, a UPS, or an engine generator. The critical
load on these systems is up to 100 percent of N. If it does
have UPS or generators, they are single-module systems
and have many single points of failure. The infrastructure
should be completely shut down on an annual basis to
perform preventive maintenance and repair work.
Urgent situations may require more frequent shutdowns.
Operation errors or spontaneous failures of site infrastructure components will cause a data center disruption.

Chapter Four: Standards | LAN-1160-EN | Page 17

A data center with a Tier II rating has redundant

components, but utilizes only a single path.

Tier III Data Center: Concurrently Maintainable

A data center with a Tier III rating has multiple paths,
but only one path is active.

DEPLOYING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

PERFORMANCE METRICS AND ADMINISTRATION

From the Uptime Institute

Tier III level capability allows for any planned site infrastructure activity without disrupting the computer hardware operation. Planned activities include preventive and
programmable maintenance, repair and replacement of
components, addition or removal of capacity components,
testing of components and systems and more. For large
sites using chilled water, this means two independent sets of
pipes. Sufficient capacity and distribution must be available
to simultaneously carry the load on one path while
performing maintenance or testing on the other path.
Unplanned activities such as errors in operation or spontaneous failures of facility infrastructure components will still
cause a data center disruption. The critical load on a system
does not exceed 90 percent of N. Many Tier III sites are
designed with planned upgrades to Tier IV when the
clients business case justifies the cost of additional protection. The acid test for a concurrently maintainable data
center is the ability to accommodate any planned work
activity without disruption to computer room processing.

DESIGNING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

From the Uptime Institute

Tier II facilities with redundant components are slightly
less susceptible to disruptions from both planned and
unplanned activity than a basic data center. They have a
raised floor, UPS and engine generators, but their capacity
design is N+1, which has a single-threaded distribution
path throughout. Critical load is up to 100 percent of N.
Maintenance of the critical power path and other parts of
the site infrastructure will require a processing shutdown.

From the Uptime Institute

Tier IV provides site infrastructure capacity and capability
to permit any planned activity without disruption to the
critical load. Fault-tolerant functionality also provides the
ability of the site infrastructure to sustain at least one
worst-case unplanned failure or event with no critical load
impact. This requires simultaneously active distribution
paths, typically in a system-to-system configuration.
Electrically, this means two separate UPS systems in which
each system has N+1 redundancy. The combined critical
load on a system does not exceed 90 percent of N. As a
result of fire and electrical safety codes, there will still be
downtime exposure due to fire alarms or people initiating
an emergency power off (EPO). Tier IV requires all computer hardware to have dual power inputs as defined by the
Institutes Fault-Tolerant Power Compliance Specifications
Version 2.0, which can be found at www.uptimeinstitute.org.
The acid test for a fault tolerant data center is the ability
to sustain an unplanned failure or operations error without
disrupting computer room processing. In consideration
of this acid test, compartmentalization requirements must
be addressed.

INTRODUCTION TO DATA CENTERS

Tier II Data Center: Redundant Components

Tier IV Data Center: Fault Tolerant

A data center with a Tier IV rating has multiple active
paths and provides increased fault tolerance.

INFORMATION AND TOOLS

Chapter Four: Standards | LAN-1160-EN | Page 18

Chapter Five:

Designing a Scalable Infrastructure

Figure 5.1
Data Center Example | Drawing ZA-3583

Structured Cabling

With a star topology, maximum flexibility in the network

is achieved. TIA-942 states that both horizontal and
backbone cabling shall be installed using a star topology.
The cabling infrastructure should be implemented to allow
moves, adds and changes without disturbing the cabling
itself. MACs include network reconfiguration, growing
and changing user applications and/or protocols.

EDA
Server
Cabinet

EDA
SAN

MDA

EDGE Switch

SAN Switch

Distribution
Switch

Storage

LAN

Servers

SAN

TIA-942 provides structured cabling guidance for data

centers. To implement a structured cabling solution, a
star topology is recommended. If an unstructured cabling
solution is used (e.g., a point-to-point installation with
jumpers), moves, adds and changes (MACs) to the data
center become difficult. Issues that may arise include the
following: manageability, scalability, cooling, density and
flexibility. For data centers utilizing access flooring, it is
imperative to keep under-floor obstructions like cabling
to a minimum so cooling airflow is not impeded.

Router

LAN

Figure 5.2
Data Center Topology | Drawing ZA-3584

Chapter Five: Designing a Scalable Infrastructure | LAN-1160-EN | Page 19

Entrance Room

Access
Providers
Horizontal
Cabling

Access
Providers

Offices, Ops. Center,

Support Rooms

Backbone
Cabling

(Carrier Equip and

Demarcation)

Computer
Room

Main Distribution Area

Telecom Room

(Routers, Backbone LAN/SAN

Switches, PBX, M13 Muxes)

(Office and Operations

Center LAN Switches)

Horiz Dist Area

Horiz Dist Area

Horiz Dist Area

Horiz Dist Area

(LAN/SAN/KVM
Switches)

(LAN/SAN/KVM
Switches)

(LAN/SAN/KVM
Switches)

(LAN/SAN/KVM
Switches)

Equip Dist Area

Equip Dist Area

Equip Dist Area

Equip Dist Area

(Rack/Cabinet)

(Rack/Cabinet)

(Rack/Cabinet)

(Rack/Cabinet)

Zone Dist Area

Zone Distribution in the Data Center

Standards Compliance

Zone Distribution Area (ZDA) located

in the center of each zone
Server Cabinets

Server Cabinets

Main Distribution
Frame

Server Cabinets

Server Cabinets
Cabinets
grouped
into zones

ZDA

MDF

Server Cabinets

Server Cabinets
ZDA

Design Recommendations Using Zones

Zone distribution provides many benefits when

incorporated in the data center cabling infrastructure:
Reduces pathway congestion.
Limits data center disruption from the MDA and eases
implementation of MACs.
Enables a modular solution for a pay-as-you-grow
approach.

Main Distribution
Area (MDA)

Figure 5.4
Identify Zones or ZDAs | Drawing ZA-3585

ZA-3585

Trunk Cabling Star Networked

from the MDFs to the ZDAs

ZDA

Cabinets
grouped
into zones

MDF

ZDA

ZDA

Additional
Cabinet
Zones

Main Distribution
Area (MDA)

Figure 5.5
Install High-Fiber-Count Cabling | Drawing ZA-3586

ZA-3586

Connectivity is quickly and easily deployed

from the ZDAs to the Server Cabinets on an
as-needed basis

ZDA

Cabinets
grouped
into zones

MDF

ZDA

PERFORMANCE METRICS AND ADMINISTRATION

Zone distribution is not only a design topology recommended in TIA-942, but also one incorporated into many
data centers operating today. Consider these steps when
considering a zoned architecture:
1. Identify zones or zone distribution areas (ZDAs)
throughout the data center.
2. Install high-fiber-count cabling from the MDA to the
localized zones or ZDAs.
3. Distribute lower-fiber-count cabling from the ZDAs
to the cabinets or components within the zone.

Additional
Cabinet
Zones

DEPLOYING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

ZDA

DESIGNING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Figure 5.3
TIA-942 | Drawing ZA-3301

When designing a data center to meet these needs, best

practices should be followed. TIA-942 addresses recommended design practices for all areas of the data center,
including pathways and spaces and the cabling infrastructure.

INTRODUCTION TO DATA CENTERS

Implementation of a star topology with ZDAs allows for

a flexible and manageable cabling infrastructure. Cabling
can be consolidated from hundreds of jumpers to just a
few low-profile, high-fiber-count trunk cables routed to
several zone locations. When adding equipment, extender
trunks (usually much lower fiber count than the trunks,
i.e., 12 fibers to 48 fibers) can be added incrementally,
interconnected at the ZDA (TIA-942 only allows one
ZDA in a link; ZDAs cannot be concatenated) and routed
to the equipment racks. This can be done easily without
disrupting the backbone cabling and without pulling floor
tiles across the entire data center.

ZDA

Main Distribution
Area (MDA)

Figure 5.6
Distribute Lower-Fiber-Count Cabling | Drawing ZA-3587
ZA 3587

Chapter Five: Designing a Scalable Infrastructure | LAN-1160-EN | Page 20

INFORMATION AND TOOLS

Additional
Cabinet
Zones

Chapter Six:

Determining the Fiber Counts

The selection of the fiber count, or number of fibers used
in the cable plant, is an extremely important decision that
impacts both the current and future system capabilities,
as well as the cost of a communications network. The
development and widespread use of fiber in all aspects of
the data center network require the designer to plan not
only for the immediate system requirements, but for the
evolution of future system demands as well. Since these
fiber systems will provide service for a number of different applications later, the number of fibers designed
into the network today must be carefully considered.
Before fiber counts are determined, the designer needs
to analyze the following:
1. Physical infrastructure design for data centers
TIA/EIA 942
Defining MDAs, HDAs and ZDAs
2. Logical topologies for data centers
Common architectures
3. Mapping logical topologies into the physical
infrastructure
TIA-942 and logical architectures
Choosing the proper TIA-942 architecture

Logical Topologies for Data Center

While standards help guide the data center physical
infrastructure, the data center logical infrastructure
does not have a standards body helping with design.
Logical architectures as shown in Table 6.1 vary based
on customer preference and are also guided by the
electronics manufacturers.
Though a standard does not exist, there are some
common architecture best practices that can be followed.
Most logical architectures can be broken into four layers:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Core
Aggregation
Access
Storage

Core
The core layer provides the high-speed connectivity
between the data center and the campus network.
This is typically the area where multiple ISPs provide
connections to the internet.

TABLE 6.1
Layer

Logical Architecture

Core

Aggregation

Access

Storage

Aggregation
The aggregation layer provides a point where all server
area devices can share common applications such as firewalls, cache engines, load balancers and other value-added
services. The aggregation layer must be able to support
multiple 10G and 1 Gig connections to support a
high-speed switching fabric.

Access
The access layer provides the connectivity between the
aggregation layer shared services and the server farm.
Since additional segmentation may be required in the
access area three different segments are needed:
1. Front-end segment This area contains web servers,
DNS servers, FTP and other business application
servers.
2. Application segment Provides the connection
between the front-end servers and the back-end servers.
3. Back-end segment Provides connectivity to the
database servers. This segment also provides access
to the storage area network (SAN).

Storage
The storage layer contains the Fibre Channel switches and
other storage devices such as magnetic disc media or tape.

Chapter Six: Determining the Fiber Counts | LAN-1160-EN | Page 21

TIA-942 Physical Architecture Area

Logical Architecture Area

Maps to

Core and Aggregation

HDA = Horizontal Distribution Area

Maps to

Aggregation

Maps to

Access and Storage

ZDA = Zone Distribution Area

EDA = Equipment Distribution Area

Mapping Logical Architectures to TIA-942

The next step is to take an example logical architecture

and translate it to a TIA-942 structured cabling solution.
In this example, we will use a small data center and map
the logical architecture shown in Figure 6.1 to the physical
architecture of the data center (racks and cabinets) that is
shown in Figure 6.2.

Aggregation
Layer

Access
Layer
Front-End
Layer

App
Layer

Back-End
Layer

Storage
Layer
Storage
Layer

Figure 6.1
Logical Architecture | Drawing ZA-3656

PERFORMANCE METRICS AND ADMINISTRATION

The next step is to choose the TIA-942 architecture that

will best map to the logical architecture shown in Figure
6.1. Since this data center is small, a reduced TIA-942
architecture will be implemented. In this architecture,
an MDA, ZDA and EDA will be implemented.

Core Layer

DEPLOYING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

The key for many data center designers is how to translate

the many logical topologies onto a TIA-942 structured
cabling infrastructure. This translation will affect some
of the key design elements of a structured cabling solution
such as fiber counts, hardware considerations and physical
cable runs. The first step is to translate the TIA-942 areas
(MDA, HDA, ZDA, EDA) to the logical architecture areas
(core, aggregation, access, storage). Table 6.2 shows a
comparison between the two.

DESIGNING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

MDA = Main Distribution Area

INTRODUCTION TO DATA CENTERS

TABLE 6.2: Mapping Architectures

INFORMATION AND TOOLS

Chapter Six: Determining the Fiber Counts | LAN-1160-EN | Page 22

In implementing this structured cabling design, the data

center will be segmented based on the logical topology
shown in Figure 6.1. The segmentation will be as follows:
1. Collapse the core switching LAN and SAN and
aggregation switching in the MDA area.
2. Segment the access layer into three zones (front-end,
application and back-end).
3. Segment the storage into a separate zone.
Each zone will use a middle-of-the-rack (MoR)
interconnect solution for the cabling and within each
zone, the EDAs will utilize a top-of-the-rack interconnect.
The EDAs will serve the electronics in each cabinet and
the ZDAs will serve the EDAs. The ZDAs will homerun
back to the MDA where they will terminate in a main
cross-connect (MC). This is shown in Figure 6.3.
The next step is to determine the number of fibers that
are needed to implement this structured cabling solution.
Two things the designer needs to take into account are:
1. Redundancy requirements for each section or zone
2. Networking requirements
Many data centers are set up to have redundant cable
routes to each zone area. An A and a B route are very
common in todays infrastructure design. Redundancy in
the data center will increase the fiber count to each zone.

Figure 6.2
Data Center Rack Layout | Drawing ZA-3540

Front-End
Layer Zone

EDA

EDA

EDA

ZDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

ZDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

ZDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

ZDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

Server Cabinets

Application
Layer Zone

EDA

EDA

EDA

Core Switching
Aggregation Switching
SAN Switching

Server Cabinets

MC
Back-End
Layer Zone

EDA

EDA

EDA

Server Cabinets

Storage
Zone

EDA

EDA

EDA

Storage Cabinets

Main Distribution Area

(MDA)

Figure 6.3
Data Center Cabled Architecture | Drawing ZA-3541

Networking requirements will also affect the fiber counts

in the data center. Many networking configurations will
require redundant switches in each rack to reduce single
points of failure in the data center. Also the number
of upstream ports versus downstream ports (oversubscription) will affect the fiber count.
As illustrated in the switch configuration shown in
Figure 6.4, this configuration calls for two switches on top
of the EDA cabinet. Each switch will feed 16 blade servers
for a total of 32 downstream ports. The number of
upstream ports (fiber links back to the MDA) will
depend on how much the network engineers want to
oversubscribe the switch. For example, to have a 1:1 oversubscription, you would need 32 upstream ports to match
the 32 downstream ports. Table 6.3 shows the fiber counts
required for this configuration.

EDA

Up To 20 10GE Uplinks Per Switch

2x Switch

32x 10GE
2x Blade Server Chassis
With 16 Pass-Through
10GE Connections

16x 10GE

Figure 6.4
Switch Configuration | Drawing ZA-3657

Chapter Six: Determining the Fiber Counts | LAN-1160-EN | Page 23

Oversubscription Ratio
Per Switch

10G Uplinks Per Switch

Fiber Count Per Switch

Fibers Per Rack

8:1

24

4:1

16

48

1.6:1

20

40

96

In Figure 6.5 each of the nine EDA cabinets require

96 fibers to support the oversubscription rate and the
requirements for redundancy. Using 144-fiber trunk
cables yields three 144-fiber cables to Core A and three
144-fiber cables to Core B. The same process would need
to be repeated for the other zones in this example.

Main Distribution Area

(MDA)
Front-End
Layer Zone

EDA

Application
Layer Zone

EDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

ZDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

Back-End
Layer Zone

EDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

ZDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

ZDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

ZDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

Core A

96F

Storage
Zone

EDA

96F

EDA

EDA

96F

EDA

96F

96F

EDA

96F

EDA

96F

EDA

Core B

96F

EDA

3 x 144F

3 x 144F

Migrating to the next generation of switches will require

careful planning for fiber counts. Advanced systems such
as 40G Ethernet and 100G Ethernet will require thousands
of fibers for network connectivity. 40G Ethernet systems
will utilize a 12-fiber MPO-style (MTP) connector as
the interface into the end electronics. A basic configuration
for a 40G switch may consist of 12 fibers per port and
16 ports per card (Figure 6.6).

Main Distribution Area

(MDA)
Core A

Core B

Figure 6.6
Switch Configuration | Drawing ZA-3588

INFORMATION AND TOOLS

Chapter Six: Determining the Fiber Counts | LAN-1160-EN | Page 24

PERFORMANCE METRICS AND ADMINISTRATION

If the designer replaces the 10G switches with 40G

switches, the fiber count would increase. Using the same
scenario as before (32 servers) and the same oversubscription ratios as before, the fiber counts per rack increase.
Table 6.4 shows the fiber counts based on 40G.

FigureFront-End
6.5
EDA EDA EDA EDA ZDA EDA EDA EDA EDA
Zone
Fiber Layer
Count
Configuration | Drawing ZA-3658

DEPLOYING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

The Future: 40G/100G Systems

DESIGNING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Using Table 6.3 and applying a 1.6:1 oversubscription would

yield a fiber count configuration shown in Figure 6.4.

INTRODUCTION TO DATA CENTERS

TABLE 6.3: Oversubscription Ratios for 10G

TABLE 6.4: Oversubscription Ratios for 40G

Oversubscription Ratio
Per Switch

40G Uplinks Per Switch

Fiber Count Per Switch

Fibers Per Rack

8:1

48

72

4:1

96

144

1.6:1

20

240

288

Using Table 6.4 and applying a 1.6:1 oversubscription would

yield the fiber count configuration shown in Figure 6.7.
In this example each of the nine EDA cabinets require
288 fibers to support the oversubscription rate of 1.6:1
and the requirements for redundancy. Using 144-fiber
trunk cables yields nine 144-fiber cables to Core A and
nine 144-fiber cables to Core B.

Main Distribution Area

(MDA)
Front-End
Layer Zone

EDA

Application
Layer Zone

EDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

ZDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

Back-End
Layer Zone

EDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

ZDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

ZDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

ZDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

Core A

288F

Storage
Zone

100G Ethernet systems will utilize a 24-fiber MTP

Connector as the interface into the end electronics.
A basic configuration for a 100G switch may consist
of 24 fibers per port and 16 ports per card.

EDA

288F

EDA

288F

EDA

288F

288F

EDA

EDA

288F

EDA

288F

EDA

Core B

288F

EDA

9 x 144F

Figure 6.7
FiberFront-End
Count
Configuration | Drawing ZA-3658
EDA EDA EDA EDA ZDA EDA EDA EDA EDA

9 x 144F

Main Distribution Area

(MDA)

If the designer replaces the 10G switches with 100G

switches, the fiber count would increase. Using the same
oversubscription ratios as before, the fiber counts per rack
increase. Table 6.5 shows the fiber counts based on 100G.
Main Distribution Area
(MDA)

Using Table 6.5 and applying a 1.6:1 oversubscription

would yield a fiber count configuration shown in
Figure 6.8.
In this example, each of the nine EDA cabinets require
576 fibers to support the oversubscription rate of 1.6:1
and the requirements for redundancy. Using 144-fiber
trunk cables yields 18 144-fiber cables to Core A
and 18 144-fiber cables to Core B.

Front-End
Layer Zone

EDA

Application
Layer Zone

EDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

ZDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

Back-End
Layer Zone

EDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

ZDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

ZDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

ZDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

Core A

576F

Storage
Zone

EDA

576F

EDA

EDA

576F

576F

576F

EDA

EDA

576F

EDA

576F

EDA

Core B

576F

EDA

18 x 144F

18 x 144F

Figure 6.8
Fiber Count Configuration | Drawing ZA-3658

TABLE 6.5: Oversubscription Ratios for 100G

Oversubscription Ratio
Per Switch

100G Uplinks Per Switch

Fiber Count Per Switch

Fibers Per Rack

8:1

96

144

4:1

192

288

1.6:1

20

480

576

Chapter Six: Determining the Fiber Counts | LAN-1160-EN | Page 25

Choosing the Infrastructure Components

SECTION

Chapter Seven:

In commercial building installations, an optical fiber

cabling link is typically assembled in the field at the job
site. The cable is pulled in from a reel of bulk cable, cut to
length, attached to the patch panel housing and terminated
with field-installable connectors on each end. The terminated ends are then loaded into adapters in rack- or wallmountable housings. Finally, the complete link is tested for
continuity and attenuation.

With little planning prior to ordering, preterminated

solutions offer several advantages over the traditional
installation such as:
An optical fiber link can be quickly and easily installed.
This can be most advantageous for projects where system
downtime must be minimized or where disruption of the
floor space cannot be tolerated. Hence, a pre-assembled
solution can be useful to have on hand for emergency
repairs or for the re-cabling of a facility that must remain
occupied and functional.

The following additional steps are required:

1. Predetermine the installed link length.
2. Ensure that a connectorized cable end can be pulled
through the path (i.e., conduit) or space for the cable
route. This must take into account the pulling grip size.
Corning Cable Systems preterminated solutions are
well-suited for the data center for the following reasons:
Denser optical networking solutions, free raised floor
and rack space
Significantly faster installation times
Modular design for faster moves, adds and changes
Factory terminations
1. Consistent results from an ISO 9001 and TLQ9000
certified factory
2. 100 percent factory tested
Defined accountability, built-in compatibility
Elimination of variability in material and installation costs

Chapter Seven: Choosing the Infrastructure Components | LAN-1160-EN | Page 26

INFORMATION AND TOOLS

A pre-assembled solution can be useful where cost

control of a project is most important. The completion
of many of the labor assembly steps at the factory can
significantly reduce the variability of installation cost
in the field.

The design and product selection process remains the same

with selection and specification of fiber type, fiber count,
cable type, connector type and hardware type appropriate
for the environment.

PERFORMANCE METRICS AND ADMINISTRATION

Preterminated cables and hardware are ideal for use in

data centers to enable utilization of high-density fiber ports.
In these applications and others, the benefit of a pre-assembled solution saves installation time, reduces system downtime and provides a more flexible and scalable solution
with high-quality factory terminations than traditional field
installation methods.

An optical fiber link component can be completely assembled and tested prior to leaving the factory. Most of the
problems associated with the traditional field installation
occur with the field connectorization and correct loading
of the connectors into the hardware. These problems are
greatly reduced with factory-terminated connectors.

DEPLOYING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Alternatives to the traditional implementation method

are factory-terminated and pre-assembled solutions.
The time-consuming steps of installation, such as cable
sheath removal, cable furcation, connector installation
and hardware assembly, can be completed in the factory.
The complete package is shipped to the job site ready
for quick and easy installation.

A pre-assembled solution can increase the versatility and

productivity of the installation crew with fewer demands
on specialized tooling and installation skills.

DESIGNING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Preterminated Solutions

INTRODUCTION TO DATA CENTERS

Deploying the Physical Infrastructure

Standard-Density Solutions

CONEC

Pull

TO REMOVE

PUSH

When standard density requirements apply, Corning Cable

Systems recommends Plug & Play Universal Systems for
the effective implementation of a factory-pre-assembled
solution. Plug & Play Universal Systems integrate many of
Corning Cable Systems high-quality components, cables,
connectors and hardware into a variety of preterminated,
pre-assembled and factory-tested solutions while seamlessly
managing polarity.

MTP Multi-Fiber Connector

Plug & Play Universal Systems utilize the MTP
Connector. The MTP Connector is a multi-fiber array-style
connector that can accommodate up to 12 fibers in roughly
the same size and footprint as an SC connector. It has a
single high-density footprint of 25 x 10 mm and features
simple push-on/pull-off mating. A general industry term
for this style of connector is MPO. This connector, which
is used in both multimode and single-mode applications,
maximizes valuable panel and hardware space, ensuring
high density. MTP Connectors are manufactured with
either alignment pins or with alignment holes to ensure
proper alignment of the fibers. A connector with alignment
pins always mates with a connector with alignment holes.
(Figure 7.1). The MTP Connector offers:
Up to 54 percent reduction in pathway congestion
Modularity and scalability with a fiber count that maps
to current and future line-card port counts
Universal wiring and superior loss performance for
migration to higher data rates

Figure 7.1
MTP Multi-fiber Connector | Drawing ZA-1572

Plug & Play Systems Components

Cable Trunk Assemblies
A traditional Plug & Play Universal Systems trunk consists
of an optical cable with each end factory-terminated with
MTP Connectors and a pulling grip on one or both ends.
Trunks are available in a variety of fiber types and typically
carry a plenum rating unless otherwise specified. When
ordering Plug & Play Universal Systems trunks, the MTP
Connectors on both ends will have pin alignment holes.
This ensures that it will integrate with the remaining parts
of the system that have pins. It should be noted that MTP
Connector panels have neither pins nor alignment holes, as
they are connection points for various components of the
Plug & Play Universal Systems.
To successfully deploy a cable that is preterminated on both
ends, it is necessary to accurately predetermine the installed
link length. This can be relatively straightforward if welldefined pathways and spaces exist for the cable route, which
is usually true for the data center environment.
If the route is less defined, preterminated cables can still
be utilized by specifying the trunk cables be longer than
the known length and planning for the storage of excess
cable loops.

Chapter Seven: Choosing the Infrastructure Components | LAN-1160-EN | Page 27

INTRODUCTION TO DATA CENTERS

Pulling Grips
The factory-terminated connectors on the Plug & Play
Universal Systems trunk cables are protected with a
protective pulling grip (Figure 7.2). This grip is designed
to be installed by being hand-pulled through a duct, under a
raised floor and through a riser shaft or through a dropped
ceiling. The pulling grip is rated to a 100 lb tensile load.

Mounting features in the furcation plugs integrate the trunk

cable mounting into Corning Cable Systems hardware. The
design allows you to attach assemblies quickly into equipment
racks or cabinets with optional mounting brackets. It is
critical to reiterate that a designer must take into account the
size of the pulling grip when determining conduit and other
constricting pathways.

Extender Trunks

Hybrid Connector Trunks

and Hybrid Extender Trunks
Plug & Play Universal Systems hybrid connector trunks
are terminated with MTP Connectors on one end of the
trunk and discrete LC or SC connectors on the other end
for applications requiring one end of the trunk to connect
directly into system equipment or patch panels. Storage
devices, for example, are often stand-alone units that do
not have rack space for mounting patch panels. Additionally,
if floor space is not available to add a ZDA, the hybrid
connector trunk or extender trunk would be a viable option.
Hybrid trunks would plug into a module on the MTP
end and into electronics panel on the discrete fiber end.
The hybrid extender trunk would plug into a trunk on the
MTP end and into electronics panel on discrete connector
end (Figure 7.3).

INFORMATION AND TOOLS

Chapter Seven: Choosing the Infrastructure Components | LAN-1160-EN | Page 28

PERFORMANCE METRICS AND ADMINISTRATION

Extender trunks are typically used to distribute portions, or

all, of the fibers in a Plug & Play Universal Systems trunk to
other areas of the infrastructure, such as in a zone distribution
area (ZDA). The extender trunk interconnects to a standard
Plug & Play Universal Systems trunk via an MTP Connector
adapter panel. An extender trunk physically differs from a
standard Plug & Play Universal Systems trunk in that it has
an MTP Connector with pins on one end and an MTP
Connector with alignment holes on the other. The end with
pins mates to the standard Plug & Play Universal Systems
trunk, which has alignment holes to accept the alignment
pins. The extender trunk extends the reach of the network by
acting like an extension cord. For example, the pinned end of
the extender trunk plugs into the alignment holes of a main
trunk, while the alignment holes on the extender trunks
other connector plugs into a Plug & Play Universal Systems
module or harness that is pinned.

Figure 7.3
Plug & Play Hybrid Trunk, 144 fiber | Photo LAN801

DEPLOYING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

The pulling grip comes in various outer diameters and

will accommodate single-fiber connectors and duplex smallform-factor connectors, such as LC and MTP Connectors.
When the grip is open, the connectors are in a protective
mesh. After the grip is populated with connectors, it is closed
and encased inside the black mesh netting that facilitates
pulling the cable. The grip has a tensile strength of 100 lb
that provides more than sufficient pull strength for most
hand-pull installation requirements.

Figure 7.2
Plug & Play Universal Systems Pulling Grip with
Integrated Mounting Hardware | Photo LAN654

DESIGNING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

In a data center environment, cable will be pulled through a

variety of pathways such as overhead trays, raised floor, conduit
and fiber troughs. The size of the pulling grip, the number of
turns in a pull and existing cable fill will dictate the maximum
size of the cable as well as the overall cable pull strategy.

Modules
Plug & Play Universal Systems modules transition from the
MTP Connector on the trunk cable to the discrete connectors used in electronics. For example, if an LC duplex connector is used on the edge switches, an MTP-to-LC duplex
module requires only one panel space in the hardware for up
to 24 fibers, utilizing that valuable real estate wisely by using
LC duplex connectors to double the capacity of the box
instantly (Figure 7.4).
Note: Polarity is discussed in detail in Chapter Eleven. Corning Cable Systems
Application Engineering Note 69, Plug & Play Universal Systems also
addresses polarity.

Integrated Trunk Module

The Integrated Trunk Module (ITM) is an innovative
design that incorporates the benefits of a module with
discrete connectors with the advantage of an integrated
trunk cable. Figure 7.5 shows the module in detail. The
Integrated Trunk Module is a preterminated 12-fiber MTP
Connector trunk assembly integrated into a Plug & Play
Universal Systems module. The trunk cable stored within
the module is easily deployed to an exact length, so precise
pre-planning of cable length is not required. It is ideal for
the zone distribution area in a large data center as it provides a quick and convenient method for deploying and/or
re-deploying optical connectivity. In a small data center, it
is perfect for connecting the main distribution area to the
system equipment cabinets.

Figure 7.4
Plug & Play Universal Systems Module | Photo LAN1797

Harnesses
Like modules, harnesses allow the user to maintain
modularity with a system solution implemented by
providing a transition from the MTP Connectors used on
the trunk or extender trunk cables to single- or dual-fiber
connectors. A harness is a cable assembly with a multi-fiber
pinned MTP Connector on one end and simplex or duplex
connectors at the ends of up-jacketed legs.

Figure 7.5
Integrated Trunk Module | Photo LAN1680

Rather than terminate the end of a trunk into a module,

the trunk is interconnected to a harness through an MTP
Connector adapter panel. The individual connectors at
the opposite end of the harness assembly can be plugged
directly into equipment or into patch panels, with patch
cords used to provide connectivity to equipment (Figure 7.6).

Figure 7.6
Harness | Photo LAN1371

Chapter Seven: Choosing the Infrastructure Components | LAN-1160-EN | Page 29

Figure 7.7
PCH-M3-01U | Photo LAN994

Hardware

Figure 7.8
PCH-02U | Photo LAN1008

For a cabinet or rack solution, Corning Cable Systems

recommends the Pretium Connector Housing (PCH)
(Figures 7.7, 7.8 and 7.9) or the dense 1U 96-fiber shelf
(Figure 7.10). The PCH is available in rack heights of 1U,
2U and 4U. The PCH includes an additional four inches of
depth for increased slack storage space inside the housings,
as well as a 1U integrated horizontal jumper management
for the PCH-04U. The 96-fiber shelf comes configured
specifically for LC duplex connections.

Chapter Seven: Choosing the Infrastructure Components | LAN-1160-EN | Page 30

INFORMATION AND TOOLS

Figure 7.10
1U 96-Fiber Shelf | Photo LAN1248

PERFORMANCE METRICS AND ADMINISTRATION

Figure 7.9
PCH-04U | Photo LAN1399

DEPLOYING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

In addition to the modular cabling components of the

Plug & Play Universal Systems solution, hardware choices
for the data center must be considered. Typically the main
distribution area is very dense and requires a higher-density
rack-mount solution. When implementing structured cabling
within a zone distribution area, a low-profile solution is
desirable within a rack. Other zone locations include above
the rack in the cable tray or below the rack underneath
a raised floor.

DESIGNING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Patch cords can be purchased with various options for the

fiber and connectors used. In a data center installation that
is implemented with structured cabling in mind, patch cords
or jumpers should only be used to provide connectivity
between end equipment and trunk cables, or cross-connections between trunk cables. Long-length patch cords should
not be used as the primary method to install cabling between
pieces of equipment located in various areas of the data
center. This is because the type of cable used in patch
cords is a lighter construction than distribution cables
and cannot stand up to the heavy usage environment of
under-floor raceway or overhead ladder racks.

INTRODUCTION TO DATA CENTERS

Patch Cords

For an overhead or sub-floor zone distribution solution,

Corning Cable Systems offers the Fiber Zone Box (FZB04U) which provides module capacity and/or up to 12-panel
capacity. The FZB-04U fits through a standard 2 x 2 ft floor
or ceiling tile (for overhead installations). In either solution,
the Fiber Zone Box provides a space for the interconnection
of cabling, via modules or panels. The FZB-04U accepts up
to 4U of 19-in rack-mountable equipment inside it, allowing
for combining copper patch panels in the same housing as
fiber patch panels (Figure 7.11).
Another type of hardware to use when space is a concern is
a low-profile bracket that can be integrated into equipment
cabinets that accept modules or panels, such as the
RBC-02P or CPP-01U-PNL (Figures 7.12 and 7.13).
Figure 7.11
Fiber Zone Box with Blank Panels | Photo LAN589

Figure 7.12
RBC-02P with Module | Photo LAN1208

Figure 7.13
CPP-01U-PNL Low-Profile Bracket | Photo LAN1361

Chapter Seven: Choosing the Infrastructure Components | LAN-1160-EN | Page 31

Factory-terminated solutions including both Plug & Play Systems and

Pretium EDGE Solutions provide improved system performance, ensure
component compatibility and yield consistent quality. Pretium EDGE
Solutions consist of optical trunks, extender trunks, modules, harnesses,
housings and jumpers. Enabled by reduced cable diameters and Corning
ClearCurve multimode optical fiber (Figure 7.15), the trunks and extender
trunks have an innovative pulling grip to increase the speed of deployment
while offering superior protection of the assembly (Figure 7.16A and
7.16B). Trunk furcation is smaller than its predecessor (Figure 7.17) and
easily integrates inside the hardware via a cradle to create a rapid one-hand
strain-relief system.

Figure 7.16B
144-Fiber Trunk Cable | Photo LAN1568

Standard Plug & Play Systems Furcation

Pretium EDGE Solutions Furcation

Chapter Seven: Choosing the Infrastructure Components | LAN-1160-EN | Page 32

INFORMATION AND TOOLS

Figure 7.17
Trunk Furcation Comparison | Photo LAN1551

PERFORMANCE METRICS AND ADMINISTRATION

When high density is a requirement, Corning Cable Systems recommends

Pretium EDGE Solutions. Pretium EDGE Solutions, a complement to
the Plug & Play Universal Systems product family, provides increased
system density when compared to traditional preterminated systems and
offers the highest port density currently in the market. Custom engineered
components enable simple integration into common storage area network
(SAN) directors, while the preterminated components allow for reduced
installation time, as well as faster moves, adds and changes (MACs).

DEPLOYING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

High-Density Solutions

DESIGNING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Figure 7.16A
Trunk Pulling Grip | Photo LAN1569

Figure 7.14
Pretium EDGE Solutions | Photo LAN1740

INTRODUCTION TO DATA CENTERS

Figure 7.15
Pretium OM3 Jumper | Photo LAN1528

The universally wired modular system components enable

fast and simple networking moves, adds and changes
with none of the polarity concerns associated with special
polarity-compensating components.

Pretium EDGE Solutions Components

Trunk Cables
Pretium EDGE Solutions trunk cables (Figure 7.18A) utilize
the MTP Connector and support 12 to 144 fibers. Pretium
EDGE Solutions result in up to 65 percent space savings.
Five to six times the fiber tray capacity can be achieved over
traditional bulkier cabling solutions while minimizing cable
tray weight and cooling air impediment. The trunk cables
contain Corning ClearCurve multimode optical fiber,
which enables a bend-radius of five times the cable outside
diameter and allows for smaller slack storage coils or loops.
The cables feature a 2.9 mm round furcation leg which
provides easy routing and improved slack storage.

Figure 7.18A
Pretium EDGE Solution Trunk, 12-Fiber | Photo LAN1548

Pretium EDGE Solutions trunks feature a furcation plug

design that offers stress-free strain-relief of the cable, and
a small-profile furcation plug allows installation of all fiber
counts inside a 1U housing.
All trunks are shipped with appropriate strain-relief brackets
for integrating into Pretium EDGE Solutions housings.
The trunk furcation features a transition boot for smooth
transition out of rack/floor hardware. The pulling grip allows
the trunk to be easily installed around the corners of tray and
ladder racks, while its robust design allows the trunk to be
pulled through conduit using up to 100 lb of pulling tension
while providing complete protection for the connectors.
All trunks are packaged on a plastic corrugated reel for
easy installation. This reel can be easily broken down for
cost-effective disposal (Figure 7.18B).

Figure 7.18B
Pretium EDGE Solutions Trunk Reel | Photo LAN1567

Pretium EDGE Solutions trunks have been tested and meet

the skew criteria to ensure the system is 100G Ready.

Chapter Seven: Choosing the Infrastructure Components | LAN-1160-EN | Page 33

INTRODUCTION TO DATA CENTERS

Extender Trunks

Extender trunks are manufactured with pinned MTP

Connectors on one end of the cable trunk and non-pinned
MTP Connectors on the other end. The pinned MTP
Connectors mate with the non-pinned connectors of the
Pretium EDGE Solutions trunk and the non-pinned MTP
Connectors are plugged into the Pretium EDGE Solutions
module or harness.

Figure 7.19
Pretium EDGE Solutions Module | Photo LAN1542

Pretium EDGE Solutions modules are used to break

out the 12-fiber MTP Connectors terminated on trunk
cables into LC connectors to facilitate patching into
system equipment ports, patch panels or work area outlets.
The 12-fiber module features LC port adapters across
the front and an MTP Connector adapter in the back
(Figure 7.19). A factory-terminated and -tested optical
fiber assembly inside the module connects the front
adapters to the back MTP Connector adapter.

Figure 7.20
Trunk Installation into Pretium EDGE Solutions Modules
| Photo LAN1751

PERFORMANCE METRICS AND ADMINISTRATION

Pretium EDGE Solutions modules are housed at the front

of the housing and may be installed or removed from
either the front or rear. This results in faster installation
by allowing a technician to strain-relieve the trunk, route
trunk legs, plug the MTP Connector into the module
and install the module into the housing all from one side
of the cabinet row.

DEPLOYING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Modules

DESIGNING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Pretium EDGE Solutions extender trunks are used to

extend the Pretium EDGE Solutions trunk cables from a
zone consolidation area. For example, a high-fiber-count
trunk can be deployed from a main distribution area
(MDA) to a zone distribution area (ZDA). Smaller-fibercount extender trunks can then be utilized to distribute
fiber into multiple cabinets within a row. Network designers can build the backbone cable (trunks) to full capacity
by utilizing this design. As equipment is added, extender
trunks are deployed. This ensures that the core data center
will experience very little of the disruption normally
associated with point-to-point design philosophy.

INFORMATION AND TOOLS

Chapter Seven: Choosing the Infrastructure Components | LAN-1160-EN | Page 34

The module features an LC shuttered adapter, so there is no

need for dust caps, which can be lost. Unlike other shuttered
adapters on the market, this adapter is VFL compatible.
The innovative design diffuses the red VFL light, allowing
easy visualization of port identification without needing to
manually open each shutter (Figure 7.21).
The diffusion property of the door material also provides
laser safety for the technician. This revolutionary inward
opening design also allows for a single-hand LC duplex
operation, while its concave shutter door ensures there is
no contact with the connector end face during installation.
Pretium EDGE Solutions modules are packaged in an
easy-open plastic container to facilitate bulk packaging for
reduced waste during data center installation (Figure 7.22).

Figure 7.21
VFL-Compatible Shutter | Photo LAN1545

The use of Pretium EDGE Solutions modules in the data

center offers the advantage of greater manageability and
flexibility with a modular infrastructure. As future connectivity requirements change, modules can be easily exchanged
to meet those needs, while leaving the existing trunk cable
infrastructure in place. The MTP Connector backplane
allows for future upgradeability to parallel optics.

Figure 7.22
Module in Easy-Open Plastic Packaging | Photo LAN1543

Chapter Seven: Choosing the Infrastructure Components | LAN-1160-EN | Page 35

Figure 7.24
Pretium EDGE Solutions Harnesses Installed in Electronics

DEPLOYING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Utilizing 12-fiber MTP and LC uniboot connector

technology, the Pretium EDGE Solutions harnesses reduce
cable congestion in front of the SAN director for easy
MACs. The harnesses feature a custom-engineered taper
to match the port pitch in the electronics to provide
seamless integration between the cabling infrastructure
and electronics. Furcation plugs can be snapped together
to maximize harness organization in front of the electronic
ports, and they contain an integrated Velcro strap hoop to
improve the cabling aesthetics of the densest SAN directors
(Figure 7.24).

Figure 7.23
Pretium EDGE Solutions Harnesses | Photo LAN1554

DESIGNING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Pretium EDGE Solutions harnesses are used to break out

the 12-fiber MTP Connectors terminated on trunk cables
into LC connectors (Figure 7.23). With a pinned MTP
Connector on one end that connects to a Pretium EDGE
Solutions trunk, the other end is equipped with LC-style
uniboot connectors that plug into electronic ports. The use
of harnesses provides a solution that occupies less space than
traditional jumpers, as the cable end of the harness is much
smaller than six equivalent patch cords. This reduced cabling
bulk improves airflow for increased cooling and facilitates
easier moves, adds and changes (MACs).

INTRODUCTION TO DATA CENTERS

Harnesses

| Photo LAN1536

Pretium EDGE Solutions harnesses are available in two

lengths. Short harnesses allow for minimal cable slack when
placing the electronics adjacent to the housing containing
the MTP Connector interconnect panels. Longer harness
legs allow flexibility to mount the hardware and electronics
anywhere within the same cabinet, and the MTP Connector
leg slack can be stored in the vertical manager.

MTP Connector Panels

Figure 7.25
Pretium EDGE Solutions MTP Connector Panels, 24-Fiber
| Photo LAN1546

| Photo LAN1795

Chapter Seven: Choosing the Infrastructure Components | LAN-1160-EN | Page 36

INFORMATION AND TOOLS

Figure 7.26
Pretium EDGE Solutions MTP Connector Panels, 48-Fiber

PERFORMANCE METRICS AND ADMINISTRATION

Pretium EDGE Solutions MTP Connector panels are

used to provide a convenient interconnect point between
the trunk cables and harness or trunks and extender trunks.
The panels are available with two or four MTP adapters,
providing interconnect for 24 or 48 fibers (Figure 7.25 and
7.26). Pretium EDGE Solutions MTP Connector panels
are housed within the front of the 1U or 4U housings. The
panels may be installed or removed from either the front
or rear direction. The MTP Connector backplane allows
for future upgradeability to parallel optics. Pretium EDGE
Solutions MTP Connector panels are packaged in a recyclable easy-open plastic container to facilitate bulk packaging for reduced waste during data center installation.

Figure 7.27
Pretium EDGE Solutions 4U Housing | Photo LAN1564

Housings
Pretium EDGE Solutions housings are available in both
1U and 4U sizes and mount in 19-in racks or cabinets.
Combined with Pretium EDGE Solutions trunks, modules
and jumpers, they provide industry-leading high-density
connectivity, with a port density of 576 fibers within a single
4U housing (Figure 7.27). The housings are highly configurable to meet the dynamic connectivity environments of
both the main distribution area (MDA) and equipment
distribution area (EDA) locations in the data center.
In the MDA, the Pretium EDGE Solutions housing provides
a cross-connect for first level backbone cables, entrance
cables and equipment cables. In the EDA, the housing is an
interconnect to system equipment (such as SAN switches,
servers and IP switches). This allows for the effortless addition of groups of switches, storage devices or servers with its
modular design. The housing also accommodates the mixing
and matching of multiple Pretium EDGE Solutions modules
and panels within one chassis.

Figure 7.28
Pretium EDGE Solutions Housing, Rear View | Photo LAN1746

The 4U housing contains 12 individually sliding trays and

the 1U housing contains two trays. Each tray can accommodate as many as four 12-fiber modules, resulting in improved
finger access to connectors and allowing for individual access
without compromising the optical connectivity of other
ports. This feature leads to fast and simple moves, adds
and changes of port configurations. Each sliding tray can
accommodate any of the following port configurations:
Four Pretium EDGE Solutions 12-fiber modules that can
be installed from the front or the rear of the housing.
Four Pretium EDGE Solutions MTP adapter panels.

Figure 7.29
Cable Entry into Pretium EDGE Solutions Housing | Photo LAN1747

Chapter Seven: Choosing the Infrastructure Components | LAN-1160-EN | Page 37

INTRODUCTION TO DATA CENTERS

Front jumper management guides on each tray allow for

jumpers to be routed to the left or right (Figures 7.30 and
7.31). External jumper routing guides facilitate proper slack
management to ensure drawer movement. These guides
are designed at the pivot point between the extreme drawer
positions. Industry-leading port labeling is available on the
rear side of the housings front door, and each housing
includes mounting plug receptacle areas at the rear, which
enable fast and easy installation and strain-relief of Pretium
EDGE Solutions trunk cables. Brush cable entry makes
trunk entry quick and easy.

Corning Cable Systems offers the most complete line of

connectors and factory-terminated cables, including jumpers
that meet or exceed all industry standards for reflectance and
insertion loss. Corning Cable Systems advanced, state-ofthe-art manufacturing process ensures unsurpassed jumper
performance. Fibers and ferrules are thoroughly screened at
the beginning of every process, assembled and polished in
a carefully monitored and controlled process, and tested to
ensure the same outstanding quality in every connector.

Figure 7.31
Pretium EDGE Solutions External Jumpers | Photo LAN1732

DEPLOYING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Pretium EDGE Solutions jumpers (Figure 7.32) are highly

flexible, easily routed assemblies that use a small-diameter
2-fiber interconnect cable to improve the management
of high-density applications. Containing bend-insensitive
multimode and single-mode fiber, the jumpers are
designed to withstand tight bends and challenging cable
routes. Pretium EDGE Solutions jumpers improve bend
tolerance without sacrificing critical bandwidth capability
or requiring any adjustments to standard field installation
or maintenance procedures.

Figure 7.30
Pretium EDGE Solutions External Jumpers | Photo LAN1783

DESIGNING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Jumpers

PERFORMANCE METRICS AND ADMINISTRATION

Chapter Seven: Choosing the Infrastructure Components | LAN-1160-EN | Page 38

INFORMATION AND TOOLS

Figure 7.32
Pretium EDGE Solutions Jumper | Photo LAN1547

Chapter Eight:

Writing a Data Center Request for Proposal

This section will discuss how to choose the proper
specifications needed to create a good request for proposal
(RFP). The RFP process is an important step in insuring
that the data center designer procures the proper product.
The steps needed to implement an RFP are:
1. Pre-work
Figure out what you really need, what you want, and
what is possible for the data center design.
2. Distinguish between needs and wants
Use proper wording to make sure you can separate
needs and wants.
3. Decide what the winner will look like
Each RFP response will be different. Each company
that responds will have different strengths.
4. Organize the document
Make sure the document has a logical flow and that
the points are clear.
5. Introduction
Explain to potential bidders why you are publishing
the RFP.
6. Requirements
This section is the most important and it usually takes
the most time. Make good use of generic specifications
(see examples in this chapter) to help you write correct
requirements.
7. Selection criteria
In this section you tell the bidders how the winning
bidder will be selected.
8. Timelines
This section tells companies who want to bid on your
RFP how quickly they must act and how long the
process may take. This is also where you tell the
bidders how long the evaluation process will take.
9. Process
In this section you explain how the process will workfrom sending out the RFP to awarding the contract
and starting the work.
10. Decide how to send out the RFP
Most RFPs are mailed, but you can send the RFP
by e-mail or post it on your company website.
11. Decide to whom to send the RFP
Your companys list of acceptable vendors.
12. Send the RFP

Generic Specification Example:

Pretium EDGE Solutions
Corning Cable Systems reserves the right to update these
specifications without prior notification.

Pretium EDGE Solutions: General

Pretium EDGE Solutions include factory-terminated
system components that can be quickly mated to form
an end-to-end optical link between patching locations
and/or equipment ports. Pretium EDGE Solutions are
high-density system solutions with reduced installation time.
Pretium EDGE Solutions are modular solutions with
fiber trunks terminated with 12-fiber MTP Array
Connectors that mate at each end to a transition harness
or transition module. Harnesses are cable assemblies
that transition from a 12-fiber MTP Array Connector
to single-fiber connectors. Modules have an identical
configuration and they are protected in a modular case.
Modular system solutions offer a greater degree of
flexibility in managing equipment moves, adds, or
changes. An example of this type of system is given
in Figure 8.1.
Pretium EDGE
Module
Transceiver

MTP-terminated
Trunk Cable
Optional
MTP-terminated
Extender Trunk

LC Duplex
Patch Cord

Rx/Tx
Transceiver

MTP to LC Duplex
Harness

Tx/Rx

Figure 8.1
Modular Pretium EDGE Solutions Connected to Transceiver
Ports with Jumpers and Harnesses | Drawing ZA-3667

To maintain proper system polarity, components shall be

specified to comply with universal wiring as described in
Chapter 11 for new builds.
Insertion loss specifications of individual components
represent the expected performance when mated to other
system components of like specification.

Chapter Eight: Writing a Data Center Request for Proposal | LAN-1160-EN | Page 39

Trunk Cable OD (mm)

4.8
6.4
7.0
7.6
9.8
10.4
11.5

TABLE 8.2: Available Fiber Types, Optical Specifications, Jacket Colors for Trunks
Priority

Multimode

Single-Mode

Pretium 300 Ultra-Bendable

Pretium 500 Ultra-Bendable
Optimized 50 m (850/1300 nm) Optimized 50 m (850/1300 nm)

Bend-Improved SingleMode (1310/1550 nm)

3.0/1.0

3.0/1.0

0.4/0.3

1500/500

3500/500

-/-

2000/-

4700/-

-/-

Jacket Color

Aqua

Aqua

Yellow

Notes:
1) As predicted by RML BW, per TIA/EIA 455-204 and IEC 60793-1-41, for intermediate performance laser-based systems (up to 1 Gb/s).
2) As predicted by minEMBc, per TIA/EIA 455-220 and IEC 60793-1-49 for high-performance laser-based systems (up to 10 Gb/s).

Chapter Eight: Writing a Data Center Request for Proposal | LAN-1160-EN | Page 40

INFORMATION AND TOOLS

Fiber Attenuation,
max (dB/km)
Minimum Over Filled Launch
(OFL) Bandwidth (MHzkm)
Minimum Effective Modal
Bandwidth (EMB) (MHzkm)

PERFORMANCE METRICS AND ADMINISTRATION

Fiber Trunk Count

12
24
36
48
72
96
144

DEPLOYING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

TABLE 8.1: Trunk Cable Outer Diameter

DESIGNING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Trunk Function and Construction

The operational temperature range for trunks shall
be -10 to +60C.
Trunks shall be all-dielectric construction.
Trunks shall be constructed with MTP Connectors
at both ends.
Trunk fiber count shall be specified as 12, 24, 36, 48,
72, 96, or 144.
Trunks shall be furcated (subdivided) into 12-fiber legs
(subunits). Standard leg length shall be 33 in +3/-0 in.
Trunk length shall be specified as the distance between
furcation points at each end of the cable and shall not
be inclusive of the length of the legs at each end.
Trunk furcation plugs shall consist of a molded outer
shell filled with an epoxy encapsulant.
The furcation plugs shall be square in order to facilitate
plug rotation in 90 degree increments. This feature
allows mounting the trunk into the hardware in any
orientation and avoids standing torsional forces applied
to the cable.
There shall be two plug sizes depending on the fiber
count trunk. Trunks with 12 to 36 fibers shall be
constructed with a size 1 plug. The size 1 plug
dimensions shall be 14.7 mm x 14.7 mm x 108.6 mm.
The plug shall have a saddled area with dimensions of
11.5 mm x 11.5 mm x 46 mm in order to accommodate
a field-installable snap-on device to secure the plug into
the hardware. Trunks with 48 to 144 fibers shall be
constructed with a size 2 plug. The size 2 plug
dimension shall be 20 mm x 20 mm x 108.6 mm.
The plug shall have a saddled area with dimensions of
16.8 mm x 16.8 mm x 46.6 mm in order to accommodate
a field-installable snap-on device to secure the plug into
the hardware.
The trunk shall incorporate a flexible boot at the back of
the epoxy plug, in order to provide a uniformly smooth
transition between the plug and the trunk cable.

A tool-less snap-on device shall be used to secure the

trunk into the hardware. There shall be three types of
snap-on devices depending on fiber trunk count and
application. For low-fiber-count trunks (12 through
36 fibers), single and double stack snap-on devices shall
be offered. The double stack snap-on devices allow you
to secure twice the trunk density within the hardware.
Single stack snap-on devices shall be available for trunks
with fiber counts greater than 36.
Trunk furcation plugs shall provide a mounting point
for a protective pulling grip and shall be capable of
sustaining the rated tensile load of 100 lbs.
Trunk furcation plugs shall incorporate mechanically
designed features that allow securing the trunks inside
or outside a connector housing.
The trunk components shall be RoHS compliant.
Trunk cables shall be manufactured with ultra-bendable
fiber and meet the fiber performance mentioned in
Table 8.2.
The trunk cable shall have a minimum bend-radius of
five times the cables outside diameter.
The trunk cable shall meet the application requirements
of the National Electric Code (NEC Article 770)
OFNP and FT-6 listed for plenum.
The trunk cable shall meet the outer diameters specified
in Table 8.1.

INTRODUCTION TO DATA CENTERS

Trunk Specifications and Options

TABLE 8.3: Pulling Grip Specifications MTP-Terminated Trunks

Cable Type/Fiber Count

Grip Outer Diameter (in)

Recommended Minimum
Duct Size/Minimum Bend-Radius

12-36 Fibers

1.6

2.5-in with 18-in elbow

48-144 Fibers

2.15

3.0-in with 18-in elbow

The trunk legs shall be round and have a 2.9 mm outer

diameter with no preferential bend for easy routing.
Trunks shall meet the connector performance
specifications of TIA/EIA-568-C.3, Optical Fiber
Cabling Components Standard, (normative) Annex A.
Trunk Fiber Types, Optical Specifications,
and Jacket Color
Available fiber types and their optical performance
specifications shall be as indicated in Table 8.2.
Trunk jacket color shall be as indicated in Table 8.2.
Trunk Connectivity
Where modular trunks are specified, connectors shall be
MTP having 12 fibers per ferrule.
MTP-terminated primary trunks shall have non-pinned
MTP Connectors on both ends.
MTP-terminated extender trunks shall have pinned
MTP Connectors on the end to be interconnected with a
primary trunk and non-pinned MTP Connectors on the
other end.

TABLE 8.4: Reel Capacity and Dimensions

Trunk Protective Pulling Grips and Covers

Both ends of a trunk shall have a protective packaging
over the furcation plug, legs, and connectors. Customer
may specify a protective pulling grip on one end, both
ends, or neither end.
Pulling grips shall be fastened to the epoxy furcation
plug in a manner that isolates the cable assembly
components (connectors and legs) from tension, torsion,
crush, and bending loads encountered when following
recommended installation practices.
Pulling grips shall withstand a maximum pulling force
of 100 lbs.
Trunk pulling grip diameter and minimum allowable
bend-radius shall be as indicated in Table 8.3.
The pulling grip shall be a three components design.
The components include a zipper bag, a corrugated
tube and two coupling shelves that allow quick and easy
removal of the pulling grip.
Trunk Packaging
The trunk shall be packaged in a corrugated plastic reel.
The trunk shall be secured to the reel with shrink wrap.
The plastic reel shall be constructed with 100%
recyclable polypropylene material.
The reel shall have the dimensions and capacities shown
in Table 8.4.

Reel Capacities (ft)

Trunk Fiber Count
12
24

Reel A
5-999
5-999

Reel B

Reel C

36

5-999

48

5-800

801-999

72

5-450

451-999

96

5-400

401-999

144

5-300

301-800

801-999

Reel Dimensions (in)

Reel A

Reel B

Reel C

Flange Diameter

23.5

23.5

23.5

Drum Diameter

15.68

15.68

15.68

Traverse Width

12

18

Chapter Eight: Writing a Data Center Request for Proposal | LAN-1160-EN | Page 41

Harness Connectivity
Harnesses shall be terminated with a pinned MTP
Connector and legs shall be terminated with duplex
LC uniboot style connectors.

Jumper Specification

Jumper Fiber Types and Optical Specifications.

Available fiber types and their optical performance
specifications shall be as indicated in Table 8.5.

Multimode

Single-Mode

Pretium 300 Ultra-Bendable

Pretium 500 Ultra-Bendable
Optimized 50 m (850/1300 nm) Optimized 50 m (850/1300 nm)

Bend-Improved SingleMode (1310/1550 nm)

Priority
Fiber Attenuation,
max (dB/km)
Minimum Over Filled Launch
(OFL) Bandwidth (MHzkm)
Minimum Effective Modal
Bandwidth (EMB) (MHzkm)

3.0/1.0

3.0/1.0

0.4/0.3

1500/500

3500/500

-/-

2000/-

4700/-

-/-

Jacket Color

Aqua

Aqua

Yellow

Same as Jacket

Notes:
1) As predicted by RML BW, per TIA/EIA 455-204 and IEC 60793-1-41, for intermediate performance laser-based systems (up to 1 Gb/s).
2) As predicted by minEMBc, per TIA/EIA 455-220 and IEC 60793-1-49 for high performance laser-based systems (up to 10 Gb/s).

Chapter Eight: Writing a Data Center Request for Proposal | LAN-1160-EN | Page 42

INFORMATION AND TOOLS

Breakout Leg Colors Jacketed

PERFORMANCE METRICS AND ADMINISTRATION

TABLE 8.5: Components Optical Specifications - Available Fiber Types, Colors

DEPLOYING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Jumper Function and Construction

The jumper shall be a 2-fiber cable assembly used as a
transition between the LC side of a harness or module
and end equipment ports.
Jumper shall be plenum-rated.
Jumper shall have LC duplex connectors and share a
single boot for both connectors.
The boot shall have an overall length from the connector
to the boot of 2.02 in.
The jumper shall be constructed with a single 2 mm
round cable with no preferential bend that allows easy
routing and reduces jumper congestion in the housings
and vertical managers.

DESIGNING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Harness Function and Construction

Harnesses shall be 12-fiber cable assemblies used as a
transition between MTP-terminated trunk legs and end
equipment ports or patch panels.
Harnesses MTP Cable shall be plenum-rated.
The harness shall provide a means to transition from
MTP Connectors to LC duplex connectors. The breakout legs shall use a single two-fiber non-preferential bend
2.0 mm cable terminated with duplex LC connectors and
share a single boot.
The harness breakout point shall be a molded epoxy plug.
The harness epoxy plug shall include a feature that allows
mating two harnesses together in order to dress the fibers
in an aesthetically pleasant manner. A hook-and-loop
strap shall be provided with every harness in order to
secure the harnesses together.
Harness shall be color coded according to Table 8.5.
Specific breakout leg lengths and overall harness length
shall be tailored to meet the following equipment port
layout as indicated below.
- Cisco 9513/9509/9506 LC stagger.
- Brocade 48000/DCX-4S LC stagger
- Cisco Nexus 7010/7018 LC stagger
- Universal LC leg length of 6 in.
The harness shall be available with 7 ft cable length
(tail) for adjacent mounting of hardware and SAN
Director and 10 ft cable length for flexible mounting
options within the cabinet.
Harness length shall be measured from the MTP
Connector to the end of the furcation point.

Harness Fiber Types and Optical Specifications

Available fiber types and their optical performance
specifications shall be as indicated in Table 8.5.

INTRODUCTION TO DATA CENTERS

Harness Specifications and Options

TABLE 8.6: Modules - Available Fiber Types, Optical Specifications, Adapter Colors
Priority

Multimode

Single-Mode

Pretium 300 Ultra-Bendable

Pretium 500 Ultra-Bendable
Optimized 50 m (850/1300 nm) Optimized 50 m (850/1300 nm)

Bend-Improved SingleMode (1310/1550 nm)

Fiber Attenuation,
max (dB/km)
Minimum Over Filled Launch
(OFL) Bandwidth (MHzkm)
Minimum Effective Modal
Bandwidth (EMB) (MHzkm)
Adapter Color
LC
MTP

3.0/1.0

3.0/1.0

0.4/0.3

1500/500

3500/500

-/-

2000/-

4700/-

-/-

Aqua
Aqua

Aqua
Aqua

Blue
Black

Notes:
1) As predicted by RML BW, per TIA/EIA 455-204 and IEC 60793-1-41, for intermediate performance laser-based systems (up to 1 Gb/s).
2) As predicted by minEMBc, per TIA/EIA 455-220 and IEC 60793-1-49 for high-performance laser-based systems (up to 10 Gb/s).

Adapter Panel Specification

Adapter Panel Function and Construction
Panels shall meet the following dimensions
4.87 in x 3.53 in x 0.463 in (L x W x H).
Panels shall provide a means for joining MTPterminated trunks entering the back of an MTP adapter
panel to a pinned MTP-terminated extender trunk or
harness entering at the front of the panel.
Panels shall be dimensionally compatible with Corning
Cable Systems LANscape Pretium EDGE Solutions
rack-mountable connector housings.
Panel design shall permit front and rear installation into
the Pretium EDGE Solutions housings.

Module Specifications and Options

Module Function and Construction
Modules shall provide a means for joining MTPterminated trunks entering the back of an appropriately
designed connector housing to LC jumpers or cables
entering the front of the housing.

Modules shall contain one 12-fiber cable assembly

within a protective housing.
Modules shall have shutter LC adapters at the front.
Modules shall be dimensionally compatible with Pretium
EDGE Solutions rack-mountable connector housings.
The small form module shall meet the following
dimensions 4.87 in x 3.53 in x 0.463 in (L x W x H).
It shall provide a high-density solution when loaded into
the 01U and 04U Pretium EDGE Solutions housings.
Modules shall permit front and rear installation into
the Pretium EDGE Solutions housings.
When uninstalling a module from the back, a rear
accessible retention trigger and finger handle must be
present in order to facilitate this operation. An I.D.
and warranty seal label shall be affixed to every module.
When mounted in a connector housing, the adapter
sleeves shall be accessible from the front, thus providing
a cross-connection point with other modules.
Modules shall contain discrete fiber and port
identification. This fiber and port identification shall
be pad printed on top and bottom of the modules.

TABLE 8.7: Components Optical Specifications - Available Fiber Types

Insertion Loss, max (dB)*

Priority

Multimode

Single-Mode

Pretium 300 Ultra-Bendable

Pretium 500 Ultra-Bendable
Optimized 50 m (850/1300 nm) Optimized 50 m (850/1300 nm)

Bend-Improved SingleMode (1310/1550 nm)

MTP Mated Pair Loss

0.35

0.35

0.75

LC Mated Pair Loss

0.15

0.15

0.5

Module Loss

0.5

0.5

1.3

*Insertion loss specifications when mated to other system components of a like performance specification.

Chapter Eight: Writing a Data Center Request for Proposal | LAN-1160-EN | Page 43

 Extender trunks shall have both MTP Connectors

installed in the Standard Ribbon Position.
Modules and harnesses shall contain MTP Connectors
in the Standard Ribbon Position.
Modules shall have polarity-managed fiber routing as
shown in Figure 8.2.
Harnesses shall have polarity-managed fiber routing
within a furcation plug as shown in Figure 8.3.

MTP
Key-down

Guide
Pin
Identical
Universal
Modules
Simplex/Duplex Fiber

Figure 8.2
Universal Wiring Scheme Modules on Both Ends
| Drawing ZA-3591

Components Insertion Loss Specifications

All components shall meet the maximum insertion loss
values indicated in Table 8.7.
MTP Key-up
MTP
with Reverse Key-down
Ribbon
Positioning
Guide
Pin
Universal
Module
Universal
Harness
Simplex/Duplex
Fiber Terminations

Furcation
Plug

Figure 8.3
Universal Wiring Scheme Harness on One End
| Drawing ZA-3592

Notes:
1) All MTP Connectors shall be installed in standard ribbon position
except as noted.
2) Extender trunk shown in upper right corner is optional.

Chapter Eight: Writing a Data Center Request for Proposal | LAN-1160-EN | Page 44

INFORMATION AND TOOLS

Trunks, modules and harnesses shall follow the fiber

routing schematic of Figure 8.2 and Figure 8.3.
Standard ribbon position is defined as having the end
face of the blue fiber on the left of the MTP Connector
as the MTP end face is viewed in the key-up position.
Reverse ribbon position is defined as having the end face
of the blue fiber on the right of the MTP Connector as
the MTP end face is viewed in the key-up position.
Keys schematically represented in the down position are
drawn with a dashed line.
All MTP Connectors shall mate key-up to key-down.
Primary trunks shall have MTP Connectors on one end
oriented in the standard ribbon position and MTP
Connectors on the other end oriented in the reverse
ribbon position.

PERFORMANCE METRICS AND ADMINISTRATION

Universal Polarity Management System

DEPLOYING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Module packaging
The modules shall be packaged in blister packs.
The blister packs overall dimensions shall be
4 3/4 in x 3/4 in x 7 3/16 in.
The blister packs shall have the ability to be stored
in a box or be hung when using hook merchandising
storage device.
The plastic reel shall be constructed with 100 percent
recyclable polyethylene terephthalate (PET) material.

MTP Key-up
with Reverse
Ribbon
Positioning

DESIGNING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Module Fiber Types and Optical Specifications

Available fiber types and their optical performance
specifications shall be as indicated in Table 8.6.
Module insertion loss performance shall be as indicated
in Table 8.7.

INTRODUCTION TO DATA CENTERS

Module Connectivity
Cable assemblies within modules shall be terminated with
MTP Pinned Connector at the back and LC connector
at the front.
Each module shall contain 12 fiber terminations.
All connectors shall be inside the module but shall be
accessible for mating through adapter sleeves mounted
through the wall of the module.
Module shall have a self-retracting shutter adapter
mechanism that allows a single hand operation.
The shutter adapter shall eliminate the need to remove
and re-install dust caps. The shutter adapter shall be VFL
compatible. The adapter sleeves shall be color coded as
indicated in Table 8.6.

Generic Specification for 1U Pretium EDGE

Solutions Housing
Rack-Mountable Connector Housings
Rack-mountable connector housings shall be available for
cross-connecting or interconnecting purposes.
Standards
Housings shall be mountable in an EIA-310 compatible
465 mm (18.3 in) rack. One EIA rack space or panel
height (denoted as 1U) is defined as being 44.45 mm
(1.75 in) in height.
1U Housing
Housings shall be available in a 1U size.
The housing shall be modular, allowing the installation
of 12-fiber Pretium EDGE modules in order to provide
scalability in increments of 12 fibers. The maximum
housing density shall be 96 fibers when it is fully loaded
with modules.
The unit shall be mounted with a 5.33 in
frontal projection.
The unit shall not exceed a depth requirement
of 16.3 in.
The 1U Pretium EDGE Solutions housing shall have
two sliding trays contained in a single drawer and shall
allow the installation of four modules per tray. The
drawer shall slide out and tilt 25 degrees for easy
module installation.
The unit shall meet the design requirements of
ANSI/TIA/EIA-568 and the plastics flammability
requirements of UL 94 V-0.
Housings shall be manufactured using 0.050 in aluminum
or equivalent for structural integrity. The housings
drawer and mounting brackets shall be manufactured
with 18-gauge cold rolled steel. The housing shall be
finished with a reflective silver coat for durability.
Installation fasteners shall be included and shall be
black in color.
Tray
The 1U Pretium EDGE Solutions housing shall have
two sliding trays and each having four modules capacity.
Each tray shall provide connectivity through 48 LC
connectors when fully loaded.
Each individual tray shall have patch cord routing guides
that allow a transition and jumper management point.
The jumpers shall be able to exit through the right and
left sides of the housing. This jumper management
scheme shall provide access to individual trays to ease
administration in high-density applications.

The trays shall be manufactured using 18-gauge cold

rolled steel or equivalent for structural integrity and
shall be finished with reflective silver powder coat for
durability.
The trays shall slide 3.6 in to the front in order to
provide appropriate finger access to the connectors and
modules. The tray shall have a closed and open position
with their respective mechanical stops.
The Pretium EDGE Solutions hardware shall provide
access to each adapter port with no interference of
adjacent ports. In addition the accessibility to the
connectors shall be tool-less.
The trays shall have a cut-out in front of each module
location in order to provide accessibility from the top
and bottom of adapters and modules.
The trays shall incorporate rails to facilitate front and
rear module installation while providing a locking
mechanism that secures the module in place.
The trays shall have protruding finger tabs on the sides
to allow easy access to modules and connectors. The
tabs shall have silk screened numbers for tray identification.
The rails shall incorporate a release button, engraved
with the word push, which allows removal of modules
from the front.
The trays shall provide visible module identification
with the letters A, B, C and D.
The unit shall have eight trunk strain-relief locations
which allow fully loading the housing to its maximum
capacity using 12-fiber trunks.
The housing shall contain a front door. This door shall be
hinged with a pivot point at the bottom of the housing.
The door shall utilize a sliding latch mechanism to provide
easy access when opening and closing.
The housings shall have a removable cover at the back
of the housing and shall provide protection to trunk legs.
The connector housings shall have a labeling scheme that
complies with ANSI/TIA/EIA-606.

Chapter Eight: Writing a Data Center Request for Proposal | LAN-1160-EN | Page 45

Rack-Mountable Connector Housings

Rack-mountable connector housings shall be available for
cross-connecting or interconnecting purposes.

The housing shall incorporate three strap points in order

to secure the trunk legs with hook-loop straps preventing
these from exiting the housing perimeter.

The housings shall have two open-ended slots, one on

each side for quick and easy trunk installation. These slots
shall be covered by cable entry brushes.
The connector housings shall have a labeling scheme that
complies with ANSI/TIA/EIA-606.

INFORMATION AND TOOLS

Chapter Eight: Writing a Data Center Request for Proposal | LAN-1160-EN | Page 46

PERFORMANCE METRICS AND ADMINISTRATION

The housing shall contain front and rear doors. These

doors shall be hinged with a pivot point at the bottom of the
housing. The doors shall utilize a sliding latch mechanism
to provide easy access when opening and closing.

DEPLOYING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Tray
The 4U Pretium EDGE Solutions housing shall have
12 sliding trays with each having a four modules capacity.
Each tray shall provide connectivity through 48 LC
connectors when fully loaded.
Each individual tray shall have patch cord routing guides
that allow a transition and jumper management point.
The jumpers shall be able to exit through the right and
left sides of the housing. This jumper management
scheme shall provide access to individual trays to ease
administration in high-density applications.
The trays shall be manufactured using 18-gauge cold
rolled steel or equivalent for structural integrity and
shall be finished with reflective silver powder coat for
durability.

The unit shall have 24 trunk strain-relief locations

allowing fully loading the housing to its maximum capacity
using any trunk fiber count. When deploying 12-fiber
trunks, a double stack strain-relief method shall be used.

DESIGNING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Standards
Housings shall be mountable in an EIA-310 compatible
465 mm (18.3 in) rack. One EIA rack space or panel
height (denoted as 1U) is defined as being 44.45 mm
(1.75 in) in height.
4U Housing
Housings shall be available in a 4U size.
The housing shall be modular, allowing the installation
of 12 fiber Pretium EDGE Solutions modules in
order to provide scalability in increments of 12 fibers.
The maximum housing density shall be 576 fibers when
fully loaded with modules.
The unit shall be mounted with a 5.33-in frontal
projection.
The unit shall not exceed a depth requirement of 18.35-in.
The unit shall meet the design requirements of
ANSI/TIA/EIA-568 and the plastics flammability
requirements of UL 94 V-0.
Housings shall be manufactured using 0.063-in
aluminum or equivalent for structural integrity
and shall be finished with a reflective silver powder
coat for durability. Installation fasteners shall be
included and shall be black in color.
The housing shall include two field-installable slack
management brackets at the front of the housing.
The brackets shall provide jumper slack management
at the front of the housing and shall allow easy tray
deployment when the tray is fully loaded with Pretium
EDGE Solutions jumpers.

The trays shall slide 3.6-in to the front in order to

provide appropriate finger access to the connectors and
modules. The tray shall have a closed and open position
with their respective mechanical stops.
The Pretium EDGE Solutions hardware shall provide
access to each adapter port with no interference of
adjacent ports. In addition, the accessibility to the
connectors shall be tool-less.
The trays shall have a cutout in front of each module
location in order to provide accessibility from top and
bottom of adapters and modules.
The trays shall incorporate rails to facilitate front and
rear module installation while providing a locking
mechanism that secures the module in place.
The trays shall have protruding finger tabs on the sides
to allow easy access to modules and connectors. The
tabs shall have silk screened numbers for tray identification.
The rails shall incorporate a release button, engraved
with the word push, which allows removal of modules
from the front.
The trays shall provide visible module identification
with the letters A, B, C and D.

INTRODUCTION TO DATA CENTERS

Generic Specification for 4U Pretium EDGE

Solutions Housing

Chapter Nine:

Procuring the Data Center Products

An important step in data center design is procuring the
product. Shipping times will affect the overall scope of
the project. Planning the logistics in a data center build
will depend on product procurement. Corning Cable
Systems products are widely distributed and can be
purchased from the following distribution channels:

When you demand only the best from your network,

you can depend on Accu-Tech. Accu-Tech is strongly
committed to providing superior products and support to
deliver unparalleled business experience to their customers.
www.accu-tech.com

Anixter is a leading global supplier of communications and

security products, electrical and electronic wire and cable,
fasteners and other small components. Anixter helps their
customers specify solutions and make informed purchasing
decisions around technology, applications and relevant
standards. Throughout the world, Anixter provides innovative supply chain management services to reduce their
customers total cost of production and implementation.
www.anixter.com

Founded in 1972, Communications Supply Corporation is

a leading distributor of low-voltage network infrastructure
and industrial wire and cable products.
Through a network of 33 branch offices, CSC distributes
a full range of products to support advanced connectivity
for voice and data communications, access control, security
surveillance, building automation, video distribution, life
safety broadcast systems and electrical construction and
manufacturing for commercial, residential and government
customers.
CSC is recognized for delivering measurable value and
outstanding support to its customers and suppliers alike.
Vast application expertise makes CSC an unbiased knowledge resource for product information, documentation
and training.
www.gocsc.com

Graybar has specialized in supply chain management

services and distribution of high-quality components,
equipment and materials for the electrical and
telecommunications industries for over 80 years.
Incorporated in 1925, Graybar procures, warehouses, and
delivers just about any kind of electrical or communications and data product, component, or related service to
its customers. It stocks and sells hundreds of thousands of
items from thousands of manufacturers.
www.graybar.com

Chapter Nine: Procuring the Data Center Products | LAN-1160-EN | Page 47

Installation
A good contractor should also be able to assist with the
installation process. The contractor should be able to
help the customer:
1. Purchase, receive, inspect and bring components
to the work site
2. Choose components that they have been trained
to install

Certification is important and protects the end user.

Post Installation: Testing, Troubleshooting,

Documentation and Restoration
All of these items need to be discussed with the contractor
before work begins. The contractor and customer need
to agree on what is covered in the scope of work. For
example, testing may be included, but troubleshooting
and restoration may not be included. It is good to have
a clear understanding with the contractor on what items
will be covered.

PERFORMANCE METRICS AND ADMINISTRATION

The fiber optic contractor should be able to work with

the customer in each installation project through these
three key areas:
1. Network design
2. Installation
3. Post installation
Testing, troubleshooting, documentation,
restoration

The technicians actually doing the installation should be

trained and certified by manufacturers of the products
being installed or by different organizations such as:
1. BICSI
2. FOA (Fiber Optic Association)

DEPLOYING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Installation

A key decision in the data center network is choosing a

contractor for the installation. Some key questions that
need to be addressed before selecting a contractor are:
1. How long has the contractor been in business?
2. Is structured cabling the contractors core business?
3. What percentage of the contractors business is from
structured cabling?
4. Does the contractor install fiber optic cable
and hardware?
5. Does the contractor have a market expertise in
data centers or server farms?
6. Does the contractor have adequate insurance
and bonding?
7. Does the contractor belong to professional
organizations, such as BICSI?
8. Is the contractor certified by the manufacturers?
Is that certification current?
9. Does the contractor have approvals and licenses from
unions as well as safety and construction boards?
10. Which manufacturers does the contractor represent?

DESIGNING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Choosing the Contractor

INTRODUCTION TO DATA CENTERS

Chapter Ten:

The contractor should be experienced in fiber optic

installations and should provide references.

Network Design

Chapter Ten: Installation | LAN-1160-EN | Page 48

INFORMATION AND TOOLS

A good contractor should be able to assist with the

design process. The contractor should be able to
help the customer:
1. Choose the correct optical fibers
- OM2, OM3, OM4, OS2
2. Choose the correct optical cables
- Outside plant, indoor, riser, plenum
3. Choose the correct hardware
- High-density, connector type
4. Choose the correct vendors
5. Understand standards
- TIA-942

Notes

Polarity
Orange Fiber (B)

Blue Fiber (A)

Key
Duplex Clip

Key
(top of the ferrule)

MT-RJ Ferrule
Fiber

Orange Fiber (B)

Blue Fiber (A)

Cable Jacket
Single-Fiber Cables

Figure 11.1
Simplex and Duplex Connector Polarity | Drawing ZA-2418

Simplex and duplex connectors and adapters are all keyed

to ensure the same orientation of the connector upon mating. This keying establishes the orientation of one fiber to
the other (polarity) because the simplex/duplex connectors
can only insert into the adapter in one direction. Polarity is
managed at the patch panel or outlet by using consecutive
fiber numbering and rotating the adapter on one end of
the link or by installing backplane fibers using reverse-pair
positioning. Polarity is important so transmit is not
accidentally plugged into transmit. Both polarity methods
are accepted by TIA/EIA-568-C.0 and C.3.

To achieve these transmission paths while retaining cable

integrity, reverse-pair positioning may be used. Reversepair positioning is achieved by installing fibers in consecutive numbering sequence (i.e., 1, 2, 3, 4 ) on one end of

Chapter Eleven: Polarity | LAN-1160-EN | Page 49

INFORMATION AND TOOLS

To ensure that polarity is maintained in a structured

cabling environment, TIA/EIA 568-C.0 describes
three sample methods that may be used to manage this
challenge. The standard is very specific in distinguishing
between mandatory items and suggested items. Polarity
is an area where the standard recognizes that a variety
of methods may be employed and that listing them all
would not be possible. As such, they listed three sample
methods that we will discuss, and they left open the
option to improve upon those methods while remaining
standards-compliant.

Figure 11.1 shows the difference in fiber configurations

for single-fiber and single-ferrule duplex connectors.
Optical fiber cabling should be installed so that the
odd-numbered fiber within the cable is paired with the
next consecutive even-numbered fiber (e.g., fiber 1-blue
paired with fiber 2-orange, fiber 3-green paired with
fiber 4-brown). This installation of paired fibers forms
the Tx and the Rx transmission paths used in providing
a telecommunications circuit.

PERFORMANCE METRICS AND ADMINISTRATION

Simplex and Duplex Connector Polarity

Polarity is the process of ensuring that the information sent

by a transceiver on the transmitter (Tx) port is received by
the end equipment on the receiver (Rx) port. The primary
goal of polarity in the backbone infrastructure is to ensure
that in every panel, the Tx port ends up at an Rx port.
This ensures that when craft connects your end equipment,
they will simply connect Tx on the panel to Rx on the
equipment, and Rx on the panel to Tx on the equipment.
If polarity is not actively managed in the backbone, the
only way to install the patch cabling would be through trial
and error. If there are multiple patching areas in a system,
this becomes a very difficult task.

DEPLOYING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

What is Polarity and Why Does it Matter?

DESIGNING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

SC Connectors

SECTION

Chapter Eleven:

INTRODUCTION TO DATA CENTERS

Performance Metrics and Administration

an optical fiber link and installing fibers using reversepair numbering (i.e., 2, 1, 4, 3 ) on the other end of the
optical fiber link.
Optical fiber patch cords, as specified in TIA/EIA-568-C.3,
must be used when completing circuits using reverse-pair
positioning.

MC

Rx Tx

To implement reverse-pair positioning in the cabling

system, the following steps should be taken.

2. Install connectors on both ends of the cable as follows

(see Figure 11.2):
a) On one end of each cable, install the fibers in
consecutive order (i.e., 1, 2, 3, 4 ).
b) On the other end of each cable, install the fibers in
reverse-pair numbering (i.e., 2, 1, 4, 3 ).
Notes:
1. From the installers point of view, fiber 1-blue will appear on the left on one
end and on the right on the other end of every link. Fiber 2-orange will
appear in the opposite manner, right on one end of the link and left on the
other end of the link.
2. Reverse-pair positioning may be obtained by installing the fibers on the
connectors in this manner or by installing connectors into the adapters in
this orientation.
3. Successive cables placed in the channel (e.g., MC to IC, IC to HC) should
be installed as described above.

HC

WA

Back

Implementing Reverse-Pair Positioning

1. Assign each fiber in a given cable a sequential number

following the same order as described in TIA/EIA-568C.3 (see Table 11.1).

IC

Legend:

Front

Blue Backbone Fiber

Orange Backbone Fiber

Rx Tx

Blue Patch Cord Fiber

Orange Patch Cord Fiber

Figure 11.2
Reverse-Pair Positioning | Drawing ZA-2419

equipment typically has standard duplex transceiver ports,

the trunks are plugged into a factory-made furcation or
module that transitions from the MTP Connector to a
duplex connector/adapter style. Like simplex and duplex
connectors and adapters, the MTP Connectors and
adapters are also keyed to ensure the proper orientation
is maintained when connectors are mated. With MTP
Connectors, this keying establishes the orientation of one
fiber array in one connector relative to the array in the
mating connector, but does not ensure that fiber-pair
polarity is maintained. This is accomplished in one of
several different methods. These methods are examined
in the following diagrams.

Array Connector Polarity

Dense data center wiring requirements dictate the use of
array-style connectors like the MTP Connector. These
scenarios often utilize factory-terminated MTP to MTP
connectorized cables or trunks. Since there are array
connectors on both ends of these trunks, and the end

TABLE 11.1: Polarity

Fiber Number

Color

Fiber Number

Color

Blue

Red

Orange

Black

Green

Yellow

Brown

10

Violet

Slate

11

Rose

White

12

Aqua

Chapter Eleven: Polarity | LAN-1160-EN | Page 50

Figure 11.4
Method B | Drawing ZA-3027

Method C

Method B

Figure 11.5
Method C | Drawing ZA-3028

Universal Polarity Management Method

Chapter Eleven: Polarity | LAN-1160-EN | Page 51

INFORMATION AND TOOLS

The Universal Polarity Management Method (Figure 11.6)

is an enhanced polarity management method that improves
upon the sample methods listed in TIA/EIA 568-C.0 as
was the intent of the standard. The method uses the same
module and patch cord type at both ends with no inversion
or reconfiguration needed to maintain polarity. Polarity
is easily accomplished and managed with the modules

PERFORMANCE METRICS AND ADMINISTRATION

Method B (Figure 11.4) uses a single module type wired in

a straight-through configuration and standard patch cords
on both ends. The differences are that all components in
the system are mated key-up to key-up. When the link is
configured in this fashion, physical position #1 goes to
physical position #12 on the other end. A module on one
end is inverted so that logically (labelwise), position #1
goes to position #1. This method requires advanced planning for module locations in order to identify the module
types and location of the inverted module in the optical
link. This adds complexity to the polarity management.
Using an MTP Connector key-up to key-up configuration
does not easily accommodate angled polished (APC)
single-mode connectors.

DEPLOYING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Figure 11.3
Method A | Drawing ZA-3026

Method C (Figure 11.5) uses a pair-wise flip in the

trunk cable to correct for polarity. This enables the use
of the same module type on both ends of the channel and
standard patch cords. Because polarity is managed in the
trunk, extending the links requires planning of the number
of trunks in order to maintain polarity. The TIA standard
does not include text regarding the ability to migrate to
parallel optics for Method C, but parallel optic capability
can easily be achieved with a special patch cord to reverse
the pair-wise flips in the trunk.

DESIGNING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Method A (Figure 11.3) uses a single module type wired

in a straight-through configuration and two different patch
cords in an optical circuit. One patch cord is straight wired
and the other has a pair-wise flip. All components in the
channel are mated key-up to key-down. No guidance is
included in the standard to differentiate where the patch
cord with pair-wise flips should be used, and how to make
it easily recognizable from the regular straight-wired
duplex patch cord. Because polarity is addressed in the
patch cords, the end user is ultimately responsible for
managing it.

INTRODUCTION TO DATA CENTERS

Method A

internal fiber wiring scheme. The system is mated key-up

to key-down. The method supports simple concatenation
of multiple trunks without affecting polarity. The method
easily accommodates all simplex/duplex connector types as
well as single-mode fiber APC MTP Connectors. Similar
to Methods A, B and C, the universal polarity management
method easily facilitates migration to parallel optics. The
wired modular system components enable fast and simple
networking moves, adds and changes without polarity
concerns associated with special polarity-compensating
components used in Methods A, B and C.

Parallel Optics for 40G and 100G Ethernet

The IEEE standard for 40G and 100G Ethernet
employs a parallel optics scheme for multimode fiber.
The IEEE 802.3ba task force has specified parallel
transmission of 40G and 100G Ethernet to 100 m with
OM3 fiber and 125 m with OM4 fiber. 40G Ethernet
parallel optics transmission will utilize the current 12-fiber
MTP Connector while 100G Ethernet will utilize a 24-fiber
MTP Connector to transmit data on multiple fibers.

R L R L R L R L R L R L

R L R L R L R L R L R L

Module with
MTP Connector

Module with
MTP Connector

Key-Up to Key-Down

Key-Up to Key-Down
Trunk with Standard MTP and
Ribbon Twist MTP Connectors

Figure 11.6
Universal Polarity Management Method | Drawing ZA-3486

For example, for 40G Ethernet, eight fibers from a 12-fiber

MTP connector would be used. Four fibers would be used
for Tx at 10G, and four others would be used for Rx at
10G for an aggregate signal of 40G. To transmit 100G
Ethernet, one would use 20 fibers on a single 24-fiber
MTP Connector (Figures 11.7 and 11.8). Ten would
transmit 10G each or 100G in aggregate. The other
10 would then receive 10G each or 100G in aggregate.
The end electronics would then multiplex the data.
Corning Cable Systems Universal Polarity Management
Method is fully compatible with the final polarity scheme
developed by this task force.

Optical Receiver

Optical Transmitter

MTP Connector

MTP Connector

12

1
Tx
Tx
Tx
Tx

Tx
Tx
Tx
Tx

Rx
Rx
Rx
Rx
1

Optical Transmitter
MTP Connector

Figure 11.7
Parallel Optics for 100G Ethernet | Drawing ZA-3300

Fiber Position

Rx
Rx
Rx
Rx

Fiber Position

12

Optical Receiver
MTP Connector

Figure 11.8
Parallel Optics for 40G Ethernet | Drawing ZA-3299

Chapter Eleven: Polarity | LAN-1160-EN | Page 52

Testing and Documentation

In preparing for data center tests, the following guidelines

are important for efficient and accurate test results:
Ensure that the test jumpers (end-to-end attenuation)
or test fiber box (OTDR) are of the same fiber core size
and connector type as the cable system, e.g., 50/125 m
core test jumpers should be used for testing a 50/125 m
multimode cable.
Ensure that optical sources are stabilized and have
center wavelengths within 20 nm of the 850/1300 nm
multimode and 1310/1550 nm single-mode nominal
wavelengths. In accordance with TIA/EIA-526-14-A,
multimode LED sources should have spectral widths
from 30-60 nm at 850 nm and 100-140 nm at 1300 nm.
Ensure that the power meter and the light source are set
to the same wavelength.
Ensure that all system connectors, adapters and jumpers
are properly cleaned prior to and during measurement.

End-to-End Attenuation Testing

The single most important test of an installed link is endto-end attenuation. This is a measure of the optical power
loss between cable termination points. Acceptable loss
values are dependent upon the system length, wavelength
and number and type of connectors and splices. The endto-end loss should always be less than the link-loss budget
calculated in the system design. The best way to verify that
the cable meets the loss limit is to measure each segment
from patch panel to patch panel. Because of the stress and
bending that cables can be subjected to during installation,
Corning Cable Systems recommends measuring the
attenuation of each connectorized link after installation.

INFORMATION AND TOOLS

Chapter Twelve: Testing and Documentation | LAN-1160-EN | Page 53

PERFORMANCE METRICS AND ADMINISTRATION

Attenuation, defined as optical power loss measured in

decibels (dB), is the primary test parameter in optical fiber
systems. Cables, connectors, splices and patch cords all
contribute to the systems overall attenuation. Additional
loss may also be induced by tight bends or excessive forces
placed on the cable during transport and installation.
Testing must be done after installation to ensure that the
cable system meets the attenuation specifications set forth
by the end user. Implementing the recommendations of this
chapter provides solid proof of system integrity and ensures
reliable system operation.

End-to-end attenuation and OTDR tests provide quantitative measures of the installed performance of the cable
system and its components. This section outlines the basic
concepts, test methods, test equipment and specific application guidelines for each type of testing. A summary of
recommendations for cable system testing by segment
concludes the section.

DEPLOYING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

This chapter addresses testing, documentation and maintenance of optical fiber cabling systems for new installations,
system upgrades and individual components in the data center. With more than 25 years of field experience, Corning
Cable Systems offers straightforward test procedures and
practical guidelines for system testing. This information
is in accordance with TIA/EIA-568-C. Since the standard
addresses only the end-to-end attenuation test, we have
combined this with additional information on other test
methods and common field test practice applicable in the
data center.

Cable System Testing

DESIGNING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Testing of any installed cabling system in the data center

is crucial to ensuring the overall integrity and long-term
performance of the network. Documenting test results
quantifies system quality, identifies system faults and establishes accountability when multiple vendors are involved.
Simple, reliable and field-proven test procedures are already
established for certifying that an optical fiber cabling system
is properly installed. Proper testing also maximizes the
systems longevity, minimizes downtime and maintenance,
and facilitates system upgrades or reconfigurations.

INTRODUCTION TO DATA CENTERS

Chapter Twelve:

Background
The attenuation of installed cable systems is measured
by the insertion loss method. This method uses an optical
source and optical power meter to compare the difference
between two optical power levels first measuring how
much light is put into the cable at the near end, and then
measuring how much light exits the far end after the cable
system is inserted in between.

Connect a short test jumper between the optical source

and the optical meter. Ensure that the reference power in
dBm is within acceptable range per unit specification. This
power level is simply the output power of the light source
coupled into the jumper to the meter (See Figure 12.1).
Press the reference button on the meter, and the meter
reading should then read 0dB. Note: Never disconnect or adjust
the jumper connection at the optical source after recording the reference value.
This can change the value.

These absolute optical power levels are measured in dBm.

By definition, dBm = 10 log (Pout)/1 mW of power, hence
the m in dBm.
Loss (dB) = P2 (dBm) - P1 (dBm)
Where: P2 = Output Power (dBm)
P1 = Input Power (dBm)

Procedure
End-to-end attenuation testing is performed by a simple
three-step procedure in accordance with TIA/EIA
specifications:
Multimode fiber: OFSTP-14A

Mandrel Wrapping
In accordance with TIA/EIA-568-C.1, mandrel wrapping
should be used when performing power through testing
on multimode fiber. Optical fibers are designed to attenuate the cladding modes almost immediately. Along with
the light in the core, there may be some high-order modes
in the cladding due to the fully flooded launch condition.
These high-order modes normally have a much higher
attenuation than lower-order modes, and often will not
appear at the far end of a fiber link of sufficient length.
Due to these high-order modes, issues arise during the
referencing step of a typical attenuation test.

Single-mode fiber: OFSTP-7A

Five Turns Around a Mandrel
(Multimode Fiber Only)

The procedure described here is for patch panel to patch

panel applications only.

Test Jumper #1

A stabilized light source and optical power meter are used

to quickly and accurately measure the attenuation of each
terminated fiber as shown in Figure 12.1. Best results are
achieved with factory-terminated test jumpers.

OTS-600

-20.0 dBm

1
4
7

End-to-End Attenuation Test for

Single-Fiber Connectors
Step 1: Reference
For the TIA/EIA-568-C compliant networks, Corning Cable
Systems recommends the use of a 1-jumper reference as
described in the procedures below. Performing the 1-jumper
reference provides the most accurate and appropriate test
for your system. Additional jumper referencing will falsely
improve results by eliminating potential loss events.
Note: A 2-jumper reference should only be used when your system begins at
a patch panel and ends directly in end equipment. Additionally, a 3-jumper
reference should only be used when your system begins and ends directly in the
end equipment.

OTS-600

8
0

Power Received = P reference (dBm)

= -20.0 dBm

1
4
7

8
0

Figure 12.1
End-to-End Attenuation Test | Drawing ZA-3593
F

Referencing occurs with test jumpers that are only a few

meters in length. Over a short distance, the high-order
modes do not completely dissipate before reaching the
test meter. This extra optical power is calculated into the
reference. When actual system testing occurs, however,
the higher-order modes completely dissipate over the
length of the system and do not reach the meter. This
difference in power gives the appearance of a higher-loss
system. To prevent the high-order modes from invalidating
the test results, they need to be attenuated during the
referencing step to obtain a valid measure of the optical
power that will actually travel along the fiber core. This is
often done by wrapping a length of fiber around a smooth,
round mandrel (rod) during the testing process. The fiber
used should be long enough to allow for five wraps around

Chapter Twelve: Testing and Documentation | LAN-1160-EN | Page 54

INTRODUCTION TO DATA CENTERS

the mandrel. The bending caused by wrapping the fiber

around the mandrel will strip out (attenuate) the highorder modes in the cladding. User Tip: Although the output
connector of the optical source can be different from the system connector type, the
optical meters connector input must match the system. It is important, therefore,
that the optical meter have interchangeable connector adapters. Additionally,
pure optical test equipment rather than copper test equipment with optical
capabilities is recommended for the most reliable and accurate results.

Refer to TIA/EIA-568-C.1 or Corning Cable Systems

Application Engineering Note 68 on mandrel wrapping
during multimode testing.

DESIGNING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Figure 12.1 is an example of a test setup that incorporates

a mandrel wrap. Figure 12.2 shows the step of referencing
the optical power output of the test source and then the
testing of a system. Note that at the transmitter, the
mandrel and wrapped jumper are used both during the
reference step and during the system testing.

Figure 12.2
OTS-600 Series Optical Source and Meter | Photo LAN1199

Step 2: Check
Five Turns Around a Mandrel

If the criterion is not met, clean all connectors except the

source connection point and repeat Step 2. If the loss is
still greater than 0.5 dB, replace test jumper no. 2 and
repeat Step 2. If the loss is still greater than 0.5 dB, try
replacing the adapter and repeat Step 2 (see Figure 12.3).

(Multimode Fiber Only)

Test Jumper #1

Adapter
(System Connector Type)

Test Jumper #2

OTS-600

OTS-600

0.4 dB

Power Received = P check = 0.4 dB

1
4
7

Figure 12.3Five Turns Around a Mandrel

(Multimode Fiber Only)
End-to-End Attenuation Test | Drawing ZA-3593

Mandrel Diameter
For 3 mm (0.12 in) cable

Mandrel Diameter
For 2 mm (0.08 in) cable

22 mm (0.87 in)

N/A

50 m (Corning Ultra-Bend) @ 850 nm

N/A

4 mm (0.16 in)

50 m (Corning Ultra-Bend) @ 1300 nm

N/A

22 mm (0.87 in)

62.5 m

17 mm (0.67 in)

N/A

Fiber Core Size

50 m (Standard OM2/OM3)

Chapter Twelve: Testing and Documentation | LAN-1160-EN | Page 55

INFORMATION AND TOOLS

Note: Mandrel part numbers currently available in NAFTA and ready for shipment.
OTS-MANDREL-50
OTS-MANDREL-62
OTS-MANDREL-4
OTS-COMBOMAN (This part number comes with the Standard 50 m and 62.5 m.

PERFORMANCE METRICS AND ADMINISTRATION

TABLE 12.1: Mandrel Wrapping with Multimode Fiber

DEPLOYING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Disconnect test jumper no. 1 from the power meter and

insert a second test jumper (test jumper no. 2), using an
adapter, between the jumper used in Step 1 and the optical
power meter. Verify that the two test jumpers are good by
ensuring that the power is within the appropriate connector loss, typically < 0.5 dB. If this criterion is met, continue to Step 3. Note: Do not reference at this point.

Step 3: Test
Leave the two test jumpers attached to the optical source
and optical meter. Disconnect the two jumpers at the
adapter. Attach the optical source/test jumper no. 1 to
one end of the system fiber to be tested and the power
meter/test jumper no. 2 to the other end of the same
fiber. Record the losses for each fiber to be tested
(see Figure 12.4 and 12.5).

Five Turns Around a Mandrel

(Multimode Fiber Only)

Test
Jumper
#1

System
Patch
Panel

Patch
Panel

OTS-600

Test
Jumper
#2
OTS-600

Power Received = P test

1
4
7

7.7 dB

Power Received = P check = 7.7 dB

Figure 12.4
End-to-End Attenuation Test | Drawing ZA-3593

4
7

ZA-3593

End-to-End Attenuation Test for

MTP Pinless Connector Links
Equipment required for this test:
Optical source with SC optical port

OTS-600

Optical meter with SC optical port

12-fiber SC to MTP pinned Connector hybrid
jumpers two

850nm

12-fiber MTP Connector to MTP Pinless Connector

jumper one

-7.7 dB

SC-SC jumper three

MTP Connector adapters two
SC adapters two
Note: The example herein utilizes a light source and power meter that each
have an SC connector interface; other single-fiber interface types work in a
similar fashion.

Figure 12.5
OTS Display | Drawing ZA-3594
4
5

3
6

Chapter Twelve: Testing and Documentation | LAN-1160-EN | Page 56

SC Jumper No. 1

Connect the ends of the SC jumper to the optical source

and meter as shown in Figure 12.6. Ensure that the power
reading in dBm is within the specified range of the optical
source for the fiber type under test. Press the reference
button on the meter.

Source

Meter
-18.0 dBm
SC Jumper No. 2

Insert a second SC jumper into the setup as shown in

Figure 12.7, connecting to test jumper no. 1 on one end
and to the meter on the other. The loss reading should
not be higher than the value specified for the test jumper
connectors, typically 0.5 dB or less for factory-terminated
single-fiber connectors. Press the reference button on
the meter.

SC Jumper No. 1

SC Jumper No. 2

Connector pair

Source

Decouple the connector pair made in the previous step.

Insert test jumper no. 3 between jumper no. 1 and no. 2
as shown in Figure 12.8. The loss reading should not
be higher than 0.5 dB. If a higher than expected loss is
measured, clean the connectors and retest. If the jumpers
continue to test high, replace each jumper with a new one
until the measurement reading is in the appropriate range.
Press the reference button on the meter. The meter should
display 0.0 dB.

Meter
-18.5 dBm

Figure 12.7 SC Jumper No. 1

Connector Pair
Checking the Test Connectors | Drawing ZA-3596

SC Jumper No 3

Connector Pair

SC Jumper No. 3
Source
SC Jumper No. 2

Meter
-19.0 dBm

Connector Pair

MTP Pinned Connector

Figure 12.8
ectors
SC Connec
Setting
Blue Legup the Reference Step with Three Jumpers
Blue Leg

Step 2: Checking MTP Connector Test Jumpers

| Drawing ZA-3596

M
MTP Pinned Connector

SC Connectors
Blue Leg

MTP Pinless Connector

OTS-600

OTS-600

Aqua Leg
1
4
7

8
0

Source

Figure 12.9

Aqua Leg
2

Meter
1.5 dBm
MTP Pinned Connector

SC
Connectors
Setup
and Verification MTP
of Test
PinlessJumpers
Connector
Bl L

SC Connectors
| Drawing ZA-3596
Bl

Chapter Twelve: Testing and Documentation | LAN-1160-EN | Page 57

INFORMATION AND TOOLS

PERFORMANCE METRICS AND ADMINISTRATION

SC Connectors
Blue Leg

DEPLOYING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

SC Jumper No. 1

Note: Contrary to earlier guidance, a 3-jumper reference should be used

for an MTP-MTP Connector link due to the cable/system configuration.
MTP Connector links are typically terminated in multi-fiber connector modules
or directly into end-equipment requiring the use of a 3-jumper reference.

Remove jumper number 3 from the test setup. Connect

the blue leg of a 12-fiber SC to MTP Pinned Connector
hybrid jumper to the SC jumper at the source and the
blue leg of a second 12-fiber SC to MTP Pinned Hybrid
Connector jumper to the SC jumper at the meter, as
shown in Figure 12.9. Connect the test sets and test
jumpers together with an MTP Connector to MTP
Connector (both WITHOUT pins) jumper. For proper
polarity testing with standard jumpers, the same jumper
leg (same number or color) must be connected to the
setup for each measurement.

DESIGNING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

SC Jumper No. 1

Figure 12.6
Determining the Output Power of the Source Using One
Jumper | Drawing ZA-3596Connector pair

INTRODUCTION TO DATA CENTERS

Step 1: Setting the Reference

(using the 3-Jumper Reference Method)

The meter should now display a negative value of ( 1.0 dB).

Do Not Reference Here (do not press the reference button
on the meter). These values are obtained by using the maximum loss of 0.5 dB for a single-mated MTP Connector
pair. This value can be taken from the manufacturers
specification for maximum connector pair loss. The maximum resultant sum of two mated pairs would be a 1.0 dB
loss. Disconnect the blue leg of each SC to MTP Pinned
Hybrid Connector jumper and connect with the orange legs.
Test through all 12 SC connectors in sequence, ensuring that
all connectors involved in the testing process are sound; each
reading should be below the acceptable level. After verifying
all 12 SC legs, remove the pinless MTP Connector to
MTP Connector jumper from the setup.

MTP Pinned Connector

SC Connectors
Blue Leg

MTP Pinless Connector

SC Connectors
Blue Leg

OTS-600

OTS-600

Aqua Leg
1
4
7

Aqua Leg
Link Under Test

1
4
7

8
0

Meter
1.5 dBm

Source

Figure 12.10
Testing the MTP Connector Link Starting with the Blue Fiber
| Drawing ZA-3596

The system is now ready to test.

Step 3: Test
Without disconnecting from the units, take source and meter
to the distant ends of the system (Figure 12.10). Each test
value represents the system loss along one run of fiber.
Reconnect the first SC connector of each MTP Connector
to SC cable assembly to the source and meter SC jumpers.
Connect the MTP Pinned Connectors of each SC to MTP
Connector jumper to the system MTP Pinless Connectors.
Record the measurement for fiber one. Disconnect the first
SC connectors of each MTP Connector to SC cable assembly and reconnect with the second SC connectors. Record
the measurement for fiber two, then repeat for all 12 fibers.
For additional information, please refer to Corning Cable Systems Applications
Engineering Note AEN 78 Field Test Procedure for Measuring Optical Power
Loss of MTP (Pinless) Connector Links.

Application Guidelines
Testing the attenuation of each segment from patch panel
to patch panel allows the loss of virtually any path to be
determined by adding the loss of the segments involved.
This testing will ensure predicted system performance,
document the system as built and allow routine maintenance checks.
The current TIA/EIA 568 Rev. C standard recommends
end-to-end attenuation tests on both specified wavelengths
for every connectorized fiber in the backbone and tests at
one wavelength in horizontal segments. Based on current
multimode deployments where the vast majority of applications use 850 nm transceivers, Corning Cable Systems
recommends determining if 1300 nm testing is necessary
in the backbone by reviewing potential future protocols

for the system. If 1300 nm testing is unnecessary, consider

testing at 850 nm only. Single-mode fiber should still be
tested in one direction at both 1310 nm and 1550 nm.
Acceptable link attenuation or system budget is dependent
on the backbone length, the number of splices, and the
number of connector pairs. Unless otherwise specified, maximum acceptable fiber attenuation values can be determined
from the cable data sheet or the manufacturers specifications. The attenuation value (dB/km) multiplied by length
(km), will give you the maximum fiber attenuation (dB).
Furthermore, if the link contains splices or connector pairs,
add 0.3 dB per splice point and 0.75 dB per connector pair
per TIA/EIA-568-C.3.
For example, a system that has 1.6 km of fiber, two connector pairs and two splices. If the fiber in the cable is 50/125
m, the maximum fiber loss is 1.6 km multiplied by 3.5
dB/km @ 850 nm and 1.5 dB/km @ 1300 nm for values
of 4.2 dB @ 850 nm and 1.8 dB @ 1300 nm. With a total
connector loss of 1.5 dB and a total splice loss of 0.6 dB,
the budget will be 7.7 dB @ 850 nm and 4.5 dB @ 1300 nm.

OTDR Testing
End-to-end attenuation testing measures the total amount
of loss between two end points. To find out what causes
this loss and where it occurs in the cable system, an
Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) is needed.
An OTDR can locate fiber events and measure the losses
attributable to cable, connectors, splices and/or other
components. The graphical display of loss over a cables
entire length provides the most revealing analysis and
documentation available on a cable link, commonly
referred to as its signature trace.

Chapter Twelve: Testing and Documentation | LAN-1160-EN | Page 58

INTRODUCTION TO DATA CENTERS

Because of the OTDRs ability to provide detailed analysis

of individual installed components with access to only
one end of the fiber, it is the most versatile installation
and troubleshooting tool that can be used in a variety
of scenarios:

OTDR Signature Trace Documentation provides

useful documentation for cable system acceptance,
network planning, and maintenance as the as-built
fiber blueprint.

Figure 12.11
OV-1000 OTDR | Photo LAN731

Connector and Splice Loss measures and documents

field-installed connectors and midspan mechanical or
fusion splices. This allows the installer to determine
whether a splice or connector is acceptable or needs to
be reworked.

Background and Trace Interpolation

The OTDR plots distance in meters or feet on the horizontal scale and relative loss in dB on the vertical scale.
The overall trace declines from left to right, indicating
that the light is being attenuated by the fiber, connectors
and splices as it travels down the length of the cable.
Linear sections represent continuous spans of cable.

Vertical drops represent point losses at connectors,

splices and faults. The magnitude of the drop
represents loss in dB.

Spikes or humps indicate reflective events such as connectors or mechanical splices where the continuity of
the glass is interrupted. The final spike on the trace
indicates the end of the fiber.
Test fiber boxes are required to mitigate the effects of
OTDR high-powered launches which may saturate the
OTDR receiver. This generates an inaccurate trace for
the first several meters of the tested system. A minimum
length of 100 m for multimode systems and 300 m for
single-mode systems is required. Test fiber boxes are
the same fiber core diameter as the system length
being tested.
To allow measurement of the connector loss at the optical
patch panel, a test fiber box is used to connect between the
OTDR output and the interconnect hardware.

Chapter Twelve: Testing and Documentation | LAN-1160-EN | Page 59

INFORMATION AND TOOLS

Slopes indicate distributed loss over a section of fiber

(steeper slopes indicate higher fiber loss in dB/km).

Figure 12.12
Sample OTDR Signature Trace | Drawing ZA-3659

PERFORMANCE METRICS AND ADMINISTRATION

An OTDR works a lot like radar, sending pulses of laser

light out through the fiber and then precisely measuring
the level and time delay of the reflected pulses as they
return. The OTDR presents this as loss and distance
information in graphical format, providing a detailed
overview of the entire cable length at once. Figure 12.11
and Figure 12.12 shows the OV-1000 OTDR and a
sample OTDR signature trace.

DEPLOYING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Troubleshooting provides both (a) a benchmark of

initial system performance for comparisons over time
and (b) a powerful tool for identifying and locating cable
problems or breaks by accessing only one end of the
cable. Fiber discontinuities and localized losses are clearly
visible when compared to original signature traces.

DESIGNING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Cable Acceptance evaluates the integrity, overall

length and fiber attenuation in dB/km for cables before
and after installation. This is useful for checking a cable
against specification, uncovering point defects due to
handling during transport or installation, and effectively
measuring unterminated fibers.

The OTDR user can place markers and cursors on the

trace to make measurements more easily and reliable.
Some OTDRs and multifunction testers provide a function
that automatically configures the OTDR, performs a
signature trace and measures the position and loss of each
event in the cable system. Figure 12.13 shows an example
of an OTDR table summarizing the event data gathered in
such a function.
For further information on OTDR measurements, refer to
these Corning Cable Systems Application Engineering Notes:
AE Note 003, Unidirectional Single-mode Measurements
AE Note 007, Gainers
AE Note 033, OTDR Return Loss Measurement
AE Note 036, Optical Fiber Fault Location Procedure
AE Note 050, Ghost Reflections on the OTDR

Test Equipment: OTDR Analysis

A variety of units incorporating the OTDR concept are
available. More useful OTDRs include:
Dual 850/1300 nm multimode and 1310/1550 nm
single-mode operation in the same unit; whether or not
single-mode is used today, the unit should be upgradeable
to meet future requirements
Portable, battery-powered operation
An internal flash, USB port and hard drive
for trace storage
A companion PC software package for analysis,
comparison and printing of saved traces
Integrate power meter and visual fault locator functions
into the same unit, maximizing the units utility and
cost-effectiveness.
Combining a multi-tester with an optical source allows
end-to-end attenuation test results to be stored in a file
and associated with their respective OTDR traces.
As the number of fibers and cable systems increases, these
fiber management and documentation features save time
and effort.

Figure 12.13
Sample OTDR Table | Drawing ZA-2892

Connector and Splice Loss Measurement

For all cable segments, Corning Cable Systems recommends
OTDR measurement of each field-installed connector
and each mechanical or fusion splice at one wavelength
to ensure they meet acceptable loss values certified by
the installer. Loss values from some manufacturers splice
machines can be substituted for OTDR measurements
provided they employ either a LID-SYSTEM Unit or
LPAS system to obtain splice loss values. Again, unless
specified otherwise, acceptable losses are 0.75 dB per
mated connection and 0.3 dB per splice for multimode
and single-mode. To measure a near-end connector loss,
a test fiber box of sufficient length (typically 100 m for
multimode or 300 m for single-mode) is used to connect
between the OTDR and patch panel and has a cable span
of 75 m following the connector.

Bandwidth and Dispersion

Bandwidth and dispersion measure characteristics of
the information of the information carrying capacity of
fiber. Fiber optic cable can be specified for various grades
of bandwidth or dispersion performance. Actual system
bandwidth or dispersion is a function of the fiber quality,
length and transmitter characteristics. It is common practice
to specify cable bandwidth and dispersion performance
to meet the requirements of TIA/EIA-568-C as discussed
in Chapter 3, ensuring compatibility with transmission
electronics without field testing. The fiber manufacturers
bandwidth or dispersion performance should be documented
on a specification sheet and saved for future reconfigurations
and upgrades.

User Tip: Use of a test fiber box also allows simultaneous OTDR testing of a links
signature trace and near-end connector loss. These test results can be documented
together on OTDRs that have event tables.

Chapter Twelve: Testing and Documentation | LAN-1160-EN | Page 60

Based on the characteristics of backbone and horizontal

cable segments, Table 12.2 summarizes both multimode
and single-mode test recommendations for all connectorized
fibers. If any fibers are left unterminated, Corning Cable
Systems recommends performing an OTDR inspection
for spans longer than 75 m.

Careful planning and accessible documentation also help

to avoid costly retesting or cable plant replacement when
subsequent upgrades or reconfigurations are undertaken.
Following the requirements stated in TIA/EIA-606,
Corning Cable Systems recommends maintaining
accessible documentation of the following test results
and cable records.

Test Results
End-to-end attenuation data

Documentation plays a vital role in the long-term success

of any cabling system with regard to system reconfiguration,
upgrades and maintenance. End-to-end test results
establish the initial integrity and performance of a system.
Documents of work performed on the fiber plant can be
used for liability protection in the event that multiple
vendors are involved. Equally important, these records
establish as-built drawings and can be compared to
current conditions when troubleshooting.

OTDR signature traces

Certificate of compliance for connector and splice loss

Cable Records
Cable specifications

TABLE 12.2: TIA-568-C.1 System Testing Recommendations

Data Center Segment
Backbone
Cabling

Horizontal
Cabling (Multimode)

Equipment
Required

End-to-End
Attenuation
(Required)

Dual wavelength insertion loss

Multimode: 850 and 1300 nm
Single-mode: 1310 and 1550 nm

850 or 1300 nm
(multimode)

Optical Meter
Optical Source(s)
Mandrel
Two Test Jumpers
One Adapter

Troubleshooting
as required for links
exceeding the
budgets dB limit

OTDR
Test Fiber Box

Note: For Corning Cable Systems guidelines, see page 58.

OTDR Test
(Optional Only
for Inside Plant)

OTDR inspection of each Fiber > 75 m

Multimode: 850 and 1300 nm
Single-mode: 1310 and 1550 nm
Dual wavelength or bi-directional
testing as required

Note: Simultaneous testing of a fibers

signature trace (above) and near-end
connector loss can save test time
and documentation.

Chapter Twelve: Testing and Documentation | LAN-1160-EN | Page 61

INFORMATION AND TOOLS

OTDR inspection of each fieldterminated connector and each

splice at one wavelength:

PERFORMANCE METRICS AND ADMINISTRATION

Test Method

DEPLOYING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Cable route diagram

a. Fiber routing and location information
b. Fiber connectivity information
c. Splice point locations
d. Patch panel locations
e. Cable lengths
f. Cable part numbers

DESIGNING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Documentation

INTRODUCTION TO DATA CENTERS

Summary of Cable Systems Testing

Recommendations

Maintenance and Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting Process Flow

Because of the quality and importance of information

transmitted over fiber optic systems, ongoing service is
critical. A properly installed and tested system requires
minimal routine maintenance. Ensuring proper connector
care and cleanliness and checking the routing and protection
of system jumpers are simple safeguards that are central
to preventing possible service interruptions.

Troubleshooting can be very difficult but can be made easy

with a defined process. Using a basic fiber system, Tx
plant Rx, one can develop a basic process for testing.
First, the received power level is measured and compared
to the receiver sensitivity specification using a source and
meter test such as Corning Cable Systems OTS-600. If the
received power is normal, the receiving electronics should
be diagnosed to identify the problem. If, on the other hand,
the received power level is low, the transmitter output
power should be measured next. A low transmitter output
indicates a problem with the transmitter output or electronics. In these cases, follow the procedure in diagnosing the
electronics or call the appropriate vendor for assistance.

In the case of system error or failure, troubleshooting

and service restoration can be performed quickly and easily.
There are three key components required for efficient
troubleshooting:
Documentation Initial test results and cable records
are essential to effective maintenance and troubleshooting. Contrasting current test results with the original
documentation quickly and clearly identifies changes
and potential trouble spots.
Test Equipment Using a simple power meter and
initial attenuation test results to isolate faults will
eliminate unnecessary service calls and minimize
downtime. Faulty patch cords can be replaced. If the
fault lies within the cable plant, an OTDR can be used
to pinpoint its exact location.
Troubleshooting Plan A simple but effective flow
chart or procedure can be used to quickly isolate a fault
to either a network transmitter, receiver, patch cord
or cable segment. The first step requires only a power
meter, test jumper and the as-built documentation.

If the transmitter output is normal and the received power

is low, excessive loss is occurring in the cable plant. A power
meter with a test jumper is then used to confirm whether or
not there is a problem with the system jumper. If the system
jumpers have acceptable loss, then the fault probably lies
within the terminated cable plant itself. Losses in the cable
plant are most often caused by damaged connectors and cut
or damaged cable.
Once a problem is isolated to the cable plant, a high-resolution OTDR such as Corning Cable Systems OV-1000 is
used to locate the fault. A comparison of the original signature trace to the current OTDR trace can easily identify and
locate a fault or break. If the fault is determined to be near
an end-point, a visual fault locator such as Corning Cable
Systems VFL-350 can be used to pinpoint a problem within
splice trays, connecting hardware and patch cords.

Chapter Twelve: Testing and Documentation | LAN-1160-EN | Page 62

Labeling
Labeling Racks and Cabinets
With todays data centers, finding the right patch panel
and port starts with quickly finding the rack or cabinet that
houses the patch panel. Some data center administrators have
created their own system for identifying cabinets or racks in
a data center, but TIA-606-A-1 is meant to help streamline
the process, promote a consistent and reliable methodology
and make it easier on the data center administrator. Creating
rack/cabinet identifiers in the data center is accomplished
by using X and Y coordinates that relate to floor tiles in a
raised-floor system or to the number or rows and cabinets
in a data center floor plan. The X coordinate is an alpha
character and the Y numeric, resulting in a unique identifier for each rack and cabinet. TIA-606-A-1 specifies that the
rack/cabinet identifier label shall be placed at the top and
bottom on both the front and rear of each rack or cabinet.

Choosing a Labeling Method

AA
01

AB

AC

AD

AE

AF

AG

AH

AI

Each telecommunications space also has a unique identifier

where F is a numeric character that identifies the floor of
the building and S is an alpha character that defines the
space. The XY cabinet identifier follows the FS identifier
(FS.XY), creating a specific location for racks and cabinets
that can be applied to any space.

AJ

AK

AL

AM

AN

AO

AP

AR

AS

AT

X-axis

(MDA)

02

Front - End
Layer Zone

EDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

ZDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

Core A

04

Core B

Sample Cabinet AG04

05Application

Layer Zone

EDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

ZDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

ZDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

EDA

ZDA

EDA

06
07

Back - End
08 Layer Zone
09
10

24F

Storage
Zone

EDA

24F

EDA

24F

24F

24F

EDA

24F

EDA

24F

EDA

11

24F

EDA

3 x 36F

3 x 36F

12

Figure 13.1
Grid Coordinate System for Data Center Equipment | Drawing ZA-3660

Chapter Thirteen: Labeling | LAN-1160-EN | Page 63

INFORMATION AND TOOLS

Y-axis

PERFORMANCE METRICS AND ADMINISTRATION

03

AQ

DEPLOYING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

The ANSI/TIA-606-A-1 standard specifies administration

for a generic telecommunications cabling system that
will support a multi-product, multi-vendor environment.
It provides a uniform administration approach that is independent of applications, which may change several times
throughout the life of the telecommunications infrastructure. It establishes guidelines for owners, end users, manufacturers, consultants, contractors, designers, installers and
facilities administrators involved in the administration of
the telecommunications infrastructure.

DESIGNING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

An important step in the documentation process is proper

labeling of all the data center infrastructure components.
Every component of the telecommunications infrastructure
should be labeled in an independent manner. For purposes
of tracking the fiber and documentation, the most important
things to keep in mind with the labeling system are the local
and remote site terminations defined by the location of the
telecommunications building, rooms, rack or cabinet, fiber
panels and fiber or port ID and the fiber itself.

INTRODUCTION TO DATA CENTERS

Chapter Thirteen:

Labeling Patch Panels

TIA 606-A also contains additional identifiers for patch
panels and ports or fiber. Most commonly, patch panel
identifiers are numeric and designate the top left corner
of the patch panel location starting from the bottom of
the frame or cabinet and are specified in rack units.
Individual panels, modules and port or fiber identification
with the patch panel are also accounted for in documenting
the local and remote fiber termination location. Fiber
panels should be clearly labeled with port or fiber ID.
Documentation should clearly identify what fiber strands
are connected to which bulkhead and typically specify the
range of ports or fibers the trunk is servicing locally and
remotely.
The documented code that is printed and recorded on the
label can be constructed by combining the pertinent identifiers for each hardware component for the local and remote
location of the fiber terminations by properly identifying
the elements of the infrastructure. This code can be used
to track each component of the infrastructure.

Labeling Fiber
Fiber termination identification is equally important in mapping the data center network. Individual fibers (such as
jumpers) must be clearly labeled to identify local and remote
location. Typically a single jumper will contain two labels on
each end of the fiber near the termination point identifying
the specific local ID and the remote ID the jumper is patching to. It is important to follow suit with previous defined
code indicating rack or cabinet ID, patch panel ID and more
specifically the individual port or fiber termination location.
This allows users to easily trace jumpers from one location
within the network to the next. Most common identification
methods for individual fiber ID employ the use of flag or
wraparound preprinted labels. Documentation should clearly
identify individual fiber strands of the cable or jumper.
Numeric identifiers for cables and cable strands can be used
solely to differentiate them from other cables sharing their
same characteristics.

Detailed and accurate record keeping enables users to

logically map fiber terminations within the data center
from local equipment to remote equipment. It is suggested
that users employ labeling guidelines demonstrated in
EIA/TIA-606 for mapping the network. Guidelines below
provide an analogous solution in accordance with TIA-606
for labeling to be employed with Pretium EDGE
Solutions hardware. Additions in the suggested coding
are accounted for to identify chassis trays and modules.

Hardware Labeling
Hardware components come pre-labeled for
identification and promote a consistent labeling scheme.
User must provide their own label maker and media for
the frame or cabinet and hardware.
Labeling is best supported with use of adhesive-backed
label makers with media up to one-half inch in height.
Front door of the chassis has a locating crop mark
suggesting a consistent location for the printed ID label
that identifies the location of the chassis within the frame
or cabinet.
Chassis trays are pre-labeled 01 to 12 from the bottom
of the chassis to the top.
Module positions within each chassis tray are identified
by alpha characters A through D from left to right.
Modules or MTP panels come assembled with adapters
and silk screened with fiber and/or port ID.
Chassis comes equipped with a label card that is easily
removable from the inside of the front door and requires
no additional fastening to remain in place. This label
may be written on but use of a label maker is best.
Label card supports adhesive-backed label media and
printed labels may be easily adhered or removed for
moves, adds and changes.

Cable/Jumper Labeling
Labeling of cable and jumpers is equally important
and can be completed following same suggested
coding system shown on page 65 and cross reference to
recommended guidelines of EIA/TIA-606. A preprinted
code on flag/wraparound labels is suggested and may be
purchased from many media suppliers.

Example
The code shown on page 65 provides an analogous solution
in accordance with TIA-606-A-1 for mapping to be
employed with Corning Cable Systems Pretium EDGE
Solutions hardware.

Chapter Thirteen: Labeling | LAN-1160-EN | Page 64

CODE

f1

s1

x1

y1

z1a1

REMOTE ID
T-t1

m1pn1

TO

f2

s2

x2

y2

z2a2

T-t2

m2pn2

STEP 5 -

STEP 4 -

STEP 2 -

STEP 1 -

12

AJ 04

28

T-06

A1-12

TO

12

BK 09

Tray location
T-t1
t1 = Tray location within chassis

Chassis location
z1 = "Optional" identifies Front or Back of the Frame or Cabinet
Use "F" for Front or "B" for Back
a1 = Location of top / left corner of chassis within Frame or Cabinet
Specified in Rack Units

Frame / Cabinet location

f1 = "Optional" Floor of the building
s1 = "Optional" Telecom Space ID
Floor space grid coordinate location of Frame or Cabinet defined by:
x1 = Two Alpha indicating row
y1 = Two Numeric indicating position

40

T-08

A1-12

DEPLOYING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Ex:

Module location with Fiber or Port Range

m1 = Module location within Tray (A, B, C, or D)
pn1 = Fiber or Port range within Module

Figure 13.2
Suggested Code For Labeling | Drawing ZA-3661

Hardware labeling involves a 5-step process that identifies

the local and remote site. Use the suggested code in Figure
13.2 and the following steps to map your location.
Frame or cabinet location
Chassis location
Tray location
Module location with fiber or port range
Documentation

PERFORMANCE METRICS AND ADMINISTRATION

STEP 1:
STEP 2:
STEP 3:
STEP 4:
STEP 5:

DESIGNING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

STEP 3 -

Documentation
Printed Label records Remote
termination of Trunk Cable

INTRODUCTION TO DATA CENTERS

LOCAL ID

STEP 1 Frame or Cabinet Location (Figure 13.3)

Identify location of frame or cabinet within the floor space
grid coordinate system. Preprint labels and adhere to the
front and back of the frame or cabinet at the top and bottom.

Chapter Thirteen: Labeling | LAN-1160-EN | Page 65

INFORMATION AND TOOLS

Figure 13.3
Step 1: Frame or Cabinet Location | Drawing ZA-3662

STEP 2 Chassis Location (Figure 13.4)

Identify location within the frame or cabinet (in rack units
from the bottom) by locating the top/left corner of the
chassis. Print two labels and adhere one to the front door
using the crop mark for alignment. Adhere the second
label to label card on the inside of the door.

STEP 4 Module Location with Fiber

or Port Range (Figure 13.6)
Each tray comes pre-labeled A through D to identify
the module position within the tray.

MODULE LOCATION
WITHIN A TRAY

LC MODULE

FIBER or PORT RANGE

WITHIN MODULE

FIBER ID

PORT ID

Figure 13.4
Step 2: Chassis Location | Drawing ZA-3663

STEP 3 Tray Location (Figure 13.5)

Identify location of tray within the chassis.
Trays come pre-labeled 01 to 12 from the bottom
to the top of the chassis.

Figure 13.6
Step 4: Module Location | Drawing ZA-3665

STEP 5 Documentation (Figure 13.7)

Identify remote location and determine code to be printed
following Figure 13.7. It should only be necessary to print
the remote location. Adhesive labels may be affixed to the
label card on the inside of the front door.

06
12N

4
- AJ0

12N-AJ

04-28

TO 12N-

BK09

-40 T-08

:A1-1

PRINTED LABEL RECORDS

REMOTE TERMINATION OF
TRUNK CABLE

12N-AJ04-28

TO 12N-BK09-40 T-08:A1-12

12N

4
- AJ0

Figure 13.5
Step 3: Tray Location | Drawing ZA-3664

Figure 13.7
Step 5: Documentation | Drawing ZA-3666

Chapter Thirteen: Labeling | LAN-1160-EN | Page 66

SECTION

Glossary
The following are terms used within this guide. These terms are defined within the context of the optical fiber industry.

Anaerobic-Cure Connector

Air-blown fiber. An alternate fiber provisioning scheme

which requires pre-provisioning plastic tubes to all possible
service locations. Fiber is later selectively installed to service locations. ABF is not compliant to TIA-568 standards
and is not accommodated by typical building construction
practices.

A field-installable connector with a polymer epoxy that

hardens when combined with an activating agent.

Analog
A communications format that uses continuous physical
variables such as voltage amplitude or frequency variations
to transmit information.

Acceptance Cone
ANSI

Access Jumper

Aramid Yarn

A length of fiber placed between the Optical Time Domain

Reflectometer (OTDR) and an event along a fiber that is to
be measured. This allows the user to see fiber on both sides
of the event so that its loss can be estimated. Length must
be significantly greater than the OTDR attenuation dead
zone. A mechanical media termination device designed to
align and join fiber optic connectors; often referred to as a
coupling, bulkhead or interconnect sleeve.

Strength elements that contribute cable tensile strength,

support and additional protection of the optical fiber
bundles.

American National Standard Institute

Arbitrated Loop
Fibre Channel topology in which devices are connected
in a loop; a token is used to control access.

Armor
Adapter

Additional protective element beneath the cable outer

jacket used to provide protection against severe outdoor
environments and gnawing rodents. It is usually made of
plastic-coated steel and it may be corrugated for flexibility.

AHJ

As-Built Test

Authority having jurisdiction. The organization, office

and/or individual responsible for approving equipment,
an installation, or a procedure. Note: the phrase authority
having jurisdiction is used in a broad manner since
jurisdictions and approval agencies vary as do their
responsibilities.

Test performed after all installations (cable placement,

splicing, connectorization) have been completed, to show
the system performs to specifications; usually comprised
of OTDR and end-to-end attenuation tests.

ALTOS Cable
Corning Cable Systems stranded loose-tube cable in which
buffer tubes contain two or more fibers and which uses
innovative waterblocking technology for craft-friendliness.

ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode)

A network communications protocol standard with
a digital transmission switching format; designed for
scalable bandwidth and multimedia voice, data and
video transmission.

Attenuation
Amplitude modulation. An analog signal with a constant
frequency and varying amplitude.

The decrease in magnitude of signal power transmitted

between points; a term used for expressing the total loss
of an optical system, normally measured in decibels (dB)
at a specific wavelength.

Glossary | LAN-1160-EN | Page 67

INFORMATION AND TOOLS

AM

PERFORMANCE METRICS AND ADMINISTRATION

A mechanical media termination device designed to align

and join optical fiber connectors; it is often referred to as a
coupling or interconnect sleeve.

DEPLOYING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

An imaginary cone that defines the angle with which an

optical fiber will accept incoming light.

DESIGNING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

ABF

INTRODUCTION TO DATA CENTERS

Information and Tools

Attenuation Coefficient

Bend-Radius (Fiber)

The rate of optical power loss with respect to distance

along the fiber, usually measured in decibels per kilometer
(dB/km) at a specific wavelength; the lower the number,
the better the fibers attenuation. Typical multimode wavelengths are 850 and 1300 nanometers (nm); single-mode
wavelengths are 1310 and 1550 nm. Note: When specifying
attenuation, it is important to note the value is maximum.

Radius a fiber can bend before the risk of breakage or

increase in attenuation. See Cable Bend-Radius.

Broadband
Denotes transmission facilities capable of handling a
wide range of frequencies simultaneously, thus permitting
multiple channels in communications systems. It is
normally associated with CATV systems.

Backbone (Data Center)

Provides interconnection between the main distribution
area, the horizontal distribution area and entrance facilities.

Backbone Cabling (LAN)

The portion of premises telecommunications cabling that
provides connections between telecommunications closets,
equipment rooms and entrance facilities. The backbone
cabling consists of the transmission media (optical fiber
cable or copper twisted-pair), main and intermediate
cross-connects, and terminations for the horizontal crossconnect, equipment rooms, and entrance facilities. The
backbone cabling can further be classified as interbuilding
backbone (cabling between buildings) or intrabuilding
backbone (cabling within a building).

Buffering
(1) A protective material extruded directly or around
the coated fiber to protect it from the environment
(also known as tight-buffered); (2) extruding a tube around
colored fiber to allow isolation of the fiber from stresses
in the cable (also known as buffer tubes).

Buffer Tubes
Extruded cylindrical tubes covering optical fiber(s) used for
protection and isolation. See Loose Tube.

Bulkhead
See Adapter.

Bundle
Backscatter
The portion of light that is scattered by the structure of
the glass and travels back toward the source. The OTDR
uses this scattered light to make measurements.

Many individual fibers contained within a single jacket or

buffer tube. Also, a group of buffered fibers distinguished
in some fashion from another group in the same cable core.

BW
Bandwidth

Bandwidth

Measure of the information-carrying capacity of an optical

fiber usually measured in MHzkm at a specific wavelength. The higher the bandwidth, the better the fiber.

Byte
A sequence of 8 bits.

Note: This term is often used to specify the normalized modal bandwidth of a
multimode fiber.

Cabinet

Data center backbone and horizontal cables that are

terminated on each end with a 2-fiber duplex connector.

A physical enclosure for rack-mountable equipment.

Cable, optical fibers and other material(s) assembled
to provide mechanical and environmental protection
for the fibers.

Base-12 Cabling Systems

Cable Assembly

Data center backbone and horizontal cables that are

terminated on each end with a 12-fiber MPO connector.

Optical fiber cable with connectors installed on one or

both ends. Cable assemblies are generally used for interconnection of optical fiber cable systems and opto-electronic equipment. If connectors are attached to only one
end of a cable, it is known as a pigtail. If connectors are
attached to both ends of a low-fiber-count cable, it is
known as a jumper or patch cord.

Base-2 Cabling Systems

Base-24 Cabling Systems

Data center backbone and horizontal cables that are
terminated on each end with a 24-fiber MPO connector.

Glossary | LAN-1160-EN | Page 68

Chromatic Dispersion

Cable bend-radius during installation is the smallest radius

bend for a cable experiencing a tensile load. Cable bendradius installed is the smallest diameter bend for a cable
that is under no tensile load.

Signal dispersion caused by light traveling at multiple

wavelengths which arrive at the detector at different times.

CJP
Closet jumper-management panel

CamSplice Mechanical Splice

Cladding

Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision

Detection (SMA/CD)

The material surrounding the core of an optical fiber.

The cladding must have a lower index of refraction to
keep the light in the core.

This is the communication scheme used in a shared

Ethernet network.

Class of Service

Cascade

The four classes include connection oriented, connectionless, datagram and fractional bandwidth services.

An architecture in which switches are daisy-chained

together. Frames are passed from switch to switch until
the port for the destination device is reached.

Coating
A material applied to a fiber during the manufacturing
process to protect it from the environment and handling.

CATV
Coaxial Cable

CCH
Closet connector housing

A central conductor surrounded by an insulator, which in

turn is surrounded by a tubular outer conductor, which is
covered by more insulant; also called coax cable.

CCS

Collision

Closet connector and splice housing

The result when two users attempt to send data simultaneously on a shared media network. Data is corrupted and
both devices must retransmit their information.

CDF
Closet distribution frame

Composite Cable
Central Member

A cable containing both fiber and copper media.

Computer Room
An architectural space to accommodate data
processing equipment.

Centralized Cabling

Conduit

A cabling topology used with centralized electronics connecting the optical horizontal cabling with intrabuilding
backbone cabling passively in the telecommunications
closet or main cross-connect.

Pipe or tubing through which cables can be pulled

or housed.

Channel

A device used to terminate an optical fiber cable with

connectors and adapters providing an administration
point for cross-connecting between cabling segments
or interconnecting to electronic equipment.

Glossary | LAN-1160-EN | Page 69

INFORMATION AND TOOLS

A dedicated path between two devices characterized by

very high data rates and very low overhead; it is typically
hardware intensive and addresses system data as part of
the setup information.

Connecting Hardware

PERFORMANCE METRICS AND ADMINISTRATION

The center component of a stranded loose tube cable. It

serves as an anti-buckling element to resist temperatureinduced stresses. The central member material is steel,
fiberglass or glass-reinforced plastic (GRP).

DEPLOYING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Community access television

DESIGNING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Corning Cable Systems non-adhesive mechanical splice.

INTRODUCTION TO DATA CENTERS

Cable Bend-Radius

Connector

Cut-Off Wavelength

A mechanical device used to align and join two fibers

together to provide a means for attaching to and
de-coupling from a transmitter, receiver or another fiber.
Commonly used connectors include the MT-RJ, SC,
ST Compatible and LC connectors.

The wavelength below which a single-mode fiber will

support more than one mode of light.

Connector Module

Data Center

A connector panel with a pre-installed cable assembly

(or assemblies) on the back plane, which can be spliced to
backbone cable fibers (designed for use with patch panels).

A building or portion of a building whose primary function

is to house a computer room and its support areas.

CWDM
Coarse wavelength division multiplexing

dB
Connector Panel

See Decibel.

A panel insert designed for use with patch panel housings.

Connector panels often contain pre-installed adapters.

Dead Zone

The central region of an optical fiber through which light

is transmitted.

Attenuation dead zone is the distance after a reflective

event at which the trace line has returned to within 0.5 dB
of the actual backscatter line. It is caused by the laser pulse
reflecting as it passes through the connection or event.

Coupling

Decibel

See Adapter.

The unit for measuring the relative strength of light signals

expressed as dB. It is equal to one-tenth the common
logarithm of the ratio of the two power levels. It is expressed
in dBm when a power level is compared to 1 milliwatt.

Core

Cross-Connect
Incoming and outgoing fibers terminated in adapter sleeves
or the backplane of the patch panel. Single-fiber jumpers,
which are installed on the front plane, complete the circuits.

Cross-Connect Switch
A fabric switch that connects only to other switches (I/O).

CSH
Closet splice housing

Composite Second-Order Beat (CSO)

A clustering of second-order beats 1.25 MHz above
the visual carriers in CATV systems.

Composite Triple Beat (CTB)

A clustering of third-order distortion products around
the visual carriers in CATV systems.

Corning ClearCurve Multimode Optical Fiber

The world's first laser-optimized multimode fiber to
withstand tight bends at or below 10 mm radius with
substantially less signal loss than traditional multimode
fiber. This new fiber allows designers, installers and
operators of enterprise networks - including local area
networks, data centers and industrial networks - to deploy
optical fiber in more places by delivering all of the bandwidth benefits of optical fiber in a package that is easier
to handle and install than copper.

Demarcation Point
A point where the operational control or ownership
changes.

Dielectric
Non-metallic electrically non-conductive. Glass fibers
are considered dielectric. A dielectric cable contains no
metallic components.

Digital
A data format that uses discrete physical levels to
transmit information.

Dispersion
The broadening of light pulses along a length of the fiber.
Two major types are (1) modal dispersion caused by different optical path lengths in a multimode fiber; (2) chromatic dispersion which is the sum of material dispersion and
waveguide dispersion in single-mode fiber. Material dispersion is pulse spread caused by different index of refraction for light of various wavelengths in a waveguide material. Waveguide dispersion is caused by light traveling at
different speeds in the core and cladding of single-mode
fibers with the spreading of a light pulse as it travels down
a fiber. The higher the dispersion, the lower the maximum
transmission frequency.

Glossary | LAN-1160-EN | Page 70

Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)

Single-mode fiber that has a zero dispersion wavelength

in the 1500 nm region.

Radiated or conducted electromagnetic energy that has

an undesirable effect on electronic equipment or signal
transmissions.

Distributed Feedback Laser (DFB)

Edge-emitting laser typically used for 1310 nm/1550 nm
operation.

End-to-End Test

Documentation

Entrance Facility

The methodical recording of test and physical data for a

fiber system, including OTDR traces, end-to-end losses,
connector and splice losses, route diagrams, meter/foot
marks such that a complete record is produced of the
active condition of the completed system.

An entrance to a building for both public and private

network service cables including the entrance point at
the building wall and continuing to the equipment room
or space.

DMD

Entrance Room (ER)

DSP
Digital signal processing

A space in which the joining of interbuilding or

intrabuilding telecommunications backbone facilities
takes place.

DTE

Duplex Connector
Two connectors mechanically joined side by side;
terminating two separate strands of fiber.

Equipment Room
A centralized space for telecommunications equipment
that serves the occupants of a building. An equipment
room is considered distinct from a telecommunications
closet because of the nature or complexity of the
equipment.

EDA
Equipment distribution area. The computer room space
occupied by equipment racks or cabinets.

EDC
Environmental Distribution Center

An IEEE network protocol standard for a 10 Mb/s local

area network. The IEEE 802.3 standard defines the
various requirements and speeds of Ethernet that include
10 Mb/s, 100 Mb/s, 1000 Mb/s (1 Gb/s) and 10 Gb/s
Ethernet. Also see Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet and
10 Gigabit Ethernet.

See Pretium EDGE

Event
Effective Modal Bandwidth (EMB)
The system modal bandwidth observed in a link for a
specific fiber with a specific source.

Any component, such as connectors, splices, faults etc.

that is displayed on an OTDR trace.

Event Search
Effective Modal Bandwidth, Calculated (EMBc)
It predicts source fiber performance by integrating the
fundamental properties of light sources with the multimode fibers modal structure ensuring that the effective
modal bandwidth (EMB) of a fiber will meet the 10 Gb/s
requirement of 2000 MHzkm with any conforming laser.

An OTDRs ability to use an algorithm to search,

automatically, for all events in the cable, reporting their
location and loss.

Fabric

Glossary | LAN-1160-EN | Page 71

INFORMATION AND TOOLS

Topology using switches to connect one or multiple

devices to other devices that are part of the network.

PERFORMANCE METRICS AND ADMINISTRATION

EDGE

Ethernet

DEPLOYING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Data terminal equipment

DESIGNING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Differential modal delay

Measurement of optical power loss using a source and

meter which transmits into one end of the fiber and
receives at the other end; typically from one patch panel
to another.

INTRODUCTION TO DATA CENTERS

Dispersion-Shifted Fiber

Fan-Out

FM

Corning Cable Systems tight-buffered breakout-style

multi-fiber cable designed for ease of connectorization
and rugged applications for interbuilding or intrabuilding
requirements.

Frequency modulation

FOTP
Fiber optic test procedures; defined in TIA/EIA
Publication Series 455.

Fast Ethernet
Ethernet at 100 Mb/s transmission rate. This is defined by
the IEEE 802.3 standard.

FP

FCC

Frame

Federal Communications Commission

The smallest subset of data; frames make up sequences.

FCoE

Fresnel Reflection Losses

Transmission method in which the Fibre Channel frame

is encapsulated into an Ethernet frame at the server.

Reflection losses that are incurred at the input and output

of optical fibers due to the differences in refraction index
between the core glass and immersion medium.

Fabry perot (laser)

Ferrule
A mechanical component, generally a rigid ceramic tube,
used to protect and align a fiber in a connector.

FTTx

Thin filament of glass; an optical waveguide consisting of a

core and a cladding that is capable of carrying information
in the form of light.

Fiber to the x. A growing practice of provisioning

individual subscribers with 100 percent optical fiber from
the POP to the premises. The parity cost of fiber relative
to copper plant and its extraordinary bandwidth advantage
have made FTTx economically attractive in many
applications.

Fiber Bend-Radius

Full-Duplex

Minimum radius a fiber can bend without experiencing

a reduction in optical fiber reliability.

Capable of transmitting and receiving over the same

channel simultaneously. In pure digital networks, this is
achieved with two optical fibers.

Fiber

Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI)

A standard for a 100 Mb/s fiber optic local area network.

Functional Levels

Fiber Identifier

The model (consisting of five levels) that defines Fibre

Channel operation. These levels include the physical media,
encoding scheme, frame layout and services mapping.

A device that bends a fiber (slightly) so that enough light

leaks out that a detection can determine the presence of
traffic and its direction, as well as recognize the presence
of a test tone (usually 2 kHz).

Fusing
The actual operation of joining fibers together by fusion
or by melting.

Fiber Optics
Light transmission through optical fibers for communication or signaling.

Fibre Channel
Connecting protocol commonly used in data centers to
link servers to storage arrays. Fibre Channel mandates
reliable delivery of data. Common data rates are 1 Gb/s,
2 Gb/s, 4 Gb/s, 8Gb/s and 10 Gb/s.

Fusion Splice
A permanent joint produced by the application of localized
heat sufficient to fuse the ends of two optical fibers,
forming a continuous single-light path.

FZB
Fiber zone box

Field-Installable Connector
An optical connector that can be assembled in the field
(at the job site) and installed by hand.

Glossary | LAN-1160-EN | Page 72

Horizontal Cross-Connect (HC)

A splice loss measurement in which the trace appears to go

up (more power) and there appears to be a gain, instead of
a loss; typical in cases where fiber of differing manufacturers is spliced together. Testing from the opposite direction
usually produces a corresponding loss equal to the power
gain measured from the other direction.

The horizontal cross-connect (HC) is where the building

backbone and horizontal cabling meet in the telecommunications room (TR).

Horizontal Distribution Area (HDA)

A space in a computer room where a horizontal
cross-connect is located.

GbE
See Gigabit Ethernet.

Housing

An echo caused by highly reflective components (connectors) in which light is reflected back from the connection,
strikes another connection, which reflects it back out into
the fiber, only to be reflected back to the OTDR again.

Hybrid Cable
A fiber optic cable containing two or more different types
of fiber, such as 62.5 m multimode and single-mode.

ICH
Gigabit Ethernet

Industrial connector housing

A 1000 Mb/s transmission rate. This is defined by the

IEEE 802.3 standard.

IEC
International Electrotechnical Commission

Gigahertz (GHz)
IEEE

Graded-Index

Index-Matching Gel

Multimode fiber design in which the refractive index

of the core is lower toward the outside of the fiber core
and higher toward the center of the core, thus providing
higher bandwidth capabilities.

A gel with an index of refraction close to that of the optical

fiber used to reduce reflections caused by refractive-index
differences between glass and air.

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Index of Refraction
Half-Duplex

Insertion Loss
See Loss

Heat-Cure Connector

Intelligent Transportation System (ITS)

A field-installable connector with a polymer epoxy that

hardens when exposed to heat.

A combination of electronics, telecommunications and

information technology to the transportation sector for
improving safety and travel times on the transportation
system. Intelligent transportation systems collect,
store, process and distribute information relating to
the movement of people and goods.

Horizontal Cabling

Interbuilding Backbone
The portion of the backbone cabling between buildings.
See Backbone Cabling.

Interconnect Sleeve
See Adapter.

Glossary | LAN-1160-EN | Page 73

INFORMATION AND TOOLS

That portion of the LAN that provides connectivity

between the horizontal cross-connect and the work-area
telecommunications outlet. In the data center, the
horizontal cabling provides connectivity between the
main distribution area/horizontal distribution area to
the equipment distribution area. The horizontal cabling
consists of transmission media, the outlet, the terminations
of the horizontal cables and horizontal cross-connect.

PERFORMANCE METRICS AND ADMINISTRATION

The transmission of data in both directions, but only one

direction at a time. For example, two-way radio (push-totalk phones) use half-duplex communications. When one
party speaks, the other party listens.

The ratio of light velocity in a vacuum to its velocity in

a given transmission medium.

DEPLOYING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

A unit of frequency that is equal to one billion cycles

per second.

DESIGNING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

An enclosure, usually metallic, for splicing or termination.

Ghost

INTRODUCTION TO DATA CENTERS

Gainer

Intermediate Cross-Connect (IC)

Laser

A secondary cross-connect in the backbone cabling

used to mechanically terminate and administer backbone
cabling between the main cross-connect and horizontal
cross-connect.

Light amplification by the simulated emission of radiation.

A device that causes a uniform and coherent light that is
very different from an ordinary light bulb. Many lasers
deliver in an almost perfectly parallel beam (collimated)
that is very pure, approaching a single wavelength. Laser
light can be focused down a tiny spot as small as a single
wavelength.

International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

An organization that sets international standards, founded
in 1946.

Latency
Intrabuilding Backbone
The portion of the backbone cabling within a building.
See Backbone Cabling.

The time delay that frames experience in traversing the

network, both relative to absolute time and each other.
Voice and video are very sensitive to latency, whereas data
generally is not very sensitive to latency.

I/O Switch
A fabric switch that connects to both devices
(input and output) and cross-connect switches.

ITU
International Telecommunications Union

Least Squares Analysis (LSA)

An OTDR loss measurement made using linear regression
to determine the slope of the trace on each side of an event
and extrapolate this slope to the location of the event,
determining the vertical difference at that point, which
is the loss measurement.

JPEG
Joint picture expert group

Lens Profile Alignment Systems (LPAS)

Jumper

A method of fusion splicing in which the fibers are aligned

based on the profile or the fiber. This method aligns the
cladding of the fiber, not the fiber cores.

Optical fiber cable that has connectors installed on both

ends and used at cross-connects and at end equipment to
facilitate patching. See Cable Assembly.

Jumper Management
A means of providing an orderly administration of fibers.
This is essential in areas of high density and should provide
a means of routing single-mode and multimode fibers horizontally, vertically, and front to back in rack installations.

Light-Emitting Diode (LED)

A display and lighting technology used in almost every
electrical and electronic product on the market, from a
tiny on/off light to digital readouts, flashlights, traffic
lights and perimeter lighting. LEDs are commonly used
in digital transmission sources for speeds 622 Mb/s.

Link
Kilometer (km)
One thousand meters, or approximately 3,281 ft.
The kilometer is a standard unit of length measurement
in fiber optics. Conversion is 1 ft = 0.3048 m.

kpsi
A unit of force per area expressed in thousands of pounds
per square inch; usually used as the specification for fiber
proof test, e.g., 100 kpsi.

LANscape Solutions
The complete tip-to-tip approach to fiber cabling solutions
for private networks that consists of a comprehensive set
of integrated products, services and support to ensure
a successful and efficient fiber network that will serve as
a stable communications infrastructure for years to come.

A telecommunications circuit between any two telecommunications devices, not including the equipment connector.

Local Area Network (LAN)

A geographically limited communications network
intended for the local transport of voice, data and video;
often referred to as a customer premises network.

Local Injection and Detection (LID)

A method of fusion splicing in which a light is injected
into the core of one fiber and sensed in the other.
The fibers are aligned until the maximum amount of
light passes between them and they are fused together.

Logical vs. Physical Toplogy

A logical topology is how devices appear connected to the
user. A physical topology is how they are actually interconnected with wires and cables.

Glossary | LAN-1160-EN | Page 74

Mesh Network

Laser-optimized 50/125 m multimode fiber where the

bandwidth is optimized at 850 nm wavelength in support
of 1 Gb/s operation.

A communications network in which there are at least two

pathways to each node. A fully meshed network means
that every node has a direct connection to every other
node, which is a very elaborate and expensive architecture.
Most mesh networks are partially meshed and require
traversing nodes to go from each one to every other.

Loose Tube Cable

Type of cable design whereby colored fibers are encased
in buffer tubes.

Meter
Device to measure optical power level (dBm).

Reduction in optical power due to adsorption, scattering

and/or reflection.

Meter/Foot Marks

MACs

The distance markings stamped on the cable jacket by the

factory in either m or ft.

Acronym for moves, adds and changes. Usually associated

with data centers.

Micrometer (m)

Main Cross-Connect (MC)

One millionth of a meter; 10-6 m; typically used to express

the geometric dimension of fibers, e.g., 62.5 m.

Mode
A term used to describe an independent stable light path
in a fiber, as in multimode or single-mode.

Mode Conditioner
Main Distribution Area (MDA)
The space in a computer room where the main
cross-connect is located.

The practice of wrapping a multimode fiber around a

mandrel for the purpose of causing light in the cladding
(cladding modes) to be lost, as well as to facilitate a more
even distribution of light across the core.

Mass Splicing
Joining two to 12 fibers simultaneously by fusing the
fibers together.

Mode Field Diameter (MFD)

The area of a single-mode fiber in which light actually
travels. This is typically larger than the core of the fiber.

Material Dispersion
Modulation

MDPE

Coding of information onto the carrier frequency.

This includes amplitude, frequency or phase modulation
techniques.

Medium density polyethylene; a type of plastic material,

used as outside plant, commonly cable jackets.

Motion Pictures Experts Group (MPEG)

An ISO/ITU standard for compressing video.

Mechanical Splicing
MTP Connector

Media (Telecommunications)

Multi-fiber Cable

Wire, cable, or conductors used for telecommunications.

An optical fiber cable that contains two or more fibers.

Megahertz (MHz)

Multimode Fiber

A unit of frequency that is equal to one million cycles

per second.

An optical waveguide in which light travels in multiple

modes. Typical core/cladding sizes (measured in
micrometers) are 62.5/125 and 50/125.

MTP is a registered trademark of USConec, Ltd. and

refers to an enhanced MPO-style connector containing
a linear array of 12F.

Glossary | LAN-1160-EN | Page 75

INFORMATION AND TOOLS

Joining two fibers together by permanent or temporary

mechanical means (vs. fusion splicing or connectors) to
enable a continuous signal. The CamSplice Mechanical
Splice is a good example.

PERFORMANCE METRICS AND ADMINISTRATION

Pulse dispersion caused by the variation in the speed

of light with wavelength.

DEPLOYING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

The centralized portion of the backbone cabling used

to mechanically terminate and administer the backbone
cabling, providing connectivity between equipment rooms,
entrance facilities, horizontal cross-connects and intermediate cross-connects.

DESIGNING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Loss

INTRODUCTION TO DATA CENTERS

LOMMF

Multiplex

Optical Skew

Combining two or more signals that can be individually

recovered into a single bit stream.

The difference in propagation time between multi-fibers

of a parallel transmission system.

Multipoint

Optical Waveguide

Refers to a communications line (network) that provides a

path from one location to many.

See Fiber.

Open Systems Interconnection (OSI)

Multi-Stage
An architecture in which I/O and cross-connect switches
are used to increase fabric bandwidth, throughput and
resilience.

Refers to a seven-layered model that serves as a guideline

for creating and implementing network standards, devices
and Internet working schemes to allow communication
between multiple network devices.

Multi-Trunking

OSE

Increasing available bandwidth by connecting more than

one switched port to a single device.

Optical splice enclosure

Parallel Optic Transmission

Multiuser Telecommunications Outlet
A telecommunications outlet used to serve more than
one work area, typically used in open-systems furniture
applications.

The simultaneous transmission of related signal elements

over two or more separate fibers. Parallel optics relies on
spatial division multiplexing, in which a signal is spatially
divided among multiple fibers and simultaneously
transmitted across those fibers.

National Electrical Code (NEC)

Patch Panel

Provides practical safeguarding of persons and property

from hazards arising from the use of electricity. This code
is updated by the NEC every three years.

A collection of connector panels located in a common

housing.

NIC

PBX

Network interface card

Private branch exchange. A private telecommunications

switching system.

OFL
Over filled launch, typical of LED source systems.

PCH
Pretium Connector housing

On-the-Reel Test
Test of a new reel of cable prior to installation to verify
length and condition of the fiber.

Physical Mesh
Each switch is connected directly to each of the other
switches on the network.

Optical Fiber
See Fiber.

Physical Ring

Optical Hardware

A cable layout in which each node is connected to two adjacent nodes. There is not a central point of cable termination.

Housings designed to facilitate splicing and/or termination

of optical fiber cable.

Physical Star

Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR)

A cable layout in which all cables route back to a central

location, directly or through other consolidation points.

An instrument that measures the transmission characteristics

of optical fiber by sending a series of short pulses of light
down the fiber and providing a graphic representation of
the backscattered light.

Pigtail
Optical fiber cable that has connectors installed on one
end. See Cable Assembly.

Glossary | LAN-1160-EN | Page 76

Preconnectorized Assembly

A semiconductor device used to convert optical signals

to electrical signals in a receiver.

A fiber optic cable that has been terminated by the

manufacturer. The terminations can be housed in a
protective pulling grip allowing inner duct installation.
The terminations can also be pre-installed in hardware.

Plenum
An air-handling space such as that found above drop-ceiling
tiles or in raised floors; also, a fire code rating for indoor
cable suitable for use in plenum spaces.

Prefusing
A low-current electric arc used to clean the fiber end prior
to fusion splicing.

Plug & Play Universal Systems

PMD

Pretium EDGE
A high-density preterminated optical cabling solution
that simplifies installation and improves performance
in the data center environment.

Pretium Solutions
A subset of Corning Cable Systems LANscape Solutions,
the Pretium product solutions offers enhanced performance or handling characteristics.

Physical media dependent

PSTN
Public switched telephone network

Refers to a communications line that provides a path from

one location to another (point A to point B).

Pulse Width

Polarity
Fiber positioning convention that maintains the transmit
and receive signals over the entire link.

The time duration of a laser pulse emitted by the OTDR;

ranges from a few nanoseconds to 20 microseconds,
depending on model. Short pulses provide higher resolution for short cables, whereas longer pulses provide power
needed to test long distance cables.

Polyethylene (PE)
A type of plastic material used for outside plant cable jackets.

Quality of Service (QoS)

Describes a networks ability to send time-dependent data.

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

Rack
Vertical support for equipment typically with 1.75-in of
space between mounting holes. Standard rack sizes are
19-in and 23-in wide.

Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF)

A type of material used for cable jacketing, typically used
in plenum-rated cables.

Rack Space
A unit of measure of 1.75-in for equipment space in a rack.
Many housings are measured in rack space.

PoE
Receiver

Port

Reference

The transmit/receive connection that is found within a node.

The power level of the source as measured through a

test jumper that will be connected to a fiber for testing.
Measurements through the system fiber are compared to
this value and the difference is the system loss.

An electronic package that converts optical signals to

electrical signals.

Glossary | LAN-1160-EN | Page 77

INFORMATION AND TOOLS

Technology that supplies power and communication to a

remote device over the same cable, thus eliminating the
need for power cords.

PERFORMANCE METRICS AND ADMINISTRATION

A common plastic used for insulating and jacketing many

inside and indoor/outdoor cable products; typically used in
flame-retardant cables.

DEPLOYING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Point-to-Point (P2P)

DESIGNING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

A fiber optic preterminated cabling system designed for

the private networks environment. This innovative system
reduces installation time and cost, for both end users and
contractors, by offering factory-terminated cables and
polarity management. The modular design guarantees
compatibility, flexibility and system performance for all
optical connection spans.

INTRODUCTION TO DATA CENTERS

PIN Diode

Reflectance

Router

The ratio of reflected power to incident power at a

connector junction or other component or device, usually
measured in decibels and typically stated as a negative
value, e.g., -30 dB. The terms return loss, back reflection
and reflectivity are also used synonymously to describe
device reflections, but are stated as positive values.

Provides connection over the OSI network layer (layer 3)

based on the IP address.

Twice the time required for a packet to travel across

a network.

Reflection

Scattering

Light which is reflected whenever there is a difference

in media and the index of refraction, such as a connector
interface, where air (different index) is present, or the end
of a fiber, where glass meets air.

The loss of signal power (light) from the fiber core

caused by impurities or changes in the index of refraction
of the fiber.

Round-Trip Delay (RTD)

SCF
Repeater

Splice closure family

A device used to regenerate an optical signal to allow an

increase in the system length.

Sequence
One or more subsets of an exchange.

Resilience
Serial Optic Transmission

A network's ability to preserve in the presence of failures.

Example: The mesh architecture offers multiple paths
between switches, so if a switch fails, only the users on
that switch are out of operation; all other users are still
functional.

The sequential transmission of signal elements of a data

group. The characters are transmitted in a sequence over
a single fiber, rather than simultaneously over two or more
fibers, as in parallel transmission.

Restricted Mode Launch (RML) Bandwidth

Signature Trace

A test method for measuring the laser bandwidth of multimode fibers; detailed in TIA/EIA-455-204 (FOTP-204).
Method is used to simulate launch characteristics of 1 GbE
systems.

An OTDR trace that is scaled so the entire fiber run is

visible on the graph; traces meant to document a fiber are
typically set up and saved/printed in this fashion.

Simplex Connector
Return Loss

Single connector terminating a single strand of fiber.

See Reflectance.

Single-Mode Fiber (SMF)

RFI
Radio frequency interference

An optical waveguide (or fiber) in which the signal travels

in only one mode. The fiber has a small mode field
diameter, typically around 9 m.

RH
Relative humidity

SNMP
Simple network management protocol

RIO
Ruggedized information outlet

SONET
Synchronous optical network

Riser
Pathway for indoor cables that passes between floors,
normally a vertical shaft or space; also, a fire-code rating
for indoor cable suitable for use in riser spaces.

Source
Stabilized light-emitting device (LED or Laser) used with
a meter to measure attenuation.

Route Diagram
A schematic diagram showing the physical location/layout
of the fiber run and the location of splices and termination
points.

Glossary | LAN-1160-EN | Page 78

Super Absorbent Polymer (SAP)

A method used to increase the data rate capacity between

two points by transmitting data over multiple different
channels simultaneously. A single input signal is broken
into many segments, each having very short duration.
Each segment is transmitted over a separate physical channel to the receive end. At the receive end, the segments are
combined back in the correct order into a single data string.

Hydrophilic polyacrylates (water absorbing plastics, baby

diaper technology) that are used in state-of-the-art waterblocked cables. These plastics are adhered to tapes or yarns
in a cable to replace 100-year-old grease waterblocking
technology.

SPH

An enclosed space for housing telecommunications

equipment, cable terminations and cross-connects.
The TR is the recognized cross-connect between the
backbone and horizontal cabling.

Splice Closure
A container used to house cable splice points and organize
and protect splice trays; typically used in outside plant
environments.

Termination
A method of preparing a fiber end for quick connection
to another fiber or device; involves use of a fiber optic
connector.

Splice Trays
Test Jumper
A short, 2-3 m jumper used with meter/source for both
referencing as well as conveniently connecting to each
connector in a patch panel.

Through Splice
Splicing
Joining of bare fiber ends to one another. See Fusion
Splice and Mechanical Splicing.

A splice used to join similar cables. This can be done to

extend the length of a cable or distribute fiber circuits to
smaller count cables.

Star Toplogy

TIA

A topology in which telecommunications cables are

distributed from a central point.

Telecommunications Industry Association

Tight-Buffered Cable
Step Index

Type of cable construction in which each glass fiber is

tightly buffered by a protective thermoplastic coating
to a diameter of 900 m, providing ease of handling and
connectorization.

Storage Area Network (SAN)

Topology

A high-speed network that uses the Fibre Channel

transmission protocol to interconnect different kinds
of data storage devices with associated data servers on
behalf of a larger network of users.

The physical or logical arrangement of a telecommunications

system i.e. Star, Ring or Mesh.

STP
Shielded twisted-pair

Trace
The OTDRs graphical representation of a fiber which
displays relative power on the vertical and distance on
the horizontal scales.

Transition Splice

Glossary | LAN-1160-EN | Page 79

INFORMATION AND TOOLS

A splice, usually in the building entrance, to join

flame-rated and non-flame-rated cables together.

PERFORMANCE METRICS AND ADMINISTRATION

A fiber that has a constant index of refraction for the

cladding as well as the core. It is called step index because
the index of refraction profile resembles a step.

DEPLOYING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Splice trays are required in order to protect, store and

organize fibers and splices at splice points. A splice tray is
typically a thin, rectangular sheet metal or plastic tray base
with a splice organizer, which has a removable sheet metal
or plastic cover.

DESIGNING THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Single-panel housing

Telecommunications Room (TR)

INTRODUCTION TO DATA CENTERS

Space Division Multiplexing

Transmission Control Protocol/Internet

Protocol (TCP/IP)

VoIP
Voice over Internet protocol

Four-layer communication protocol developed by the

U.S. Government.

Waveguide Dispersion

Transmitter

Dispersion caused by light traveling in the cladding of the

single-mode fiber.

An electronic device used to convert an electrical information signal to a corresponding optical signal for transmission
by fiber. Transmitters are typically light emitting diodes
(LEDs), VCSELs or laser diodes.

The distance between two successive points of an electromagnetic waveform, usually measured in nanometers (nm).

UDP

WCH

User datagram protocol

Wall-mountable connector housing

Ultraviolet Cure Connector

WCH-SSH

A field-installable connector with a polymer epoxy that

hardens when exposed to ultraviolet light.

WCH slack storage housing (mounts behind the WCH)

Wavelength

WDM
UniCam Connector
Corning Cable Systems field-installable connector that
requires no epoxy and no polishing.

Wavelength division multiplexing. The simultaneous

transmission of two or more wavelengths of light on
a single fiber.

Uplink Port

WIC

A port on a network hub or switch that is used to connect

to other hubs and switches rather than an end station.

Wall-mountable interconnect center

WMO
UTP

Workstation multimedia outlet

Unshielded twisted-pair

Work Area Telecommunications Outlet

Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL)
Vertical cavity surface emitting laser. Pronounced vixel,
VCSEL is a type of laser diode that emits light from its
surface rather than its edge. A VCSELs circular beam is
easy to couple with a fiber and due to its surface-emission
architecture, can be tested on the wafer. VCSELs are also
noted for their excellent power efficiency and durability.

A connecting device located in a work area at which the

horizontal cabling terminates and provides connectivity
for work area patch cords.

WSH
Wall-mountable splice housing

Zone Distribution Area (ZDA)

Visual Fault Locator (VFL)
A visible Class II red light laser, typically 630-670 nm,
which is used to check short cables such as pigtails and
jumpers for breaks by causing the break to glow red.

A space in a computer room where a zone outlet or a

consolidation point is located.

Zero Dispersion Wavelength

Wavelength at which the chromatic dispersion of an
optical fiber is zero.

Glossary | LAN-1160-EN | Page 80

Corning Cable Systems LLC PO Box 489 Hickory, NC 28603-0489 USA

800-743-2675 FAX: 828-325-5060 International: +1-828-901-5000 www.corning.com/cablesystems

Corning Cable Systems reserves the right to improve, enhance and modify the features and specifications of Corning Cable Systems products without prior notification. ALTOS, LANscape,
Pretium and UniCam are registered trademarks of Corning Cable Systems Brands, Inc. CamSplice, LID-SYSTEM, Plug & Play and Pretium EDGE are trademarks of Corning Cable
Systems Brands, Inc. ClearCurve and Corning are registered trademarks of Corning Incorporated. MTP is a registered trademark of USConec, Ltd. All other trademarks are the properties
of their respective owners. Corning Cable Systems is ISO 9001 certified. 2010 Corning Cable Systems. All rights reserved. Published in the USA. LAN-1160-EN / November 2010