Guide

Types of Fiber

Single Mode OS2 Fiber Cable


 

Single-mode fiber optic cable excels at long-distance communication and featured an Yellow jacket. Single-mode cable is designed to carry a single signal source with low transmission loss over great distances. It is frequently used for communication systems due to the clarity it provides. This type of fiber optic cable has the smallest core and the thickest sheathing. OS2 fiber denotes single-mode low-water peak fibers that adhere to ITU-T G.652C and ITU-T G.652D specifications.

Multimode OM3 Fiber


 

OM3 fiber features an aqua-coloured jacket. Similar to OM2, it has a core size of 50 µm, but it is specifically optimized for laser-based equipment. OM3 supports 10 Gigabit Ethernet at lengths of up to 300 meters. Additionally, it can support 40 Gigabit and 100 Gigabit Ethernet up to 100 meters. However, 10 Gigabit Ethernet remains the most commonly used application for OM3 fiber.

Multimode OM4 Fiber


 

OM4 fiber maintains full backward compatibility with OM3 fiber and features the same recognizable Violet/Pink jacket. Developed specifically for VSCEL laser transmission, OM4 enables 10 Gig/s link distances of up to 550m, compared to 300m with OM3. Moreover, it supports 40/100GB up to 150 meters.

Multimode OM5 Fiber


 

OM5 fiber, also referred to as Wideband Multimode Fiber (WBMMF), represents the latest iteration of multimode fiber and offers backward compatibility with OM4. Sharing the same core size as OM2, OM3, and OM4, OM5 fiber distinguishes itself with a lime green jacket. It is meticulously designed and specified to accommodate a minimum of four WDM channels, each operating at a speed of at least 28Gbps per channel, across the 850-953 nm window.

Connector Polish Type

APC Fiber Connector


 

APC, which stands for Angled Physical Contact, involves polishing the ferrule endface at an 8° angle to reduce back reflection. This angled endface ensures that reflected light leaks into the cladding rather than remaining in the fiber core. It's important to use APC connectors only with other angled-polished connectors to avoid significant insertion loss. APC connectors typically exhibit an optical return loss of -60dB or higher, outperforming other connector types in this regard.

UPC Fiber Connector


 

UPC stands for Ultra Physical Contact, representing an enhancement of the PC fiber connector achieved through extended polishing for a superior surface finish. The return loss of UPC connectors surpasses that of PC structures, typically reaching nearly -50dB or higher. While UPC connectors offer lower back reflection compared to PC connectors, they are less robust. It's important to be aware that frequent connections and disconnections can lead to surface degradation and subsequent performance decline.

Cable Types

Simplex Fiber Optic Cables


 

A simplex fiber optic cable comprises a single strand of glass or plastic fiber enclosed within a single outer jacket. It is primarily utilized for applications requiring one-way data transfer. Examples of such applications include digital data readouts, interstate highway sensor relays, and automated speed and boundary sensors for sports applications. simplex fiber optic cable has only one tight-buffered fiber inside cable jacket.

Duplex Fiber Optic Cables


 

A duplex fiber optic cable comprises two strands of glass or plastic fibers and can be viewed as two separate simplex cables. Structured in a zip-cord arrangement, this duplex fiber cable is commonly employed for duplex communication between devices necessitating simultaneous, bi-directional data transfer.

8 Fiber Round Cable


 

An 8 Fiber Round Cable used in MPO (Multi-Fiber Push-On) applications is a type of fiber optic cable specifically designed to accommodate MPO connectors, which are commonly used for high-density fiber optic connections. The 8 Fiber Round Cable contains eight individual optical fibers within a single cable with tight buffered jacket. These cables are engineered to meet the demands of modern data center and telecommunications networks, where high-density connectivity is essential.

12 Fiber Round Cable


 

12 Fiber Round Cable is a type of fiber optic cable that contains 12 individual optical fibers within a single cable with tight buffered jacket. These cables are commonly used in networking and telecommunications applications where multiple fiber connections are required. The round cable design allows for easy handling and installation, making it suitable for various indoor and outdoor environments.

16 Fiber Round Cable


 

16 Fiber Round Cable used in 400G SR8 module with MPO-16. 16 fiber applications is a specialized type of fiber optic cable designed to accommodate the high-density connectivity requirements of modern data center and telecommunications networks. This cable contains sixteen individual optical fibers within a single cable tight buffered jacket and is optimized for use with MPO-16 connectors.

24 Fiber Round Cable


 

A 24 Fiber Round Cable is a type of fiber optic cable that contains twenty-four individual optical fibers within a single cable tight buffered jacket. These cables are designed to accommodate high-density fiber optic connections in data center, telecommunications, and other network environments where large numbers of fibers are required.

Jacket Types

PVC


 

PVC cables are widely used due to their affordability and accessibility for cable jackets. PVC is soft and resistant to oxidation, making it less prone to burning. However, it has the lowest fire rating among the four main types of cables. One significant concern with PVC is the byproducts generated when it burns. Burning PVC produces black smoke, hydrochloric acid, and various toxic gases, making it undesirable in fire situations.

LSZH


 

LSZH, which stands for Low Smoke Zero Halogen, lives up to its name by offering superior fire resistance. This jacket material produces minimal smoke and contains no halogens when burned. It is sturdier than PVC and possesses enhanced flame-retardant properties. Furthermore, LSZH is non-toxic when burned, making it a preferred choice for poorly ventilated environments such as airplanes or subway cars. Despite its advantages, LSZH tends to be more expensive than other jacket materials.

OFNR


 

OFNR stands for Optical Fiber Nonconductive Riser, typically associated with PVC jackets. Cables carrying this rating are commonly employed for vertical runs between buildings, although their applications are somewhat restricted. Unlike other ratings, OFNR lacks smoke ratings, rendering it unsuitable for use in ventilation areas irrespective of the ventilation design. However, outside of ventilation areas, OFNR cables remain a popular choice due to their cost-saving design for riser cables.

OFNP


 

OFNP, which stands for Optical Fiber Nonconductive Plenum, represents the highest-rated cable jacket, contrasting with PVC. In situations where regulations mandate the use of OFNP, no alternatives are permitted. Consequently, OFNP is ideal for vertical runs in data centers. Its robust jacket mitigates the risk of fire spreading along the cable between floors, and it can be safely installed within ventilation systems.

MTP/MPO Connectors

MPO/MTP® 8 Fibre Connectors


 

MPO-8 is the most common connector because of the wide spread 100G Ethernet connections that are used for almost all 100G SR4 connections and utilize 8 available strands, where 4 lanes Transmit (Tx) and 4 lanes Receive (Rx) data signals. 8-fiber MTP®/MPO connectors are the earliest developed and most commonly used solution in 10G-40G, 40G-100G connections. If they are used in 40G QSFP+ or 100G QSFP28 transceivers, 4 fibers will be idle, resulting in low fiber utilization.

MPO/MTP® 12 Fibre Connectors


 

MPO-12 is the most common connector because of the wide spread 100G Ethernet connections that are used for almost all 100G SR4 connections and utilize 12 available strands, where 4 lanes Transmit (Tx) and 4 lanes Receive (Rx) data signals. 12-fiber MTP®/MPO connectors are the earliest developed and most commonly used solution in 10G-40G, 40G-100G connections. If they are used in 40G QSFP+ or 100G QSFP28 transceivers, 4 fibers will be idle, resulting in low fiber utilization.

MPO/MTP®  16 Fibre Connectors


 

16-fiber MTP®/MPO cables use the same external footprint as traditional 12-fiber MT (mechanically transferable) ferrules, aggregate multiple 8-fiber parallel transceivers, and couple directly to emerging 16-fiber parallel fiber links such as 400G QSFP- DD and OSFP.

MPO/MTP®  24 Fibre Connectors


 

MTP 24 fibre connectors are now used in sdme 200G transceivers and have been used with 100G CXP and CFP transceivers. 24-fiber MTP®/MPO connector are typically used to establish a 100GBASE-SR10 link between CFP-to-CFP transceivers.

MPO Breakout Cables

MPO/MTP®-8 to LC Breakout Cable


 

8 Fiber MPO/MTP® to LC breakout assemblies provide connections between QSFP+ to 4 x SFP+, QSFP28 to 4 x SFP28 and QSFP-DD to 4 x QSFP-28 Transceiver Modules. 8 fiber MPO LC breakout is usually with 4 LC duplex connectors.

MPO/MTP®-12 to LC Breakout Cable


 

12 Fiber MPO/MTP® to LC breakout assemblies provide connections between QSFP+ to 4 x SFP+, QSFP28 to 4 x SFP28 and QSFP-DD to 4 x QSFP-28 Transceiver Modules. 12 fiber MPO LC breakout is usually with 6 LC duplex connectors.

MPO/MTP®-16 to LC Breakout Cable


 

16 Fiber MPO/MTP® to LC harness patch cord assemblies are used to interconnect QSFP-DD and QSFP-DD800 transceivers. QSFP-DD to 8 x SFP-56 and QSFP-DD800 to QSFP-28 with SR8 Transceiver Modules. 16 fiber MPO LC breakout is usually with 8 LC duplex connectors.

MPO/MTP®-24 to LC Breakout Cable


 

24 fiber MPO/MTP®  to LC Fan out Assemblies provide connections between single CFP/CXP (100G transceiver with MPO interface) and 10 x SFP+ (10G transceivers with LC Duplex Interface). 24 fiber MPO LC breakout is usually with 12 LC duplex connectors.

Polaritiy

Type-A


 

 

 

The Left (Key Up) side is connected to the Right (Key Down) side. Fiber #1 attached to position 1 on both sides. Same applies for Fibers #2, #3, …, #12.

Type-B


 

 

 

The Left (Key Up) side is connected to the Right (Key Up) side. Fiber #1 attached to position 1 on the left and position 12 on the right. This can be written as Fiber #1 1-12. Same applies for Fibers #2 2-11, #3 3-10, …, #12 12-1.

Type-C


 

 

 

The Left (Key Up) side is connected to the Right (Key Down) side. Fiber #1 attached to position 1 on the left and position 2 on the right. Fiber #2 attached to position 2 on the left and position 1 on the right. This can be written as Fiber #1 1-2, Fiber #2 2-1. Same applies for Fibers #3 3-4, #4 4-3, …, #12 12-11.

OFC Connectors

SC Connector


 

The SC fiber connector, initially selected for the TIA-568 standard, is a user-friendly snap-in connector designed to latch securely with a straightforward push-pull motion. Named for its "Square Connector" body, the SC connector features a 2.5mm ferrule, double the size of its LC predecessor. Widely utilized in datacoms and telecom applications, including point-to-point and passive optical networking, the SC fiber optic connector boasts excellent performance and remains the second most popular choice for polarization maintaining applications.

LC Connector


 

The Lucent Connector (LC), a small form factor (SFF) connector, features a 1.25 mm ferrule, distinguishing it in the realm of fiber optic connectors. Its compact design has garnered significant popularity in data communications (datacoms), particularly for high-density applications. With the trend toward more efficient cabling, LC fiber connectors have become increasingly favored. Today, the LC fiber optic connector stands as the most widely utilized connector in the industry.

E2000 Connector


 

The E2000 Connector features a push-pull coupling mechanism and includes an automatic metal shutter for protection against dust and laser beams. With its one-piece design, termination is quick and easy, making it suitable for high safety and high-power applications in fiber optic networks. The exceptional mechanical and optical properties of the E-2000® connector series render it highly suitable for a wide range of applications. Featuring Diamond's innovative two-component ferrule, comprised of a zirconium-ceramic sleeve and a titanium insert, the E-2000® connector ensures precise alignment of the fiber core with the mechanical axis of the ferrule.

CS Connector


 

The CS connector is a compact, single-position plug known for its dual cylindrical, spring-loaded ferrules, typically with a diameter of 1.25 mm, and a push-pull coupling mechanism. Optical alignment is achieved through either a rigid bore sleeve or a resilient sleeve. Offering the same characteristics and ease of use as the duplex LC connector, the CS connector is designed to fit within the limited space of the QSFP-DD form factor, allowing for the integration of two pairs of CS connectors.

Connector Boots

Uni-Boot Connector


 

LC standard clip uniboot cables feature the familiar clamping design of LC connectors, with each connector equipped with a standard sleeve and sleeve holder. This standardized design streamlines the installation and operation of the connectors, minimizing the need for additional tools and simplifying the overall process. However, it's important to note that uniboot LC standard clip cables do not support reversible polarity.

Push-Pull Connector


 

LC push-pull tab uniboot cables are equipped with a convenient push-pull tab design on each connector, enhancing ease of operation during plug and pull actions without requiring additional tools. The cables feature labeled tabs that offer a firm grip for effortless handling. This push-pull tag design not only ensures added connector protection but also enhances durability by minimizing the risk of damage or breakage. It's important to note that LC push-pull tab uniboot cables do not support reversible polarity.

Flex-Boot Connector


 

Flexible angle boots designed for LC optic connectors, compatible with both single-mode and multimode patch cords. Installers can pre-bend the boot into any direction or angle, maintaining the position for optimal network performance. The flexibility allows for reshaping at any time or straightening during connector disconnection, facilitating perfect installations in unique applications like tight constraint areas or high-density environments. These fiber optic patch cords with LC flex boots are ideal for cable management situations requiring additional fiber bend protection.

Shot/Mini Boot Connector


 

Shot boot or Mini boot connectors are ideal for high density applications with tight space requirements. The connector length from tip to boot assembly is only 40 mm, compared to 66 mm for standard LC – 40% shorter. The short boot structure is particularly for high density applications with tight space requirements and absolutely meets the high-density requirements of the MDA and EDA. It allows 30mm extra space between rack and closed cabinet door, which facilitates air circulation.

Types of Transceivers

SFP


The Small Form Factor Pluggable (SFP) is renowned as the prevailing format for optical transceivers, yet it does possess certain constraints. SFP transceivers exhibit hot-swappable and pluggable characteristics, enabling seamless installation and removal. Typically employed in 1Gbps connections, SFP utilizes various connectors including LC Duplex, LC Simplex, RJ45, and SC Simplex, facilitating transmission distances of up to 160km.

SFP+


SFP+ represents an enhanced iteration of the SFP standard, boasting increased data capabilities over its predecessor. With a maximum transmission speed of 16Gbps, SFP+ is commonly harnessed in Ethernet connections or 10Gbps fiber networks. Unlike SFP, SFP+ employs a distinct encoding method, enabling it to convey more data within a comparable hardware framework. Data transmission rates are available at 8Gbps, 10Gbps, and 16Gbps, offering versatility for various network requirements. SFP+ modules can span distances ranging from 30m to 120km, and they are compatible with a range of connector types such as LC Duplex, LC Simplex, and RJ45.

SFP28


SFP28 represents an advancement in speed over its predecessor, the SFP+ form factor. Its electrical and mechanical specifications were established in 2014 under the SFF Committee document SFF-8402, alongside earlier specifications such as SFF-8472 and SFF-8432. SFP28 is specifically designed to support applications requiring speeds ranging from 25Gb/s to 28Gb/s, including 25Gb/s Ethernet and 32GFC Fibre Channel.

QSFP+


The QSFP+ functions similarly to other QSFP-style transceivers, supporting data rates of 40Gbps and higher. It is an Enhanced Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable (QSFP+) transceiver, featuring four channels and hot-pluggable capabilities. Compatible with LC Duplex and MPO-12 fiber connectors, the QSFP+ offers larger dimensions compared to SFP+ transceivers and can cover distances of up to 40km. It remains the predominant form factor for achieving data rates of 40Gbps.

QSFP28


The QSFP28 (Quad Small Form Pluggable) transceiver form factor was introduced to facilitate multi-lane (quad) optical transceivers, such as those used in 100GbE and 128GFC, accommodating various optical connectors including 4+4 MPO and duplex LC. Developed in 2013, QSFP28 supports electrical interfaces with speeds ranging from 25Gb/s to 28Gb/s per lane, catering to applications like 100Gb/s Ethernet, 128GFC Fibre Channel, and EDR InfiniBand. Its specifications are publicly defined by SFF Committee standards SFF-8636 and SFF-8665. QSFP28 has become the standard interface for 100G applications, offering configurations ranging from 100m using multimode to 80km using single-mode. 

QSFP56


The QSFP56 standard, established in 2019, represents a significant leap in data transfer rates compared to its predecessor, QSFP28, achieving a maximum speed of 200 Gbps. This enhanced performance is achieved through parallel fibers and 8 x 25G wavelengths, or by leveraging PAM4 modulation and an internal multiplexer to transmit 50G over 4 wavelengths. QSFP56 transceivers come in various configurations, utilizing OM4 for distances up to 100m and OS2 for distances of up to 10km. Supported connectors include LC or MPO-12.

QSFP-DD


The QSFP-DD (Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable Double Density) standard, designed to be backward compatible with previous QSFP versions, revolutionizes high-speed connectivity with an additional row of contacts, allowing for an 8-lane electrical interface. Compatible with LC and MPO-16 connectors, QSFP-DD facilitates seamless integration into various network architectures. Furthermore, it introduces a new connector – the CS connector, featuring 2 x CS Duplex connectors on a single transceiver. This innovative design supports breakout applications for 2x100G and 2x200G connections.

OSFP-800G


OSFP (Octal Small Form Factor Pluggable) type 800G transceivers are a new generation of optical transceivers designed to meet the increasing demands for higher data rates and greater bandwidth in data centers and telecommunications networks. The 800G transceiver line is used for data center networking and Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications such as supercomputer clustering. They offer the ultimate flexibility with support for both InfiniBand and Ethernet networks. The OSFP form factors with choices of a finned top or closed top integrated heatsink and are available in distances of up to 100 meters over multimode fiber or up to 2km over single-mode fiber.


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