Learn about the optical fiber used for short reach connectivity in data center and campus networks. In part two of this two-part blog post, we describe a multi-mode fiber metric and when to use OM4 or OM5 type fiber.
Rosenberger OSI completed a fiber installation for German utility TenneT, upgrading TenneT’s control room with workstations and training workplaces linked via OM4 multimode fiber. The control room upgrade effort, dubbed “KVM Matrix,” enhances TenneT’s ability to use these control centers to monitor the operating status of its networks and their interaction with its data center.
L-com has added over 600 new OM3, OM4 and OM5 fiber optic cable assemblies to address high speed data center applications.
Major categories in this new release include: MPO to MPO cable assemblies for point-to-point connectivity; MPO conversion harnesses allowing users to convert from 8 fiber to 12 or 24 fiber trunks, as well as 12 fiber to 24 fiber trunks, for use in 40G and 100G multimode deployments; and MPO fan-out cables with an MPO connector on one end of the assembly and LC, SC or ST fiber connectors on the other end.
OM3 and OM4 multimode fiber are two common types of fiber used in local area networks–typically in backbone cabling between telecommunications rooms and in the data center between main networking and storage area network (SAN) switches. Both of these fiber types are considered laser-optimized 50/125 multimode fiber, meaning they both have a 50 micron (µm) diameter core and a 125 µm diameter cladding, which is a special coating that prevents light from escaping the core. Both fiber types use the same connectors, the same termination and the same transceivers–vertical-cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) that emit infrared light at 850 nanometers (nm). So, what’s different?
