LC &amp;amp; MTP/MPO Cable Management Solutions for Storage Area Network

Fibermart
Tuesday 23 June, 2015
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Fiber-Mart provides a series of cable management solutions which are designed specifically for Storage Area Network (SAN) infrastructures and enable a reliable, flexible, and highly efficient cable infrastructure throughout the data center. Depending on their specific requirements, organizations can choose from various structured fiber optic cable management solutions.

By moving from traditional low-density, duplex patch cord cable solutions to high-density, structured cable solutions (reducing bulk cable volume by 75 percent), organizations can implement the physical layer in a much more manageable and flexible manner while streamlining data center reconfigurations and simplifying management. These cable technologies are also more energy-efficient, helping organizations to consolidate their IT infrastructures.

High-Density and High-Port-Count LC & MTP/MPO Cable Solutions

As networking equipment becomes denser and port counts in the data center increase to several hundred ports, managing cables connected to these devices becomes a difficult challenge. Traditionally, connecting cables directly to individual ports on low port-count equipment was considered manageable. Applying the same principles to high-density and high-port-count equipment makes the task more tedious, and it is nearly impossible to add or remove cables connected directly to the equipment ports.

Using fiber cable assemblies that have a single connector at one end of the cable and multiple duplex breakout cables at the other end is an alternative to alleviate cable management. Multifiber Push-On (MPO) cable assemblies are designed to do just that. The idea is to pre-connect the high-density, high-port-count LC equipment with MTP/MPO-LC Fan-out Cable to dedicated MTP/MPO Cassette Modules within a dedicated patch panel. Once fully cabled, this patch panel functions as if it were "remote" ports for the equipment. These dedicated patch panels ideally should be located above the equipment whose cabling they handle for easier access to overhead cabling. Using this strategy drastically reduces equipment cabling clutter and improves cable management.

Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of implementing LC or MTP/MPO cabling solutions in static or dynamic environments.

Cabling Solution	Static LC-LC	Static MTP/MPO	Dynamic LC-LC	Dynamic MTP/MPO
Low Maintenance	★★	★★★	★	★
Easy Fault Isolation	★★★	★★	★★	★
Easy Cable Replacement	★★★	★	★★★	★
Minimal Cabling Space	★	★★★	★	★★★
Low Cost Solution	★★★	★	★★	★
Extensive Cable Connection	★	★	★★	★★

Note: The checkmarks represent a sliding scale with ★★★ representing the optimal solution for that category.

Low Maintenance: Ability to modify environment through additional port usage, or changes in port usage. Single LC-LC cables can be added or removed from environment as needed. Trunk cables need to be added in groups of single cables. This makes expanding easy through clean cable management.

Easy Fault Isolation: Ability to troubleshoot faults down to the cable or trunk which is causing problems. LC-LC cable faults can be traced to a single cable and that cable can be replaced. MTP/MPO trunk cables can be traced to the trunk/LC cable at fault and either the MTP/MPO trunk can be replaced or a single LC-LC cable can be bypassed.

Easy Cable Replacement: Ability to replace defective cables as needed. If a single LC-LC cable fails, that cable can be replaced. If a single cable fails in a trunk, that cable can be bypassed with an LC-LC cable.

Minimal Cabling Space: LC-LC cables are larger and require more space for cable runs and patch panel connectors. MTP/MPO trunks require less space for cable runs and fewer patch panel connectors.

Low Cost Solution: LC-LC single cables cost less than MTP/MPO cables. MTP/MPO trunk cables cost more than LC-LC cables.

Extensive Cable Connection: LC-LC single cables require more cable management. MTP/MPO trunk cables require less cable management.

Selecting the appropriate cable management solution is dependent on your unique environment. The following flow chart is designed to assist you in determining the appropriate structured cable management solution for your environment based on key items to consider: Is the SAN static or dynamic during its operational life cycle? Are the storage and server devices within ten meters of the backbone or is there a central distribution panel? Is there a trunked cable (e.g. MTP/MPO) infrastructure already in place? Is an individual fiber cable (e.g. LC, non-trunked) a requirement for fault isolation?

Click the diagram to view large version.

With proper cabling and patch panel labeling, both solutions (LC & MTP/MPO) provide flexibility in terms of servicing and managing cables. With our MTP/MPO cable solution, you can reduce the cable density and since ports are in groups of six, you also have a faster ability to identify a port for servicing if necessary but required expertise in replacing individual connections with in the trunk.