Free application guide links fiber-optic infrastructure, 10-to-40 GbE data center switches

Produced by Cisco and Corning Cable Systems, a new 23-page application guide covers best practices for deployment of fiber-optic infrastructure to support Cisco's Nexus 6000 Series of data center switches.

"With speeds in the data center now increasing from 10 Gbps to 40 Gbps and eventually to 100 Gbps, different optical technologies and cabling infrastructures are required," states the guide's introduction. "When designing a networking system, it is important to plan the cabling system in advance. The goal is to address current network requirements as well as accommodate future growth."

The application guide covers cabling requirements for 40-Gbps infrastructure and fundamental cabling principles supporting Cisco's Nexus 6000 Series switches. Although alternative cabling options are mentioned (i.e. twinax and active optical assemblies), the main focus of the guide is cabling for pluggable optical Enhanced Quad Small Form-Factor Pluggable (QSFP+) modules.

See: Ethernet switch market undergoing dramatic changes

"A structured cabling system provides a flexible cabling plan to address the commonly performed tasks of moving, adding, or changing the infrastructure as the network grows," continues the guide's introduction. "A good analogy in support of a structured cabling system is the electrical wiring in your home. When connecting appliances and devices, you require only a 5-foot connection to the closest electrical outlet. However, without an electrical outlet, all appliances would have to connect directly to the breaker or panel, requiring a cable of 200 feet or more."

"This approach would be inefficient and would become unmanageable as you add multiple appliances or devices throughout the home," continues the guide. "The same concept applies to data centers, in which structured cabling becomes a necessity as the infrastructure grows and as constant moves and changes reinforce the need for a reliable network that is also easy to troubleshoot."

View/Download the PDF guide here.