| When surmounting trouble rises, an optic fiber | | | | hardware. The factory terminated and tested |
| technician must choose the most suitable patch panel | | | | cassettes take care of breaking out the optic fibers |
| for a particular situation. That technician must | | | | from the MPO connectors to ST, SC, or MT-RJ |
| recognize that when it comes to easy installation, | | | | connectors. The MPO cassettes can double the |
| proper termination and long term maintenance, not all | | | | concentration that are possible in rack-mount |
| patch panels are created equally. Optic fiber is robust | | | | enclosures - up to 72 optic fibers in a 1U enclosure |
| and therefore deserves some special treatment. For | | | | and 288 optic fibers in a 4U enclosure - making these |
| example: if a horizontal copper cable is damaged, one | | | | optic fibers perfectly fit to meet high density |
| user will be affected. If a backbone fiber goes down, | | | | applications, such as data center's and storage area |
| it can take a lot of users down with it. This is why | | | | networks. |
| using fully enclosed connecting hardware for optic | | | | Accessibility is a concern for long term maintenance |
| fiber is crucial. This is where the technician must | | | | when choosing a rack-mount enclosure. The 1U |
| choose between using wall-mounted or rack-mounted | | | | enclosures may have a an access panel to reach the |
| hardware. The optic fiber density required will most | | | | rear optic fibers, while larger enclosures may have a |
| likely influence the technicians choice between the | | | | removable rear cover with adequate room inside to |
| wall-mounted and rack-mounted connectivity. Many | | | | make changes or perform repairs. Strain relief and |
| technicians will choose to use fiber patch cables. | | | | loop management for incoming cables must be |
| Trust your technician to know what's best. | | | | provided, nonetheless management devices should be |
| Wall-mounted enclosures are suitable for up to 24 | | | | small enough as to not interfere with access to the |
| optic fibers, although with small form factors and high | | | | optic fibers. Cable management for patch cords |
| density connectors, can extend the fiber optic cable | | | | should be provided on the front of the enclosure |
| count to as many as 144. Wall-mount enclosures also | | | | with clear front covers and labeling arranged to ease |
| offer the benefit of reduced floor space | | | | moves, adds and changes and by ensuring that port |
| requirements. Rack-mounted optic fiber enclosures | | | | identification is not obscured by patch cords. |
| can be used with higher fabric counts or depending | | | | Since copper patch panels need to be strong enough |
| on the proximity to communications equipment, | | | | not to flex too much as the cables are punched |
| where rack-mounted optic fiber enclosures are | | | | down. The rolled edges on the panel sheet metal |
| preferable. 1U enclosures can handle up to 24 optic | | | | stock help to make the panels rigid. Copper patch |
| fiber cables with ST or SC connectors, or up to 48 | | | | panels should provide 24 ports in a 1U height or 48 |
| optic fibers by using small form factor connectors. | | | | ports in a 2U height. It's very important to make sure |
| For extra protection, 2U to 4U enclosures can be | | | | that the modular jacks and circuit traces on the |
| used to handle up to 144 optic fiber connections. | | | | panels are protected from debris that can short out |
| A 12 fiber MPO connector can speed installation time | | | | circuits. All cable management systems must be easy |
| and increase the concentration of connection | | | | to use and maintain to avoid any potential problems. |