22
Figure 25 SFP+ transceiver module
Fiber cable overview
You can use an optical fiber to connect a fiber Ethernet port or 10 Gbps Ethernet port. In addition, an
optical fiber can connect fiber ports on interface modules.
Optical fibers feature low loss and long transmission distance.
Optical fibers can be classified into single mode fibers and multi-mode fibers. A single mode fiber
carries only a single ray of light; a multi-mode fiber carries multiple modes of lights.
Table 10 Characteristics of single mode and multi-mode optical fibers
Item
Single mode fiber
Multi-mode fiber
Core
Small core (10 micrometers or
less)
Larger core than single mode fiber
(50 micrometers, 62.5
micrometers or greater)
Dispersion Less
dispersion
Allows greater dispersion and
therefore, signal loss exists.
Light source and transmission
distance
Users lasers as the light source
often within campus backbones
for distance of several thousand
meters
Uses LEDs as the light source
often within LANs or distances of
a couple hundred meters within a
campus network
Table 11 Allowed maximum tensile force and crush load
Period of force
Tensile load (N)
Crush load (N/mm)
Short period
150
500
Long term
80
100
Fiber connectors are indispensable passive components in an optical fiber communication system.
They allow the removable connection between optical channels, which makes the optical system
debugging and maintenance more convenient. There are multiple types of fiber connectors.
shows an LC connector.
Figure 26 Appearance of an LC connector