© 2001, Myricom, Inc.
-- 3 --
Revision: 27 August 2001
Characteristics and Installation of Myrinet Cables
Although all Myrinet links carry packets in the same format at the Data Link level, Myrinet has
five different Physical level (PHY) implementations over four different types of cables. It is
important to understand the characteristics of the types of cables used at your site, and how to
install them.
All Myrinet cables may be plugged or unplugged with the component power on.
Fiber
is the preferred Myrinet PHY for several reasons:
•
The fiber cables are small, light, flexible, and easy to install.
•
The fiber cables and connectors exhibit exceptionally high reliability.
•
Myrinet-Fiber cables may be up to 200m in length.
•
Myrinet-Fiber components and cables operate within Class A limits for the emission of
electromagnetic interference (EMI).
Myrinet-Fiber links carry packet data at a 2+2 Gb/s data rate on industry-standard 50/125
multimode-fiber-pair cables with “LC” connectorization. Myricom ships Fiber components with
a dust plug in each port. It is recommended that the dust plug be left in place in unused switch
ports. The fiber cable is shipped with dust caps on the ends of the fibers. To install the fiber
cable, just remove the dust plug and dust caps, and insert the fiber-end connector.
Press the locking tab on the LC cable-end connector to remove the fiber cable.
Dust Plug
Press tab
to remove cable
