Wires & Cables

R&M passes 100 G test

The MPO connector from R&M

R&M, the global Swiss developer and provider of connectivity systems for high-quality, high-performance network infrastructures, has performed a link test with 11 randomly selected MTP OM4 trunk cables over a total distance of 675 m.

“The test series was set up to confirm the outstanding performance of components, assembling capabilities and internal test methods. The aim to reach a bit error ratio (BER) better than 10-12 over a period exceeding 13 hours has been more than achieved thus confirming the outstanding quality of R&M’s high performance network connectivity solutions,” a company statement said.

IEEE prescribes a number of ways to address high speed ethernet. Depending on required distances and speed, IEEE 802.3ba foresees different transmission methods. For short range applications, the 100GBASE-SR10 substandard plays an important role. It defines the transmission of 100 Gbit/s over multi-mode fibre using cost effective 850 nm lasers. Ten lanes of multi-mode fibre deliver serialised data at a rate of 10 Gbit/s per lane. Due to the limited IL budget with OM4 fibres the standard foresees a maximum reach with of 150 m only.

A series of MTP trunks consisting of different lengths from 5 m up to 160 m was randomly selected. With caution the different adapters and plugs were cleaned to form a 675 m link with 10 MTP adapters in-between. Commercially available 100GBASE-SR10 CFP full-duplex transceiver modules where used to transmite.

Ethernet packets at 850 nm wavelength. For the throughput simulation, frame sizes of 64-, 128-, 256-, 1024-, 1280-, 1518- and 9,000 bytes where defined to analyse the theoretical versus the actual throughput. After 13 hours, 23 minutes and 38 seconds the test was considered to be completed. Not a single packet was lost during the entire duration of the test.

The cover of the newly released data centre handbook

The cover of the newly released data centre handbook

Parallel optics has been established in the data centre infrastructure world during recent years. The usage of this technology leads to more challenges for engineers, planners and data centre managers. Link lengths needs to be planned more carefully than ever before. Cabling systems should be selected taking loss budgets and link segments very detailed into consideration.

R&M’s HD MPO multi-fibre solution sets standards for port density and efficient use of space, for flexibility and safety as well as for convenient planning and installation. The system is particularly attractive to Middle East organisations as it enables migration to 10 gigabit ethernet (GbE) and later to 40/100 GbE without a hitch and with as little expense and effort as possible. R&M’s HD MPO system also needs 96 per cent less space in the data centre than conventional systems and the installation effort and expense per port is 66 per cent less.

Meanwhile, R&M released in the Middle East, Turkey and Africa its comprehensive 2014 Data Centre Handbook to assist planners and operators of data centres. Available free of cost as a downloadable e-book, the 170-page handbook contains detailed and use-oriented answers to all questions pertaining to the infrastructure and operation of a data centre thus helping enterprises achieve optimum data centre layout, cabling architectures, energy efficiency and security.  It also serves as a reference work on relevant standards, technical terms, trends, applications and compliance issues.

Reichle & De-Massari AG (R&M) develops and produces passive cabling solutions for communication networks and has established itself as a leading producer of high quality copper and fibre-optic solutions. The company has set up its own sales organisations in 30 countries and these are streamlined into eight sales regions. Around two thirds of R&M’s sales revenue is generated abroad. More than 5 per cent of sales revenue is invested in research and development every year. R&M is ranked one of the 500 leading companies in Switzerland and currently employs 800 people. The company is wholly owned by the Reichle family and is managed as an independent family business.