As savvy data center operators upgrade their data center network to 10 Gigabit Ethernet, many are looking below the surface and considering the cabling that supports the 10 Gigabit network. 10 GigE technologies have tight tolerances for transport, especially over fiber. This handy best practices guide from Fluke Networks offer important tips from handling, testing and troubleshooting your fiber network.
The emergence of 10 Gigabit Ethernet adds another topic to the worry list of data center operators. Many data centers use fiber for backbone cabling due to its bandwidth and capability to transport data over long distances. As data rates increase, however, the distance supported and the loss budgets decline. In other words, a fiber link that had little trouble running slower applications may not run 10 Gigabit due to distance or loss budget. This accentuates the need to fully test fiber for 10 Gigabit Ethernet in the data center.
Data centers are expanding rapidly. Economic, high-speed 10 Gbps Ethernet networks are providing the impetus for the convergence of fiber channel networks which can substantially lower the total cost of ownership (TCO). Testing fiber networks is critical making this Fiber Testing Best Practices Pocket Guide a valuable resource. Click here to get your free copy.
