With new advances in networking technology, such as the introduction of 40 Gbps switches, as well as the 100/120 Gbps switches in the not too distant future, IT professionals will be confronted with the problem of connecting high-speed switches not only to high-speed devices, but also to legacy, slower-speed devices in a flexible, adjustable and cost-effective manner. High-Density Fiber Patch Panel solutions are the most convenient approach for solving the problem of connecting equipment of varying speeds in a data center environment.
Key Features of a High Density Fiber Patch Panel
High-Density Fiber Patch Panel solutions are a flexible way to connect devices of different generations of equipment (e.g., 10Gb, 40Gb, 100/120Gb) quickly and easily. HD patch panels consist of a panel enclosure and modular HD cassettes, which can connect a 40Gbps fiber network feed (via multi-strand or MTP cable) and segment it into standard LC connections in order to interface with 10Gbps devices. The cassettes are housed in a space-saving, rack-mountable, panel enclosure that can hold either five cassettes (1U configuration) or fourteen cassettes (2U configuration), depending upon the installation. A fully populated 14 cassette, 2U configuration can feed 168 servers (or 10+ racks) in one small high density space.
Benefits of High-Density Fiber Patch Panels
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- Flexibility: They can connect different generations of equipment such as 10Gb, 40Gb, 100/120Gb in a simple panel-cassette system
- Ease of Installation: No tools are required to install the cassette in the panel enclosure. And using push / pull tabs, connections can easily be locked or unlocked in the panel. Each cassette features factory terminated connectors that reduce the time and labor required of field connector terminations.
- Adjustability: Network reconfigurations are highly adjustable due to the modular cassette system. Currently, there are five cassette models: 100Gb/120Gb to 10Gb, 40Gb to 10Gb, and 100Gb/120Gb to 40G Breakout Cassettes, and 40Gb and 100Gb/120Gb Pass-Through Cassettes.
- Cost-Effectiveness: High-density and ease of installation provide a low initial investment cost. Flexibility, adjustability and reliability provide a high ROI.