Fiber optic cables
This appendix describes the physical attributes of optical fiber technologies that are supported on Z platforms. The following topics are covered in this appendix:
Description
Fiber optic cables use light for data transmission, rather than electrical current on copper cables. Fiber optic cables have many advantages:
•Many times lighter and have substantially less bulk
•No pins
•A smaller and more reliable connector
•Reduced loss and distortion
•Free from signal skew and the effects of electro-magnetic interference
Figure F-1 illustrates the two types of optical fiber that are used in a data center environment with Z platforms:
•Multimode
•Single mode
The difference between them is the way that light travels along the fiber. Multimode has multiple light paths, but single mode has only one light path.
Each fiber type consists of three parts:
•The core can be 50 or 62.5 µm in diameter for multimode or 9 µm in diameter for single mode.
•The cladding that surrounds the core is 125 µm in diameter.
•The outer coating is 250 µm in diameter.
Figure F-1 Fiber optic cable types
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Note: To keep the data flowing, thorough cleaning of fiber optic connectors is critical. Make sure that you have the necessary fiber optic cleaning procedures in place.
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Connector types for fiber cables
For all optical links, the connector type is LC duplex, except the ESCON connector, which has an MT-RJ type connector, and 12x IFB, which has an MPO connector.
Figure F-2 shows the most common fiber cable connectors that are used in data center environments.
Figure F-2 The connectors that are commonly used for optical cables
Mode-conditioning patch cables
In certain situations, for reusing existing multimode fiber optic cabling infrastructure, it is possible to connect a long wavelength (1300 nm) single-mode transceiver with multimode fiber by placing a special device called a mode conditioning patch (MCP) cable. The MCP cables are 2 meters long and have a link loss of up to 5.0 dB.
The MCP cable must be installed on both ends of a link and occupy the same space as a standard 2-meter jumper cable. Adapter kits containing the MCPs are available with either SC Duplex connectors (to support coupling links) or ESCON connectors (to support ESCON-to-FICON migration). MCP adapters differ for 50 or 62.5 μm fiber. MCPs reduce the maximum link distance to 550 meters for Gigabit links.
Optical mode conditioners are supported for FICON, coupling links, and OSA. For more information, see IBM z Systems Planning for Fiber Optic Links (FICON/FCP, Coupling Links, and Open Systems Adapters), GA23-1407.
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Important: One MCP cable must be plugged into the long wavelength transceiver at each end of the link.
Fiber optic MCP cables cannot be ordered as product feature codes for Z.
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Fiber optic Mode Conditioning Patch cables (listed in Table F-1) can be ordered through the IBM Networking Services fiber cabling services options.
Table F-1 MPC cables
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MCP cable
description
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MCP cable
connector/receptacle
description
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MCP cable
connector/receptacle
illustration
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9 µm single mode
to
50 µm multimode
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SC duplex connector
to
ESCON duplex
receptacle
|
 |
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9 µm single mode
to
50 µm multimode
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SC duplex connector
to
SC duplex receptacle
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 |
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9 µm single mode
to
62.5 µm multimode
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SC duplex connector
to
SC duplex receptacle
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 |
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9 µm single mode
to
62.5 µm multimode
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SC duplex connector
to
ESCON duplex
receptacle
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ISC-3 compatibility
9 µm single mode
to
50 µm multimode
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LC duplex connector
to
SC duplex receptacle
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 |
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9 µm single mode
to
62.5 µm multimode
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LC duplex connector
to
SC duplex receptacle
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 |
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9 µm single mode
to
62.5 µm multimode
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LC duplex connector
to
ESCON duplex
receptacle
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 |
InfiniBand cables
An OM3 50/125 µm (2000 MHz-km @ 850 nm) multimode fiber optic cable with Multifiber Push-On (MPO) connectors is used for 12x IFB-DDR connections.
The cable is an InfiniBand Trade Association (IBTA) industry standard cable. It contains one pair of fibers per lane for the 12x IFB-DDR connection (resulting in 24 duplex fibers).
The sender and receiver connectors are clearly marked with either RX or TX and the connectors are keyed (Figure F-3).
Figure F-3 OM3 50/125 µm multimode fiber cable with MPO connectors
The following standard cable lengths are available from IBM Global Technology Services® (GTS), or cables with individual length can be ordered:
•10 meters (32.8 feet)
•13 meters (42.7 feet)
•15 meters (49.2 feet)
•20 meters (65.6 feet)
•40 meters (131.2 feet)
•80 meters (262.4 feet)
•120 meters (393.7 feet)
•150 meters (492.1 feet)
zHyperLink Express and ICA SR cables
The HyperLink Express and ICA SR features are designed to drive distances up to 150 meters and support a link data rate of 8 GBps using customer supplied OM4 (4.7 GHz-Km @ 850 nm) fiber optic cables. With OM3 (2.0 GHz-Km @ 850 nm) fiber optic cables, the zHyperLink Express and ICA SR distance drops to 100 meters. Figure F-4 shows the OM4 fiber cable with 24-fibers (12 transmit plus 12 receive fibers) and Multi-fiber Terminated Push-on (MTP) connectors.
Figure F-4 OM4 50/125 µm multimode fiber cable with MTP connectors
Custom cable lengths or standard cable lengths shown in Table F-2 are available from IBM GTS or through other vendors, such as Anixter Inc.
Table F-2 ICA-SR cables - standard lengths
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Part Number
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Length meters (feet)
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00JA683
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1 m (3.28’)
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00JA684
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2 m (6.56’)
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00JA685
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3 m (9.84’)
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00JA686
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5 m (16.40’)
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00JA687
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8 m (26.24’)
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00LU282
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10 m (32.80’)
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00LU283
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13 m (42.65’)
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00JA688
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15 m (49.21’)
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00LU669
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20 m (65.61’)
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00LU284
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40 m (131.23’)
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00LU285
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80 m (262.36’)
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00LU286
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120 m (393.78’)
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00LU287
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150 m (492.12’)
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For more information, see IBM z Systems Planning for Fiber Optic Links (FICON/FCP, Coupling Links, and Open System Adapters), GA23-1407. This publication is available in the Library section of Resource Link:
Conversion kits
Conversion kits allow for the reuse of already installed cables that are the same fiber optic mode but have different connectors than the ones required (see Table F-3).
Table F-3 Conversion kit cables
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Conversion kit
cable description
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Conversion kit cable
connector/receptacle
description
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Conversion kit cable
connector/receptacle
illustration
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9 µm single mode
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LC Duplex Connector
to
SC Duplex Receptacle
|
 |
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62.5 µm multimode
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MT-RJ Connector
to
ESCON Duplex Receptacle
|
 |
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50 µm Multimode
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LC Duplex Connector
to
SC Duplex Receptacle
|
 |
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62.5 µm Multimode
|
LC Duplex Connector
to
SC Duplex Receptacle
|
 |
|
62.5 µm Multimode
|
LC Duplex Connector
to
ESCON Duplex
Receptacle
|
 |
|
62.5 µm Multimode
|
LC Duplex Connector
to
MT-RJ Connector
with Coupler
|
 |
|
62.5 µm Multimode
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SC Duplex Connector
to
LC Duplex Connector with Coupler
|
 |
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9 µm Single Mode
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SC Duplex Connector
to
LC Duplex Connector with Coupler
|
 |
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Note: Fiber optic conversion kits are not orderable as product feature codes for Z.
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Fiber optic conversion kits can be ordered by using the IBM Networking Services fiber cabling services options. Each conversion kit contains one cable.
References
The following publications include information that is related to the topics in this appendix:
•ESCON I/O Interface Physical Layer Document, SA23-0394
•Fiber Channel Connection for S/390 I/O Interface Physical Layer, SA24-7172
•Coupling Facility Channel I/O Interface Physical Layer, SA23-0395
•IBM z Systems Planning for Fiber Optic Links (FICON/FCP, Coupling Links, and Open Systems Adapters), GA23-1407
•S/390 Fiber Optic Link (ESCON, FICON, Coupling Links and OSA) Maintenance Information, SY27-2597
•Fiber Transport Services Direct Attach Planning, GA22-7234
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