Multi-fiber cabling is used both inside data centers and across vast field networks in today’s advanced fiber-optic networks because deploying large counts of fibers using as little physical space as possible provides the most efficient approach. On a basic level, MTP breakout cable consists of a ribbon cable that is then surrounded by a protective outer jacketing. When it comes to fiber counts this ribbon and/or multi-fiber cables are available with several options.
In a data center between racks, one can have 12 or 24 fiber patch-style cables that connect devices.
Across the network between sites, a larger field cable in the ground will have several of these resulting in larger fibers counts like 72, 144, 288, and so on. At the ends of some links, fibers may be individually terminated but those between the gear inside the data center often make use of MPO style connectors to reduce the number of total connections.
NEED TO SIMULATE MULTI-FIBER MPO LINKS
There are some primary applications where there is a simulation of multi-fiber links in the lab environment:
Device certification – is provided by the manufacturer or those deploying the equipment
Latency/delay validation – replicates expected network
Simulating real-world conditions is a critical part of the quality assurance process particularly for transceiver and device manufacturers who are designing or certifying their technology. In case an engineering team is designing a new 100G transceiver with a 500m distance specification and MPO connectivity then it needs to be tested over a real 500m MPO breakout cable to make sure that before going into production it is optically functioning as expected over that distance. The QA team may run a final test over the simulated link once a finished product is in production just to make sure that before shipping to the customer the product passes its final inspection.
Secondly, while validating or certifying the necessary equipment before purchase, engineers at service providers and data centers tasked with selecting and deploying MPO breakout cable in their network may wish to replicate their unique fiber links. Spending a large sum of money on equipment is the last thing any network engineering team wants to do and later gets to know that it doesn’t meet all of the needs.
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