Given a scenario, deploy the appropriate cabling solution. 1111

GBIC

A gigabit interface converter (GBIC) is a transceiver that converts electric currents (digital highs and lows) to optical signals, and optical signals to digital electric currents. The GBIC is typically employed in fiber optic and Ethernet systems as an interface for high-speed networking. The data transfer rate is one gigabit per second (1 Gbps) or more. GBIC modules allow technicians to easily configure and upgrade electro-optical communications networks. The typical GBIC transceiver is a plug-in module that is hot-swapable (it can be removed and replaced without turning off the system). The devices are economical, because they eliminate the necessity for replacing entire boards at the system level. Upgrading can be done with any number of units at a time, from an individual module to all the modules in a system.

SFP

A small form-factor pluggable (SFP) transceiver is a compact, hot-swappable, input/output transceiver used in data communication and telecommunications networks. SFP interfaces between communication devices like switches, routers and fiber optic cables, and performs conversions between optical and electrical signals. SFP transceivers support communications standards including synchronous optical networking (SONET)/synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH), gigabit ethernet and fiber channel. They also allow the transport of fast Ethernet and gigabit Ethernet LAN packets over time-division-multiplexing-based WANs, as well as the transmission of E1/T1 streams over packet-switched networks.

- Bidirectional

(BiDi) SFP and BiDi SFP+ are newer types of transceiver supporting transmit and receive signals over the same strand of fiber (simplex port). This uses a technology called Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) to transmit the Tx and Rx signals over slightly shifted wavelengths. For example, 1270nm for TX and 1330nm for RX. BIDI transceivers must be installed in matched pairs tuned to the wavelengths used for the link. Bidirectional links are documented in Ethernet standards (1000BASE-BX and 10GBASE-BX).

- Characteristics of fiber transceivers

- Bidirectional - Duplex

• Connector types

- Copper - RJ-45 - RJ-11 - BNC - DB-9 - DB-25 - F-type - Fiber - LC - ST- SC - APC - UPC - MTRJ

• Media types

- Copper - UTP - STP - Coaxial - Fiber - Single-mode - Multimode

•Transceivers

- SFP - GBIC - SFP+ - QSFP - Characteristics of fiber transceivers - Bidirectional - Duplex

Fiber

As opposed to most types of cable, fiber-optic cable (also known as optical fiber) uses light instead of electricity to transmit signals. Obviously, light is the fastest method of transmitting information, but fiber-optic cable has the additional advantage of not being subject to electrical interference. Thus, you can run it just about anywhere. Since light meets very little resistance, you can run fiber-optic cable over very long distances without having to boost or clean the signal. Some signals have been transmitted over 5,000 miles before they had to be processed. Imagine what that means for a normal network installation.Fiber optics also involves speed. You can send signals at more than 10 GB per second. And even at that velocity, the signal is much cleaner than traditional electrical cabling. Comparing fiber-optic cabling to coaxial cabling is sort of like comparing digital information to analog information. (It really isn't much of a comparison. Fiber optics is far more impressive.)

Coaxial

Coaxial cable, or coax for short, gets its name from the fact that there are two conductors that share the same axis. As shown in the figure, coaxial cable consists of: A copper conductor used to transmit the electronic signals. The copper conductor is surrounded by a layer of flexible plastic insulation. The insulating material is surrounded in a woven copper braid, or metallic foil, that acts as the second wire in the circuit and as a shield for the inner conductor. This second layer, or shield, also reduces the amount of outside electromagnetic interference. The entire cable is covered with a cable jacket to protect it from minor physical damage

Characteristics of fiber transceivers

Data can usually travel only one way in a fiber optic cable, so most transceivers have two ports for bidirectional communication: one for sending and the other for receiving signals. Alternatively, a single cable can be used, but it can only send or receive data at a time but not both. The opposite end of the transceiver has a special connector for fitting it into specific models of enterprise-grade Ethernet switches, firewalls, routers and network interface cards. A modern fiber optic transceiver is a small device because it is intended to plug into the aforementioned network devices; this type of transceiver is called a small form-factor pluggable transceiver.

- Duplex

Duplex patch cords must maintain the correct polarity, so that the Tx port on the transmitter is linked to the Rx port on the receiver and vice versa. The TIA/EIA cabling standard sets out A to B patch cord to port orientations. Each element in the link must perform a crossover and there must be an odd number of elements, such as two patch cords and a permanent link (3 elements):

- Single-mode - Multimode

Fiber-optic cable comes in two forms: single-mode and multi-mode. Single-mode cable is so narrow that light can travel through it only in a single path. This type of cable is extremely expensive and very difficult to work with. Multi-mode cable has a wider core diameter, which gives light beams the freedom to travel several paths. Unfortunately, this multi-path configuration allows for the possibility of signal distortion at the receiving end.

SFP

SFP is also called a mini gigabit interface converter (GBIC) because its function is similar to the GBIC transceiver but with much smaller dimensions.

SFP+

SFP+ stands for Small Form-factor Pluggable Plus - SFP+ transceivers are an enhanced version of the SFP that can support data rates of up to 16Gbps. The SFP+ specification was first published on May 9th 2006 and the first version 4.2 was published on July 6th 2009. As one of the most popular industry standards it is supported by many network component vendors. SFP+ supports 8 Gbit/s Fibre Channel, 10 Gigabit Ethernet and the Optical Transport Network standard OTU2. SFP+ modules have the same dimensions as SFP. The big difference between the SFP and SFP+ modules is the encoding method. These modules have more circuitry to be implemented on the host board instead of the inside module. SFP+ modules can also be used in older equipment with XENPAK or X2 ports through the use of an active electronic adapter. SFP+ modules come in two types linear and limiting. Linear SFP+ modules are most appropriate for 10GBase-LRM, otherwise, limiting modules are preferred. These contain a signal amplifier to re-shape the degraded (received) signal whereas linear does not.

STP

Shielded twisted-pair (STP) provides better noise protection than UTP cabling. However, compared to UTP cable, STP cable is significantly more expensive and difficult to install. Like UTP cable, STP uses an RJ-45 connector. STP cable combines the techniques of shielding to counter EMI and RFI and wire twisting to counter crosstalk. To gain the full benefit of the shielding, STP cables are terminated with special shielded STP data connectors. If the cable is improperly grounded, the shield may act like an antenna and pick up unwanted signals. Different types of STP cables with different characteristics are available. However, there are two common variations of STP: STP cable shields the entire bundle of wires with foil eliminating virtually all interference (more common). STP cable shields the entire bundle of wires as well as the individual wire pairs with foil eliminating all interference. The STP cable shown uses four pairs of wires, each wrapped in a foil shield, which are then wrapped in an overall metallic braid or foil.

Transceivers (Media Converters)

The term transceiver does describe a separate network device, but it can also be technology built and embedded in devices such as network cards and modems. In a network environment, a transceiver gets its name from being both a transmitter and a receiver of signals—thus the name transceivers. Technically, on a LAN, the transceiver is responsible for placing signals onto the network media and also detecting incoming signals traveling through the same wire. Given the description of the function of a transceiver, it makes sense that that technology would be found with network cards. Although transceivers are found in network cards, they can be external devices as well. As far as networking is concerned, transceivers can ship as a module or chip type. Chip transceivers are small and are inserted into a system board or wired directly on a circuit board. Module transceivers are external to the network and are installed and function similarly to other computer peripherals, or they can function as standalone devices.

Copper

There are three main types of copper media used in networking: Unshielded Twisted-Pair (UTP) Shielded Twisted-Pair (STP) Coaxial ========================================================================================================================================== These cables are used to interconnect nodes on a LAN and infrastructure devices such as switches, routers, and wireless access points. Each type of connection and the accompanying devices have cabling requirements stipulated by physical layer standards.

QSFP

This abbreviation stands for Quad Small Form Factor Pluggable. This type of cable support Infiniband, Fibre Channel, Ethernet and Sonet/SDH standards as well as other types of proprietary interconnects. They are available for use in either singlemode or multimode applications and is able to support 4 independent channels that can individually transmit at up to 1.25 Gbp/s per channel for an aggregate combined speed of 4.3Gbp/s. However, due to technology advancements these type of optics are seldom used.

UTP

Unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) cabling is the most common networking media. UTP cabling, terminated with RJ-45 connectors, is used for interconnecting network hosts with intermediate networking devices, such as switches and routers. In LANs, UTP cable consists of four pairs of color-coded wires that have been twisted together and then encased in a flexible plastic sheath which protects from minor physical damage. The twisting of wires helps protect against signal interference from other wires. As seen in the figure, the color codes identify the individual pairs and wires in the pairs and aid in cable termination.

• Plenum vs. PVC

Whether you choose a riser (PVC), plenum or LS0H jacket depends on where you're going to run the cable. PVC cable features an outer polyvinyl chloride jacket that gives off toxic fumes when it burns. It's commonly used for horizontal runs from the wiring centre. You can use it for vertical runs between the floors - but only if the building features a contained ventilation system running through the duct work. Plenum cable is used between floors in a building. It has a special flame-retardant coating. A plenum is a space within the building created by building components, designed for the movement of environmental air. Building showing plenum cable (red) and riser cable (blue).