¿Qué es el cable MTP® y para qué sirve?

La demanda actual de velocidad de transmisión en la capa de acceso de los centros de datos se puede cubrir con 10G a través de un cable de fibra óptica LC estándar. Pero, con el aumento de la demanda de ancho de banda en los centros de datos a medida que se amplían, el núcleo de la red y la capa de convergencia necesitarán pasar a la transmisión de 40/100G. Para satisfacer esta demanda, la tecnología MTP® ofrece una solución ideal. El cable MTP® está diseñado para la transmisión a 40/100G y puede albergar 8, 12, 24, 48 e incluso más fibras en un solo Conector MTP® que ocupa menos espacio y mejora la circulación del aire. En este artículo nos centraremos en el cable MTP®, presentando sus características básicas y su uso para la migración a 40G.

¿Qué es el cable MTP®?

MTP® stands for multi-fiber termination push-on connector, which is a registered trademark of US Conec. MTP® Wiki defines it as a brand name for a version of MPO connectors with improved specifications. MTP® and MPO connectors are completely compatible and inter-mateable: an MPO cable can be plugged into an MTP® outlet and vice versa. But note that, MTP® connector is designed with better mechanical and optical performance. MTP® connectors use a special design, which is available in female (without pins) and male (with pins) versions as shown in the following picture. The pins can ensure proper alignment of the connectors when mating two MTP® connectors. MTP® connectors also have an extrusion, called a “key”. “Key up” and “key down” are the two types of the “key”. “Key up” means that the extrusion on the connector is facing up, while “key down” means facing down. MTP® fiber optic cable can bring together 8/12/24/48 fibers in a single MTP® interface, which increases the cable density, and offers savings in circuit card and rack space. Commonly, MTP® cable is used for 40G/100G transmission.

Figura 1: Ejemplo de conector MTP®

Tipos de cables MTP®

To help customers achieve 40/100G connection and upgrade, FS has released several MTP® cable types: MTP® trunk cables, MTP® harness cables and MTP® conversion cables.

• MTP® trunk cables are designed with MTP® connectors (female/male) on both ends, and serve as permanent fiber links between panels in a structured environment. Typically, MTP® cables are used as backbone or horizontal cable interconnections. Featured with efficient plug-and-play design, MTP® trunk cable helps reduce the installation and maintenance costs. And MTP® trunk cables can decrease the cable volume and improve the airflow conditions. FS offers 12/24-fiber MTP® female trunk cables, which is design for 40/100G direct connections and high-density data center applications. They are available in various length (1-10m or customized length), and offer OM3/OM4 and OS2 with OFNP and LSZH cable jacket options. These cables are made of Corning ClearCurve® glass fibers with low insertion loss. All the MTP® fiber cables have been fully tested to deliver super performance and reliability.

Figura 2: Cable troncal MTP®

• MTP® harness cable is also called MTP® fan-out or breakout cable. It’s terminated with a female/male MTP® connector on one side and four or six duplex LC/SC connectors on the other side. Usually, this MTP® cable type is used to connect devices within one rack for short distances links. FS provides 8-fiber MTP® female to 4 LC harness cables, and 12-fiber MTP® female to 6 LC harness cables. These breakout cables provide transmission from 8/12-fiber MTP® to 4/6 LC duplex connectors, which is ideal for 10G to 40G and 25G to 100G transmissions.

Figura 3: Cable de conexión MTP®

• El cable de conversión MTP® tiene un conector MTP® en un extremo y dos o tres conectores MTP® en el otro. FS ofrece cables de 24 fibras MTP® hembra a 2x MTP® hembra o 3x MTP® hembra, e incluso diseños personalizados. Normalmente, en el caso del cable de conversión MTP® 1×2, un único conector MTP® que contiene 24 hebras de fibra se divide en dos conectores MTP® en el extremo opuesto, cada uno con 12 fibras. Esto te permite convertir los troncales de red de 12 fibras en conexiones Base-24 para alcanzar velocidades de datos de 40G o 100G. Por su parte, el cable de conversión MTP® 1×3 te permite convertir tus troncales de red de 8 fibras en un único conector MTP® de 24 fibras para implementar velocidades de 100G o 120G.

Figura 4: Cable de conversión MTP®

Usa el cable MTP® de Focc para la migración a 40G

Aquí te presentamos dos formas habituales de pasar de 10G a 40G mediante un cable MTP®.

The first option is using a standard 12-fiber MTP® trunk cable, 4 LC to LC patch cables, one 40G QSFP+ MTP® transceiver, 4 SFP+ modules and a MTP®-8 breakout cassette to achieve a simple migration from 4x10G to 40G. The figure below shows the connectivity method. Plug the 40G module into the QSFP+ port of a network switch, and plug the 4 10G modules into 4 SFP+ ports on another switch. Then use the MTP® trunk connect the 40G module and the MTP® cassette, and use the 4 LC cables connect the MTP® cassette and the four 10G modules. Then the whole simple connection from 4x10G to 40G is completed.

Figura 5: Usa el cable troncal MTP® para llevar a cabo la migración a 40G.

The other option is to use MTP® breakout cable, which is a simple way. As the following picture shows, four 10G SFP+ transceivers are inserted into 4 SFP+ ports of the network switch, while one 40G QSFP+ module is plugged into QSFP+ port of the other switch. Then use the 8-fiber MTP® to LC cable to connect the four 10G transceivers and the 40G transceiver. Finally, the data can be delivered from 10G to 40G switch via the MTP® to LC breakout cable smoothly.

Figura 6: Usa un cable de derivación de MTP® a LC para llevar a cabo la migración a 40G.

El cable MTP® es un componente clave en los entornos de transmisión de alta velocidad actuales. Ofrece una opción flexible y de alta densidad para conectar rápidamente dispositivos de red