Performance comparison of parallel optical interconnects for enterprise servers
There is an emerging need in the computing industry for higher bandwidth, longer distance, and increased density interconnections within clusters of high performance enterprise-class computer systems. Many of these servers share a common set of high level requirements which lend themselves to the use of parallel optical interconnects to either supplement or replace existing copper data buses. In this paper, we describe the results of application testing performed on 12-fiber parallel optical cables and connectors, including a relative comparison between three different multimode cable assembly sources. Assembly loss and effects of both axial and off-axis pull forces are measured for cable samples mated to a laser transmitter array. Significant variations exist in the performance of the same type of cable assembly from different manufacturing sources, particularly concerning their susceptibility to pull forces; we also investigate the effects of fiber strain relief to improve performance of these links. While currently available 12-fiber array connectors are not equivalent in performance to standard duplex connectors, this work suggests areas for future improvement and data communication application requirements which should be considered when using parallel fiber optic arrays.
Handbook of fiber optic data communication
Contributors Preface to the Second Edition Pt. 1 The Technology Ch. 1 Optical Fiber, Cable, and Connectors Ch. 2 Optical Sources: Light-Emitting Diodes and Laser Technology Ch. 3 Detectors for Fiber Optics Ch. 4 Logic and Drive Circuitry Ch. 5 Optical Subassemblies Ch. 6 Fiber Optic Transceivers Pt. 2 The Links Ch. 7 Fiber Optic Link Requirements Ch. 8 Planning and Building the Optical Link Ch. 9 Testing Fiber Optic Local Area Networks (LANs) Pt. 3 The Applications Ch. 10 Introduction to Industry Standards Ch. 11 Intramachine Communications Ch. 12 Applications: Asynchronous Transfer Mode and Synchronous Optical Network Ch. 13 Fiber Channel Standard Ch. 14 Enterprise Systems Connection Fiber Optic Link Ch. 15 Local Area Networks, Fiber Distributed Data Interface, Ethernet, and Token Ring Pt. 4 The Manufacturing Technology Ch. 16 Semiconductor Laser and Light-Emitting Diode Fabrication Ch. 17 Receiver, Laser Driver, and Phase-Locked Loop Design Issues Ch. 18 Packaging Assembly Techniques Ch. 19 Alignment Metrology and Techniques App. A Measurement Conversion Tables App. B Physical Constants App. C Index of Professional Organizations App. D OSI Model App. E Network Standards and Documents App. F Data Network Rates App. G Other Datacom Developments Acronyms Glossary Index
Fiber Optic Link Requirements
This chapter illustrates the performance requirements of a fiber link and presents some design trade-offs involved in link planning and implementation. It emphasizes on the performance of point-to-point data links. These data links are the most common building blocks of data communication networks. These are used to build up more complex logical topologies, such as switched stars, rings, and so forth. The performance of a network system depends on the interaction of many elements, including both hardware and software, and is largely application dependent. Most data links are full duplex, thus permitting a two-way communication among the attached devices. Data link design is driven by the cost of optoelectronic transceivers and adapters, and not by optimization of the fiber bandwidth. Another unique requirement of datacom systems is distance. Fiber optic links are capable of error-free transmission over tens of km at data rates significantly higher than those of copper systems, which were earlier used. This increase in the data rate-distance product has opened up the data center and is partly responsible for recent distributed computing strategies. It has also enabled new applications, such as real-time data backup at a remote location for emergency disaster recovery.