Solved: question about 'lighting' fiber strands?

west33637 · ‎10-13-2010

Hello all. I am new to fiber optic networks and have a question in regards to

a comment at work. At work we have multimode fiber connecting

our campuses and the gig link is getting saturated. A coworker informed me that they have 2 spare dark fiber strands available and that we can light up those 2 strands and form an etherchannel bundle to increase bandwidth.

My question is what does he mean by light up those 2 fiber strands and how can this be accomplished. They have 6509 core switches on both campuses and the campuses are about 500 meters apart. Thanks. I really do not have much more detail than this at this time, I am just trying to understand the concept.

note - I understand etherchannel part and what he is trying to accomplish with it, I just dont know what he intends to do to 'light' the fiber.

Tom Randstrom · ‎10-14-2010

Select the proper type of Optical Transceiver Module (SFP/GBIC) to install in the transceiver module slot of the 6509 line card, per the below compatibility chart. In your case, you will probably just match the model number of the current transceivers modules currently running on the other fibers.

Transceiver Compatibility Chart - Gigabit Ethernet

<http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/interfaces_modules/transceiver_modules/compatibility/matrix/OL_6981.html#wp139518>

Then, you select the transceiver model based upon the type of fiber you will be using (multimode, 50 or 62.5 micron core, OM-?) and the links length. The data sheets for the transceivers will give you the supported link distances.

Transceiver Data Sheets

<http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/modules/ps5455/prod_module_series_home.html>

Make sure to clean all the connectors before inserting them into the transceiver modules.

Hope this helps!

View solution in original post

Leo Laohoo · ‎10-13-2010

My question is what does he mean by light up those 2 fiber strands and how can this be accomplished.

Plug a fibre optic module and cable on one end and repeat on the other end and then you can "light-em-up".

Tom Randstrom · ‎10-14-2010