Testing 40/100G-Capable

Fiber-Optic Systems
Tyler Vander Ploeg, RCDD
JDSU

Agenda

Understanding Parallel Optics & MPO

Past / Present / Future

Common Issues when testing MPO

Best practices for Testing MPO

MPO Test scenarios (10G & beyond)
Summary

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MPO/Ribbon Fiber Past/Present/Future.

6 1/10Gbps Ethernet Links

1/10/40/100Gbps
Optical Ethernet

12 fiber MPO Link w/Cassettes at either end

Fiber consolidation and migration path
SFP/SPF+ at each end

Distribution Switching/Routing
1/10/40Gbps
Optical
Ethernet

SAN Switches

4 10Gbps Ethernet Links

8 fiber MPO Link w/Cassette

Fiber consolidation and migration path
QSFP at switch SPF+ at server

Access
Switching

1/10 Gbps
Electrical/Optical
Ethernet

SAN
Fiberchannel

Storage

Servers

40/100Gbps Ethernet Link

12 fiber MPO Link (8 fibers used)

QSFP/CFP at both ends

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Specific Testing Issues for 40/100G (Ribbon/MPO) Fiber

Polarity Issues
Three types of MPO cords in the market, causing a lot of
confusion
Need for a graphical tool to provide wiremap like features

Interoperability between 10G->40G links

Most installations use break-out cables/cassettes to get 10G links
Test Instrument should be able to support LC on one end and
MPO on other

Insertion Loss
Maximum permissible loss of 1.9 dB (40GBASE-SR4 Channel)
Maximum permissible loss of 1.5 dB (100GBASE-SR4 Channel)
Connector loss is critical

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Polarity and Gender

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MPO Patch Cord Configurations

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Single Fiber vs. Multi-Fiber Connectors

SINGLE FIBER CONNECTOR

White ceramic ferrule

One fiber per connector
Common types include SC,
LC, FC, and ST

MULTI-FIBER CONNECTOR

Polymer ferrule
Multiple fibers in linear array
(for example, 8, 12, 24, 48, and 72) in single
connector providing high-density connectivity
Common type is MPO or MTP

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Anatomy of a 12-fiber Multi-Mode MPO Connector

Key

The MPO fiber

connector has 4 major
areas:

Fiber
Ferrule
Alignment pins/sockets
Polarity key

Fibers

Polymer
Ferrule
Alignment
pins/sockets

12 Fiber MultiMode Connector (Female)

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Focused on the Connection

Adapter

MPO Male

MPO
Female

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Focused on the Connection

Physical Contact

The Physical Contact area is

the critical joining point in the
fiber network. If there is no
clean physical connection, the
light path is disrupted and the
connection is compromised.

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Top-view Cross Section 12 Fiber MPO - Clean

1
2
3
Physical Contact

4
5
6
7

Example of

Clean Connection
(no contamination)

8
9
10
11
12

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Top-view Cross Section (112 Fibers)

1
Air Gap

2
3
Particle Dirt

4
5
6
7
8

Example of

Dirty Connection
(contamination causing air gaps,
back reflection, insertion loss)

9
Dirt
10

Back Reflection

11

Insertion Loss

12

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Inspect Before You Connectsm

Follow this simple INSPECT BEFORE YOU CONNECT process to ensure

fiber end faces are clean prior to mating connectors.

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IEC 61300-3-35 Sets Requirements for Connector Quality

Even for MPO!

CLADDING Zone
CORE Zone

Multimode MPO Connectors

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Inspect and Clean Both Connectors in Pair!

Inspecting BOTH sides of the connection is the ONLY WAY to ensure

that it will be free of contamination and defects.

Patch Cord (Male) Inspection

Bulkhead (Female) Inspection

Patch cords are easy to access and view compared to the fiber inside the bulkhead, which
is frequently overlooked. The bulkhead side may only be half of the connection, but it is far
more likely to be dirty and problematic.

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Inspect ALL fibers in a Multi-Fiber Connector!

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What Other Tests Need to be Performed?

Polarity Checks
Type A cord Type B adapter Type B cord = ???!!!

Test from MPO to simplex (SC/LC)

Insertion Loss Measurement
Need to be able to perform reference
Loss per fiber w/Pass/Fail

Power measurements on live systems

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Check Polarity for Fiber Map

For existing installations, the

end-to-end polarity is often not
known
Fiber Map shows the polarity
of the system or trunk

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Test Scenario 1: MPO to MPO

Easiest way to test

Test permanent link trunks
Test 40/100G Channels
Ensure polarity and loss
MPO Bulkhead

MPO Bulkhead
MPO Trunk

MPO Test Reference Cords

C40G
Local
with
MPO RX

C40G
Remote
with
MPO TX

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Test Scenario 2: MPO to Single Fiber

One end MPO source Other end simplex power meter

Testing from MPO to Fanouts or Cassettes
End-to-end trunks for 10G to QSFP
Fiber Map from MPO to LC/SC
MPO Cassette

MPO Bulkhead
MPO Trunk

C40G
Local
with
MMF RX

MMF Test
Reference
Cord

MPO Test
Reference
Cord

C40G
Remote
with
MPO TX

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Test Scenario 3: Any Source to MPO

One end MPO power meter Other end any source

Fault Isolation
Testing output power from 40/100G optics

MPO Bulkhead

Bulkhead
MPO Trunk

C40G
Local
with
MPO RX

MPO Test
Reference
Cord

Any
Source

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Test Scenario 4: Selected Channels

Can apply to any of the above scenarios

Allows selection of which of the 12 channels are active
At the Remote (TX) and at the Local (RX)

Helps in cases when 8 or fewer fibers are present in MPO

links (40GBASE-SR4)
Results reflect topology
No unwanted fails due to nonexistent channels

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Things to Remember for Loss Measurements

Reference first!
Connector gender may require three cord reference test
method
Three cord reference test method is recommended for channel
testing (plugs at both ends)
Check the reference!

Set limit
Network or Custom (dB)

Auto-Test Makes it Easy!

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Auto-Test Results Loss and Fiber Map

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Summary

Specific Testing Issues for 40/100G over MPO

Polarity
Interoperability
Loss Budgets
Inspect Before You Connect Critical for MPO!
Industry standards require Inspection

Todays MPO test tools must be able to:

Support the latest Standards & Best Practices
Test 1G / 10G / 40G / 100G applications

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Thank-You!