Brocade Communications Systems 1606 User manual

DATA CENTER
Best Practices Guide:
High Density Cable Management
Solutions
Describes recommended cabling solutions for high density port solutions
based on Brocade’s FC8-64 FC port blade.

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CONTENTS
Introduction........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 3
Terminology.................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Overview of the FC8-64 FC port blade.......................................................................................................................... 4
Planning.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 6
Challenges with Unstructured High Density Solutions................................................................................................. 6
Using a Structured Approach ........................................................................................................................................ 7
Cabling High Density, High Port Count Fiber Equipment...................................................................................... 7
Trusting the Standards ................................................................................................................................................10
Establishing a Naming Scheme ..................................................................................................................................10
Setup and Configuration - Up to 256 Port Solution ...........................................................................................................................................................11
Setup and Configuration - 512 Port Solution.......................................................................................................................................................................14
Servicing high density solutions...............................................................................................................................................................................................16
Connecting a cable to a empty mSFP.........................................................................................................................16
Removing a cable from a populated mSFP ................................................................................................................16
Best Practices for Managing the Cabling..............................................................................................................................................................................16
During Installation........................................................................................................................................................16
Daily Practices..............................................................................................................................................................17
Summary .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................18
APPENDIX A: Cable to Port Mapping......................................................................................................................................................................................19
LC Cable to Port Mapping............................................................................................................................................19
MPO/MTP Cable to Port Mapping ...............................................................................................................................20
APPENDIX B: Equipment List ....................................................................................................................................................................................................21
Chassis .........................................................................................................................................................................21
Patch Cables for mSFP Connection ............................................................................................................................21
Trunk Cables for mSFP Connection ............................................................................................................................22
Patch Panel ..................................................................................................................................................................22
Velcro Cable Ties..........................................................................................................................................................22
Labelers........................................................................................................................................................................22
APPENDIX C: Third-Party Vendors............................................................................................................................................................................................23
Cable Management Vendors.......................................................................................................................................23
Patch Panel Vendors ...................................................................................................................................................23

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INTRODUCTION
The lack of good cable management impacts serviceability and availability of the SAN. A good cable
management solution provides customers with the ability to dynamically scale and adapt to changes in their
IT infrastructure while minimizing required service time. This document provides customers deploying high
density solutions with general guidelines for proper cable management.
The demand for high density solutions are increasing as the need for the following grows:
•Reduced footprint, energy efficiency (minimize cable impact on air flow)
•Server consolidation and virtualization
•Storage consolidation and virtualization
The demands are resulting in:
•Highly utilized racks minimizing the foot print
•Increased cables per rack
This guide describes:
•Overview of the FC8-64 high density FC port blade
•Challenges with unstructured high density port solutions
•Structured high density cable management solutions based on LC and MPO/MTP®patch panels
•Reference configuration for 256 port LC and 512 port MPO/MTP solutions
•Part numbers for cables and patch panels and vendor contact information
NOTE: For complete details on data center cabling practices, refer to the Best Practices Guide: Cabling the
Data Center (PN: GA-BP-036-01). For additional FC8-64 and mSFP hardware details, refer to the Brocade
DCX Backbone Hardware Reference Manual or the Brocade DCX-4S Backbone Hardware Reference
Manual.
Terminology
Here are some common terms used in this best practices guide.
Term Description
mSFP Transceiver A narrower version of the standard 8Gb transceiver.
mSFP Cable A fiber cable with a narrower LC connector.
LC Lucent Coupler
MPO/MTP Industry acronym for Multi-fiber Push-On connector; MTP is a trademarked name and is synonymous with MPO.
Patch Cord Trunked cable with multiple fiber cables; commonly found in 12 or 24 fiber versions
RU Rack Unit (4.4 centimeters/1.75 inches)
NOTE:In this document, the terms MPO and MTP are used interchangeably and represent MPO and MTP
connections.

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Overview of the FC8-64 FC port blade
The Brocade®FC8-64 high density 64-port Fibre Channel blade (Figure 1) for the DCX®Backbone family
combines industry leading port density, performance, scalability, and reliability to maximize the benefits of
SAN and server consolidation. It’s the industry’s first and only 64-port 8 Gbps Fibre Channel blade that
enables mid to large enterprise customers to deploy high density modular chassis-based solutions to
minimize physical footprint without compromising performance.
The new high density Fibre Channel port blade increases the chassis density by 25%, enabling the DCX to
scale up to 512 ports and the DCX-4S to scale up to 256 ports with 8 Gbps performance.
The Brocade DCX family provides nearly six times the performance of competitive offerings. Performance
capabilities include:
Brocade DCX:
•Up to 512 ports operating simultaneously at full 8 Gbps speed
•Up to 1024 ports in a single rack (two chassis)
•4.096 Tbps of chassis bandwidth
Brocade DCX-4S:
•Up to 256 ports operating simultaneously at full 8 Gbps speed
•Up to 768 ports in a single rack (three chassis)
•2.048 Tbps of chassis bandwidth
Figure 1. Brocade DCX with FC8-64 FC port blade

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As an industry leader and innovator in high availability SAN solutions, Brocade developed a space efficient
version of the standard Small Form Factor Pluggable (SFP+) media that enables high density port
configurations as well as improved serviceability (Figure 2). These new “mini” SFPs (mSFP) retain all of the
performance and functionality of the standard SFP+ and include individual port isolation for improved
serviceability and availability. The FC8-64 port blade utilizes mSFPs rather than standard SFPs.
Figure 2. Mini SFP (mSFP) for use in the Brocade FC8-64 FC port blade
The following table provides an overview of standard SFPs versus mSFPs.
Specification SFP+ mSFP
Speed Grade Same (2/4/8Gb) Same (2/4/8Gb)
Operating Distance Same Same
Availability of SWL Transceivers Yes Yes
Availability of LWL Transceivers Yes No
Regulatory Compliance Same Same
Dimensions – Fiber pitch 6.25mm 5.25mm
Dimensions – Width 13.55mm 11.40mm
Dimensions - Depth Same (56.40mm ) Same (56.40mm )
LC patch cords Any LC patch cord mSFP patch cords provided by major cable vendors
Supplier Brocade Brocade
The mSFP fiber pitch and width are narrower than standard SFPs, resulting in the need for newer OM-3 fiber
cables with narrower LC connectors. Due to these changes, the standard LC connector was modified by
major cable vendors to accommodate the new fiber pitch and width. Refer to “Appendix B: Equipment List”
for cable manufacturer and part number details.
The new cables (Figure 3) provide the same flexibility in connectivity as standard LC cables:
•mSFP-LC cable: Provides the FC8-64 port blade with the ability to connect to other port blades,
switches, devices, and LC patch panels.
•mSFP-mSFP cable: Allows one FC8-64 port blade to connect to another FC8-64 port blade as ISLs.
•mSFP-MPO cable: Allows a trunked MPO cable to connect to multiple mSFP ports. Currently, six mSFP
connectors are supported in one trunk cable.

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Figure 3.mSFP cable types
PLANNING
As port density per a director and a rack increase, having an appropriate cable management plan is key
especially during servicing or scaling out the fabric. The cable management plan should include current and
future SAN design requirements. Cables can be managed in a variety of ways, such as by routing cables
below the chassis, to either side of the chassis, through cable channels on the sides of the cabinet, or using
patch panels. When planning your cable management solution and the cable routing path, take into
account the location of the rack’s power strip and the DCX power supplies to eliminate cable interference
when servicing the power supplies and cords.
Your task may involve wiring a new data center or upgrading the cabling in an existing data center.
•If you are upgrading an existing data center, you must evaluate, capture, and understand the present
cabling infrastructure thoroughly.
•Document the current (if any) and projected network topologies using an application such as Microsoft
Visio or Excel. Focus on the physical aspects, especially equipment interfaces. Document the various
cable types present and proposed, present and projected cable counts, approximate routed distances
to distribution areas and equipment, present and anticipated equipment port counts. Additionally,
document any areas of concern, and any established internal cabling standards.
•Plan to accommodate for current and future growth. Build in flexibility, so that the patching structure
will allow a device to connect to any other device in the data center. This will permit devices to be
located anywhere within the data center.
•When implementing a high density solution, install a Brocade DCX cable management comb under the
chassis door. This comb allows for simple cable management and can be installed without service
disruption. Route the cables down in front of the blades to keep LEDs visible. Leave at least one meter
of slack for each fiber optic cable to provide room to remove and replace blades.
Challenges with Unstructured High Density Solutions
All three growth factors—volume, performance, and distance—have placed enormous strain on IT
organizations, requiring miles of cable infrastructure to interconnect servers, storage, and Fibre Channel
fabrics for fast, reliable data and application delivery. Unfortunately, many organizations still rely on
traditional point-to-point cable solutions, reactively deploying cables one at a time to suit immediate needs.
The resulting cable clutter inhibits intelligent, pragmatic growth, contributing to an inefficient growth
strategy that will only worsen over time. The tasks of verifying proper connectivity, troubleshooting, and
managing device change also become more complex and time-consuming, and can lead to planned or
unplanned downtime of critical business applications.

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This inefficient approach also contributes to the over-heating of data centers—particularly within raised
flooring and around the racks where cable clutter primarily occurs—requiring additional resources to cool
the systems.
Figure 4. Cable clutter
Using a Structured Approach
Cable management solutions designed specifically for Brocade SAN infrastructures (utilizing the Brocade
DCX Backbone family) enable a reliable, flexible, and highly efficient cable infrastructure throughout the
data center.
Depending on their specific requirements, organizations can choose from various structured fiber-optic
cable management solutions. By moving from traditional low-density, duplex patch cord cable solutions to
high-density, structured cable solutions, organizations can implement the physical layer in a much more
manageable and flexible manner while streamlining data center reconfigurations and simplifying
management. These cable technologies are also more energy-efficient, helping organizations to consolidate
their IT infrastructures.
Most importantly, these structured optical cable solutions improve performance across both short and long
distances while reducing bulk cable volume by more than 75 percent. As a result, these solutions can help
organizations simultaneously meet the performance, scalability, and efficiency needs of their next-
generation data centers and significantly reduce complexity.
Cabling High Density, High Port Count Fiber Equipment
As networking equipment becomes denser and port counts in the data center increase to several hundred
ports, managing cables connected to these devices becomes a difficult challenge. Traditionally, connecting
cables directly to individual ports on low port-count equipment was considered manageable. Applying the
same principles to high-density and high-port-count equipment makes the task more tedious, and it is
nearly impossible to add or remove cables connected directly to the equipment ports.
Using fiber cable assemblies that have a single connector at one end of the cable and multiple duplex
breakout cables at the other end is an alternative to alleviate cable management. Multifiber Push-On (MPO)
cable assemblies are designed to do just that. The idea is to pre-connect the high-density, high-port-count
Lucent Connector (LC) equipment with LC-MPO fan-out cable to dedicated MPO modules within a dedicated
patch panel. Once fully cabled, this patch panel functions as if it were “remote” ports for the equipment.
These dedicated patch panels ideally should be located above the equipment whose cabling they handle for
easier access to overhead cabling. Using this strategy drastically reduces equipment cabling clutter and
improves cable management.

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Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of implementing LC or MPO/MTP cabling solutions in
static or dynamic environments:
Cabling
Solution
Low
Maint.
Easy
Fault
Isolation
Easy Cable
Replacement
Minimal
Cabling Mgmt
Space
Required
Low
Cost
Solution
Extensive
Cable
Connection
Mgmt Required
Static
LC to LC
√√
√√√
√√√
√
√√√
√
Static
MPO/MTP
√√√
√√
√
√√√
√
√
Dynamic
LC to LC
√
√√
√√√
√
√√
√√
Dynamic
MPO/MTP
√
√
√
√√√
√
√√
KEY: The checkmarks represent a sliding scale with √√√ representing the optimal solution for that
category.
Low Maintenance: Ability to modify environment through additional port usage, or changes in port usage.
1. Single LC-LC cables can be added or removed from environment as needed.
2. Trunk cables need to be added in groups of single cables. This makes expanding easy through clean
cable management.
Easy Fault Isolation: Ability to troubleshoot faults down to the cable or trunk which is causing problems.
1. LC-LC cable faults can be traced to a single cable and that cable can be replaced.
2. MPO trunk cables can be traced to the trunk/LC cable at fault and either the MPO trunk can be
replaced or a single LC-LC cable can be bypassed.
Easy Cable Replacement: Ability to replace defective cables as needed.
1. If a single LC-LC cable fails, that cable can be replaced.
2. If a single cable fails in a trunk, that cable can be bypassed with an LC to LC cable.
Minimal Cabling Mgmt Space Required:
1. LC-LC cables are larger and require more space for cable runs and patch panel connectors.
2. MPO trunks require less space for cable runs and fewer patch panel connectors.
Low Cost Solution:
1. LC-LC single cables cost less than MPO cables.
2. MPO trunk cables cost more than LC-LC cables.

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Extensive Cable Connection Mgmt Required:
1. LC-LC single cables require more cable management.
2. MPO trunk cables require less cable management.
Selecting the appropriate cable management solution is dependent on your unique environment. The following flow
chart is designed to assist you in determining the appropriate structured cable management solution for your
environment based on key items to consider:
•Is the SAN static or dynamic during its operational life cycle?
•Are the devices near the directors or is there a central distribution panel?
•Is there a trunked cable infrastructure already in place?
•Is an individual fibre cable a requirement for fault isolation?
With proper cabling and patch panel labeling, both solutions (LC & MPO/MTP) provide flexibility in terms of
servicing and managing cables. With MPO/MTP, users have reduced cable density and since ports are in
groups of six, they also have a faster ability to identify a port for servicing if necessary but required expertise
in replacing individual connections within the trunk.
B_382
Complete
Initial
SAN design
Static
<= 256 SAN
ports
LC or
Trunked cable
infrastructure
MPO/MTP
1 Rack Unit per
432 LC ports
Trunked Solution
MPO/MTP 1 Rack unit
supports 432 ports
1RU
per blade
available
LC: 4U max rack
space for 256 ports
1 Rack
Unit per blade
available
Rack space not
available for
patch panels
Trunked
LC
No
No
No
<= 256 SAN
ports
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
1RU
per blade
available
LC: 4U max rack
space for 256 ports
No
MTP/MPO or
direct connection
to the end nodes
MTP/MPO or
direct connection
to the end nodes
LC: 8 Rack Units
required for
512 ports
Yes
Yes
Dynamic
Static / Dynamic
SAN configuration

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Trusting the Standards
Industry cabling standards are designed to protect the end user. Whether these standards are in
draft or ratified state, they provide a firm foundation for establishing a coherent infrastructure, and
guidelines for maintaining high levels of cable performance. Cabling standards define cabling specifications
looking out to the next several years, thus supporting future desires for higher speed transmissions.
Standards enable vendors to use common media, connectors, test methodologies, and topologies, and
allow planners to design a cabling layout in the data center without worrying about compatibility issues.
There are a number of standards organizations and standards. The best-known cabling standards are listed
below:
Data Centers Specific Standards:
•United States -- ANSI/TIA-942 Telecommunications Infrastructure Standard for Data Centers
•Europe -- CENELEC EN 50173-5 Information Technology- Generic Cabling Systems- Part 5: Data Centers
•International -- ISO/IEC 24764 Information Technology- Generic Cabling for Data Centre Premises
General Commercial Building Cabling Standards:
•United States -- ANSI/TIA-568 Generic Telecommunications Cabling for Customer Premises
•Europe -- EN 50173-1 Performance Requirements of Generic Cabling Schemes
•International -- CSA ISO/IEC 11801:2009 Information Technology: Generic Cabling for Customer
Premises
Cabling Administration Standards:
•United States -- ANSI/TIA-606 Administration Standard for the Commercial Telecommunications
Infrastructure
NOTE: Cabling standards are reviewed and changed every five to ten years, which allows them to keep pace
with technology advances and future requirements. Know and trust the standards, and apply common
sense when designing, implementing, testing, and maintaining data center cabling. Standards may be
purchased online from IHS at http://global.ihs.com/.
Establishing a Naming Scheme
Once the logical and physical layouts for the cabling are defined, apply logical naming that will uniquely and
easily identify each cabling component. Effective labeling promotes better communications and eliminates
confusion when someone is trying to locate a component. Labeling is a key part of the process and should
not be skipped. A suggested naming scheme for labeling and documenting cable components is suggested
below (examples appear in parentheses):
•Building (SJ01)
•Room (SJ01-5D11)
•Rack or Grid Cell: Can be a grid allocation within the room (SJ01-5D11-A03)
•Patch Panel: instance in the rack or area (SJ01-5D11-A03-PP02)
•Workstation Outlet: Instance in the racks or area (SJ01-5D11-A01-WS02)
•Port: Instance in the patch panel or workstation outlet (SJ01-5D11-A03-PP02_01)
•Cable (each end labeled with the destination port)

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(You can exclude Building and Room if there is only one instance of this entity in your environment.)
Once the naming scheme is approved, you can start labeling the components. Be sure to create a reference
document that will become part of the training for new data center administrators.
NOTE: Additional recommendations can be found in the standard ANSI/TIA-606 Administration Standard for
the Commercial Telecommunications Infrastructure.
SETUP AND CONFIGURATION -UP TO 256 PORT SOLUTION
This section describes how to cable up a 256 port LC solution using FC8-64 port blades. Once the cable
labeling scheme has been defined, as described in the “Establishing a Naming Scheme” section in this
document, label the ports on the LC patch panel using the cable to port mapping table listed in Appendix A.
It is important to map the DCX slot and port number to the patch panel/shelf/port number on the LC patch
panel.
For a 256 port configuration, four sets of 1 rack unit LC patch panels with three shelves each are required.
Each 1RU LC patch panel supports 72 LC ports, which maps to a director blade. Therefore, when connecting
a FC8-64 port blade to a patch panel, it will have eight LC patch panel ports available, which can be used to
allocate additional fiber cables for redundancy. For this solution, there will be 32 unused patch panel ports.
In the following example, 2-meter cables are used to connect the director ports to the ports on the patch
panel. This length is sufficient if the patch panel is placed directly above or below the DCX. If this is not
possible, a 3-meter length cable is recommended.
NOTE: If both 1-meter and 2-meter cables are available, use the 2-meter cables for ports 16-31 and ports
48-63. This would minimize the extra fiber that must be managed inside the rack.
Patch Panel Installation:
1. Install the patch panels below the cable comb with a 1 rack unit gap between the cable comb and the patch
panel. For additional details, refer to the installation guide that ships with the patch panels.
2. Test each shelf by sliding out each tray for service accessibility (Figure 5).
Figure 5. Patch panel

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Cabling Installation (Front Side, Director Ports to Patch Panel):
1. Start cabling from the top ports (e.g. port 31).
2. Bundle the cables with Velcro in groups of eight to match the ASIC or trunk boundaries. This will facilitate
servicing of the system through easy identification of the cable path.
3. Work your way down to the bottom port.
4. Bundle the 32 cables using Velcro (ports 0-31).
CAUTION: Do not use plastic zip ties or metal tie wraps. These types of ties can cause sheathing and
overstress the patch cables, causing signal loss.
5. Connect each cable to an LC patch panel port using the numbering schema defined in Appendix A.
If you choose your own methodology, it is important to be consistent across all port blades and patch panel
ports. This will minimize the confusion as to which director ports are allocated to which LC patch panel
ports. Allocate 30-centimeters (12-inches) of slack at the patch panel to enable the patch panel’s top and
middle shelf to be raised into the up position for servicing.
6. Repeat Steps 1 through 5 for the second column of ports on the same blade (ports 32-63).
7. Bundle the 64 cables below the cable comb using Velcro.
8. Route the cables to the side of the rack (when facing the director, cables from director Slot 1-4 should be
routed to the left and down; cables from director Slot 9-12 should be routed to right and down).
NOTE:Do not route cables from Slot 1-4 towards the right as this could cause the fiber cables to be
damaged if ICL cables are used in the configuration.
9. Each bundle of 64 cables is about 3.75 inches in circumference. Wrapping and labeling this bundle (68)
with a cord management sleeve will protect the fiber and make it easier to identify and service the port
blade.
Figure 6. 256 ports wrapped/bundled

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Figure 7 depicts the 256 port cabling in its completed state. This methodology provides for an attractive
environment that facilitates cooler equipment, troubleshooting, and manageable growth or changes.
Figure 7. Completed cabling
Cabling Installation (Back Side, From Devices to Patch Panel):
When connecting cables from outside devices to the backside of the patch panel, the cables should be routed
through the patch panel’s backside punch-out holes. There are three options for routing cables through the back of
the patch panel (Figure 8):
1. Remove the cable glands and run the cables through the punch-out holes in the back side of the patch
panel.
2. Remove the cable glands, wrap a cord management sleeve around the cables, and run the cables
through the punch-out holes in the back side of the patch panel.
3. Keep the cables glands in place, create (cut) incisions in the cable glands to prevent scraping of the
cables against the metal and to allow for cable routing, and route the cables through the cable gland
slots and the punch-out holes in the back side of the patch panel. Ensure that the incisions in the cable
glands are made prior to installing the patch panels in the rack.
Figure 8. Device to Patch Panel Cabling

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The following items are required to implement this LC cable management solution for a 256 port LC patch
panel solution utilizing the Brocade DCX with four FC8-64 port blades:
•Four XBR-000306 1RU 72 port LC-LC patch panels
•256 mSFP-LC cables of 2-meter length
•Roll of Velcro & scissors
•Four Cord Management Sleeves
SETUP AND CONFIGURATION -512 PORT SOLUTION
This section describes how to cable up a 512 port DCX using an MPO/MTP solution with the FC8-64 port
blades. Unlike the LC direct port-to-port cable mapping, for the 512 port DCX solution, ruggedized fan-out
cables are used.
These have a MPO connector on one end and six duplex mSFP connectors on the opposite end. Thus, each
fan-out cable supports six mSFP ports. Once the cable labeling scheme has been defined, as described in
the “Establishing a Naming Scheme” section in this document, label the ports on the patch panel using the
table listed in the Appendix. It is important to map the DCX slot and port number to the MPO fan-out cable
and port number and patch panel/shelf/MPO port number.
Two 1 rack unit patch panel shelves, each with three MPO pass-thru panels, are required. Each 1RU MPO
patch panel supports 72 MPO ports, totaling 432 LC ports for connectivity. There will be 48 unused MPO
patch panel ports with this configuration.
In the following example, 2-meter cables are used to connect the director ports to the ports on the patch
panel with staggered cable lengths for mSFP ports (Figure 3) to minimize the cable slack at the port.
NOTE: If both 1-meter and 2-meter cables are available, use the 2-meter cables for ports 16-31 and ports
48-63. This will minimize the extra fiber that must be managed inside the rack.
Patch Panel Installation:
1. Install the patch panels below the cable comb with a 1 rack unit gap between the cable comb and the patch
panel.
2. Test each shelf by sliding out each self for service accessibility (Figure 9).
Figure 9. Installed patch panels (below cable comb)

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Cabling Installation (Front Side, Director Ports to Patch Panel):
1. Start cabling from the top ports (e.g. port 31).
2. Work your way down to the bottom port.
3. Bundle the trunk cable in groups of six above the cable comb using Velcro.
CAUTION: Do not use plastic zip ties or metal tie wraps. These types of ties can cause sheathing and
overstress the patch cables, causing signal loss.
4. Connect each trunk cable to an MPO patch panel port using the numbering schema defined in Appendix A.
If you choose your own methodology, it is important to be consistent across all port blades and patch panel
ports. This will minimize the confusion as to which director ports are allocated to which MPO patch panel
ports. Allocate 30-centimeters (12-inches) of slack at the patch panel to enable the patch panel’s top and
middle shelf to be raised into the up position for servicing.
5. Repeat Steps 1 through 4 for the second column of ports on the same blade (ports 32-63).
6. Bundle the 12 MPO cables below the cable comb using Velcro.
7. Route the cables to the side of the rack (when facing the director, cables from Slot 1-4 should be routed to
the left and down; cables from Slot 9-12 should be routed to right and down).
NOTE: Do not route cables from Slot 1-4 towards the right as this could cause the fiber cables to be
damaged if ICL cables are used in the configuration.
8. Each bundle of 12 MPO trunk cables is about 2.5-inches in circumference. Wrapping this bundle with a cord
management sleeve will not only protect the fiber but would also make it easier to identify and service the
port blade if the sleeve is labeled.
Figure 10. 512 port MPO/MTP solution

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The following items are required to implement this MPO/MTP cable management solution for a 512 port
solution utilizing the Brocade DCX with eight FC8-64 port blades:
•Two XBR-000307 1RU 72 port MPO-MPO patch panels
•96 mSFP-MPO/MTP cables of 2 meter length
•Roll of Velcro & scissors
•Eight Cord Management Sleeves
SERVICING HIGH DENSITY SOLUTIONS
Identifying and servicing fibre cables at a port level can be a challenge when servicing cables during an
anomaly due to the cable density. The mSFP transceivers used in the FC8-64 port blade are fitted with a
pull-tab to aid in installation and removal. The steps below with will ease the servicing process. For
additional details, refer to the mSFP, SFP, SFP+, and XFP Optical Transceiver Replacement Procedure.
Connecting a cable to a empty mSFP
1. Remove the mSFP from the port. Hold the mSFP pull-tab firmly and gently pull the mSFP away from the
connected port.
2. Verify the chosen optical cable supports mSFPs.
Note: If using a recommended patch cable, the clip that holds the two fiber cables in place should be black.
3. Connect the cable to the mSFP.
4. Insert the mSFP into the port. Hold the pull-tab on the mSFP firmly and insert the mSFP into the port and
slide it back into the port until the transceiver clicks (locks into place).
Removing a cable from a populated mSFP
1. Remove the mSFP from the port.
a) Make sure the patch cable is not wrapped around the pull-tab.
b) Loosen any cable ties used for holding the cables in place.
c) Hold the mSFP pull-tab firmly and gently pull the mSFP away from the connected port.
2. Disconnect the cable from the mSFP.
BEST PRACTICES FOR MANAGING THE CABLING
Whether implementing, upgrading, or maintaining cabling in the data center, establish a set of guidelines
that are thoroughly understood and supported by the staff. Here are some cable management pointers.
During Installation
√Avoid over-bundling the cables or placing multiple bundles on top of each other, which can degrade
performance of the cables underneath. Additionally, keep fiber and copper runs separated, because
the weight of the copper cables can crush any fiber cables that are placed underneath.
√Avoid mounting cabling components in locations that block access to other equipment (power strip or
fans) inside and outside the racks.
√Keep all cable runs under 90 percent of the maximum distance supported for each media type as
specified in the relevant standard. This extra headroom is for the additional patch cables that will be
included in the end-to-end connection.

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√For backbone and horizontal runs, install additional cables as spares.
√Install higher cabling categories that will meet application requirements for the foreseeable future.
√Cabling installations and components should be compliant with industry standards.
√Don’t stress the cable by doing any of the following:
—Applying additional twists
—Pulling or stretching beyond its specified pulling load rating
—Bending it beyond its specified bend radius, and certainly not beyond 90º
—Creating tension in suspended runs
—Stapling or applying pressure with cable ties
√Avoid routing cables through pipes and holes. This may limit additional future cable runs.
√Label cables with their destination at every termination point (this means labeling both ends of the
cable).
√Test every cable as it is installed and terminated. It will be difficult to identify problem cables later.
√Locate the main cabling distribution area nearer the center of the data center to minimize cable
distances.
√Do not route cables such that they block equipment cooling fans and restrict airflow.
√For horizontal and backbone twisted-pair cabling, preserve the same density of twists in the cable pairs
up to its termination.
√Use thin and high-density cables wherever possible, allowing more cable runs in tight spaces. Ensure
the selected cables meet standard specifications.
√Dedicate outlets for terminating horizontal cables, that is, allocate a port in the patch panel for each
horizontal run.
√Include sufficient vertical and horizontal managers in your design; future changes may involve
downtime as cables are removed during the changes.
√Use angled patch panels within high-density areas, such as the cable distribution area. Use straight
patch panels at the distribution racks.
√Utilize modular cabling systems to map ports from equipment with high density port counts;
as described in the earlier section titled “The Structured Approach”.
Daily Practices
√Avoid leaving loose cables on the floor; this is a major safety hazard. Use the horizontal, vertical, or
overhead cable managers.
√Avoid exposing cables to direct sunlight and areas of condensation.
√Do not mix 50-micron cables with 62.5-micron cables on a link.
√Remove abandoned cables that can restrict air flow and potentially fuel a fire.
√Keep some spare patch cables. The types and quantity can be determined from the installation and
projected growth. Try to keep all unused cables bagged and capped when not in use.

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√Use horizontal and vertical cable guides to route cables within and between racks. Use “cable spool”
devices in cable managers to avoid kinks and sharp bends in the cable. Do not wrap patch cords
around these spools like a hose on a hose reel.
√Document all cabling components and their linkage between components and make sure that this
information is updated on a regular basis. The installation, labeling, and documentation should always
match.
√Use the correct length patch cable, leaving some slack at each end for end device movements.
√Bundle cables together in groups of relevance (for example, ISL cables and uplinks to core devices), as
this will ease management and troubleshooting.
√When bundling or securing cables, use Velcro-based ties every 1 to 2 meters. Avoid using zip ties as
these apply pressure on the cables.
√Avoid routing cables over equipment and other patch panel ports. Route below or above and into the
horizontal cable manager for every cable.
√Maintain the cabling documentation, labeling, and logical/physical cabling diagrams.
SUMMARY
Although cabling represents less than 10 percent of the overall data center network investment, expect it to
outlive most other network components and expect it to be the most difficult and potentially costly
component to replace. When purchasing the cabling infrastructure, consider not only the initial
implementation costs, but subsequent costs as well. Understand the full lifecycle and study local industry
trends to arrive at the right decision for your environment.
Choose the strongest foundation to support your present and future network technology needs—comply with
TIA/ISO cabling standards. Build in additional capacity, as it is much easier to install now than later. Use
higher bandwidth grades of cabling to postpone having to re-cable as technologies advance. The cabling
itself calls for the right knowledge, the right tools, patience, a structured approach, and most of all,
discipline. Without discipline, it is common to see complex cabling “masterpieces” quickly get out of control,
leading to chaos.
Since each environment is different, unfortunately, there is no single solution that will meet all of your cable
management needs. Following the guidelines and best practices highlighted in this paper will go a long way to
providing you with the information required for the successful deployment of a cabling infrastructure in your data
center.

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APPENDIX A: CABLE TO PORT MAPPING
LC Cable to Port Mapping
NOTE: Print and past the table on the rack door or a log book located near the rack for easy identification
devices.

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MPO/MTP Cable to Port Mapping
NOTE: Print and past the table on the rack door or a log book located near the rack for easy identification
devices.