The Future of Structured

Cabling
A look into the next 10-15 years of Cabling
Infrastructure Technology
2 BICSI RCDD, 2 NTS, 2 INSTALLER CREDITS
Britt Johnson
Berk-Tek Western Regional Manager

It simply works better.

NetClear
 It simply works
Topics better.

NetClear

 The future for Fiber Optic Cabling

 Existing fiber options
 Upcoming IEEE standards
 The effects of the IEEE standards on fiber infrastructure
 Conclusions
 The future for Copper Network Cabling
 Noise and copper cable plants
 Upcoming technology
 It simply works
better.
Fiber Connectivity
NetClear
Today
 It simply works
Fiber Design Options better.

NetClear

 Three Physical Configuration Options

 Field Terminated Cables and Connectors
 Traditional installation method
 Pre-terminated Cable Assemblies
 Lowers total installation costs
 Improved termination performance
 Cassette based connectivity
 High density terminations
 Quick installation time
 It simply works
Cassette based solution better.

NetClear

 MTP/MPO connector
factory terminated on a 12
fiber cable
 Assembly connects to
cassettes with choice of
connectors
 Allows for speed of install,
re-usability, flexibility
 Popular in data center
environments
 It simply works
Fiber Options better.

NetClear

 62.5 um Multi-Mode  50 um Multi-Mode

 160 MHz  500 MHz (OM 2)
 200 MHz  700 MHz
 500 MHz  2000 MHz (OM 3)
 4700 MHz
 Single Mode Fiber
 4900 MHz
 SMF-28
 Low Water Peak

• Higher bandwidth glass will lengthen the distance an application works

• “Excess bandwidth” can apply to reducing link loss budget
 It simply works
Bandwidth and distance better.

NetClear

50 um Fiber bandwidth and distance

50/ 125 50/ 125 50/ 125 50/ 125 50/ 125
FDDI GIGAlite * GIGAlite10 * GIGAlite10-FB * GIGAlite10-XB *
Berk-Tek Description: (ZB) (LB) (EB) (FB) (XB)

ISO/IEC OM 2 Exceeds OM 2 OM 3 Exceeds OM 3 Exceeds OM 3

Minim um Bandw idth

(MHz•km ) @ 850 nm 500 MHz 700 MHz 2000 MHz 4700 MHz 4900 MHz
1 GbE Transm ission distance
(m eters) @ 850 nm 550M 750M 1000M 1040M 1210M
10GbE Transm ission distance
(m eters) @ 850 nm 82 150M 300M 550M 600M
 It simply works
Standards Organizations better.

NetClear

 Technology advances come from Standards

groups
 IEEE 802.3 Ethernet Electronics Vendors
 ISO 11801 European Version of IEEE
 TIA Cabling Vendors
 Vision into IEEE/ISO 11801 will provide roadmap
for direction of cabling infrastructure
 It simply works
High Speed Roadmap better.

NetClear

Higher Speed Ethernet Market Adopters

Campus Backbones
Corporate Backbones
Corporate Data Centers
ISP Aggregation
High Performance Computing (HPC)
Large Enterprise Data Centers
Internet eXchanges running 10 Gb/s
ISP Backbones connecting 10 Gb/s
Content Providers wanting to push more to users

08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 15 16 17

Year 20--
 It simply works
Project Number: P802.3ba better.

NetClear

5.5 Need for the Project: The project is necessary to provide

a solution for applications that have been demonstrated to
need bandwidth beyond the existing capabilities. These
include data center, internet exchanges, high performance
computing and video-on-demand delivery. Network
aggregation and end-station bandwidth requirements are
increasing at different rates, and is recognized by the
definition of two distinct speeds to serve the appropriate
applications.
 High Speed Study Group (HSSG) to focus on providing a
data center oriented solution
 It simply works
HSSG Development Plan better.

NetClear
Study
Group Task Force
approved TF WG Sponsor
CFI Review Ballot Ballot Standard

J ASOND JFMAMJ J ASOND JFMAMJ J ASOND JFMAMJ J ASOND JFMAM

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

D1.0 D2.0 D3.0

Baseline Last Last
Proposal Feature Technical
Change
 It simply works
better.
High Speed Study Group
NetClear

 IEEE 802.3ba (HSE) objectives from a

cabling perspective:
 Support 40G and 100G:
 At least 1m over a backplane
 At least 10m on copper cabling (twinax)
 At least 100m on OM3 (2000 MHz MM glass)
 At least 10km on SMF (metro and enterprise)
 At least 40km on SMF (long-haul)
 It simply works
100M over OM3 fiber better.

NetClear

 Discussion Points
 Transmission method
 Impact on number of fiber strands
 Connector types
 Distances at 40G and 100G
 What happened to OM2 fiber?
 Single-Mode VS Multi-mode
 Preparing for 40G/100G today
 It simply works
Transmission Method better.
12 Channel Duplex 12 Channel Duplex NetClear
100 Gb/s 850 VCSEL Array 2 Lambda

•2 x 6 x 10 Gb/s
•One 12 fiber ribbon/MPO
•12 x 10 Gb/s
•Two 12 fiber ribbons/MPO

 MM 1G/10G uses Serial transmission scheme

1 fiber dedicated Tx, 1 fiber Rx
 40G/100G to use parallel transmission
10 fibers at 10G ea. Tx
10 fibers at 10G ea. Rx
 12F MTP/MPO connector
 24 fiber MM cable
 Possible 12F solution using CWDM
 It simply works
Multi fiber connector better.

NetClear

 MTP is only viable

connector option
as this point in
time
 It simply works
Transmission method better.

NetClear

 SM option will likely use

Coarse Wave Division
Multiplexing
 4 lasers combined into one
fiber
 1 fiber Tx, 1 fiber Rx
 2 fibers total
 40G/100G lasers do not
exist and will be too
expensive
 Low water peak SM fiber
better suited to CWDM
 It simply works
better.
Low/Zero water peak fiber
NetClear
Lower loss

1.2
O wavelength
E (nm)
S C L

0.9
Conventional
SM Fiber
Loss (dB/km)

0.6

0.3

0 Coarse Wavelength
1300 1400 1500 1600 Division Multiplexing
(20 nm spacing
Wavelength (nm) ITU-T G.694.2)

Enables Full-Spectrum CWDM

 It simply works
Distances better.

NetClear

LED’s used in lower

speed fiber
transmissions (100
Mb/s)
Encircled Power 3D Power map VCSEL’s (low cost
laser’s) replace LED’s at
1 GB/s speeds and up
VCSEL’s have a non-
uniform power
dispersion
 It simply works
Distances better.

NetClear

DMD causes bit errors. Power concentrated in many modes

with high delay, causes split pulse

LED
All
Modes

Power in high DMD modes relatively low, causes secondary

pulse very low amplitude, overall pulse detectable as one.
 It simply works
Distances better.

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 Manufacturing process for parallel transmission contains a

high scrap rate
 Mounting 12 VCSEL’s on wafer difficult
 Manufacturer’s want to loosen specification
 Spectral width
 Encircled flux
 Looser VCSEL specification increase the effects of DMD
 Higher DMD results in less distance
 OM2 distance with new VCSEL’s is too short
 OM3 becomes minimum bandwidth fiber
 OM4 to be included in standards (4500 Mhz or 500M at 10G)
 It simply works
OM4 fiber (OM-3+) better.

NetClear

 Targeting a bandwidth of 4500 MHz

 Distance at 10G 500M
 Targeting a distance of over 200M for 40/100G
 Berk-Tek sells the current maximum fiber bandwidth at
4900 MHz.
 GigaLite 10XB fiber for 600M at 10G
 Best shot at longer distance 40G/100G
 It simply works
Single-Mode VS Multi-mode better.

NetClear

 Single Mode CWDM Systems

Work continues to define technical and economic feasibility of designs
being considered
 Pro: Low cable cost
 Con: High Transceiver cost & development required
 OM3 Multimode Parallel Systems
10 Gb/s VCSELS and fiber are already available
 Pro: Low cost, readily available parts
 Con: High cable cost and sensitivity to length
 Traditionally, cost of electronics drive cost comparisons between
MM and SM
 Preliminary cost analysis for MM suggests lower cost up to ~200
meters
 It simply works
Specifying for 40G/100G better.

NetClear

 Specify low loss solutions

 Berk-Tek/Ortronics performance above the standards
 Lower loss for channel or
 More connection points or
 Longer distances
 Ortronics low loss MTP cassettes
 .5 dB premium performance cassettes
 It simply works
Specifying for 40/100G better.

NetClear

 Use smaller OD cables

 Ribbon cables too big and bulky

New 48F MDP

Cable (0.231” OD) 48F Stacked Ribbon
24F (0.189” OD) Cable (0.520” OD)
 It simply works
Comparison: better.

MDP to Ribbon NetClear

New 48F 48F Stacked

MDP Cable Ribbon Cable
(0.231” OD) (0.520” OD)

DIAMETER (in) MIN BEND RADIUS (in) WEIGHT (lbs/1000ft)

Fiber
Count MDP Ribbon MDP Ribbon MDP Ribbon
12 0.160 0.52 2.4 7.8 9 168
24 0.189 0.52 2.8 7.8 14 168
36 0.231 0.52 3.5 7.8 19 168
48 0.231 0.52 3.5 7.8 20 168
72 0.274 0.52 4.1 7.8 28 168
 It simply works
Specifying for 40/100G better.

NetClear

 Use highest bandwidth fiber to insure longest

length/ lowest loss budget
 150M at 10G (700 MHz) is out of standard
 300M at 10G (2000 MHz) is 100M at 40G
 550M at 10G (4500 MHz) is >100M at 40G
 600M at 10G (4900 MHz) gives customer best shot
 Only available from OFS glass
 It simply works
Traditional OVD Deposition better.
Process NetClear
Mandrel (Inert)

Initial layers
OVD Soot Deposition have high
•All Soot layers deposited density
prior to sintering
•Density decreases as boule
becomes larger OVD Torch
•Soot exposed to contamination
Gas Mixture
 It simply works
OVD Drying/Sintering Process better.
Drying/Sintering
Furnace NetClear
Mandrel Void left

removed
F
u 1100-1500 oC
r
n
a
c
e

Initial layers can now Gas Mixture

(Cl2)
have cracks, defects
•Soot sintered to form glass
•GeO2 redistribution by Cl2 and density
variations cause index profile deformation
•Void collapses causing index variation
with possible defects at center
 It simply works
Distances better.

NetClear

End View

Core
Clad

•Each layer sintered prior to deposition of the next layer

•Inside process is immune to contamination

Results in superior control of Refractive Index Profile

(therefore DMD & BW), Attenuation, Geometry
 It simply works
better.
40G Over Copper?
NetClear
 It simply works
The Future for Copper better.

NetClear

 No current IEEE work in progress on 40G copper

 Manufacturer’s and research institutions have
begun preliminary modeling
 Berk-Tek and University of PA
 Transceiver manufacturer’s
 Possible to look at UTP/FTP technology and draw
reasonable conclusions about copper roadmap
 It simply works
Copper Cabling Technology better.

NetClear

 Cabling design is all about reducing the impact of

noise on the signal
 Maximize signal strength
 Decrease noise
 Cables can reduce noise
 Twist rate, insulation, separation, precision reduce
internal noise
 Consistency and precision of manufacturing process
and shielding can reduce external noise
 It simply works
Internal noise in cables better.

NetClear

 Internal Noise is unwanted signals jumping from one pair to an adjacent pair
 NEXT, FEXT, ELFEXT, PSNEXT, PSELFEXT
 The higher the application speed the less noise the system can handle
 Higher speed Ethernet (1G and 10G) must use sophisticated internal noise
cancellation techniques
 Can internal noise at 40G be reduced enough for UTP cable?
 It simply works
External Noise Sources better.

NetClear

 Electromagnetic interference (EMI)

 Narrow spikes of voltage
 Generated by copy machines, air conditioning units, elevators, etc.
 Radio Frequency Interference (RFI)
 Conflicting frequencies with Ethernet (60-120 MHz)
 Alien cross-talk
 Unwanted emissions from cable to cable in a bundle
 Same pair-pair (white –blue) alignments in separate cables coupling
unwanted emissions
 It simply works
Cable Balance better.

NetClear

 Precise manufacturing of the pairs will allow a

cable to absorb some external noise
 Concentricity of conductors and strand
 Even application of dielectric material
 Consistent twist pattern
 Measured as LCL, ELTCL (cable balance)
 Efficient at reducing EMI and RFI to
acceptable levels
 It simply works
Data Competency Center better.
supporting tests NetClear

EFT, RFI, Temperature, transceiver variability, 10G modeling,

maximum distances 10GBase-SR, proximity to power, etc.
 It simply works
EFT Test better.

NetClear

 90 M of 5e, 5E, 6
installed in wiremold
raceway with 0”
separation from power
cable
 Haefley generator
introduced EFT pulses
increasing to 1000V
 Etherpeak generated
Gigabit Ethernet traffic
and measured packet
loss
 It simply works
Cable Performance Under EFT’s better.

NetClear

3.500E-03

3.000E-03

2.500E-03

2.000E-03 Fram e
Error
1.500E-03 Ratio

1.000E-03

5.000E-04

0.000E+00

950
850
750
650
550
450

EFT Noise Voltage

350
250

CAT6 Sample 1 CAT6 Sample 2 CAT5e Sample 3 CAT5e Sample 1 CAT5e Sample 2 Unbalanced CAT5e
 It simply works
External Noise and UTP better.

NetClear

 Alien Crosstalk
 Crosstalk (noise) occurring between
adjacent cables in a bundle
 Occurs at Near End of cable plant
(ANEXT)
 Occurs at Far End of cable plant
(AELFEXT)
 High speed cabling design tries to
reduce Alien Crosstalk
 Higher twist rates
 Separation (larger sizes and lays)
 Result is a larger OD cable
 It simply works
External Noise better.

NetClear

 Two options for reducing external noise

Shielding

Spacing
Cat 6 Cat 6a
 It simply works
ANEXT and AFEXT VS TIA better.
FTP and UTP NetClear

•FTP shows greater margin over TIA than 6A, especially

at higher frequencies.
 It simply works
Shielded (FTP) cable design better.

NetClear

 Two approved versions

 FUTP or FTP (Class E)
 IEEE requirements
 TIA requirements
 6AFTP
 Category 7 (Class F)
 ISO 11801 European
 Individually shielded pairs
with an overall braid
 It simply works
Recap key points for UTP better.

NetClear

 UTP cable is all about signal strength VS Noise

 Noise is external and internal
 The higher the application speed, the less
tolerance for noise
 Internal noise can be cancelled to acceptable levels
 External noise a major design hurdle
 Spacing and shielding have been used to push
UTP cable to 100M at 10G
 It simply works
Copper Cabling better.

NetClear

Copper Cable Types

Category Category Category Category Category

Cable Type: 5e 6 6FTP 6A 7
AWG size 24 23 23 23 22
yes, each pair
Shielding
no no yes, overall no plus overall

Frequency Rating 100 MHz 250 MHz 500 MHz 500 MHz 600 MHz

Ability to reduce internal noise fair good good high very high

Ability to reduce external noise low fair very high high very high

1 GbE Transm ission distance 100M 100M 100M 100M 100M

55M if criteria
10GbE Transm ission distance n/a met 100M 100M 100M
 It simply works
The future for cable better.

NetClear

 40G over copper

 2000 MHz frequency
 Extremely low noise tolerances
 Technology not available today to make
UTP work
 Some type of shielded cable likely for
100M operation
 Characterized to high frequency
 Multiple shielding
Why did I ever
 Heavier gauge wire switch from IBM
 Thicker insulation Type 1!
 It simply works
The future for outlets better.

NetClear
4 Pairs on top
250 MHz
8 top contacts
100% RJ45 compatible

4 new contacts
For >600MHz

2 Pairs on top
2 Pairs on bottom Switch mechanism
Only 8 contacts at a time
600 MHz
Server Trends: It simply works
better.
Ethernet Ports NetClear
30
Source:
100M 1G 10G 40G 100G Intel &
25 Broadcom
(April 2007)

20
Millions

15

10

0
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
10-15 year transition for 1G Ethernet

x86 Servers by Ethernet Connection Speed (40G and 100G)

 It simply works
Fiber and Copper review better.

NetClear

 Changes in current fiber standards development process

will affect fiber cable plant designs for 40G
 Parallel transmission technology
 24 strands per node
 MTP/MPO connection styles
 Changes in transceiver manufacturing to drive increases in glass
bandwidth
 OM3 at a minimum at 100M
 Copper roadmap is a long time out
 UTP technologies may be challenged
 Some type of shielded technologies likely
 10G cabling today will last 10-15 years
 THANK YOU
QUESTIONS?

It simply works better.

NetClear
Higher speeds = less noise It simply works
better.
tolerance
____________________________________________________________________________________ NetClear

Ethernet Protocol
10BaseT
2 s tate (0,1)

0 2
Tr ans m it V oltage s
w ith Tr ans ition Le ve ls

____________________________________________________________________________________

Ethernet Protocol
3 s tate

100BaseT
(M LT3)
(-1,0,1)

-2 -1 0 1 2
Tr ans m it V oltage s w ith
Tr ans ition Le ve ls

____________________________________________________________________________________
Ethernet Protocol

5 s tate
1000BaseT

(PAM 5)
(-2,-1,0,1,2)
Tr ans ition

-2 -1 0 1 2
Tr ans ition
Tr ans m it V oltage s w ith
Tr ans ition Le ve ls

____________________________________________________________________________________

Source: Agilent Reduced State to State Voltage Increases

Sensitivity and Error Generation
 It simply works
Enterprise Cabling Drivers better.

NetClear

 Distance
 Up to 100M for copper
 Up to 300M for fiber
 Price
 Electronics costs
 Copper lowest cost option
 MM fiber next lowest cost option
 SM fiber highest cost option
 It simply works
How will it be transmitted? better.

NetClear

 MM 1G/10G uses Serial

transmission scheme
 1 fiber dedicated Tx
 1 fiber dedicated Rx
 Likely that 40G/100G will
move to a parallel scheme
 10 fibers at 10G ea. Tx
 10 fibers at 10G ea. Rx
 12F MTP/MPO connector
 24 fiber MM cable
 It simply works
Preparing for 40G/100G better.

NetClear

 Specify OM3 at minimum

 OM4 (4500 Mhz minimum) as an option
 Add SM (low water peak) to cables
 Data center design around 100M max lengths
 Be aware of higher fiber count requirements
 2 fibers per link becomes 24 fibers
 MTO/MTP connectors will likely become standard
interfaces