Fiber Connections/Cable

[SteveM555]

We have been looking at our switches we have scattered around our site and noticed that nearly all of them are D-LINK DGS-1210's (DGS-1210-08P, DGS-1210-16, DGS-1210-24, DGS-1210-24P DGS-1210-48 Gigabit Smart Switches with Fibre Uplinks | D-Link UK)

 

They come with 4x SFP Fiber connections, but having hardly ever dealt with using Fiber I have a few questions if anyone can help...

 

1) We have a cabinet mounted on the wall of a store cupboard with 3x switches in. They are connected together using a single CAT5 to each switch (these were set up well before we started). There is only one uplink to one of these switches. Would they benefit from being connected together via Fiber? since the uplink is only 1Gbps anyway? - Id much prefer to get another couple of cable runs back to the main comms cabinet but it doesn't look like it's going to happen until at least next year.

 

2) If I do end up buying Fiber cables for these switches, does brand matter? I've seen plenty of [insert company] compatible SFP mini-GBIC connectors. Will any work as long as it's the correct type? e.g. I've been looking at these for example: Trendnet TEG-MGBS10 - SFP (mini-GBIC) Transceiver Module - Ebuyer

 

Thanks

[snagrat]

Switching to fibre wouldn't make much difference as you say both will run at a gig.

 

If you have DLink switches why not buy the DLink mGbic? At least you know they will work then.

 

However I believe compatibles will work

[localzuk]

Are the fibre runs that exist already completely full? For example, we have 16 core fibres running between many of our cabs and the core, but are only using 4 -8 of them, meaning we've got extras we can connect to if we want. Are there any spare cores on the fibres?

 

Your best way to improve capacity would be to have an uplink to each switch, rather than having the switches daisy-chained. The method of daisy-chaining doesn't really make much difference (unless the switches are specifically stacking switches with some form of proprietary interlink cabling).

 

Fibres should be installed so as to be terminated at a patch panel, and then a patch lead used, which connects to the SFP adapter. So, in your case, I'd look at D-Link gbics such as these - D-Link DEM-311GT 1000Base-SX SFP(mini-GBIC) Module For Multimode Fibre | Comms Express

 

The patch lead type should match the type of fibre that is run from patch panel to patch panel, with the appropriate connectors needed on each end (obviously). So, if you've got an OM3 cable, the patch lead needs to be OM3 etc...

[TronXP]

I have 3x Brand new in box D-LINK DEM-311GT SFP (DEM-311GT SFP 1000Base-SX Multi-mode Fibre Transceiver | D-Link UK) and about 10 others used which I would be willing to send. we haven't been using D-link for about 3 years now and they will be binned in the summer. PM me if your interested.

[localzuk]

Actually, thinking about it, I've got 2 D-Link DEM-311GT you can have too. They were only going to get binned otherwise. PM me your address and I'll mail them to you.

[SteveM555]

Thanks, that makes sense!

 

With regards to the cable run, there is no fibre to these switches.. It's CAT5 straight from the cabinet in the server room. The cabling has been around here for at least 6 years or so, it looks like the only thing they've done is replace the switches on the cheap. I was hoping to have more than 1 cable run, no idea what they expect is going to happen if that ever broke/cut etc. as it feeds a good few rooms.

 

I am pushing for fibre runs to all switch cabinets but it's way to late (apparently) to be planning it for this summer. I was hoping I could do something in the meantime to improve things until next summer.

 

There are even some switches around the server room that are not fibre, which I am hoping to sort out ASAP.

 

Thanks for the help!

 

 

Are the fibre runs that exist already completely full? For example, we have 16 core fibres running between many of our cabs and the core, but are only using 4 -8 of them, meaning we've got extras we can connect to if we want. Are there any spare cores on the fibres?

 

Your best way to improve capacity would be to have an uplink to each switch, rather than having the switches daisy-chained. The method of daisy-chaining doesn't really make much difference (unless the switches are specifically stacking switches with some form of proprietary interlink cabling).

 

Fibres should be installed so as to be terminated at a patch panel, and then a patch lead used, which connects to the SFP adapter. So, in your case, I'd look at D-Link gbics such as these - D-Link DEM-311GT 1000Base-SX SFP(mini-GBIC) Module For Multimode Fibre | Comms Express

 

The patch lead type should match the type of fibre that is run from patch panel to patch panel, with the appropriate connectors needed on each end (obviously). So, if you've got an OM3 cable, the patch lead needs to be OM3 etc...

[localzuk]

Ah, if there's no fibre to the cab at all, then there's not a lot you can do other than run more copper. If you've got a box of Cat5e cable, could you run a couple more lengths yourself, following the same route as the existing one?

[SteveM555]

Ah, if there's no fibre to the cab at all, then there's not a lot you can do other than run more copper. If you've got a box of Cat5e cable, could you run a couple more lengths yourself, following the same route as the existing one?

 

I think that's what I'll have to do for now. There are still plenty of switches without any fibre, luckily I can remedy most of those in the server room myself.

[Chris_]

Might be worth looking at adding links between the edge switches also, enable STP and then have some redundancy in the event of one of the main links between the core and edge failing, being damaged etc.