Understanding Fibre Channels?

[rabsmith]

Hi,

 

Trying to get my head around our fibre network and the limitations. We had the cables tested back in 2015 - some of the results attached.

 

 

All cables are identified on this report as OM3. Looking at the results, the fact there are multiple tests on the same line - does this indicate:

 

• Year Leaders is 2 Channel?
  
• Lab is 8 channel?
  
• Finance is 2 channel?
  

 

I can't seem to find how that would limit the speed of the cables. Currently we have a 1gb switches but want to know if these are capable of supporting 10gb? What is the difference (in layman's terms) with the multi channels - if this indeed means this!

 

Any help understanding this greatly appreciated.

 

Richard

[localzuk]

I would guess they have tested the individual cores on your fibres. So 8 tests = 8 individual fibre cores.

[ellsandell]

Assuming the above are correct and they are OM3 you should be able to support 10GE, for OM3 the maximum length is 300 metres. You would need new optics and depending on how the fibre cables are terminated new patch cables.

[TABLE=class: wikitable]

[TR]

[TH=bgcolor: #EAECF0, align: center]Fibre type

(micrometers)[/TH]

[TH=bgcolor: #EAECF0, align: center]Range (m)[/TH]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]FDDI-grade (62.5)[/TD]

[TD]25[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]OM1 (62.5)[/TD]

[TD]33[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]OM2 (50)[/TD]

[TD]82[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]OM3[/TD]

[TD]300[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]OM4[/TD]

[TD]400[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10_Gigabit_Ethernet#10GBASE-SR

 

 

I would guess they were individual cores as well, you can probably confirm from the fibre patch panels.

[Ric_]

It's likely that the other guys are correct but could you not just go to the room named SERVER and count how many cables/sockets there are (I'd like to assume that the person testing the fiber also labelled them).

 

You should also take a look at the switch stats since those ones in red are likely not performing great. You certainly shouldn't bank on getting 10Gbps over them.

 

Whilst your playing with the switches, also take the time to add some bandwidth monitors to your connections between switches (something like Cactii will do the job and I've recently found OpenNMS super easy to use). The reason I suggest this is to make sure that you need the 10Gbps links - there's no point buying expensive switch ports and potentially having to upgrade fiber runs if your clients aren't approaching the limits of a 1Gbps link.

[rabsmith]

Lovely, thanks all, very helpful