INTELLIGENT CABLING
The savings are the result of the fact environments with limited space for cable that network devices are less needed due routing and floor distributors. A passive to simpler network structures with large optical LAN can cover distances of up to 20 installations, that network devices have kilometers and thus gives planners a whole become less expensive and that cabling new range of approaches for connecting has become simpler. Passive optical LAN workstations. requires just one single mode fibre per You should always bear in mind that workstation. It thus replaces up to four all workstations, which are connected to twisted-pair copper cables in floor cabling. an optical line terminal port via a splitter
Passive optical LAN granularity tends, share the bandwidth of this connection. however, to be pretty approximate and, for This is why in practice a splitting ratio optimum capacity utilisation, a network in the optical splitter of no more than interface card in the optical line terminals 1:32 is recommended today for gigabit should be able to operate 256 workstations. passive optical LANs. The guaranteed All connection points envisaged at one transmission performance of a workstation workstation including reserves have to be is thus relatively small in comparison to developed from the outset with passive application-neutral cabling. optical LAN.
A further important fact is energy
This means that a lot of active ports consumption. Passive optical LAN does remain unused. This has to be taken into work passively in signal distribution, in consideration in calculations. Particularly other words does not need any active suitable application areas for passive devices on the transmission link. But the optical LAN are large, extended LAN distributed switches at the workstations installations with a high number of need a power supply. A compact workstations to be connected. Passive infrastructure with a large switch with optical LAN is also particularly suitable for lots of ports is typically more efficient
KEY TAKEAWAYS
• In practice a splitting ratio in the optical splitter of no more than 1:32 is recommended for gigabit passive optical LANs
• Particularly suitable application areas for passive optical LAN are large, extended LAN installations with a high number of workstations to be connected
• Passive optical LAN can cover distances of up to 20 kilometers and gives planners a new range of approaches
• Passive optical LAN granularity tends to be approximate and for optimum utilisation a network interface card in the optical line terminal should be able to operate 256 workstations
• Passive optical LAN is also particularly suitable for environments with limited space for cable routing and floor distributors
• Passive optical LAN promises the availability of the potential of fiber optics at every desk and every end device.
• Passive optical LAN requires just one single mode fiber per workstation and replaces up to four twisted-pair copper cables in floor cabling
• The advantages of passive optical LAN are reduced costs for setting up and operating a system
• Various estimates show that passive optical LAN is up to 50 % less expensive than traditional, application-neutral office cabling to operate than a widely distributed, infrastructure with lots of small switches at remote locations.
The varying life cycles of passive and active passive optical LAN components, which have a symbiosis in the transmission channel, can be disadvantageous. The active devices only support those applications which were implemented at the time of commissioning. Usually, active devices have a life cycle of anything between three to five years, while the cabling, however, can easily last 15 years. When an upgrade takes place, the optical network terminal has to be exchanged at every workstation, which can mean considerable installation effort depending on the implementation. This should also be taken into consideration in terms of cost planning.
With the growing dependence on IT and an increasing number of connected devices, a fast, reliable, and cost-efficient LAN remains an essential business enabler. Implemented correctly, a passive optical LAN can help enterprises and organisations benefit from new communications technologies for years to come. But rather than simply jumping on the bandwagon, you must take the time to determine whether this is the right solution for your organisation.
Matthias Gerber is Market Manager Office Cabling at R & M
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