Fiber VS Copper: racks interconnection in a pre-existing environment
-
Hi everybody, I run out of ports in a room (solid cat6 from the main rack) , so I have to add some more...
I have at least two different way to add them:- run 6-10 new cat6 cables for 65 meters each from the main rack to the room;
- buy a new little wall rack (60€) for the room, run two cables (fiber or copper?) from the main rack to the new little rack of the room one and connect old and new room ports using the "old" cat6 pulled from the tubes (it's only 4 years old, perfect status).
I think that the solution with the satellite rack would be more clean (there are already too many cables in the main rack with servers etc) and future-proof, and the cost would be similar: 300m of cat6 costs ~90€ vs 40€ for pre-terminated 4-strands SMF + 60€ for the little rack.
I also think that running the backbone between racks in SMF would be much more future proof (either for bandwith and diameter) than another pair of copper... what do you think about it? -
Is there any realistic advantage to the fiber? It's more costly and complex, unless it's needed for something, I normally avoid it. Copper is cheap and easy and does basically anything that you need and keeps getting faster faster than SMBs typically need it to.
-
@scottalanmiller
I don’t think fiber is much expensive, surely it’s cheaper for the bandwidth; if I will put something else like a backup server (or a new 4k nvr) in that room or if I repurpose it, I should be able to use that cable for absolutely EVERYTHING. AFAIK, today you can do more than 100Terabit on one strand of SMF, and 100Gbit is easily available… something like “the last cable you will ever need”. -
I do this both ways but usually lean towards fiber when I can't stay far enough away from electrical conduits. A major factor with fiber is that it is immune to noise from electrical circuits and can be run very close to them. I think fiber is cheap and I don't mind working with it. Yes, you can run 10G over CAT6 and it will also work well but you are limited on distance.
-
@francesco-provino said in Fiber VS Copper: racks interconnection in a pre-existing environment:
@scottalanmiller
I don’t think fiber is much expensive, surely it’s cheaper for the bandwidth; if I will put something else like a backup server (or a new 4k nvr) in that room or if I repurpose it, I should be able to use that cable for absolutely EVERYTHING. AFAIK, today you can do more than 100Terabit on one strand of SMF, and 100Gbit is easily available… something like “the last cable you will ever need”.It's the last cable you will ever need - as long as it's installed and protected correctly.
I believe there is nothing wrong with the Rack to Rack fiber plan. And in some cases - more ideal than copper.. What case? Manufacturing in a steel building with electric fork trucks, CNC machines and other EFI noise generating equipment, and you are pushing the 180-220m distance between Racks.
-
@gjacobse yes, we have machines like that. The production lines can draw up top 130kw of peak load.
-
@francesco-provino Makes sense then to go ahead and use fiber. You are already at 300m too. I never buy pre-term but make sure you spend the extra few dollars and have them install a pulling eye or loop for you. Makes it a lot easier.
-
@brandon220 said in Fiber VS Copper: racks interconnection in a pre-existing environment:
You are already at 300m too.
Just 65m in truth!
-
@gjacobse said in Fiber VS Copper: racks interconnection in a pre-existing environment:
, and you are pushing the 180-220m distance between Racks.
This is the only reason why I would use Fc.
-
I have 4 network closets stretched around our campus and just had 10G fiber run to all of them from our main server room. Before that was copper run to the length limit. I would recommend fiber over any length if speed is a factor, but when isn't it?
-
@wls-itguy said in Fiber VS Copper: racks interconnection in a pre-existing environment:
if speed is a factor, but when isn't it?
IDK somebody was posting about replacing a bunch of 10/100 switches the other day lol Fiber probably wont be on his radar for at least another 15 years
-
@bnrstnr said in Fiber VS Copper: racks interconnection in a pre-existing environment:
@wls-itguy said in Fiber VS Copper: racks interconnection in a pre-existing environment:
if speed is a factor, but when isn't it?
IDK somebody was posting about replacing a bunch of 10/100 switches the other day lol Fiber probably wont be on his radar for at least another 15 years
I think it was the same guy
-
@wls-itguy said in Fiber VS Copper: racks interconnection in a pre-existing environment:
@bnrstnr said in Fiber VS Copper: racks interconnection in a pre-existing environment:
@wls-itguy said in Fiber VS Copper: racks interconnection in a pre-existing environment:
if speed is a factor, but when isn't it?
IDK somebody was posting about replacing a bunch of 10/100 switches the other day lol Fiber probably wont be on his radar for at least another 15 years
I think it was the same guy
Who?
-
@francesco-provino said in Fiber VS Copper: racks interconnection in a pre-existing environment:
@wls-itguy said in Fiber VS Copper: racks interconnection in a pre-existing environment:
@bnrstnr said in Fiber VS Copper: racks interconnection in a pre-existing environment:
@wls-itguy said in Fiber VS Copper: racks interconnection in a pre-existing environment:
if speed is a factor, but when isn't it?
IDK somebody was posting about replacing a bunch of 10/100 switches the other day lol Fiber probably wont be on his radar for at least another 15 years
I think it was the same guy
Who?
The OP -
@brandon220 said in Fiber VS Copper: racks interconnection in a pre-existing environment:
I do this both ways but usually lean towards fiber when I can't stay far enough away from electrical conduits. A major factor with fiber is that it is immune to noise from electrical circuits and can be run very close to them. I think fiber is cheap and I don't mind working with it. Yes, you can run 10G over CAT6 and it will also work well but you are limited on distance.
Fiber is really nice, any idea what the real cost difference is going to be?
-
@scottalanmiller said in Fiber VS Copper: racks interconnection in a pre-existing environment:
@brandon220 said in Fiber VS Copper: racks interconnection in a pre-existing environment:
I do this both ways but usually lean towards fiber when I can't stay far enough away from electrical conduits. A major factor with fiber is that it is immune to noise from electrical circuits and can be run very close to them. I think fiber is cheap and I don't mind working with it. Yes, you can run 10G over CAT6 and it will also work well but you are limited on distance.
Fiber is really nice, any idea what the real cost difference is going to be?
Yes, 40 euro for 4 strands of 65m preterminated, tested, labeled and joined togeter in a single jacket of 6mm.
-
@scottalanmiller
like that. -
With pulling mesh!
-
@francesco-provino said in Fiber VS Copper: racks interconnection in a pre-existing environment:
@scottalanmiller said in Fiber VS Copper: racks interconnection in a pre-existing environment:
@brandon220 said in Fiber VS Copper: racks interconnection in a pre-existing environment:
I do this both ways but usually lean towards fiber when I can't stay far enough away from electrical conduits. A major factor with fiber is that it is immune to noise from electrical circuits and can be run very close to them. I think fiber is cheap and I don't mind working with it. Yes, you can run 10G over CAT6 and it will also work well but you are limited on distance.
Fiber is really nice, any idea what the real cost difference is going to be?
Yes, 40 euro for 4 strands of 65m preterminated, tested, labeled and joined togeter in a single jacket of 6mm.
That's very good. What about the adapters?
-
@francesco-provino said in Fiber VS Copper: racks interconnection in a pre-existing environment:
@scottalanmiller said in Fiber VS Copper: racks interconnection in a pre-existing environment:
@brandon220 said in Fiber VS Copper: racks interconnection in a pre-existing environment:
I do this both ways but usually lean towards fiber when I can't stay far enough away from electrical conduits. A major factor with fiber is that it is immune to noise from electrical circuits and can be run very close to them. I think fiber is cheap and I don't mind working with it. Yes, you can run 10G over CAT6 and it will also work well but you are limited on distance.
Fiber is really nice, any idea what the real cost difference is going to be?
Yes, 40 euro for 4 strands of 65m preterminated, tested, labeled and joined togeter in a single jacket of 6mm.
That's pretty inexpensive! Modules might be a bit pricier. Just make sure you clean the ends.
