Building a New Structure—Optical Networks

Building a New Structure—Optical Networks

Necessary Hardware, Both Inside and Outside the Building, to Accommodate Fiber

The following hardware will be necessary, both inside and outside the building to accommodate fiber:

Main Cross-Connect

This is also referred to as main distribution frame. This will be in the same location or in proximity of the datacenter. The placement of main cross connect in the same location of the data center will ensure a central management end for fiber optic network's reconfiguration. Equipment in the main cross-connect will be capable of the following:

Adequately handling large number of fiber

Accepting either pigtail splices or equipment termination

Preterminated splicing assemblies at the frame

Offering reconfiguration capabilities and jumper storage

Mainly equipment of main cross-connect is installed in wall cabinets or racks

Intermediate Cross Connect

This will mainly connect cable plant inside the building with the cable plant outside the building. This will have lesser number of fibers, and will be smaller in scope as compared to main cross-connect. Products in the intermediate cross-connect will needed to be wall mounted. The intermediate cross-connect size will determine the required products (Senior, 2008).

Hardware for Telecom Closet

Equipment of telecom closet will make the transition from horizontal cable plant and backbone.

Telecom Outlet for Work Area

This outlet will be the endpoint of the fiber optic wiring. For this, only fiber cables will be used or a combination of copper and fiber will be used.

Splice Panel

This will change the outside cable to plenum or riser cable. Splice panel will break out the outside cable to entity-shielded fiber. After the splicing, the fibers will be routed to the proper tray of splice and will be positioned in order to prevent any damage.

Patch Panel

This will provide a centralized site for patching fibers, restoring, monitoring, testing trunk or riser cables.

Wall Outlet

This will terminate the permanent wiring and will provide a connection for jumper cable in order to connect the network.

Plan for Running Fiber from One Building to Other Buildings

For the simple building-to-building plan of fiber connectivity, we will make use of fiber optic network that will connect various buildings. There will be large number of threads of fiber optic cable originating from a central point. Each thread of fiber optic cable will be numbered. In building 1 where the fiber will be originated; network gear will also be housed.

The above diagram demonstrates the following:

For the network, the Catalyst 4006 will be at the centre

Building 1 will not have network gear, however all the fiber strands will pass through building 1

Building 2 will have two switches, and 4 fiber strands will be configured to pass through building 2

Building 3 will also have 2 switches

Safety Procedures While Performing Installations

Some fiber optic systems have enough power to cause damage for an eye, and most broken ends of fiber will diffuse the light passing through the fiber. However, this will be the legal concern. Some of the safety procedures that we will need to follow include:

Technicians will be asked not to inspect the live optical fiber ends, ...