Link specifications
Table 1 lists the specifications for links using
single-mode (9/125-μm), or multi-mode (62.5/125-μm, or 50/125-μm) fiber optic cable. The trunk to
which the IBM® jumper cables are connected must have optical properties that conform to the
specifications in the table.
| Link/fiber type | Maximum length | Maximum loss | Trunk size/ wavelength | Minimum trunk modal bandwidth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESCON | |||||
| Multi-mode | 2.0 km (1.24 mi.) | 8.0 dB | 62.5 μm/LX | 500 MHz•km | 1, 3, 8 |
| Multi-mode | 2.0 km (1.24 mi.) | 8.0 dB | 50.0 μm/LX | 800 MHz•km | 1, 3, 4, 8 |
| Multi-mode | 3.0 km (1.86 mi.) | 8.0 dB | 62.5 μm/LX | 800 MHz•km | 1, 3, 4, 8 |
| Single-mode (Discontinued) | 20 km (12.4 mi.) | 14.0 dB | 9.0 μm/LX | NA | 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10 |
| Sysplex Timer (ETR/CLO) Same as multi-mode ESCON | |||||
| Coupling links (ISC, HiPerLinks/ISC-2, ISC-3, HCA-2, HCA-3, ICA) | |||||
| Multi-mode (discontinued May, 1998) | 1.0 km (.62 mi.) | 8.0 dB | 50.0 μm/SX | 500 MHz•km | 1, 3, 9 |
| Single-mode 1.06 and 2.1 Gbit/s | 10 km (6.21 mi.) | 7.0 dB | 9.0 μm/LX | NA | 1, 3, 5, 6, 7 |
| Single-mode card with 50 micron optical mode conditioner over multi-mode fiber | 550 meters (0.34 mi.) | 5.0 dB | 50.0 μm/LX | ||
| Multi-mode 12x IFB | 150 m (.093 mi.) | 2.06 dB | 50.0 μm/SX | 500 MHz•km | 1, 3, 9 |
| Single-mode 1x IFB | 10.0 km (6.21 mi.) | 5.66 dB | 9.0 μm/LX | NA | 1, 3, 5, 6, 7 |
| ICA SR 24x (MTP 24 - OM3) | 100 m (.062 mi.) | 2.06 dB | 50.0 μm/SX | 2000 MHz•km | |
| zHyperLink Express SR (OM3) | 100 m (.062 mi.) | 2.06 dB | 50.0 μm/SX | 2000 MHz•km | |
| ICA SR 24x (MTP 24 - OM4) | 150 m (.093 mi.) | 2.00 dB | 50.0 μm/SX | 4700 MHz•km | |
| zHyperLink Express SR (OM4) | 150 m (.093 mi.) | 2.00 dB | 50.0 μm/SX | 4700 MHz•km | |
| ICA SR 24x (MTP 24 - OM5) | 150 m (.093 mi.) | 2.00 dB | 50.0 μm/SX | 4700 MHz•km | |
| zHyperLink Express SR (OM5) | 150 m (.093 mi.) | 2.00 dB | 50.0 μm/SX | 4700 MHz•km | |
| FICON® LX | |||||
| Multi-mode with 50 micron optical mode conditioner | 550 meters (0.34 mi.) | 5.0 dB | 50.0 μm/LX | 500 MHz•km | 1, 3, 12, 13 |
| Single-mode LX 1 Gbps (100-SM-LC-L) | 10.0 km (6.2 mi.) | 7.8 dB | 9.0 μm/LX | NA | 1, 3, 5, 6, 7 |
| Single-mode LX 2 Gbps (200-SM-LC-L) | 10.0 km (6.2 mi.) | 7.8 dB | 9.0 μm/LX | NA | 1, 3, 5, 6, 7 |
| Single-mode LX 4 Gbps 4 km (400-SM-LC-M) | 4 km (2.5 mi.) | 4.8 dB | 9.0 μm/LX | NA | 1, 3, 5, 6, 7 |
| Single-mode LX 4 Gbps 10 km (400-SM-LC-L) | 10.0 km (6.2 mi.) | 7.8 dB | 9.0 μm/LX | NA | 1, 3, 5, 6, 7 |
| Single-mode LX 8 Gbps 10 km (800-SM-LC-L) | 10.0 km (6.2 mi.) | 6.4 dB | 9.0 μm/LX | NA | 1, 3, 5, 6, 7 |
| Single-mode LX 16 Gbps 10 km (1600-SM-LC-L) | 10.0 km (6.2 mi.) | 6.4 dB | 9.0 μm/LX | NA | 1, 3, 5, 6, 7 |
| Single-mode LX 32 Gbps 5 km (3200-SM-LC-L) | 5.0 km (3.1 mi) | 7.8 dB | 9.0 μm/LX | NA | 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 14 |
| FICON SX | |||||
| Multi-mode SX 1 Gbps (100-M6-SN-I) (OM1) | 300 meters (0.186 mi.) | 3.00 dB | 62.5 μm/SX | 200 MHz•km | 1, 3 |
| Multi-mode SX 2 Gbps (200-M6-SN-I) (OM1) | 150 meters (0.093 mi.) | 2.10 dB | 62.5 μm/SX | 200 MHz•km | 1, 3 |
| Multi-mode SX 4 Gbps (400-M6-SN-I) (OM1) | 70 meters (0.043 mi.) | 1.78 dB | 62.5 μm/SX | 200 MHz•km | 1, 3 |
| Multi-mode SX 8 Gbps (800-M6-SN-I) (OM1) | 21 meters (0.013 mi.) | 1.58 dB | 62.5 μm/SX | 200 MHz•km | 1, 3 |
| Multi-mode SX 1 Gbps (100-M5-SN-I) (OM2) | 500 meters (0.311 mi.) | 3.85 dB | 50 μm/SX | 500 MHz•km | 1, 3 |
| Multi-mode SX 2 Gbps (200-M5-SN-I) (OM2) | 300 meters (0.186 mi.) | 2.62 dB | 50 μm/SX | 500 MHz•km | 1, 3 |
| Multi-mode SX 4 Gbps (400-M5-SN-I) (OM2) | 150 meters (0.093 mi.) | 2.06 dB | 50 μm/SX | 500 MHz•km | 1, 3 |
| Multi-mode SX 8 Gbps (800-M5-SN-I) (OM2) | 50 meters (0.031 mi.) | 1.68 dB | 50 μm/SX | 500 MHz•km | 1, 3 |
| Multi-mode SX 16 Gbps (1600-M5)SN-I) (OM2) | 35 meters (0.022 mi.) | 1.63 dB | 50 μm/SX | 500 MHz•km | 1, 3 |
| Multi-mode SX 32 Gbps (3200-M5-SN-I) (OM2) | 20 meters (0.0124 mi) | 1.57 dB | 50 μm/SX | 500 MHz•km | 1, 3 |
| Multi-mode SX 1 Gbps (100-M5-SN-I) (OM3) | 860 meters (0.534 mi.) | 4.62 dB | 50 μm/SX | 2000 MHz•km | 1, 3 |
| Multi-mode SX 2 Gbps (200-M5-SN-I) (OM3) | 500 meters (0.311 mi.) | 3.31 dB | 50 μm/SX | 2000 MHz•km | 1, 3 |
| Multi-mode SX 4 Gbps (400-M5-SN-I) (OM3) | 380 meters (0.237 mi.) | 2.88 dB | 50 μm/SX | 2000 MHz•km | 1, 3 |
| Multi-mode SX 8 Gbps (800-M5-SN-I) (OM3) | 150 meters (0.094 mi.) | 2.04 dB | 50 μm/SX | 2000 MHz•km | 1, 3 |
| Multi-mode SX 16 Gbps (1600-M5E-SN-I) (OM3) | 100 meters (0.062 mi.) | 1.86 dB | 50 μm/SX | 2000 MHz•km | 1, 3 |
| Multi-mode SX 32 Gbps (3200-M5-SN-I) (OM3) | 70 meters (0.043 mi) | 1.75 dB | 50 μm/SX | 2000 MHz•km | 1, 3 |
| Multi-mode SX 16 Gbps (1600-M5F-SN-I) (OM4) | 125 meters (0.077 mi.) | 1.95 dB | 50 μm/SX | 4700 MHz•km | 1, 3 |
| Multi-mode SX 32 Gbps (3200-M5-SN-I) (OM4) | 100 meters (0.062 mi) | 1.86 dB | 50 μm/SX | 4700 MHz•km | 1, 3 |
| OSA: | |||||
| Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) LX | |||||
| Single-mode | 5 km (3.1 mi.) | 4.6 dB | 9.0 μm/LX | NA | 1, 3, 5, 6, 7 |
| Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) SX | |||||
| Multi-mode 50 micron | 550 meters (0.34 mi.) | 3.6 dB | 50.0 μm/SX | 500 MHz•km | 1, 3 |
| Multi-mode 62.5 micron | 275 meters (0.17 mi.) | 2.6 dB | 62.5 μm/SX | 200 MHz•km | 1, 3 |
| 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE LR) | |||||
| Single-mode | 10 km (6.2 miles) | 6.0 dB | 9.0 μm/LX | NA | 1, 3, 5, 6, 7 |
| 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE SR) including RoCE | |||||
| Multi-mode 50 micron | 300 meters (0.19 miles) | 2.6 dB | OM3 | 2000 MHz•km | 1, 3 |
| Multi-mode 50 micron | 82 meters (0.05 miles) | 1.8 dB | OM2 | 500 MHz•km | 1, 3 |
| Multi-mode 62.5 micron | 33 meters (0.02 miles) | 1.6 dB | OM1 | 200 MHz•km | 1, 3 |
| 25 Gigabit Ethernet (25GbE LR) | |||||
| Single mode | 10 km (6.2 miles) | 6.3 dB | 9.0 μm/LX | NA | 1, 3, 5, 6, 7 |
| Coupling Express2 LR | |||||
| Single mode 9 micron | 10 km (6.2 miles) | 6 dB | 9.0 μm/LX | NA | |
Notes:
- The maximum link length includes both jumper and trunk cables.
- The ESCON Extended Distance feature (ESCON XDF) must be installed in both the channel and the ESCON Director to obtain a maximum link length of 20 kilometers (12.4 miles).
- If the customer uses IBM's Fiber Transport Services (FTS), contact the marketing representative for distance considerations.
- The maximum total jumper cable length cannot exceed 244 meters (800 ft.) when using either 50/125-μm trunk fiber or when a 62.5/125-μm link exceeds 2 kilometers (1.24 miles).
- Single-mode connectors and splices must meet a minimum return loss specification of 28 dB.
- In a single-mode jumper cable, the minimum distance between connectors or splices is 2 meters (6.5 ft).
- In a single-mode trunk cable, the distance between connectors or splices must be enough to ensure that only the lowest-order bound mode propagates.
- The maximum link loss for multi-mode fiber includes the higher-order-mode loss, which is 1.5 dB for 50 μm and 1.0 dB for 62.5 μm on ESCON links only.
- Short wavelength (SX) versions of Gigagit Ethernet and FICON multi-mode links use a short wavelength laser (780 to 850 nm) over multi-mode fiber. Fiber loss at these wavelengths (3 to 4 dB/km) is higher than for other links using 1300 nm lasers (0.5 dB/km).
- Some single-mode ESCON transceivers use the FICON duplex connector rather than the IBM ESCON duplex connector. The maximum length and loss values are the same for both connector types and the maximum loss/distance is not reduced by using the ESCON adapter kit (part number 46H9223).
- The maximum FDDI link loss includes a system loss of 2.0 dB, which includes higher order mode losses, extinction ratio, and retiming penalties.
- Although the ANSI Fibre Channel Connection does not support the use of long wavelength (1300 nm) lasers on multi-mode fiber, IBM will support this combination. Special mode conditioning patch cables or couplers may be required; Refer to the Planning for Fiber Optic Links, GA23-1407.
- The use of MCP cables is not supported over 1 Gbps.
- FICON Express32S LX (FC 0461) supports a 32 Gbps link speed at distances up to 5 km between each channel and its nearest neighbor.