Single-floor link environment
A single-floor link environment (Figure 1) uses multiple, strategically placed distribution panels that are connected by trunk cable to a central distribution panel. This environment provides flexibility and growth because installation or relocation of equipment can be performed by using short multimode jumper cables, while causing little or no disruption to operations. After the equipment is relocated or installed, it can be reconnected into the closest distribution panel.
Other advantages include enhanced cable management capabilities and a more organized under-floor cable layout.
Consider the following when planning for a single-floor link environment:
- The Fiber Transport Services (FTS) offering of IBM® Global Services Advanced Connectivity System (IACS) provides planning assistance, the required commodities, and the installation of this type of link environment. Contact your IBM marketing representative for more information.
- Place the distribution panels according to the location and number of devices and channels.
- Install enough spare trunk fibers for future growth. Although spare trunk fibers can remain unterminated without causing system disruption, installing connectors during trunk cable installation could be more cost-efficient and convenient.
- Each trunk connection and splice causes additional link attenuation (loss). The cabling design must consider the number of connectors and splices when calculating the link loss.
- This environment requires additional fiber optic jumper cables, which must be purchased separately.
