InfiniBand coupling links I/O physical layer: Introduction

This chapter applies to fiber optic channel links, which includes both single mode and multimode coupling links. Parallel sysplex coupling links are also known as hyperlinks. There are two distinct physical layers that can be used as part of a fiber optic channel link: multimode and single mode. The multimode physical layer is intended for use with 50/125-micrometer multimode fiber optic cable. The single mode physical layer is intended for use with dispersion-unshifted, single mode fiber optic cable. Each physical layer provides a common, compatible I/O interface that products can use to communicate with each other through light pulses sent over multimode or single mode optical transmission fibers.