Question & Answer
Question
What are the differences between OM1, OM2, OM3, OM4, and OM5 fiber optic cables, and what are their supported distances for different Fiber Channel speeds?
Answer
Overview of Multimode Fiber (OM1 - OM5)
Multimode fiber (MMF) is commonly used for short-distance high-speed data transmission in storage area networks (SANs), data centers, and enterprise networking. OM (Optical Multimode) fiber types are classified based on core size, bandwidth, and transmission distance.
| OM Type | Core Size | Wavelength (nm) | Bandwidth (MHz·km) | Cable Color |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OM1 | 62.5µm | 850 / 1300 | 200 / 500 | Orange |
| OM2 | 50µm | 850 / 1300 | 500 / 500 | Orange |
| OM3 | 50µm | 850 | 2000 | Aqua |
| OM4 | 50µm | 850 | 4700 | Aqua |
| OM5 | 50µm | 850 - 953 | 28000 | Lime Green |
OM3, OM4, and OM5 are optimized for laser-based transmission using VCSEL (Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser), which allows higher speeds over longer distances. OM5 supports Short Wavelength Division Multiplexing (SWDM) for efficient use of multiple wavelengths.
Maximum Supported Distance with Fiber Channel (FC) Speeds
| Fiber Channel Speed | OM1 | OM2 | OM3 | OM4 | OM5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4Gbps | 70m | 150m | 380m | 400m | 400m+ |
| 8Gbps | 21m | 50m | 150m | 190m | 190m+ |
| 16Gbps | Not Supported | 35m | 100m | 125m | 150m |
| 32Gbps | Not Supported | Not Supported | 70m | 100m | 150m |
| 64Gbps | Not Supported | Not Supported | 35m | 50m | 100m |
Key Notes:
- OM1 & OM2 are not suitable for speeds beyond 8Gbps due to lower bandwidth.
- OM3 & OM4 are commonly used for modern FC SANs with speeds up to 32Gbps.
- OM5 is optimized for high-speed data center applications and future scalability.
For best performance and longer distances, OM4 or OM5 fiber is recommended for speeds 16Gbps and above in FC environments.
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Modified date:
17 April 2025
UID
ibm17229439