Size of fiber optic cable

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monitaverma

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Hello

Can anyone explain how to decide size( 6 strand or 12 stand or 24 strand) of fiber optic cable on the basis of number of computer stations?

I am working on a school project. Each classroom has 6 computer stations
 
I would recommend running 6 strand. Use a fiber to gigibit Ethernet switch to convert from fiber to standard Ethernet RJ45. You don't want to take fiber all the way to the computers because the cost would be outrageous and with cat5/6 you can achieve gigibit speeds. You can just use standard patch cables and the built in ethernet cards. Multimode is common in the US. In this case you will only use 2 of the 6 fibers, but you will have 4 spares for future or in case a fiber gets damaged. They IT department will have a manufacturer they would want for a switch. Below is a Cisco you can get a fiber adapter for.


http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1510703&CatId=2803
 
monitaverma said:
Hello

Can anyone explain how to decide size( 6 strand or 12 stand or 24 strand) of fiber optic cable on the basis of number of computer stations?

I am working on a school project. Each classroom has 6 computer stations
Click to expand...

What are you trying to accomplish? Are you building a Backbone or running new station cable ? Single Mode or Multimode Fiber ? if it's to a desktop from a Fiber Patch Panel, I'd use a Zipcord (2 Strand, X-mit & recv) 62.5 Micron Multimode Fiber, if you're Building a Backbone you will need to supply more info.
 
TOOL_5150 said:
Not trying to nitpick you, however:

- That is not a cisco switch, its a linksys - TOTALLY different quality
- Tigerdirect is not the best company to deal with, I would go with newegg.com or the like.

~Matt
Click to expand...

You are nitpicky.

Linksys and cisco is the same company. Linksys is just there stepdown name. For a dumb switch like this is there is no reason you should pay for the cisco name. If you are doing vlan or security that is a different story.

Feel free to buy your stuff where you buy it. Its just a link.
 
Typically at my school projects in the past we have run fiber to portables or to other buildings far away. Never 2 strands to each computer, the fiber to desk top thing I've never seen at any School. I always ran a 6 strand over 300ft then just use 2 strands to plug into a media converter to covert fiber to copper then plug a patch cable to the router or switch. Did you already pull the fiber??
 
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cochise7969 said:
Typically at my school projects in the past we have run fiber to portables or to other buildings far away. Never 2 strands to each computer, the fiber to desk top thing I've never seen at any School. I always ran a 6 strand over 300ft then just use 2 strands to plug into a media converter to covert fiber to copper then plug a patch cable to the router or switch. Did you already pull the fiber??
Click to expand...

best to stay away from media converters and go fiber into the switch. Too common of a problem where if the media converter is power cycled the port its plugged into on the switch needs to be bounced before the link comes back up.
 
If you are not using WDM or DWDM then the transmitting and receiving signals are on separate fibers. So for each PC you need two strands. If you have six PCs then you would need 12 strands.
 
StephenSDH said:
You are nitpicky.

Linksys and cisco is the same company. Linksys is just there stepdown name. For a dumb switch like this is there is no reason you should pay for the cisco name. If you are doing vlan or security that is a different story.

Feel free to buy your stuff where you buy it. Its just a link.
Click to expand...

This shouldn't be a dumb switch - most schools use VLANs at minimum if not layer 3 separation to keep administration, faculty, and students segregated for security reasons. Most schools also have enough drops that they need an enterprise class switch that supports centralized management tools rather than a low end managed switch that requires individual login to every switch to make a policy change. I agree that Cisco switches are expensive and I have used $400 Linksys switches where I only needed port count and lightweight management without security. There are other options out there for enterprise class managed switches like HP, 3com, Foundry, and Extreme that are all cheaper than Cisco and offer very competitive features and management interfaces.
 
StephenSDH said:
I would recommend running 6 strand. Use a fiber to gigibit Ethernet switch to convert from fiber to standard Ethernet RJ45. You don't want to take fiber all the way to the computers because the cost would be outrageous and with cat5/6 you can achieve gigibit speeds. You can just use standard patch cables and the built in ethernet cards. Multimode is common in the US. In this case you will only use 2 of the 6 fibers, but you will have 4 spares for future or in case a fiber gets damaged. They IT department will have a manufacturer they would want for a switch. Below is a Cisco you can get a fiber adapter for.


http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1510703&CatId=2803
Click to expand...

I agree with this approach. The idea is to use as much copper as possible because it is much cheaper than fiber. Locate a cabinet and patch panel to serve part of a wing or a hallway full of rooms and keep the installed cable from the patch panel to the work area outlet to 90 meters or less. (Yes, the Cat 5 spec is 100 meters but a typical design recommendation is to keep the installed cable length to 90 m to allow for 5 m of patch cord at each end.) In a conventional hallway layout you should be able to hit 8-10 classrooms with one distribution cabinet. If there are 6 computers per classroom that's 48-60 computers per cabinet, and the maximum number of ports avaialble on an edge switch is 48. I would suggest stackable switches, or you could install 2 switches and utilize 4 of the 6 strands of fiber.

I agree that 6 strand fiber is best to run from the main wiring closet to each distribution cabinet in this application. You need 2 strands right now and the other 4 serve as spares to add future capacity or in case some get damaged. The additional upfront cost of installing extra fiber is minimal and a whole building worth of spare fibers can pay for itself if it saves 1-2 fiber pulls in an existing building. Depending on the physical layout of your main wiring closet and these distribution cabinets air blown fiber is another viable alternative.
 
StephenSDH said:
I would recommend running 6 strand. Use a fiber to gigibit Ethernet switch to convert from fiber to standard Ethernet RJ45. You don't want to take fiber all the way to the computers because the cost would be outrageous and with cat5/6 you can achieve gigibit speeds. You can just use standard patch cables and the built in ethernet cards. Multimode is common in the US. In this case you will only use 2 of the 6 fibers, but you will have 4 spares for future or in case a fiber gets damaged. They IT department will have a manufacturer they would want for a switch. Below is a Cisco you can get a fiber adapter for.


http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1510703&CatId=2803
Click to expand...

I use Sycor boxes and cable. I have over 30 computers running off 2 ports multi mode. Cat 5e from there to the computers. Must be a spec job.
 
StephenSDH said:
You are nitpicky.

Linksys and cisco is the same company. Linksys is just there stepdown name. For a dumb switch like this is there is no reason you should pay for the cisco name. If you are doing vlan or security that is a different story.

Feel free to buy your stuff where you buy it. Its just a link.
Click to expand...

LOL Linksys isnt simply a 'step down name' You are paying for quality, a product you can rely on for many many years. Cisco bought Linksys so they could have a hold in the SOHO / Home user world. Not so you can get cisco quality at linksys prices. OP said school project. Really, you would use a dumb linksys switch in the backbone of a school job? :roll:

~Matt
 
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