There are several reasons why fiber cables are replacing copper cables for many computer room applications. The most important reason is the requirement for greatly increased bandwidth for high definition conferencing and HDTV systems. This requires higher speeds to satisfy information needs and fiber cable has much higher bandwidth available than copper cable.
Another important reason for this trend is that the connectors on the fiber cables(LC especially) are smaller in size than those on copper cables and require less back plane real estate on the servers, switches, and routers necessary for the data system. This is the reason that manufacturers are switching to LC connectors on some of their servers and switches.
Fiber cables are preferable in many cases where power lines run in close proximity to the data cables in order to avoid electromagnetic crosstalk to which fiber cables are immune. Where there are air conditioning and/or fan motors, which may be necessary for the computer system and are close to the data cabling, the use of fiber cables will avoid cross talk interference with the data signals.
Distance considerations are also of great importance in the setup of a computer room data system. With fiber cables, we are able to extend the distances that we can run high speed data as compared to copper cables. Where there are legacy copper cabling systems that have to remain in operation, there are media converters which interface the fiber system with MTP 12 fiber mass termination connector ports and also have multiple RJ 45 ports on the front which interface the copper cables. Smaller media converters are also available that interface one or two copper duplex ports on the input and convert the signal to one or two fiber duplex output ports for 10/100/1000 gigabit ethernet systems. By the utilization of these devices, the existing legacy system can be extended to interface more remote systems than previously was possible.
If you have hundreds of copper cables running from servers to switches you may actually impede air flow under the computer room floor. If you are dealing with smaller, thinner fiber cable, you do not set up much of a block to your air flow. If you have to go through walls between computer rooms, the necessary holes are much smaller and are easier to fire stop. The weight of the cables held by the track on top of the cabinets is also considerably less and considerably less bulky.
The LC Cassette Module is a compact, high density fiber optic solution to conserve equipment cabinet space and allow data to travel longer distances. The LC Cassette Module is a distribution module that has one or two twelve fiber MTP connectors on one side connected to twelve or 24 fiber connectors, such as LC, on the other side. It is protected in a metal case that gives good fiber protection. The cassette can be easily swapped during a maintenance cycle. The LC connector is half the size of the SC connector, which helps to reduce the space required.
The cassettes reside in rack mount or wall mount Fiber Distribution Enclosures holding 3, 6, 9, or 12 cassettes. Each cassette can handle 12 or 24 fibers. The fiber optic cables are high density, multi-fiber trunk cables terminated in MTP connectors that can be pulled or laid quickly from point A to point B. Using a cassette or a transition cable assembly, the data center designer can break out the 12 or 24 fibers from each MTP connector in simplex or duplex connectivity. The fiber is pre-tested, pre-terminated, and essentially plug and play. The error that can be introduced by pulling individual strands across multiple floors plus polishing and termination does not happen. To expand to new servers, a trunk cable with MTP connectivity can be dropped in and be up and running very quickly. All the cabling or cassettes do not have to be installed up front with necessary capital expenditure. MTP fiber cables include 24, 36, 48, 72, or 144 fibers. The network can be deployed as the servers and switches are increased.