Single-Mode Fiber vs. Multi-Mode: Making the Right Choice

The choice between single-mode or multi-mode fiber deployment can be a critical decision for a data communications network. In this article, we’ll use the metaphor of traveling to a family vacation destination to help explain and simplify what can be complex issues surrounding the single-mode fiber vs. multi-mode decision. So you want to take the family on their next adventure. What’s your destination, and how will you get from point A to point B?  In line with our travel metaphor, the decision in selecting single-mode or multi-mode fiber optic cable is a similar question regarding whether you fly through the air or travel by ground to get there. When deciding on whether to fly or use ground transportation, things you would consider include: What is the size of my travel group? Is my group finite, or will we be adding individuals along the way? What is the quickest route to my destination? How expensive is this trip going to be? Can we make this trip with the money we have on hand? What will the traveling environment be like? Will we be traveling in comfort? What is the purpose of our trip? Will we need to bring extra stuff on our trip? If you can answer all of the above, then you can make an informed decision and continue planning the rest of the trip like lodging and what you will do when you get there. When deciding between single-mode and multi-mode fiber, similar criteria applies. For example: What is the required bandwidth? Will you need to plan for network growth? How far will your signal need to transmit? What is your budget? What are the environmental factors? How important is routine maintenance to you? What protocol will it be used for (i.e., Ethernet, PON, SONET, etc.)? Let’s explore how single-mode and multi-mode fiber measure up. Air travel with single-mode fiber? When comparing single-mode fiber vs. multi-mode options, single-mode, much like air travel, can get you to your destination much faster. Based on fiber performance calculations, single-mode fiber can be used in distances up to 10 km (6.21 miles) for certain Ethernet protocols. Multimode fiber is limited in its reach. The issue supporting the long-distance transmission of single-mode fiber is the small core of the fiber; it propagates a single mode of light.  With multimode fiber, modal dispersion is one key factor impacting distance limitations. Single-mode fiber is also like air travel because the planes, or transportation equipment, akin to the electronics with single-mode fiber (high-end lasers), cost more than the equipment to travel by land (LEDs and VCSELs in the case of multi-mode fiber). You pay more for non-stop air travel in the same way you pay more to have one long fiber run. Single-mode also provides flexibility for future growth or modification. Additionally, single-mode fiber can be used in Passive Optical Networks (PONs) where multimode fiber cannot. It is an efficient way to gain bandwidth while decreasing deployment costs. That way if an unexpected traveler joins the trip, they can be easily accommodated within your trip plan. You won’t have to buy another ticket to have them fly with you. Land Transport With Multi-Mode Fiber  For the most part, multi-mode fiber aligns with the decision to travel by land. It’s great for short distances — between 300 and 400 meters (328 and 438 yards) — and is a low total cost alternative to air travel (i.e., single-mode fiber due to the electronics/equipment involved). For short fiber runs, say, between buildings, multi-mode fiber is the right choice. Importantly, multi-mode fiber is much easier to maintain vs. single-mode fiber. Multi-mode fiber has a larger core size so it’s less sensitive to the environment. A negative to using multi-mode fiber is bandwidth limitations — you may not be able to increase it if you need more in the future. In other words, once you buy your plane ticket, you might be able to move from coach to first class, but you will need to buy another ticket if an unexpected traveler joins your trip at the last minute.  Application and Cost Considerations Another key factor in determining single-mode fiber vs. single-mode is the electronics involved. Single-mode requires sophisticated laser technologies to drive the signal which increases the cost of the total solution. Multi-mode systems employ lower-priced light sources (i.e. LEDs and VCSELs) to launch the signal. This makes for a more cost-effective solution. As you can see, there are good reasons to use both single and multi-mode fiber solutions, depending on your network applications. Whether an application or cost focus, WESCO and CommScope are here to help in your single-mode fiber vs. multi-mode decision.   Featured Products The opinions expressed in this piece are solely CommScope's. They do not necessarily represent WESCO’s views. 

Defining Efficiency: How Data Centers Can Prepare for the Future

Data center managers often say, “I want my data center to run more efficiently,” or ask “What solutions do you have that will drive efficiency?” While these are important questions to ask, they’re challenging to answer because not everyone has the same definitions of efficiency and success. Some managers consider only the amount of power and cooling being used, while some think it’s all about using whitespace. Others focus on processing and network connectivity. Increasing data center efficiency starts with defining what efficiency really means and understanding the future demands your center will experience. A Changing Industry According to the latest Cisco Visual Networking Index (VNI), by the end of 2016, global IP traffic will reach 1.1 ZB per year, or 88.7 EB per month. By 2020, global IP traffic will reach 2.3 ZB per year, or 194 EB per month. The number of devices connected to IP networks will be three times as high as the global population in 2019. The increasing demands on IT and data centers are driven by even larger global megatrends that have a profound effect across industries. According to Gartner Inc., these megatrends include: Massive digitalization Unprecedented demographic and social changes Urbanization and the rise of the megacity Climate change and dwindling resources At the same time, the rising cost of network downtime and the increasingly important role data centers play in an organization's success have raised the stakes. Data centers must adapt to stay competitive in this changing environment. Evolving Strategies At the highest levels, CTOs and CIOs are responding to these global trends by re-evaluating strategies. Policies regarding the IT and networking footprint, deployment options, and resource allocation should be reassessed to meet upcoming needs. Data centers are adapting policies to handle future demands by: Deploying faster and more efficient optics Switching from the traditional three-layer vertical hierarchy to flatter, heavily meshed leaf-and-spine architectures Migrating to higher lane speeds Being More Proactive Changes within the data center environment happen frequently and rapidly. Data center managers often find themselves reacting to events and crises instead of implementing a proactive strategy. Finding time to develop a comprehensive strategy is difficult but possible. Managers should strive to create a strategy that addresses critical elements like the best migration path to higher speeds, infrastructure management and scalability, and increased virtualization support. Take a Holistic Approach Data center owners and managers need to think differently and more holistically about what constitutes efficiency. A heavy focus is usually placed on power and cooling. These typically represent 25 to 40 percent of a data center’s monthly operating expense. That means 60 to 75 percent of costs are somewhere else in the business. Cooling and power costs may be high because an estimated 15 percent of servers are either unused or underutilized. When asset management isn’t seen as part of an efficient data center, costs can come from “ghost” servers. These servers aren’t being used, but still draw power and incur software license fees. Modern tools like data center infrastructure management and automated infrastructure management make it easier to manage growing complexities. From power and cooling to network connectivity, data center professionals can have greater visibility and insight into data center performance. Use these tools for a more holistic view. Preparation Is Key With more devices connecting to the network, data centers are facing increasing strains. By implementing proactive strategies and taking a holistic approach, managers can ensure that the data center is prepared to handle future demands. The opinions expressed in this piece are solely CommScope's. They do not necessarily represent WESCO’s views.

The Arrival of Wideband Multimode Fiber

It can boggle the mind how quickly technology moves, and how things that were once a part of our everyday lives have rapidly become obsolete. Some people today might be as perplexed by items that were essential to recent generations as they would be by a tool from the Bronze Age. So what is causing this accelerated pace of obsolescence? An Ever-Lasting Evolution Moore’s Law states that processing power in integrated circuits doubles every two years. This is why it is widely cited as the reason behind the rapidly evolving pace of technology. The driving force of evolution for electronics is to become faster, more capable, and less expensive. Other technologies don’t get quite as much of the spotlight as integrated circuits, but they have also made significant contributions to the rapid change rate. Fiber optic technology is a perfect example.  Fiber’s Critical Role Fiber helps make it possible to move incredible amounts of information around the globe at increasingly lower costs. Optical fiber, along with the equipment it interconnects, helps make bandwidth affordable and accessible. Without fiber optics, the Internet as we know it would not be possible. Even though fiber optic communication systems were first deployed nearly 40 years ago, new innovations continue to increase bandwidth while minimizing costs. Data centers, which rely more on fiber to connect servers, switches, and storage, have moved beyond 10 Gigabit per second (Gb/s) fiber connectivity. 40 Gb/s and 100 Gb/s interconnects are becoming commonplace, and standards are now being set to achieve 400 Gb/s transmission. To accommodate this bandwidth trajectory, new fiber technology is being developed that greatly increases bandwidth while maintaining backward compatibility with existing fiber and applications. A Newer, Better Solution The newest fiber optic innovation is known as wideband multimode fiber (WBMMF). Whereas conventional multimode fiber was designed to optimally support a single wavelength, WBMMF is designed to evenly accommodate multiple wavelengths. Think about how white light appears when viewed through a prism; individual wavelengths appear as different colors. WBMMF technology enables these multiple colors or wavelengths to simultaneously travel along a single fiber strand that previously could support only a single color or wavelength. As fiber optic transmission equipment becomes more precise, additional wavelengths or colors now flow through the same fiber strand. This increases data capacity (i.e., one data pathway vs. multiple data pathways with the same fiber strand) and makes WBMMF an incredibly cost-effective solution. Technology That Can Match the Future New generations of fiber optic solutions further prove how fast technology is evolving. Businesses looking to invest in advancing their data center and network capacities will increasingly rely on wideband multimode fiber. Its robust design makes it capable of managing multiple wavelengths, which reduces the number of fibers and enhances total channel capacity. This cost-effective technology is ideal for increasing network bandwidth in times of growing data demands. The opinions expressed in this piece are solely CommScope's. They do not necessarily represent WESCO’s views.