IBM Z Planning for Fiber Optic Links (FICON/ FCP, Coupling Links, Open Systems Adapters, and zHyperLink Express) IBM GA23-1408-04 Note Before you use this information and the product it supports, read the information in “Safety” on page vii, Appendix E, “Notices,” on page 109, and IBM Systems Environmental Notices and User Guide, Z125-5823. This edition, GA23-1408-04, applies to the IBM Z and IBM LinuxONE servers. This edition replaces GA23-1408-03. There might be a newer version of this document in a PDF file available on Resource Link. Go to http://www.ibm.com/ servers/resourcelink and click Library on the navigation bar. © Copyright International Business Machines Corporation 2017, 2020. US Government Users Restricted Rights – Use, duplication or disclosure restricted by GSA ADP Schedule Contract with IBM Corp. Contents Safety..................................................................................................................vii Safety notices............................................................................................................................................. vii World trade safety information.............................................................................................................vii Laser safety information.............................................................................................................................vii Laser compliance.................................................................................................................................. vii About this publication...........................................................................................ix Organization of this publication................................................................................................................... x Prerequisite publications............................................................................................................................ xi Related publications....................................................................................................................................xi Revisions.....................................................................................................................................................xii Accessibility................................................................................................................................................xii Accessibility features............................................................................................................................xii Keyboard navigation............................................................................................................................. xii Consult assistive technologies............................................................................................................ xiii IBM and accessibility........................................................................................................................... xiii How to send your comments.................................................................................................................... xiii Chapter 1. Introduction to fiber optic links (FICON/FCP, InfiniBand coupling links, and Open Systems Adapter)......................................................................1 Unidirectional fiber optic information transfer........................................................................................... 1 Bidirectional fiber optic information transfer..............................................................................................1 Optical fiber technology...............................................................................................................................2 Optical fiber elements and optical cable.....................................................................................................3 Optical cable connectors............................................................................................................................. 4 Physical-contact connectors..................................................................................................................4 Nonphysical-contact connectors........................................................................................................... 5 Connector color coding.......................................................................................................................... 5 IBM jumper cables....................................................................................................................................... 6 Jumper cable availability....................................................................................................................... 7 Jumper cable labels............................................................................................................................. 10 Trunk cable................................................................................................................................................ 10 Splices........................................................................................................................................................ 10 Distribution panels.....................................................................................................................................11 Couplers and adapters...............................................................................................................................11 Mode Conditioning Patch cable (MCP)...................................................................................................... 13 Fiber optic channel link configuration.......................................................................................................14 Chapter 2. Link, trunk, and IBM jumper cable planning......................................... 17 Planning considerations............................................................................................................................ 18 Specifications....................................................................................................................................... 18 Flexibility.............................................................................................................................................. 18 Growth.................................................................................................................................................. 18 Cable installation..................................................................................................................................18 Fiber optic cleaning.............................................................................................................................. 19 Cost.......................................................................................................................................................19 Right-of-ways....................................................................................................................................... 19 Homologation exemption.....................................................................................................................19 Wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM)........................................................................................... 19 Link planning tasks.................................................................................................................................... 19 iii Physical layout......................................................................................................................................20 Cabling requirements...........................................................................................................................20 Installation planning............................................................................................................................ 20 Trunk cable planning recommendations.................................................................................................. 21 Trunk cable...........................................................................................................................................21 Horizontal cable................................................................................................................................... 21 Connectors........................................................................................................................................... 21 Planning for future fiber requirements................................................................................................ 22 Alternate trunks....................................................................................................................................22 Security.................................................................................................................................................22 Distribution panel planning recommendations........................................................................................ 22 Panel locations..................................................................................................................................... 22 Panel features...................................................................................................................................... 22 Determining