High Density Cabling - Brocade Communications Systems PowerConnect B-DCX Quick Start Manual

NOTE
You should not use tie wraps with optical cables because they are easily overtightened and can damage the optic
fibers.
•
Plan for rack space required for cable management before installing the switch.
•
Leave at least 1 m (3.28 ft) of slack for each port cable. This provides room to remove and replace the
switch, allows for inadvertent movement of the rack, and helps prevent the cables from being bent to less
than the minimum bend radius.
•
If you are using Brocade ISL Trunking, consider grouping cables by trunking groups. The cables used in
trunking groups must meet specific requirements, as described in the Fabric OS Administrator's Guide.
•
For easier maintenance, label the fiber optic cables and record the devices to which they are connected.
•
Keep LEDs visible by routing port cables and other cables away from the LEDs.
•
®
Use Velcro type straps to secure and organize fiber optic cables.
ATTENTION
Do not route the cables in front of the air exhaust vent, which is located at the top of the port side of the chassis.

High density cabling

The FC8-64 high density port blade cannot use the standard LC cables because the pitch between optics in the new
mini-SFP (mSFP) transceiver is smaller than in standard SFPs. Patch cables and panels can be used to attach
standard size cabling to the blade if necessary. The figure below illustrates the mSFP to SFP patch cable. See "Best
Practices Guide: High Density Cable Management Solutions" (available at http://www.brocade.com) for cable
management guidelines for high-density port solutions, cable and patch panel part numbers.
1 mSFP connector
2 Duplex clip (black)
FIGURE 3
Cable design for the mSFP patch cables for the FC8-64 high density port blade
Please note that the duplex clip on the mSFP end of the cable is black for easier recognition. See the appendix for a
listing of the qualified mSFP optical cables for the FC8-64 port blade.
If ISL Trunking is in use, group the cables by trunking group. The ports are color-coded to indicate which ports can be
used in the same ISL Trunking group: eight ports marked with solid black ovals alternate with eight ports marked
with oval outlines. See the appendix for a listing of supported cable speeds and distances.
12 of 292
3 1.6 mm cable
4 SFP connector
Brocade DCX 8510-8 Backbone QuickStart Guide
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