My TN Connection

If you are reading this post and you are familiar with Transition Networks and the concept of media conversion, you are probably already aware of the Fiber to Copper conversion products that we provide. You may also be aware of the multimode to single-mode conversion products that we offer. But did you know that we also offer multimode to multimode converters and single-mode to single-mode converters? This may sound strange to you and you may be asking if both fiber types are the same, what sort of conversion would I need to do within my network. Well one example that we’ve written about before, is mixing 62.5 and 50 micron fiber within multimode environments. But the more prevalent example of where you would have the same fiber type - yet still need to do some sort of conversion for the equipment to “talk”, would be when you are connecting fiber with differing wavelengths, like single-mode at 1310nm and 1550nms.

There is an SFP based solution from Transition Networks that not only allow different types of fiber to be utilized, but also different wavelengths to be connected together. By using a product called xFMFF4040, which comes with 2 empty SFP slots, you are able to select an SFP that conforms to the first connection and another SFP that conforms to the second connection. An example would be if you needed to connect a piece of equipment running on single-mode fiber (1310nm) to another piece of equipment that was operating on long-haul wavelengths (1550nm). You would select an SFP for port 1 of the xFMFF4040 to run at 1310nm and would select a second SFP for port 2 to run at 1550nm. With these two pieces in place, you are able to make the conversion between the two wavelengths.

The only drawback with this solution, is that both SFPs or sides of the Transition Networks unit have to be at the same speed, meaning 10Mbps, 100Mbps, 1000Mbps, etc. However this drawback can easily turn into an advantage when you want to upgrade your network, from say 100Mbps to 1000Mbps, and all you need to do is change out the SFP. This alleviates the need for swapping out active equipment or creating dramatic network downtime.

The xFMFF4040 is a flexible product that also allows for the conversion of FDDI, ESCON, OC-3, OC-12, OC-24, Fibre Channel, and is able to be used with CWDM SFPs.

Keywords: connection, Copper, CWDM, Equipment, Fiber, Fibre, media conversion, Networks, Port, Products, SC, SFP, Single-mode Fiber, ST, Transition Networks, Wavelengths

As I was looking back on some of the Switch Sense posts and training some new employees here at Transition Networks I was reminded of how many acronyms and interpretations there are for standards and features that are related to Ethernet switches.

Most of us take these terms for granted, but when talking to people you often uncover people using two different meanings or interpretations for the same feature. With that in mind I thought it would be great to put together a simple glossary with Ethernet switch terminology that tells what the feature is, if it is known as something else, if it is an IEEE or RFC standard along with a simple description. continue »

Keywords: Ethernet, Ethernet Switches, fiber optic, glossary, IEEE, Networks, switch, Switch Sense, Transition Networks

Fiber Optics has only widely been implemented over the last 20 years, although the technology, ideas and concepts have been around for much longer. Optical communication systems starting with Claude Chappe’s invention of the “optical telegraph” in the 1790’s has been in use for more than 200 years. Or more recently, in 1930 a German medical student named Heinrich Lamm - was the first person to assemble a bundle of optical fibers to carry a recognizable image. Lamm’s invention was developed to look inside inaccessible parts of the human body. Although, this discovery was not entirely as successful as he had hoped it would be, Lamm’s theory of transmitting an image through a “flexible multi-fiber conductor of radiant energy” was still in fact, a great success. continue »

Keywords: bundle, cable, communication, Fiber, fiber optic, fiber optic cable, fiber optics, infrastructure, Networks, optical telegraph, Systems, time line, Transmit

Transition Networks will be exhibiting at several industry trade shows this spring, including some of the biggest of the year. Representatives are scheduled to attend FOSE, ISC West, BICSI Spring & Interop.

If you will be attending any of these shows, we welcome you to visit our booth. Show details are highlighted below. continue »

Keywords: Applications, Attendees, BICSI Spring, BICSI Training, Conference, Connection, Education, Exhibit Hall, Exhibitors, Exposition, FOSE, Government, Interop, ISC West, ITS industry, Las Vegas, MyTnConnection, Nashville, Networking Trade Shows, Networks, Products, Security, Technology Professionals, Trade Shows, Transition Networks, Vendors, Washington DC

As the surge for additional convergence technology and increased-bandwidth continues, CWDM Ethernet-over-fiber seems to be a viable solution for service providers.

CWDM involves both sides of the equation. That is, reducing operating costs and increasing revenue. As the traditional service revenue declines, service providers shift their focus on finding new sources of services to develop. The continuation of high-speed services, HDTV, IPTV, VOIP and video-on-demand are all areas designed for revenue growth. continue »

Keywords: Add-Drop Mulitplexers, Central Office, Coarse wavelength division multiplexing, CPE, Customer Premises Equipment, CWDM, DWDM, Equipment, Ethernet, Fiber, fiber exhaustion, HDTV, high-speed services, IPTV, ITS, Legacy, Networks, optical channels, Products, Transition Networks, Transmit, video-on-demand, VOIP, Wavelengths