CommScope SYSTIMAX InstaPATCH 360 Design Manual

Brand: CommScope

Model: SYSTIMAX InstaPATCH 360

Type: Design Manual

CommScope SYSTIMAX InstaPATCH 360 offers real-time, non-intrusive network traffic monitoring and analysis for improved network performance and security. Its key capabilities include:

Passive monitoring without disrupting network traffic
Comprehensive monitoring of physical layer (layer 1) and above
Flexible deployment options with a range of TAP modules, fan-out cords, and pre-terminated fiber cables
Compatibility with various network applications and monitoring systems
Easy integration with InstaPATCH 360 panels and shelves
Supports both multimode and single-mode fiber types

CommScope SYSTIMAX InstaPATCH 360 offers real-time, non-intrusive network traffic monitoring and analysis for improved network performance and security. Its key capabilities include:

Passive monitoring without disrupting network traffic
Comprehensive monitoring of physical layer (layer 1) and above
Flexible deployment options with a range of TAP modules, fan-out cords, and pre-terminated fiber cables
Compatibility with various network applications and monitoring systems
Easy integration with InstaPATCH 360 panels and shelves
Supports both multimode and single-mode fiber types

www.commscope.com

SYSTIMAX

InstaPATCH

360

Trafﬁc Access Point (TAP)

Solution

Design Guide

Contents

Introduction 3

How Does a TAP Work? 3

The TAP Ecosystem 4

InstaPATCH 360 TAP Module Family 4

InstaPATCH 360 TAP Fan-out Array Cords 5

InstaPATCH 360 TAP Pre-terminated Fiber Cables 5

Trafﬁc Monitoring System 5

Fiber Cabling System Design with TAPs 6

Example 1—10Gbps Ethernet 6

Example 2—8Gbps Fibre Channel 8

Optical Channel Loss Evaluation with TAPs 10

Loss Evaluation of Main Trafﬁc Channels 10

Loss Evaluation of Shorter Monitor Channels 11

Loss Evaluation of Longer Monitor Channels 12

TAP Installation 12

Ordering Information 13

References 15

Introduction

The need for real-time network trafﬁc monitoring in today’s intelligent data center has become

compelling. Data center network administrators need to gain better visibility of their networks,

optimize the performance of mission-critical applications and, more importantly, secure their

networks.

In ﬁber-optic networks, a trafﬁc access point (TAP) can be integrated into the ﬁber cabling

infrastructure, enabling network trafﬁc monitoring from physical layer (layer 1) and above

in real-time fashion with zero packet loss. Because TAPs continuously pass all trafﬁc running

between the endpoint network devices with zero latency—while duplicating that exact same

trafﬁc to the monitor ports simultaneously—TAPs are one of the most efﬁcient ways to monitor

trafﬁc and network link quality in data center and telecom carrier networks.

This design guide will help you understand and design ﬁber cabling systems using CommScope

SYSTIMAX

InstaPATCH

360 TAP solutions to support applications and enable real-time

network trafﬁc monitoring at the same time.

How Does a TAP Work?

TAP modules provide an important feature for data center monitoring and management. A TAP

module is a compact package of ﬁber-optic couplers or splitters that can be used to passively

divert a ﬁxed percentage of light energy away from main transportation channels as a way

to monitor the trafﬁc status or content in real time without disrupting the main channel trafﬁc.

The optical couplers or splitters inside a TAP module are the key components that split the light

energy from the input port into two output ports according to designed split ratio.

Figure 1 shows example signal paths of 12-ﬁber multimode ﬁber (MMF) TAP Modules. On the

right side of the diagram the rear surface of the TAP modules provide one Multiple-Fiber Push-

On/Pull-off (MPO) connector serving the main trafﬁc channels for connecting to a trunk cable,

and another MPO connector (red) serving the monitoring channels for connecting to monitoring

equipment via MPO-LC array cords. On the left side of the diagram the front surface of the

modules provide 12 LC receptacles for patching.

Couplers are unidirectional components and are arranged in an alternating sequence for

duplex transceiver connectivity at the LC connectors. As shown in the upper part of Figure

1, Channel 1 of the LC connectors receives trafﬁc from Channel 1 of the MAIN MPO port

after a portion of its optical signal is split into Channel 1 of the TAP MPO connector. Other

odd-numbered LC connectors follow the same signal ﬂow. The lower part of Figure 1 shows

Channel 2 of the LC connectors, which serves only for signal input, and its signal is split

between Channel 2 of the MAIN MPO and the TAP MPO connectors. Other even-numbered

LC connectors follow the same signal ﬂow.

Figure 1. Fiber TAP signal path illustrations

TAP modules, therefore, must be tested or deployed with channel directionality in mind. The

transmitter (or the meter source) must always be connected to the input of the coupler. Also, the

receiver (or the meter detector) must always be connected to the outputs of the optical coupler.

Connecting in an opposite direction will not affect the main trafﬁc, but will result in a lack of

output from the monitoring channels.

The TAP Ecosystem

The TAP ecosystem mainly consists of the InstaPATCH 360 pre-terminated ﬁber cables,

InstaPATCH 360 TAP modules, InstaPATCH 360 TAP Fan-out Array Cords, and the monitoring

equipment. The TAP modules, combined with the array cords, provide ﬂexible choices to

network designers for various network conﬁgurations. The monitoring equipment is designed

to detect and analyze trafﬁc collected from the TAP.

InstaPATCH 360 TAP Module Family

The optical TAP is a completely passive device integrated in the optical network physical layer

and is invisible to potential intruders. Due to different network application environments, the TAP

family has a variety of different formats, such as number of ﬁbers, ﬁber type, and split ratio.

Figure 2 shows some examples of the CommScope TAP family, including combinations of

12-ﬁber or 24-ﬁber, MMF or Single-mode ﬁber (SMF), and 70/30 or 50/50 split ratio.

Figure 2. Front and rear views of InstaPATCH 360TM TAP modules

(a)

SMF 12-ﬁber,

Front view

(b)

SMF 12-ﬁber,

Rear view

(d)

MMF 24-ﬁber,

Rear view

(c)

MMF 24-ﬁber,

Front view

The MMF TAPs are designed to operate at 850nm wavelength. The MMF TAP can be

deployed with bend-insensitive or traditional OM3 or OM4 ﬁber cabling. The single-mode

ﬁber TAPs are optimized for operation at 1310nm wavelength.

The designed split ratios of the TAP modules are selected for compatibility with the supported

applications. The available split ratios are 70/30 and 50/50. The ﬁrst number of each split

ratio indicates the percent of the input power split off to the main channel output. The second

number indicates the percent of the input power split off to the monitor output. The optical

power budgets of some applications, such as those for Ethernet on MMF, are sufﬁciently robust

to support transmission through the higher loss of a 50% split or a 70% split, while others,

such as many of those for Fibre Channel on MMF, are not as robust and must rely on the

stronger signals from a 70% split. Refer to SYSTIMAX 360 Trafﬁc Access Point (TAP) Solutions

Performance Speciﬁcation Volume 5 for channel topology design limits for all supported

applications.

The InstaPATCH 360TM modules insert into the panel openings of InstaPATCH 360 shelves

and panels and can be placed side by side with InstaPATCH 360DM modules. This permits

ﬂexibility in patch panel placement in new or retroﬁt situations. InstaPATCH 360TMs follow the

alpha/beta orientation conventions of Method B array polarity just like 360DMs.

InstaPATCH 360 TAP Fan-out Array Cords

In addition to the TAP modules, the InstaPATCH 360 TAP solution includes a family of MPO-

LC Fan-out Array Cords that provide great ﬂexibility for network designers. The InstaPATCH

360 TAP Fan-out Array Cords are designed to be connected to the TAP port(s) of InstaPATCH

360 TAP modules, and pass network trafﬁc to a third-party network monitoring system. The

InstaPATCH 360 TAP Fan-out Array Cords are conﬁgured as unpinned MPO to 12 simplex LC

array cord assemblies. They are available in Plenum or LSZH materials, and LazrSPEED 550

ﬁber (OM4) or TeraSPEED ﬁber (single-mode).

InstaPATCH 360 Pre-terminated Fiber Cables

InstaPATCH 360 cables terminated with unpinned MPO plugs attach to InstaPATCH 360TM

modules. They are available in Plenum or LSZH sheath materials. LazrSPEED 300 (OM3) and

LazrSPEED 550 (OM4) cables are used with multimode 360TM modules, and TeraSPEED

(OS2) cables are used with single-mode 360TM modules.

Trafﬁc Monitoring System

Another major part of the monitoring system is the monitoring and analysis equipment, including

receivers, analysis hardware and software, as shown in Figure 3. The monitoring system

receives the signal from the TAP and analyzes the trafﬁc. Commercially available monitoring

systems include those from Virtual Instruments

, GigaMON

and others.

Figure 3. A typical TAP-based monitoring system

Fiber Cabling System Design with TAPs

While industry standards for Ethernet and Fibre Channel are not expressly designed to

support the added loss of TAPs, it is possible with careful engineering and high performance

cabling systems to deploy TAPs in networks and retain useful channel topologies.

3–5

When

approaching the design of a TAP solution for a particular application, many factors need

to be taken into consideration. These include the loss of the TAP splitter, length and number

of connections within the main and two monitor channels, the intended application (e.g.

8G Fibre Channel or 10G Ethernet), and the monitor equipment capability. Fortunately the

SYSTIMAX InstaPATCH 360 Fiber TAP Solution Performance Speciﬁcation provides channel

topology limits that account for many of these factors to simplify the design process. The

following two sections provide practical design examples using this Performance Speciﬁcation

for a 50/50 MMF TAP solution and a 70/30 MMF TAP solution.

Example 1—10Gbps Ethernet

Figure 4 shows an example of a 10Gbps Ethernet network retroﬁtted with an optical TAP. In

this case, an InstaPATCH 360 standard module (360DM module) located at the cross-connect

point—which is the middle point of the channel—is replaced with an InstaPATCH 360 TAP

module (360TM module).

Figure 4. Retroﬁt example: 10GE channel with 50/50 TAP module replacing

MPO/LC module at central cross connect

A quick check of the Performance Speciﬁcation reveals that the 10GBASE-S power budget

supports both 50/50 and 70/30 split ratios for the main channel. The ability to support a

50/50 split ratio also permits the monitor equipment to use minimally standards-compliant

transceivers, and therefore the monitor channels may also be designed using the same

topology limit tables as the main channel. This choice offers a straight forward design that

requires no design consultation with the monitor equipment company. In comparison, the

selection of the 70/30 split ratio, while improving the signal strength of the main channels,

requires better than minimally compliant transceivers in the monitor gear and therefore

necessarily involves consultation with the monitor gear company for design limits. Here we will

illustrate the design approach using a 50/50 split ratio TAP module.

Looking at Figure 4, determine the main channel length by adding up the cord and cable

lengths that form the main channel from left to right:

10m+80m+5m+80m+10m=185m

The length of the monitor channel from the left side is:

10m+80m+5m=95m

The length of the monitor channel from the right side is:

10m+80m+5m+5m=100m

In this network conﬁguration, the main trafﬁc channel has four MPO connections and four

LC connections (the connections to the active equipment are not counted), and the channel

length is 185m. The longer monitoring channel, which is the right side in this case, has three

MPO connections and three LC connections, and the channel length is 100m. The shorter

monitor channel, which is on the left side in this case, has three MPO connections and one

LC connection, and the channel length is 95m. Of these three channels, the main channel is

the most demanding having both the longest length and the highest number of connections.

Table 1 is an extract from the SYSTIMAX InstaPATCH 360 Fiber Tap Solutions Performance

Speciﬁcations —Volume Five for 10GBASE-S on LazrSPEED 550 and the 50/50 split ratio

TAP. The cell at the intersection of 4 MPOs and 4 LCs indicates a supportable distance of

240 m, which greater than the length of the main channel, so the design is supportable with

LazrSPEED 550 cabling. Checking the LazrSPEED 300 capability in Table 2 we see that it

supports 130m with four MPO connections and four LC connections, so LazrSPEED 300 is not

an option for this channel topology.

LazrSPEED 550, 50/50 split ratio

# LC

Connections* with:

1 MPO 2 MPOs 3 MPOs 4 MPOs 5 MPOs 6 MPOs

1 970 (295) 940 (285) 900 (275) 870 (265) 840 (255) 790 (240)

2 950 (290) 920 (280) 870 (265) 840 (255) 800 (245) 770 (235)

3 920 (280) 890 (270) 850 (260) 820 (250) 770 (235) 740 (225)

4 900 (275) 870 (265) 820 (250) 790 (240) 750 (230) 710 (215)

5 870 (265) 840 (255) 800 (245) 750 (230) 720 (220) 670 (205)

6 850 (260) 800 (245) 770 (235) 720 (220) 690 (210) 640 (195)

Table 1. Channel topology limits for 10GBASE-S on LazrSPEED 550 for a 50% TAP

channel

LazrSPEED 300, 50/50 split ratio

# LC

Connections* with:

1 MPO 2 MPOs 3 MPOs 4 MPOs 5 MPOs 6 MPOs

1 660 (200) 590 (180) 560 (170) 520 (160) 460 (140) 430 (130)

2 620 (190) 560 (170) 520 (160) 490 (150) 430 (130) 390 (120)

3 590 (180) 520 (160) 490 (150) 460 (140) 390 (120) 330 (100)

4 560 (170) 520 (160) 460 (140) 430 (130) 360 (110) 300 (90)

5 520 (160) 490 (150) 430 (130) 360 (110) 330 (100) 260 (80)

6 490 (150) 430 (130) 390 (120) 330 (100) 260 (80) 200 (60)

Table 2. Channel topology limits for 10GBASE-S on LazrSPEED 300 for a 50% TAP

channel

Example 2—8Gbps Fibre Channel

Figure 5 shows an example of an 8G Fibre Channel (8GFC) link designed with an optical

TAP. The TAP is inserted into the ﬁber patch panel on the right side near the FC Storage Area

Network (SAN) switch.

Figure 5. Example 8GFC channel with TAP placed near SAN switch.

A quick check of the Performance Speciﬁcation reveals that the minimally standards-compliant

8GFC power budget for MMF supports only the 70% output of a 70/30 TAP module for

the main channels. The 30% output for the monitor channels requires better than minimally

standards-compliant transceivers in the monitor gear and therefore necessarily involves

consultation with the monitor gear company for design limits for the monitor channels. The

intended MMF bandwidth grade (i.e. LazrSPEED 550 (OM4), LazrSPEED 300 (OM3)), the

monitor channel lengths and maximum channel losses will be required by the monitor company

to perform the analysis. Section 5 provides guidance on how to determine the maximum

channel loss using the SYSTIMAX Solutions Link Loss Calculator

Looking at Figure 5, determine the main channel length by adding up the cord and cable

lengths that form the main channel from left to right:

10m+90m+10m=110m

The length of the monitor channel from the storage array side is:

10m+90m+10m=110m

The length of the monitor channel from the SAN switch side is:

10m+10m=20m

In this network conﬁguration, the main trafﬁc channel has two MPO connections and two

LC connections (the connections to the active equipment are not counted), and the channel

length is 110m. Table 3 is an extract from the SYSTIMAX InstaPATCH 360 Fiber Tap Solutions

Performance Speciﬁcations—Volume Five for 8GFC on LazrSPEED 550 and the 70/30 split

ratio TAP. The cell at the intersection of 2 MPOs and 2 LCs indicates a supportable distance

of 115 m, which is greater than the 110 m length of the main channels, so the design is

supportable with LazrSPEED 550 cabling for the main channels.

The longer monitor channel has three low-loss MPO connections, one low-loss LC connection,

and the length is 110m. The shorter monitor channel has one low-loss MPO connection,

one low-loss LC connection, and the length is 20m. Follow the procedure of Section 5 to

provide the monitor company the information they need to evaluate your channel design for

compatibility with their equipment.

LazrSPEED 550, 70/30 split ratio, MAIN (70%) output

# LC

Connections* with:

1 MPO 2 MPOs 3 MPOs 4 MPOs 5 MPOs 6 MPOs

1 480 (145) 430 (130) 360 (110) 280 (85) 200 (60) 100 (30)

2 440 (135) 380 (115) 310 (95) 230 (70) 130 (40) 0 (0)

3 390 (120) 330 (100) 250 (75) 150 (45) 30 (10) 0 (0)

4 340 (105) 280 (85) 180 (55) 70 (20) 0 (0) 0 (0)

5 300 (90) 210 (65) 100 (30) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0)

6 250 (75) 130 (40) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0)

Table 3. Channel topology limits for 8GFC on LazrSPEED 550 for 70% TAP channel

Optical Channel Loss Evaluation with TAPs

The following subsections are presented in three parts, each of which examines one of the

three different channels topologies created when deploying TAPs—one main channel topology

and two monitor channel topologies. Channel loss evaluation of the two monitor channels

is necessary when designing channels with 70/30 TAP modules. Channel loss evaluation

provides the monitor equipment company information to evaluate the proposed channel for

interoperability with their equipment. This is because the high loss of a 30% split requires better

than minimally complaint receivers which are proprietary to the monitor company.

While the main channel loss is independent of the placement of the TAP module within the

channel, the monitor channel loss depends on the placement of the TAP module. This is

because there are two different channel topologies from monitor to each end of the channel.

These two monitor channel topologies are usually of different lengths. Consequently in the

following evaluation we refer to these two channel topologies as “shorter monitor channels”

and “longer monitor channels”.

Loss Evaluation of Main Trafﬁc Channels

Figure 6 shows the main trafﬁc channels of an optical link with a 70/30 TAP inserted. The

pink arrow shows one direction signal ﬂow, but trafﬁc in the other direction sees the same loss.

All cabling is LazrSPEED 550 (OM4). The trunk cable is 80m long, the LC/LC equipment

cords are 10m each. Using SYSTIMAX Solutions Link Loss Calculator Version 7.1 plug in the

following factors: a 70 percent TAP with two low-loss MPO connections, two low-loss LC

connections, and 100m of “LazrSPEED

with InstaPATCH @ 850nm” ﬁber cable. Using those

inputs, the maximum loss of the main channels is calculated as 2.88dB.

Figure 6. Illustration of the main trafﬁc channel signal paths

Loss Evaluation of Shorter Monitor Channels

Figure 7 shows the monitor channel signal path from the end closest to the monitor. The

LC/LC equipment cord is 10m long, and the fan-out array cord connected to the monitoring

port is also 10m long. Using SYSTIMAX Solutions Link Loss Calculator, Version 7.1 plug in the

following factors: select the 30 percent TAP, one low-loss MPO connection, one low-loss LC

connection, and 20m “LazrSPEED

with InstaPATCH @ 850nm” ﬁber cable. Using those inputs

the maximum loss of the even-numbered monitor channels is calculated as 7.13dB.

Figure 7. Illustration of the monitor channel signal paths for signals from the near

end of the channel

Loss Evaluation of Longer Monitor Channels

Figure 8 shows the monitor channel signal path from the end farthest from the monitor. The

trunk cable is 80m long. Both LC/LC equipment cord and fan-out array cord are 10m long.

Using SYSTIMAX Solutions Link Loss Calculator, Version 7.1 plug in the following factors: select

a 30 percent TAP, three low-loss MPO connections, one low-loss LC connection, and 100m

“LazrSPEED

with InstaPATCH @ 850nm” ﬁber cable. Using those inputs the maximum loss of

the odd-numbered monitor channels is calculated as 7.73dB.

Figure 8. Illustration of the monitor channel signal paths for signals from the far

end of the channel

Provide the calculated maximum losses, monitor channel lengths, and ﬁber type including

bandwidth grade of MMF (i.e. OM3 or OM4) to the monitor gear company for channel

evaluations when using 70/30 TAP modules.

TAP Installation

Please refer to the Instruction Sheet for InstaPATCH 360 TAP modules for detailed installation

information in eCatalog.

InstaPATCH 360 TAP solution should be utilized in conjunction with the InstaPATCH 360

pre-terminated ﬁber solutions. Due to the insertion losses of ﬁeld-installable MPOs, it’s not

recommended to use InstaPATCH 360 TAP solution with ﬁber trunks terminated with ﬁeld

installable MPOs.

Ordering Information

InstaPATCH 360 TAP solution can be ordered by contacting CommScope Sales.

Please visit the CommScope eCatalog at the following link.

http://www.commscope.com/Product-Catalog/Enterprise/Product/Fiber/

MATERIAL ID PRODUCT CODE DESCRIPTION

760188284 360TM-12LC-LS-70:30 TAP module, 12F duplex LCs, OM4,

70/30 signal split (Main/TAP)

760188292 360TM-12LC-LS-50:50 TAP module, 12F duplex LCs, OM4,

50/50 signal split (Main/TAP)

760188300 360TM-12LC-SM-70:30 TAP module, 12F duplex LCs, OS2,

70/30 signal split (Main/TAP)

760188318 360TM-12LC-SM-50:50 TAP module, 12F duplex LCs, OS2,

50/50 signal split (Main/TAP)

760188607 360TM-24LC-LS-70:30 TAP module, 24F duplex LCs, OM4,

70/30 signal split (Main/TAP)

760188615 360TM-24LC-LS-50:50 TAP module, 24F duplex LCs, OM4,

50/50 signal split (Main/TAP)

760188623 360TM-24LC-SM-70:30 TAP module, 24F duplex LCs, OS2,

70/30 signal split (Main/TAP)

760188631 360TM-24LC-SM-50:50 TAP module, 24F duplex LCs, OS2,

50/50 signal split (Main/TAP)

Table 3. List of InstaPATCH 360 TAP modules