Installing Optical Modules and Connecting Optical Fibers

Procedure

1. Determine the number and type of ports to be connected and plan the cabling route.
2. Select optical fibers of appropriate modes, quantity, and lengths according to the optical module types, number of ports to be connected, and measured cabling distance.
3. Attach temporary labels on both ends of each optical fiber and write numbers on the labels. For details on how to number optical fibers, see Engineering Labels for Optical Fibers.
4. Unroll optical fibers and bundle them. See Table 9-1 to determine the number of optical fibers in each bundle. Cut protection pipes into appropriate lengths according to optical fiber lengths, and then put optical fibers through the protection pipes. Wrap both ends of a protection pipe with adhesive tape to prevent damage to optical fibers.

   When routing optical fibers in a corrugated pipe, you must wrap both ends of the pipe with adhesive tape to prevent shape edges of the pipe from damaging the optical fibers.

   Table 9-1 lists the types and capacities of protection pipes.

   Table 9-1 Protection pipe types and capacities

   Type	Maximum Number of Optical Fibers
   Open corrugated pipe	60
   Closed corrugated pipe	12
   Winding pipe	Pipe with an external diameter of 6 mm: 10 Pipe with an external diameter of 20 mm: 20

5. (Optional) Route optical fibers from the optical distribution frame to the cabinet along the planned path.

   Open corrugated pipes are recommended. Keep 100 mm of a protection pipe inside the cabinet, as shown in Figure 9-27.

   Figure 9-27 Length of protection pipe inside the cabinet
   

6. Wear an ESD wrist strap or a pair of ESD gloves. When wearing an ESD wrist strap, insert the other end in the ESD jack of a device and ensure that the device is reliably grounded.
7. Remove dust plugs from the optical ports to be connected and install optical modules on the optical ports.
   Hold the connector of an optical module in the correct direction when inserting it into a port. When you hear a click, the optical module is securely connected to the port. See Figure 9-29.

   The top side of a QSFP+ optical module is the side with an L-shaped recess, as shown in Figure 9-28. When connecting a QSFP+ optical module to a port on a CSS card, make the top side face down. When connecting a QSFP+ optical module to other types of ports, make the top side face up. Do not insert the optical module backwards.

   Figure 9-28 QSFP+ optical module
   

   Figure 9-29 Installing an optical module
   
   To remove an optical module, rotate the handle down, gently push the optical module, and then pull out the optical module by the handle. See Figure 9-30.

   Figure 9-30 Removing an optical module
   

8. Connect optical fibers to the optical modules. Remove dust plugs from the optical modules and insert fiber connectors into the corresponding optical ports. After verifying that all optical fibers are correctly connected, go to step 9.
   To connect optical fibers to an optical module, align the fiber connector with the bores on the optical module and insert the fiber connector. When you hear a click, the optical fiber is securely connected. See Figure 9-31.

   Figure 9-31 Connecting optical fibers to an optical module
   
   To remove an optical fiber, gently push the fiber connector, and then pull the fiber connector while pressing the locking clips. Do not forcibly pull the fiber connector. See Figure 9-32.

   If many optical fibers are connected to an interface card with a high port density, use the tweezers delivered with the switch to remove optical fibers.

   Figure 9-32 Removing optical fibers
   

9. Bundle optical fibers. Put optical fibers through the cable management frames of the corresponding slots and use fiber binding tapes to bundle optical fibers at 20 cm to 30 cm intervals. See Figure 9-33.
   Figure 9-33 Bundling optical fibers
   
   It is not recommended to connect copper cables and optical fibers to the same card because copper cables may block the routes of optical fibers. If the copper cables and optical fibers are used on the same card, connect the optical fibers to ports near the left side of the card and the copper cables to ports near the right side, as shown in Figure 9-34.

   Figure 9-34 Connecting copper cables and optical fibers to the same card
   

10. Replace all the temporary labels on the optical fibers with permanent labels.