Connecting High-Speed Cables

Procedure

1. Determine the number and type of ports to be connected and plan the cabling route.
2. Select high-speed cables of appropriate quantity and lengths based on the number of ports and measured cabling distances.
3. Attach temporary labels on both ends of each high-speed cable and write numbers on the labels. For details on how to number high-speed cables, see Engineering Labels for User Cables.
4. (Optional) Route high-speed cables on the planned path. Arrange the high-speed cables straight and route them to a cabinet through the cable tray. Lead the high-speed cables into the cabinet from the right side.
5. 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.
6. Connect high-speed cables to ports of the switch. Find the ports matching the numbers on the high-speed cables and plug cable connectors into the ports. After verifying that all high-speed cables are correctly connected, go to step 7.
   Hold the connector of a high-speed cable in the correct direction when inserting it into a port. When you hear a click, the high-speed cable is securely connected to the port.

   Figure 9-20 Connecting a high-speed cable
   
   To remove a high-speed cable, gently push the cable connector and then pull the handle of the connector. Do not forcibly pull the cable connector. See Figure 9-21.

   Figure 9-21 Removing a high-speed cable
   
   Figure 9-22 and Figure 9-23 show how to install and remove other types of high-speed cables.

   Figure 9-22 Connecting a high-speed cable
   
   Figure 9-23 Removing a high-speed cable
   

   The top side of a QSFP+ cable connector is the side with an L-shaped recess, as shown in Figure 9-24. When connecting a QSFP+ cable to a port on a CSS card, make the top side face down. When connecting a QSFP+ cable to other types of ports, make the top side face up. Do not insert the QSFP+ cable connector backwards.

   Both ends of a QSFP+ high-speed cable must be covered with ESD caps.

   Figure 9-24 QSFP+ high-speed cable connector
   

7. Bundle high-speed cables. Arrange high-speed cables, put them through the cable management frames on the corresponding slots, and lead the cables out of the cabinet from the right side of the cabinet. Bundle high-speed cables with cable ties at intervals of 20 cm to 30 cm. Use diagonal pliers to cut off redundant cable ties.

   When a lot of cables are connected to a card, the cable management frame for this slot may not have sufficient space. In this case, deploy cables in three layers without crossing each other, and then put the three layers through the cable management frame. See Figure 9-25.

   Figure 9-25 Deploying high-speed cables in three layers
   
   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 9-26.

   Figure 9-26 Connecting copper cables and optical fibers to the same card
   

8. Replace all the temporary labels with permanent labels on the high-speed cables.