Driving Digital Transformation: The Future of Campus Network

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Campus networks, as a digital network connecting buildings and infrastructure within a specific geographic area, provide great ease of communication between digital devices, users and services within a region. Due to its design efficiency, flexibility and seamless interconnection characteristics, it is smaller and faster than WANs or MANs and plays a key role in maintaining enterprise connectivity and productivity in various industries. This article explores the dilemmas faced by campus networks and gives recommendations based on them, with the aim of helping users to create a reliable and secure campus network.

What is a Campus Network

A traditional campus network is generally a local area network (LAN) that is interconnected in a contiguous, limited geographic area, with networks in non-contiguous areas being treated as different campus networks. Many enterprises and campuses have multiple campuses, which are connected to each other via WAN technology.

Campus networks usually have only one manager. Multiple networks covering the same area with multiple managers are usually considered multiple campus networks; if they are all managed by a single manager, we will treat these multiple networks as multiple subnets of a single campus network.

Classification of Campus Networks

Classifying campus networks is crucial for optimising their design and management. By understanding different types, we can better address the unique needs of users and enhance overall network performance.

Enterprise Campus Network

Enterprise campus network generally refers to the enterprise office network formed based on Ethernet switching equipment. Around the production and office of the enterprise, the campus network needs to consider how to ensure the reliability and advancement of architecture, continue to improve the office experience of employees, and ensure the efficiency and quality of production.

Educational Network

Campuses can be categorized into general education campuses and higher education campuses based on their educational targets. General education campuses serve primary and secondary school students and teachers. Their internal networks resemble enterprise campus networks in structure and function. In contrast, higher education campuses cater to university and college students and teachers. These networks include parallel teaching and research networks, student networks, and operational dormitory networks, which require advanced deployment and management.

Campus networks must not only handle data transmission but also monitor student online behaviour to prevent inappropriate actions. Additionally, they need to support research and teaching functions, leading schools to place high demands on the technological capabilities of campus networks.

Government Campus Network

Usually refers to the internal network of government-related organisations. The security requirements of governmental campus network are extremely high, and the internal network and external network are usually segregated to ensure the absolute security of classified information.

Business Park Network

Usually refers to the networks of various commercial organisations and business venues, such as shopping malls, supermarkets, hotels, museums, parks and so on. A business park network will contain a closed subnet that serves the internal office, but mainly serves the consumers, such as the customers of shopping malls and supermarkets, and the residents of hotels. A business park network not only provides network services, but also builds corresponding business intelligence systems to enhance customer experience, reduce operating costs, improve business efficiency and realise value transfer through network systems.

Challenges Facing Campus Networks

In the context of digital transformation, the campus network is no longer able to meet the needs of digital transformation, exposing many problems:

Poor WiFi Signal

Common WiFi issues include weak signals, inability to connect, and slow speeds. These problems negatively impact user experience. Unlike wired networks, wireless networks rely on competition for airwave resources, which limits stability due to factors like networking, bandwidth, and interference. Additionally, WiFi operates on a half-duplex system, meaning uplink and downlink share the same spectrum. This setup causes a significant drop in overall throughput and individual bandwidth when multiple users are connected.

For example, weak signals may arise from coverage gaps or obstructions. Users may encounter connection issues due to high concurrent access. Slow speeds can result from multiple users competing for large-bandwidth services. Other factors include interference from co-frequency or neighboring frequencies, leading to inconsistent performance, unprotected mobile roaming that interrupts service, and slow fault repair due to challenges in replicating or identifying issues.

Operation and Maintenance Complexity

The digital transformation of enterprises has increased the number of terminals and expanded network size. Business models have also become more varied and complex. However, the resources and manpower for network operation and maintenance have not kept pace. Traditional ‘device-centric’ approaches fail to capture user and business experiences. As a result, they can only respond passively to faults, making it hard to meet user demands and ensure a positive business experience during digital transformation. Traditional campus network operation and maintenance now face several challenges.

Large-Scale Network Growth, Operation and Maintenance Difficulties Greatly Increased

First, the park’s wireless access has expanded significantly, leading to an exponential increase in wireless users. The wireless environment is complex, with inherent vulnerabilities and uncertainties. External interference can disrupt the network, often occurring suddenly. The operation and maintenance team, lacking professional tools, can only respond passively to issues like poor wireless signals, slow internet access, and roaming problems. They rely on on-site visits for troubleshooting, resulting in long fault recovery times.

Secondly, as the network scales, the number of wired network ports has surged. The network’s complexity now far exceeds what manual operations can handle. Traditional reactive maintenance, driven by complaints and reliant on increasing personnel, struggles to ensure network quality.

Cloud Management of Equipment can not Obtain Real-Time Equipment KPIs, and Application SLAs are Difficult to Guarantee

The Park cloud network integrates all network equipment for cloud management and operations. Maintenance personnel cannot see or touch the hardware. Traditionally, network management relies on SNMP and minute polling to gather KPI (Key Performance Indicator) data. This method uses a fixed data structure, requiring multiple requests for effective data collection. As a result, it struggles to support real-time KPI monitoring and timely issue resolution during application failures. Consequently, ensuring the application of SLA (Service Level Agreement) becomes challenging.

Development Direction of Campus Network Optimisation

In order to cope with the above challenges, it is necessary to systematically reconfigure the campus network to create a cloud campus network with all wireless access, one global network, all cloud-based management, and all intelligent operation and maintenance.

Construct WiFi Continuous Network

To address WiFi network experience issues, the primary goal is to create a continuous network. This involves three key factors: signal continuity, bandwidth continuity, and roaming continuity. During the planning stage, it’s essential to assess the height and location of access points (APs) against potential obstacles. Using 3D signal simulation and walking mode, planners can visualize coverage effects in all directions, addressing coverage gaps or weak signals from the outset.

In the construction phase, smart antennas help ensure continuous signal coverage and strength, particularly in edge areas. BSS (Basic Service Set) Coloring technology allows for same-frequency transmission, enhancing spectrum efficiency through unified resource scheduling. This significantly boosts multi-user throughput and enables seamless WiFi roaming, minimizing switching time between APs to milliseconds. As a result, there is zero packet loss during roaming, preventing interruptions in audio and video communication.

During maintenance and optimization, artificial intelligence facilitates intelligent network tuning and quick fault detection. This reduces overall network interference by more than half and allows for minute-level identification of over 85% of faults. Intelligent wireless RF tuning using neural networks enhances network performance. Real-time diagnostics and intelligent problem analysis help assess the overall user experience and guide network optimization.

Create Intelligent Operation and Maintenance System

Cloud Park Network utilizes AI technology for intelligent tuning, which detects real-time changes in thousands of access terminals and services. This system identifies potential faults and risks in the wireless network, allowing for precise minute-by-minute adjustments. The new data collection technology enables real-time monitoring and, when paired with multi-dimensional big data analysis, provides a clear view of business operations.

Users receive a 360-degree network profile based on their timeline, highlighting experiences such as authentication, latency, packet loss, and signal strength. From a broader perspective, the overall regional network performance can be assessed, including access success rates, access times, roaming compliance, coverage, and capacity compliance. This comprehensive view helps guide informed operational and maintenance decisions.

Building Active Security Defences

Traditional border security measures are no longer effective. Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) attacks and encrypted traffic exfiltration can swiftly breach an organization’s intranet, jeopardizing endpoints and data security. Administrators often spend hours or even days addressing these attacks. Therefore, new security solutions must be implemented in campus networks.

First, adopting a zero-trust security architecture is crucial, making internal network components like switches the first line of defense, closely integrated with security features. Second, collaboration among network elements, local security analyzers, network controllers, and cloud intelligence centres is necessary to establish a proactive, comprehensive security defence.

FS Campus Network Solutions Lead the Way

Facing the wave of campus network upgrades, FS provides reliable campus network solutions to ensure seamless, efficient and secure network performance.

High – Performance WiFi Coverage

FS Campus Network Solutions utilise wireless products such as Access Points (APs) and Access Controllers (ACs) to provide extensive wireless coverage throughout the campus. This comprehensive wireless coverage meets the needs of mobile users and IoT devices, providing a solid foundation for modern campus environments.

The AP-N755 utilises the new Wi-Fi 7 technology to deliver an industry-leading performance environment. Available in the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz bands, the service supports a total of 16 spatial streams with device rates up to 24.436 Gbps. The AP-N755 delivers extremely fast speeds, low latency, and increased capacity to meet the growing customer demand for auditoriums, conference centres, healthcare facilities and other high-traffic indoor spaces.

Simplified Network Management

FS adopts PicOS® switches and AmpCon™ unified management platform to build a typical three-tier network architecture, constructing a high-bandwidth, stable, easy-to-manage, and secure enterprise network, which dramatically improves user experience and enhances enterprise productivity.

PicOS® eliminates reliance on a single vendor for critical network infrastructure and delivers a more resilient, programmable and scalable Network Operating System (NOS) with a lower TCO. AmpCon™ enables data centre operators to efficiently configure, monitor, manage, preventively troubleshoot and maintain their data centre fabrics with a unified approach to configuring, monitoring and maintaining their networks, thus eliminating costly downtime and time-consuming manual tasks.

Comprehensive Network Security

The FS PicOS® switch is equipped with comprehensive security features including SSH, ACL, AAA and NAC, which provide strong protection against unauthorised access and potential threats. Meanwhile, the WiFi 7 AP supports WPA3, Wireless Intrusion Detection System (WIDS), RF jamming tracking and Pre-Shared Key (PPSK) authentication. These advanced security features work together to create a strong security barrier to defend against all types of attacks and enhance data encryption. By integrating these measures, the campus solution secures sensitive data and maintains network integrity, providing peace of mind for both users and administrators.

Conclusion

As the digital transformation of enterprises continues, more and more scenarios are being digitised, for example, a large number of intelligent video devices are being adopted by the campus, and in industrial scenarios, an endless stream of new devices demands higher network performance, and the upgrading and transformation of the campus network is imminent.FS has always been committed to solving the unique challenges faced by large and medium-sized enterprises.

By providing innovative solutions that prioritise stability, reliability and scalability, FS ensures that campus networks can meet the growing demands of the modern business environment. As business continues to evolve, FS solutions will adapt to future needs, ensuring that enterprise networks remain efficient, secure and future-proof.

Data Centre vs. Campus Switches: Unveiling the Differences

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In network architecture, switch is an important device that is used to connect computers, servers and other network devices. With the needs of different areas, there are various types of switches. This article will detail the differences between data centre switches and campus switches, including their principles and usage scenarios.

What is a Data Centre Switch

Data centre switches are switches designed for large data centre environments. Data centres are used to store and manage large numbers of computers and servers, and to process massive amounts of data, providing high-performance computing and cloud services.

Principle

High performance and low latency: Data centre switches feature high-speed data transfer and low latency to meet data centre demands for high-performance computing and big data processing. They typically use high-speed Ethernet technologies such as Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) or 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE).

Large capacity and scalability: Data centre switches typically have a large number of ports and a highly scalable design to support the connection of large numbers of servers and network devices. They can be stacked or modularly expanded to accommodate growing data centre needs.

High reliability and redundancy: Data centre switches typically feature redundant power supplies, redundant fans and hot-swappable modules to provide high availability and fault recovery. This is because data centre continuity is critical for proper business operations.

Multi-layered network management: Data centre switches support advanced network management features such as virtual local area networks (VLANs), load balancing and flow control. These features enable better network segmentation and resource optimisation, improving data centre efficiency and manageability.

What is a Campus Switch

Campus switches are switches used in small network environments such as campuses or office buildings. They primarily connect office equipment such as computers, phones and printers.

Principle

Moderate performance and latency: Campus switches have relatively low performance and latency requirements because they are primarily used to connect office equipment and for general network communications. Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) technology is typically used.

Moderate capacity and scalability: Campus switches have a relatively small number of ports and are generally adapted to the size of a campus or office building. They can accommodate the need to connect office equipment and scale appropriately as needed.

Reliability and redundancy: Campus switches typically have basic reliability and redundancy features to ensure continuity of the office network. This includes some basic failure recovery mechanisms such as link aggregation and redundant links.

Simplified Network Management: Campus switches typically have simplified network management features to reduce maintenance and configuration complexity. They provide basic network management features such as port management, flow control and basic virtual local area network (VLAN) support.

Data Centre Switches VS. Campus Switches

Two common types—data centre switches and campus switches—are tailored for distinct operational environments. While they both serve to route and manage network traffic, their purposes, designs, and functionalities differ based on the specific needs of the environments in which they operate.

Primary Function and Use Cases

The main distinction between data centre switches and campus switches lies in their intended use cases and the nature of the network environments they serve.

Data Centre Switches are designed for high-performance environments where large volumes of data traffic need to be managed efficiently. These switches are typically found in data centres, which host servers, storage systems, and large-scale applications, often supporting cloud services, large databases, and virtualised environments. Their primary purpose is to ensure high-speed connectivity between servers and storage devices with minimal latency. They are designed to support east-west traffic—data moving between servers within the data centre.

However, Campus Switches are deployed in enterprise campus environments, such as universities, corporate offices, and hospitals. These switches handle a mix of data, voice, and video traffic, catering to end-user devices like PCs, laptops, phones, and wireless access points. Campus switches focus on north-south traffic, which involves data flow between end devices and a central data centre or cloud services.

Network Traffic Patterns

As mentioned earlier, the traffic patterns between data centres and campus networks vary significantly.

Data Centre Switches prioritise east-west traffic, where data moves laterally between servers and storage systems within the same network. This lateral traffic flow is critical in data centres, especially in environments that rely heavily on virtual machines and cloud infrastructure. To accommodate such traffic, data centre switches are built for high throughput, low latency, and massive bandwidth availability, ensuring minimal delays in data processing and communication.

Campus Switches, on the other hand, handle north-south traffic. This type of traffic moves between end-user devices and core data centres or external networks. The data flow in campus networks typically involves accessing cloud applications, web services, or shared resources, such as printers and file servers. As a result, campus switches are more focused on delivering reliable connectivity and broad coverage rather than ultra-low latency.

Port Density and Scalability

Port Density: the number of ports available on a switch—is may be another differentiating factor.

Data Centre Switches typically feature higher port density. In a data centre environment, numerous servers, storage devices, and networking components must be interconnected. To manage this, data centre switches are equipped with a high number of 10G, 25G, 40G, and even 100G ports. This allows for the aggregation of multiple high-speed connections in a compact and scalable form factor. Additionally, data centre switches are designed to support seamless scaling, allowing network administrators to add more switches and expand their network infrastructure as needed without disrupting service.

Campus Switches, conversely, tend to have fewer high-speed ports but often support a mix of 1G and 10G connections, as these speeds are more suited for end-user devices. While campus networks can scale, the focus is more on broad coverage rather than massive throughput per port. The scalability of campus switches lies in their ability to handle large numbers of devices across multiple locations, such as multiple buildings on a university campus or a corporate campus with several office blocks.

Latency Requirements

Data Centre Switches are engineered for performance, prioritising low latency and high throughput. In a data centre, applications such as big data processing, and virtualisation demand near-instantaneous communication between servers. Even a small delay can have a significant impact on performance and user experience.

But campus switches are more focused on maintaining stable and reliable performance across a large number of devices. While low latency is still important, the performance requirements in a campus environment are less stringent compared to a data centre.

Redundancy and Reliability

Both data centre and campus networks require high levels of reliability, but the approaches differ slightly.

Data Centre Switches often come with advanced redundancy features, such as hot-swappable components, dual power supplies, and multiple fan trays. These features ensure that if one part of the system fails, the switch can continue to operate without affecting overall network performance. Given the critical nature of data center operations, any downtime can result in significant financial losses, making redundancy a key priority.

In contrast, Campus Switches are built with reliability in mind, but the focus is often on ensuring uptime across a wide area, rather than redundancy within a single device. Campus switches may have failover features, but they are less likely to include the same level of component redundancy found in data centre switches. Instead, redundancy in campus networks is often achieved through network design, with backup paths and alternate routes available in case of a failure.

Future Development Trends of Switches

Along with the emergence of SDN and NFV technologies, cloud computing, cloud native and other cloud technologies are developing rapidly, and the network is beginning to converge with the cloud to provide faster iteration rates, more open control capabilities, and more flexible service deployment capabilities. White box switch breaks through the integration design of traditional switch hardware and software, adopts open device architecture, decouples the underlying network hardware and the upper layer network functions or protocols, supports rapid iteration of demand, and provides more flexible, programmable and high-performance network solutions for enterprises and data centres.

Many large enterprises and cloud service providers, including Google, Microsoft, and Facebook, are increasingly adopting white box switches in their large-scale data centres. These organizations require high-performance, programmable, and customizable network devices to support complex architectures and evolving business needs. The openness and flexibility of white box switches make them well-suited for these requirements.

PicOS® is an open network operating system developed by Pic8, compatible with a wide range of open network switches. FS and Pic8 have partnered to offer a line of switches that work seamlessly with PicOS®, encompassing both enterprise and data centre switches. These switches excel in various applications, including high-performance computing (HPC), data centres, enterprise networks, and telecom networks.

The switches feature a diverse array of ports—1/10/25/40/100/400GbE—and support advanced networking functionalities such as voice VLANs, MLAG, OpenFlow, and NETCONF, ensuring exceptional performance and versatility. Together with PicOS® and the compatible AmpCon™, FS PicOS® switches enable more resilient, programmable, and scalable networks with lower total cost of ownership (TCO), making them ideal for industries like ISPs, sports/media, retail, and more.

Conclusion

In summary, while both data centre switches and campus switches play crucial roles in network infrastructure, their designs and functionalities cater to distinct environments. Data centre switches prioritise high performance, low latency, and scalability, making them essential for environments with demanding workloads. Campus switches, on the other hand, focus on broad coverage, reliability, and ease of management, ensuring that users can access the resources they need across large enterprise networks. Understanding these differences is key to selecting the right switch for your specific networking needs.

FS carefully crafts standardised products and solutions to meet changing market needs. In addition, FS offers comprehensive testing services including software, hardware, performance and proof-of-concept (POC) testing, proving the reliability of FS products and solutions. Visit the FS website today for customised solutions.

The Role of SDN in Modern Campus Networks

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In today’s rapidly evolving digital environment, campus networks are faced with a growing need for agility, scalability and security. As educational institutions, healthcare organisations and large enterprises expand their network infrastructures, traditional networking approaches struggle to keep up. This is where software-defined networking (SDN) comes into play as a transformative solution for modern campus networks, providing more dynamic and efficient control over network resources.

Challenges Facing Traditional Campus Networks

As campus networks continue to expand in both scale and complexity, traditional network architectures struggle to meet modern demands for scalability, security, and efficient management, leaving campus network management in a challenging position.

Network Virtualisation Requirements

In traditional campus networks, with the diversification of service requirements, users are forced to build multiple independent physical networks, and tightly-coupled chimney architecture has obvious drawbacks and causes great waste of network equipment resources.

User Experience Upgrade Demand

As the scale of the campus grows larger, and with the emergence of multi-party conference, mobile office and real-time collaboration scenarios, it is necessary for the campus network to have an end-to-end service protection capability, so as to prevent the deployment of complex Internet access policies, inconsistent Internet access experience in different locations accessing the company’s network, and frequent disconnections.

Demand for Upgrading Management and Control Efficiency

Switch fat mode deployment, decentralised control is inconvenient; network problems need to be dealt with one by one, lacking unified management, control and collaboration capabilities; network management interface adopts command line mode, which is complex and inefficient, and unable to support rapid on-line and flexible expansion. All of the above issues are problems we encountered in the past that affected control efficiency, and with the continuous expansion of the network scale, there is an urgent need to upgrade the control efficiency of the network.

Intranet Security Protection Requirements

With the popularity of BYOD devices, the types of terminal devices and business needs are constantly enriched, the deployment of internal network security policies has become extremely complex, and at the same time, it also brings the risk of intranet security.

What is SDN?

SDN is a network architecture that separates the network control plane from the data plane, allowing for centralised management and automation. By allowing network administrators to programmatically control and manage network traffic through software, SDN increases flexibility and responsiveness.

How does SDN work?

The SDN architecture consists of three layers: the application layer, the control layer, and the infrastructure layer.

Infrastructure Layer: Mainly forwarding devices that perform forwarding functions, such as data centre switches.

Control layer: consists of SDN control software that can communicate with forwarding devices through standardised protocols to achieve control of the infrastructure layer.

Application layer: Commonly, there are cloud platforms based on OpenStack architecture. Alternatively, a user’s own cloud management platform can be built based on OpenStack.SDN uses northbound and southbound application programming interfaces (APIs) for layer-to-layer communication, which are divided into northbound APIs and southbound APIs. northbound APIs are responsible for communication between the application layer and the control layer, and southbound APIs are responsible for communication between the infrastructure layer and the control layer.

Key Benefits of SDN in Campus Networks

The emergence of SDN has resolved numerous challenges by significantly enhancing scalability, improving security, and simplifying management, transforming campus networks.

Centralised Management

One of the main challenges of managing a campus network is dealing with the complexity and distributed nature of network devices across multiple buildings, departments, or campuses.SDN simplifies this process through centralised management, enabling administrators to manage all network components from a single platform. This significantly reduces the time and effort required to configure devices individually.

Scalability

As device connectivity, IoT integration, and data traffic continue to grow, scalability has become a must for campus networks.SDN allows administrators to dynamically adjust network capacity, easily deploying or removing virtual network components without modifying the physical infrastructure. This is critical for environments such as universities or large enterprises, where network demand fluctuates seasonally or with specific events.

Enhanced Network Security

Campus networks often face challenges in protecting sensitive data between distributed devices and users.SDN enhances security by providing real-time visibility and control over network traffic. Administrators can implement zero-trust security policies, create secure network segments, and automatically enforce security measures with programmable policies for faster response to threats.

Cost Efficiency

Traditional networks typically require significant investment in hardware upgrades and manual configuration. By virtualising network resources, SDN reduces the need for physical hardware upgrades. It also makes better use of existing resources, resulting in significant cost savings for maintaining and expanding campus networks.

Network Automation

One of the most important benefits of SDN in campus networks is its ability to automate routine tasks such as configuration updates, traffic monitoring, and fault detection. With SDN, administrators can create automated workflows that allow the network to adapt to changing traffic conditions or correct problems without human intervention.

Optimise bandwidth management

SDN’s ability to dynamically route network traffic to ensure optimal bandwidth utilisation is particularly beneficial in educational and enterprise environments where high traffic loads may occur intermittently.SDN can prioritise critical applications such as virtual learning environments or video conferencing, while effectively managing less critical traffic.

How SDN Supports Modern Campus Network Use Cases

SDN provides centralised control, automated configuration, and flexible resource allocation to support diverse application scenarios in modern campus networks, helping organisations enhance efficiency, security, and ease of management while driving digital innovation.

IoT Integration

Modern campus networks must support a growing number of IoT devices, such as security cameras, smart lighting systems, and access control devices.SDN enables seamless IoT integration by dynamically managing network traffic to these devices and ensuring that they do not compromise network security or performance.

Wi-Fi 6 and 7 Compatibility

As campuses transition to Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7, the need for intelligent traffic management becomes paramount. SDN allows network administrators to balance the load between access points to ensure reliable, high-speed connectivity for thousands of wireless devices.

Edge Computing

With the rise of edge computing in campus environments, SDN can optimise data processing by managing traffic between the central data centre and local edge devices. This reduces latency and enhances the user experience for applications that require real-time data processing.

FS Campus Switches

By adopting SDN, organisations and enterprises can build powerful, scalable and secure campus networks, and SDN switches are one of the typical products of this technology. SDN switches using protocols such as OpenFlow are well suited to meet the needs of network virtualisation in open network environments.

FS and Pica8 have partnered to launch the PicOS® Campus Switch, which has a built-in Broadcom chip that ensures performance, and standard protocols (Layer 2 protocol standards IEEE, RFC, and routing protocols FRR Open Source Architecture) to ensure that it is compatible with third parties (Cisco, Juniper, Arista, etc.) and can be used in the campus network. Cisco, Juniper, Arista, etc.) through standard protocols (IEEE, RFC, Layer 2; FRR open source architecture for routing protocols). PicOS® Campus Switches enable you to build higher performance networks in your campus.

Conclusion

Incorporating software-defined networking (SDN) into modern campus networks provides unprecedented flexibility, scalability and control, enabling organisations to meet the demands of a rapidly changing digital world. As education, healthcare and enterprise campuses continue to evolve, SDN will remain a key component in managing network complexity and ensuring future-proof, secure and efficient operations.

FS, a leading communications solutions provider, offers complete SDN deployment and network upgrade solutions. Visit the FS website today to customise your own solution for rapid campus network upgrades.

DPU vs. CPU vs. GPU: Understanding their Key Differences

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In traditional computing architectures, Central Processing Units (CPUs) and Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) play an important role, but with the increasing volume of data and the emergence of diversified data processing needs, these traditional units are gradually showing some bottlenecks and limitations. The introduction of DPUs makes up for these shortcomings and provides a more efficient, flexible, and customisable data processing solution. In this article, we will explore the differences and connections between DPUs, CPUs and GPUs.

What is a CPU?

The central processing unit (CPU) is the core of a computer system, responsible for executing instructions in the program and controlling the operation of other hardware. CPU adopts a single, more complex core structure. CPU is like the ‘brain’ of the computer. It handles all the basic tasks of computer work, such as running programmes, managing files and performing basic calculations.

Think of it as a human brain, making sure that all your faculties and behaviours are in order. Different types of CPUs may have different instruction set architectures (e.g. x86, ARM, etc.) for different application scenarios, such as personal computers, servers, embedded systems, and so on.

What does a CPU actually do?

At its core, a CPU takes instructions from a programme or application and performs calculations. There are three key stages in this process: fetch, decode and execute. In the fetch phase, the CPU reads instructions from memory. In the decode phase, the instruction is decoded to determine the operation to be performed. The execution phase performs the actual computation or operation according to the decoding result. The write back stage writes the result of the execution back to memory or registers.

What is a GPU?

Originally designed to handle graphics and image-related computations, Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) have been gradually expanding their applications as fields such as scientific computing and deep learning have evolved.

Unlike the serial processing of traditional CPUs, GPUs have thousands of highly parallel cores that are able to break down complex computational tasks into countless smaller tasks that are processed simultaneously. This highly parallel architecture allows GPUs to excel in scenarios that require large amounts of computation for tasks such as graphics rendering, machine learning (ML), video editing, gaming applications, and computer vision.

GPU Application Scenarios

Professional Visualisation

GPUs not only play a role in entertainment, but also excel in professional applications. For example, GPUs provide the computational power to process and render complex graphics in CAD drafting, video editing, product demonstration and interaction, medical imaging, and seismic imaging. These applications often require the processing of large amounts of data and complex image processing tasks, and the parallel processing power of GPUs makes them ideal for these tasks.

Machine Learning

Training complex machine learning models often requires a significant amount of computational power, and GPUs, with their parallel processing architecture, can significantly accelerate this process. For those training models on local hardware, this can take days or even weeks, whereas with cloud-based GPU resources, model training can be completed in a matter of hours.

Simulation

GPUs are used in a wide range of high-end simulations. Simulations in areas such as molecular dynamics, weather forecasting, and astrophysics all use GPUs to perform complex calculations, and GPUs are able to rapidly process and simulate large-scale physical systems. Additionally, in the design of automobiles and large vehicles, applications involving complex simulations such as fluid dynamics also rely on the powerful computing capabilities of GPUs for accurate modelling and simulation, helping engineers to optimise designs and reduce the need for physical testing.

What is a DPU?

The DPU, or Data Processing Unit, is a major key component in the future of computing. It is a hardware unit specifically designed to process data, with a greater focus on efficiently performing specific types of computing tasks. DPUs can share the work of the CPU in four ways: networking, storage, virtualisation and security.

Typically, DPUs are integrated into SmartNICs (Smart NICs) as a third computing unit in addition to CPUs and GPUs, which builds the heterogeneous computing architecture of the data centre.

Application Areas for DPUs

DPUs are an important part of the future of computing, and their applications cover a wide range of areas, from deep learning to edge computing and cryptographic security.

Deep Learning

Deep Learning is one of the important application areas of DPU. DPU, as a hardware unit specially designed for data processing, has excellent parallel computing capabilities and efficient data processing capabilities. DPU achieves fast training and inference of deep learning models through hardware accelerators, which greatly improves the efficiency of deep learning tasks. In fields such as natural language processing and computer vision, DPU achieves faster and more accurate text analysis, image recognition and other tasks by accelerating the training and inference process of models.

Edge Computing

Edge computing is another important application area for DPUs. As specialised data processing units, DPUs can perform complex computing tasks on edge devices to meet the needs of edge computing. In industrial automation, intelligent transportation, healthcare and other fields, DPUs can monitor and analyse real-time data, help users perform predictive maintenance, intelligent scheduling and other tasks, and improve the efficiency and reliability of the system.

Encryption and Security

With the increasing importance of data security and privacy protection, encryption and security have become important issues in the computing field. DPU can achieve efficient encryption and security processing to protect the security of user data. In the field of network security and intrusion detection, DPU can achieve real-time data monitoring and analysis to help users find and respond to network attacks and security threats promptly, to ensure the security and stability of the system.

The rapid growth of global arithmetic demand has driven the development of DPUs.NVIDIA, as a pioneer in the DPU field, has launched the BlueField series of DPUs and predicted that the DPU market will see explosive growth.FS, as one of NVIDIA’s partners, provides NVIDIA’s series of smart NICs, covering the ConnectX®4-ConnectX®7 series, and provides RIVERMAX licenses service.

Difference between CPU, GPU and DPU

Functionally, the main difference between the three lies in application scenarios and processing tasks. CPU is widely used for various computing tasks, while GPU is mainly used for graphics computing, and DPU is mainly used for data transmission data processing in data centres.

In terms of architecture, GPUs have more cores and processors than CPUs, and have higher parallel processing capabilities, while DPUs not only have the ability to transmit data but also can manage infrastructure, which enables them to work better together.

Of course, the DPU is not to replace the CPU and GPU, but the three divisions of labour. Among them, CPU is responsible for the definition of the entire IT ecosystem and processing general-purpose computing tasks, GPU is responsible for data-parallel tasks such as graphic images, deep learning, matrix operations and other accelerated computing tasks, and DPU takes on the accelerated processing of other specialised services such as security, networking, and storage.

Conclusion

DPUs have become an important part of computing, alongside central processing units (CPUs) and graphics processing units (GPUs). By integrating DPUs into devices such as Smart NICs, more efficient data transfer and processing can be achieved while reducing the burden on the CPU and GPU, increasing overall system throughput and responsiveness.

FS NIC products include Intel, Broadcom and NVIDIA brands, with a wide range of categories to choose from, fully stocked for fast delivery. FS always strives to provide competitive pricing, while being able to ensure product quality and service levels. Visit the FS website for more product information.

How Many Fiber Connector Types Do You Know?

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Fibre optic connector that comes in various configurations and types is considered as an important component for the fibre optic cable. Generally speaking, different fibre cable connector types can be categorized according to different standards like the utilization, fibre count, fibre mode, transmission method, transmission media, boot length, polishing type termination way, etc. In this article, you will become familiar with the various types of fibre connectors, helping you make the right choice when purchasing in the future.

Common types of fibre connectors

The following five fibre connectors are the most commonly used. They are introduced below in order of popularity, from the most widespread to the most commonly used. Fibre cables with these optical connector types are usually used in data centres, telecom rooms, enterprise networks and so on.

LC Connector

A Lucent Connector (LC), as one SFF (small form factor) connector, possesses a 1.25 mm ferrule. The small footprint design gives these fibre optic connectors huge popularity in datacoms and makes them ideal for high-density applications. Many tend to move to high-efficiency cabling with LC fibre connectors nowadays. LC fibre optic connector is considered the most commonly used connector at present.

SC Connector

SC fibre connector was the first connector chosen for the TIA-568 standard and is a snap-in connector that latches with a simple push-pull motion. “SC” stands for “Square Connector” due to the “square-shaped” connector body. It adopts a 2.5mm ferrule, which is twice the size of the previous LC connector. SC fibre optic connector is ideally suited for datacoms and telecom applications including point-to-point and passive optical networking. Due to its excellent performance, the fibre optic SC connector remains the second most common connector for polarisation-maintenance applications.

MTP/MPO Fiber Connector

Unlike the previous two fibre optic connectors, the MTP/MPO fibre connector is a multi-fibre connector and larger than other connectors, which combines fibres from 12 to 24 fibres in a single rectangular ferrule. It’s often used in 40G and 100G high-bandwidth optical parallel connections. The MTP/MPO fibre connectors are complicated due to the key-up and key-down, male and female issues. You can refer to our white paper Understanding Polarity in MTP/MPO System to have a better understanding.

ST Connector

ST (Straight Tip) fibre optic connector was created and licensed by AT&T shortly after the arrival of the FC type. The ST optic connector holds the fibre with a ceramic, spring-loaded 2.5mm ferrule that stays in place with a half-twist bayonet mount. They are usually used in both long and short-distance applications such as campuses and building multimode fibre applications, corporate network environments, as well as military applications.

FC Connector

“FC” refers to the Ferrule Connector. FC fibre optic connector was the first optical fibre connector to use a ceramic ferrule. Unlike the plastic-bodied SC and LC connector, it utilizes a round screw-type fitment made from nickel-plated or stainless steel. The FC fibre optic connector end face relies on an alignment key for correct insertion and is then tightened into the adaptor/jack using a threaded collet. Despite the additional complexity both in manufacturing and installation, the FC connectors still provide the choice in precision instruments such as OTDRs, as well as the choice for single-mode fibre. It was initially intended for datacoms and telecoms applications but has been used less since the introduction of the SC and LC fibre optic connectors. The usage of both ST and FC connectors has declined in recent years.

The figure below shows the different connector styles:

Less common types of fibre connectors

The following fibre connectors are less commonly used; some are only utilised in specialised connection scenarios, while others have been phased out and are no longer in use.

MT-RJ Connector

Mechanical Transfer Registered Jack (MT-RJ) connector is a duplex connector that uses pins for alignment and has male and female versions. Constructed with plastic housing and provide for accurate alignment via their metal guide pins and plastic ferrules. Compared to a standard phone jack, the size of the MT-RJ connector is slightly smaller, making it easier to connect and disconnect. In addition, the MT-RJ fibre optic connector provides a lower termination cost and greater density for both electronics and cable management hardware compared to other singer-fibre terminations.

MU Connector

Like a miniature SC with a 1.25mm ferrule. Featuring a simple push-pull design and compact miniature body, the MU fibre optic connector is used for compacting multiple optical connectors and a self-retentive mechanism for backplane applications. You can get a customized high-power MT-RJ/MU fibre optic connector in FS.

DIN Connector

The DIN connector is round with pins arranged in a circular pattern. It encompasses several types of cables that plug into an interface to connect devices. Typically, a full-sized DIN connector has three to 14 pins with a diameter of 13.2 millimetres. It is applied to PC keyboards, MIDI instruments, and other specialized equipment.

E2000 Connector

The E2000 Connector is a push-pull coupling mechanism with an automatic metal shutter in the connector for dust and laser beam protection. One-piece design for easy and quick termination, the E2000 fibre optic connector is used for high safety and high power applications.

VSFF Connector

VSFF (Very Small Form Factor) connectors are compact fibre-optic connectors designed to save space while increasing port density, particularly in data centres. These connectors enable higher port densities by being smaller and more efficient than traditional connectors like the LC duplex. The three most common types of VSFF connectors are the CS®, SN®, and MDC connectors.

CS® Connector: The CS connector (Compact Small-form-factor) is an ultra-compact dual-fibre connector designed by SENKO. Its design is similar to that of the LC connector but with a smaller footprint. It is 40% smaller than the LC duplex, offering more space for cable management and improving airflow within the rack.

SN® Connector: Developed by SENKO, the SN connector (Senko Connector) offers high data rates and a compact form factor suitable for dense installations. With an automatic dust cover and a locking mechanism, it ensures excellent performance and reliability. It is compatible with 1.25mm ferrules and provides an upgrade path to 400G and beyond, with fibre density three times that of duplex LC.

MDC Connector: The MDC is a compact duplex connector introduced by US Conec, with a pin pitch of just 3.1mm. It utilises a 1.25mm industry-standard ferrule and offers a density three times that of LC connectors. The MDC is the specified optical connector interface for QSFP-DD and SFP-DD transceiver MSAs. On FS.com, you can buy the MDC Fiber Optic Cable with VSFF connector. It maximises 200G/400G data centre density utilisation.

D4 Connector

The D4 fibre optic connector is an early fibre optic connector, typically used for multiplexing and demultiplexing optical signals. It features a round metal housing with four fibre channels inside. The D4 connector is equipped with precise alignment mechanisms in both the plug and socket to ensure accurate fibre end-face alignment, thereby reducing insertion loss and return loss. Compared to modern fibre optic connectors, such as LC or MTP/MPO, it is significantly larger. It is therefore superseded.

ESCON Connector

In the early 1990s, IBM developed Enterprise Systems Connection (ESCON), a serial, half-duplex optical interface designed for single-mode fibre systems. ESCON aimed to improve connectivity by integrating fibre optics into networks. The ESCON fibre connector uses a 2.5mm ferrule and pairs with SC or ST connectors via fibre adapters. However, ESCON connectors have gradually been replaced by more advanced connectors, such as Fibre Channel and other high-performance fibre interface standards.

FDDI Connector

The FDDI connector (Fibre Distributed Data Interface) was developed by the American National Standards Institute. It features an automatic dust cover and locking mechanism, along with a floating alignment structure, blind-mate design, and locking system, all of which provide excellent performance and reliability. The FDDI connector is also known as the MIC (Media Interface Connector).

Fibre Connectors Connect Without Adapter Panel

Compared to the above fibre optic connector types, Rosenberger Q-RMC and NEX10 connectors adopt a push-pull quick locking mechanism, which can realize quicker connection without using an adapter panel. They are designed for harsh environmental use.

Rosenberger Q-RMC Connector

Q-RMC, short for Rosenberger Multifiber Connector, is a new and robust industrial connector with the multi-fibre MT ferrule of the MTP®/MPO connector that can hold 24 fibre cores. This kind of very small form factor connector includes a push-pull closing mechanism, which makes the optic connector to be connected simpler and quicker even in tight areas, thus reducing installation times and the associated costs. The Q-RMC connector fulfils the requirements for protection class IP67, so it is waterproof, dustproof and resistant to corrosion. What’s more, the Q-RMC connector is suitable for use in areas with extreme temperatures thanks to its operating and storage temperature is up to -40~80℃. So, fibre cables with Q-RMC connectors can be used for industrial sites, minefields, mobile communication (FTTA), 5G Base stations, broadcast, smart grid cabling and so on.

Rosenberger NEX10 Connector

The Rosenberger NEX10 connector is suitable for an outdoor environment, and it is characterized by a compact size design plus waterproof, dustproof and anti-corrosion. This connector type supports a screw-type and a push-pull locking mechanism. The push-pull quick lock helps in achieving solid installation and easy removal without any tools. For the screw-type plug, there is a screw-locking mechanism, ideal for the plug and socket to keep a firm connection. Nowadays, FS introduces the industrial fibre optic patch cable with Rosenberger NEX10 connectors and its operating & storage temperature for connectors & outdoor cables lie between -40~80℃, which is often used in industrial sites, minefields, small sales, distributed antenna systems(DAS), In-building architecture, and MIMO.

Both single-mode and multimode Q-RMC/NEX10 connectors are available in FS. You can also choose an optical fibre type cable jacket according to your needs to get a customized industrial fibre optic cable.

Fiber Count: Simplex vs Duplex Fiber Connectors

A simplex connection means signals are sent in one direction—a signal is transmitted through two simplex connectors and a simplex fibre cable from device A to device B, which cannot return from device B to device A via the same route. Contrariwise, the revised transmission can be achieved through duplex connectors and duplex fibre cable, which is called a duplex connection. In addition, a simplex fibre optic connector is often connected with one strand of glass or plastic fibre, while the duplex fibre optic connector needs to connect with two strands of fibres.

Fiber Mode: Single Mode vs Multimode Fiber Connectors

Single-mode fibre allows only one light mode to pass through at a time, while multimode fibre can propagate multiple modes at a time. Diversity has an impact on single-mode fibre connectors and multimode fibre connectors on account of the combination with the corresponding type of optical fibre. However, with technologies getting advanced, fibre optic connectors like SC, LC, and FC, provided by fibre optic connector factories are compatible with single-mode and multimode fibre cables.

Boot Length: Standard Boot vs Short Boot Connectors

As for the boot length, there are standard boot structures and short boot structures. A standard boot can protect the cable and the connector from being damaged, wires being dislodged from the connector body, etc. While a short boot has the same function, it is distinguished by a shorter boot structure. For places where there is limited space for connectors, short boot cables can be the ideal choice. The short boot structure design can make the cable easily pass through the narrow space without sacrificing performance, making the installation and maintenance of the fibre optic cables more efficient.

FS offers high quality short boot fiber optic patch cables. Precision zirconia ferrule connectors ensure low loss with bend-insensitive fibers with a minimum bend radius of 7.5mm, a 60% reduction in boot length and a 30% reduction in overall connector length. They are ideal for high-density cabling applications where space is at a premium.

Polishment: APC/PC/UPC Fiber Optic Connectors

According to the polishing type, optical fibre cable connectors can be divided into three types: PC, UPC, and APC connectors. The colour code provides a convenient method to identify these three types of connectors: the PC’s colour code is black, the colour code for the APC fibre connector is green, and the UPC’s connector is blue. The structure and the performance of the three fibre optic connectors also vary, which reflects the values of insertion loss and return loss. PC vs UPC vs APC. This article sheds light on these connector types and their differences for you.

Termination: Field-terminated vs Pre-terminated Fiber Connectors

Field termination, as its name implies, is to terminate the end of the fibre in the field. The procedure includes stripping the cable, prepping the epoxy, applying the connector, polishing, inspecting and testing for the connection, requiring not only a large number of tools but also skilled technicians to conduct the termination.Factory termination, also called factory pre-termination, refers to cables and fibres terminated with a connector in the factory. The pre-terminated cables come in pre-measured lengths with the fibre optic connectors already installed with factory-level precision and quality assurance. Reducing the cumbersome process and tools, factory pre-terminated solutions are easier to install and require less technical skills.

How to Choose Different Fibre Optic Connector Types

After understanding the many types of fibre optic connectors, there are several factors to consider when choosing a fibre optic connector type. Different connector types are suitable for different needs, so careful comparison and analysis are required when making a selection.

Performance Characteristics

Connector types can vary in transmission performance, with certain ones being ideal for long-distance transmission and others better suited for short-range use. Therefore, it is essential to determine the necessary transmission performance based on actual requirements when selecting a connector.

Applicable Scene

The applicable scene is also an important consideration in selecting the connector type. For example, in the data center environment, you may need to use high-density connectors to meet the needs of a large number of fiber optic connections; and in outdoor or harsh environments, you need to choose a connector with waterproof and dustproof features. SC/APC connectors may be preferred in passive optical networks (PONs) for their ability to offer higher return loss, thereby aiding in the prevention of signal reflection. On the other hand, in fibre distribution systems catering to a large number of subscribers, MTP/MPO connectors may be more appropriate due to their support for high port density connections.

Cost

Different types of connectors may have different manufacturing processes, material costs, etc., so the relationship between performance and cost needs to be weighed when choosing.

Compatibility

Various devices might be designed to work with certain types of connectors. It’s important to take into account the compatibility with current device interfaces when choosing a connector. For instance, while some devices may typically use LC connectors, others might rely on SC connectors, making it vital to maintain connector uniformity in network design.

By carefully considering these factors, you can ensure that the selected connector provides optimal performance and reliability in specific scenarios.

FS offers a variety of fibre optic connectors along with customisation services to meet the needs of different users. Copper cables, various fibre cleaning and testing tools, and patch panels are also available for purchase in the FS online store. Additionally, the FS expert team can create tailored cabling solutions to help you swiftly upgrade your network equipment.

conclusion

In conclusion, fibre optic connectors play a crucial role in optical communications. Each type of fibre optic connector has its unique characteristics and applications. When selecting and using them, making appropriate choices based on specific requirements and conditions is important.

Exploring Smart NICs: Features, Types, and How to Choose

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In the wave of digital transformation, the importance of network connectivity as the blood vessel for data flow cannot be overstated. The continuous development of network technology and hardware devices has changed the landscape of data centres and cloud computing. Traditional NICs have struggled to meet the growing bandwidth demands, security challenges, and the need for intelligent management. As a result, smart NICs have emerged. This article will delve into the features, types, and differences of smart NICs and how to choose the right option for a given use case.

What is Smart NIC?

Smart NIC, is a network interface card with integrated intelligent processing capabilities. Not only does it have the data transmission capabilities of a traditional NIC, but it also has a built-in high-performance processor (e.g., FPGA, ASIC, or smart chip) and a dedicated acceleration engine that is capable of performing complex data processing tasks such as data encryption, network protocol offloading, and traffic management. This design enables smart NICs to significantly improve network performance and security without increasing the CPU burden.

Functions

  • Packet filtering and load balancing.
  • Quality of Service (QoS) implementation.
  • Storage acceleration, including Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA), iSCSI, and NVMe over Fabrics.
  • Security features such as firewall processing and Intrusion Detection System (IDS) checks.

Types

There is no fixed way to classify smart NICs, and they can be divided into the following types according to the form adopted for the design of smart NICs:

  1. FPGA-Based Smart NICs:

FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) based Smart NICs are highly customisable and programmable. They provide low-latency processing by offloading network tasks, such as packet inspection, encryption, or compression, directly onto the NIC. This flexibility makes FPGA-based intelligent NICs ideal for specific, specialised workloads such as financial trading systems where speed and low latency are critical. They support real-time updates to adapt to changing network requirements without requiring hardware changes. Example: Xilinx Alveo SmartNIC.

  1. ASIC-Based Smart NICs:

ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuits) based SmartNICs are designed for specific tasks and provide high performance and efficiency. These smart NICs are typically used for fixed-function tasks such as offloading TCP/IP processing, RDMA (Remote Direct Memory Access), or VXLAN encapsulation/decapsulation. ASIC-based smart NICs offer low power consumption and high throughput, making them ideal for cloud environments and hyperscale data centres. Example: Mellanox (NVIDIA) BlueField-2 Smart NIC.

  1. SoC (System-on-Chip) Based Smart NICs:

These smart NICs integrate multiple processing units (CPUs, GPUs or other accelerators) on a single chip, enabling them to handle complex networking and security functions independently. SoC-based smart NICs are suitable for workloads that require both computing power and networking, such as security functions like firewalls, DDoS protection and encryption. They enable tasks such as deep packet inspection, network virtualisation and telemetry to be handled directly on the NIC. Example: Intel Ethernet 800 Series with Dynamic Device Personalization (DDP).

  1. ARM-Based Intelligent NICs:

ARM-based intelligent NICs integrate ARM processors on the NIC itself to handle compute and network tasks. These processors offload workloads from the host server CPU, reducing CPU overhead and increasing system efficiency. They are widely used in virtualised, containerised and cloud-native environments where network traffic processing can be offloaded to the NIC. example: Marvell ARMADA-based NIC.

FS, as an NVIDIA partner, can provide NVIDIA Ethernet NICs, which are rigorously tested and certified to ensure full compatibility with a wide range of operating systems and hypervisors. In addition, FS offers a complete end-to-end solution supporting InfiniBand and Ethernet networking technologies, providing organisations with the infrastructure needed to support the development deployment implementation and storage requirements of the accelerated computing era.

Application Scenarios

High Performance Computing (HPC): Offload tasks to improve supercomputing performance.

Financial Services: Improve latency for time-sensitive applications such as stock trading.

Telecommunications: Optimising virtual network functions (VNFs) in telecoms networks.

Cloud & Data Centre: In the cloud and data centre space, smart NICs can significantly improve server network performance and security, reduce latency and packet loss, and improve overall quality of service and user experience.

Edge Computing: In edge computing scenarios, smart NICs can support low-latency and high-bandwidth data transmission requirements, while providing strong security protection capabilities to ensure data security and privacy protection for edge devices.

Internet of Things and Smart Cities: In the field of Internet of Things and Smart Cities, smart NICs can connect a variety of smart devices and sensors to achieve rapid data transmission and intelligent processing, providing strong support for city management and services.

Why is a Smart NIC better than a standard NIC?

Smart NICs reduce the burden on host server CPUs for routing, network address translation, telemetry, load balancing, firewalls, and more. It can block DDoS attacks and can be used to manage hard discs/solid-state drives in a similar way to a storage controller. In addition, SmartNICs are great solutions for offloading the data plane. Smart NICs may take on handling tunnelling protocols (e.g. VxLAN) and complex virtual switching. Its ultimate goal is to consume fewer host CPU processor cores while providing a higher-performance solution at a lower cost.

While standard NIC functionality is sufficient to support common network connectivity needs, it falls short when faced with data-intensive applications, virtualised environments, cloud computing and high-performance computing that demand higher performance and functionality.

Of course, there are times when we need to choose between a standard Network NIC and a smart NIC. At this critical juncture, FS offers a range of Intel-based Ethernet adapters to provide our customers with a cost-effective solution. Whether you choose one of our advanced NICs or select a Smart NIC, FS is ready to meet your networking needs and ensure that your network operates in an optimal, secure and efficient manner.

In August, FS introduced its latest portfolio of highly scalable, high-performance original Broadcom® Ethernet adapters. Included are seven Broadcom® NICs supporting a full range of speeds and feeds from 10G to 400G in a standard half-height, half-length form factor, providing enhanced, open, standards-based Ethernet NICs to address connectivity bottlenecks that occur as data centre bandwidth and cluster sizes grow rapidly.

How to choose Smart NICs?

In the ever-evolving world of networking, choosing the right NIC is critical and will have a direct impact on the performance, security and operation of your network and applications. Different use cases and requirements will determine the best choice for you.

Uses

Different workloads benefit from specific smart card features. For example, high-performance computing (HPC), financial trading, AI workloads, or video streaming may require a low-latency, high-throughput NIC with dedicated offload capabilities. Also, if you are managing a virtualised environment, make sure the smart card supports technologies such as SR-IOV (Single Root I/O Virtualization) and OVS (Open vSwitch) offload. These technologies help virtualise the network and reduce CPU overhead.

Speed and Bandwidth

Evaluate your current network speed requirements (10G, 25G, 40G, 100G or even 400G). For data-intensive environments, such as cloud data centres or AI workloads, high-speed smart NICs such as 100G or 400G may be required. Consider choosing higher-speed smart NICs or modular NICs that can be upgraded as your network expands to be future-proof.

Software and Compatibility

Ensure that the smart NIC supports the operating systems in your infrastructure, such as Linux, Windows, or FreeBSD. Choose a smart NIC that integrates with your existing network architecture. For example, if you are using a specific switch vendor, make sure the smart card is compatible with the vendor’s network management tools. In addition, some smart cards come with software development kits (SDKs) or APIs for customisation. If programmability is a priority, make sure the vendor provides good support for custom applications.

Power Consumption

High-performance smart NICs can consume a lot of power. For large-scale deployments, consider the power-to-performance ratio. ASIC-based NICs are typically more energy efficient, while FPGA-based NICs offer flexibility but may consume more power.

Security

If your organisation uses a zero-trust network model, choose a smart card that supports hardware-based security features such as encryption, IPsec offload, and trusted boot mechanisms. Some smart cards also offer real-time telemetry and analytics, enabling you to monitor network traffic, detect anomalies, and quickly respond to potential security threats.

Cost

The cost of smart NICs can vary widely depending on their features and capabilities. ASIC-based cards tend to be more affordable, while FPGA-based cards can be more expensive due to their customizability. Evaluate cost savings in terms of CPU offloading, power efficiency, and performance enhancements. While smart NICs may have higher upfront costs, they can reduce overall infrastructure costs by offloading critical network functions.

Latency and Throughput

Latency is a key factor in applications such as financial trading or HPC. Look for smart NICs that support low-latency packet processing and accelerated I/O to optimise real-time performance. Choosing smart NICs with high throughput capabilities ensures they can handle the expected amount of data without bottlenecks.

Conclusion

As a new chapter in the future of network connectivity, smart NICs are leading the innovation and development of network technology with their excellent performance, strong security capabilities and intelligent management features. In the future, smart NICs will also open up a wider range of application scenarios and market opportunities. In short, the emergence and application of smart NICs will bring more opportunities and challenges to the digital society and intelligent future.

Cloud vs Edge Computing: The Differences You Need to Know

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With the deepening of the digital era, Cloud Computing and Edge Computing, as the two hotspots in the current technology field, have changed the traditional mode of data storage and processing in different ways, and together they have shaped a more efficient and intelligent informationized world.

This article will delve into the differences between cloud computing and edge computing to help you gain a deeper understanding of these two concepts.

What is Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is a kind of distributed computing, which refers to the decomposition of huge data calculation and processing procedures into countless small procedures through the network “cloud”, and then processing and analyzing these small procedures through the system composed of multiple servers, and then returning the results to the users.

The core concept of cloud computing is to centralize computing power into large data centres and achieve flexible resource allocation and management through virtualization technology.

Characteristics

Virtualization technology: Cloud computing achieves abstraction of hardware resources through virtualization technology, allowing users to use computing resources more flexibly without caring about the underlying hardware details.

Elasticity and scalability: Users are allowed to rapidly expand or reduce computing resources according to their needs, realizing the elastic use of resources and avoiding the waste of resources.

On-demand services: Users can purchase and use various services provided by cloud computing according to their needs, without investing large amounts of money in advance to build their computing infrastructure.

Easy integration and standardization: Support for multiple standards and protocols facilitates the development of cross-platform applications.

What is Edge Computing

Edge computing emphasises data processing and storage at or near the source of data generation. In an ideal environment, edge computing refers to analysing and processing data near the source of data generation without data flow, reducing network traffic and response time.

Features

Low Latency: Edge computing processes data at the source of data generation, reducing the distance and lowering the latency of data transmission, enabling applications to respond faster to user requests.

Enhanced data security: Data is processed locally, reducing the need for transmission to the cloud, thereby reducing the risk of potential data leakage.

Network and storage efficiency: Edge computing occurs at the edge layer, halfway between the cloud and device layers, with the obvious benefit of being closer to the user, reducing bandwidth and storage demands on the central data centre.

Cloud Computing VS. Edge Computing

Edge computing and cloud computing are closely related in many ways. Edge computing is usually based on cloud computing, where computing and storage resources are deployed at the edge of the network to improve computing efficiency and user experience. Cloud computing is usually based on edge computing, where computing and storage resources are centrally managed to improve computing efficiency and reduce costs. In the future, edge computing and cloud computing will converge with each other and jointly drive the development of the computing field.

Differences Between Cloud Computing and Edge Computing

Data Processing Location

Cloud computing emphasizes the centralized processing of data in a central data centre, which is accessed by users via the Internet so that they can use the services provided by the cloud. In contrast, edge computing pushes data processing to edge devices closer to the data source, such as IoT devices, edge servers, etc., for lower latency and more efficient data processing.

Latency and Response Time

Cloud computing typically involves transmitting data to a remote data centre for processing, so there can be high latency during data transmission and processing. In contrast, edge computing pushes data processing closer to the data source, enabling faster response times in scenarios where real-time requirements are high.

Availability and Stability

Cloud computing delivers services through large data centres with powerful computing and storage capabilities, but in some cases can be affected by network failures or data centre failures. Edge computing, on the other hand, provides services through computing resources distributed on edge devices, which can operate independently in some cases.

Application Scenarios

Cloud computing is more suitable for scenarios that require large-scale computing and storage, such as big data analysis and machine intelligence training. Edge computing is more suitable for scenarios that require high real-time and low latency, such as IoT, autonomous driving, and industrial automation.

FS, a leading solution provider, has launched a next-generation network solution for autonomous driving, based on PicOS® switches and AmpCon™ management platform, which delivers real-time processing to enable self-driving cars to drive in a variety of environments. FS provides a range of customized hardware, easy-to-deploy application and management software, and end-to-end services for the solution. With these, organizations can instantly respond to customer needs, run their networks with maximum efficiency and security, and bring innovation in the field of autonomous driving.

Synergistic Applications

Cloud and edge computing are not mutually exclusive but can work together to take full advantage of their respective strengths. By distributing data processing between edge devices and cloud data centres, a more flexible and efficient computing architecture can be achieved. Here are some use cases:

  • In a smart factory, sensors and devices collect and analyze production data in real-time through edge computing to improve productivity. Meanwhile, cloud computing can be used for centralized management of global data, long-term analysis and optimization.
  • In healthcare, edge computing can monitor patient vital signs in real-time and provide rapid emergency treatment. Cloud computing, on the other hand, can be used to store and analyze large-scale medical data to support medical research and precision medicine.
  • In intelligent transportation systems, edge devices such as traffic cameras and sensors can monitor traffic conditions in real-time and respond quickly. Cloud computing can then analyze historical traffic data to optimize traffic flow and improve urban traffic efficiency.
  • In smart city and smart home scenarios, edge computing can be used for real-time interaction and data processing, while cloud computing can be used for data storage and analysis.
  • In virtual reality and augmented reality scenarios, edge computing can be used for real-time rendering and interaction, while cloud computing can be used to store and process large-scale virtual reality data.

Conclusion

To summarize, cloud computing focuses on the “cloud”, while edge computing focuses on the “end”. Specifically, edge computing is the processing of data, the operation of applications, and even the realization of some functional services from the central server to the nodes on the edge of the network.

Cloud computing is an orchestrator, responsible for big data analysis of long-period data, and able to operate in areas such as cyclical maintenance and business decision-making.

However, with the development of the digital era, they are also gradually forming a trend of synergistic applications, giving full play to their respective advantages and providing a more flexible and efficient computing architecture.

Immediately enter the FS website to learn more knowledge content, a large number of products for you to choose from, and technicians are ready to answer your questions.

Cloud Computing: IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS Explained

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Whether for governments, businesses, or consumers, we all use various clouds almost daily. Cloud computing is now a key part of modern IT systems. Cloud service models are important for creating and providing cloud services. Four main types of cloud computing include private cloud, public cloud, hybrid cloud, and multi-cloud.

Cloud computing has three main service models. They are Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS). These are the main cloud computing service models today. This article will delve into these three models, exploring their features, advantages, and suitability for different scenarios.

Cloud Computing Deployment Models

Cloud computing is a new computing model based on the internet. It integrates technologies such as distributed computing, parallel computing, network storage, virtualisation, and load balancing.

It uses many distributed computers instead of local or remote servers. This provides computing resources and services that are scalable, reliable, flexible, and secure. These resources are available when needed.

Cloud Computing Deployment Models describe the configuration methods for cloud computing resources and services, explaining how different environments deploy cloud infrastructure. These models help organisations decide how to deploy and manage their computing resources across various cloud environments. The main cloud computing deployment models include:

Public Cloud

Cloud-based applications are entirely deployed in the cloud, with all components running in the cloud. Two types of cloud-based applications exist. Some developers create them in the cloud, while others migrate existing systems to the cloud. This helps them take advantage of cloud benefits.

Developers can build cloud-based applications using basic infrastructure components. They can also use higher-level services. These services simplify the core infrastructure’s management, design, and scaling.

Hybrid Cloud

Hybrid deployment connects infrastructure and applications between cloud-based resources and existing non-cloud resources. The most common hybrid deployment method adds a cloud layer to an organization’s infrastructure. It connects cloud resources with internal systems.

Private Cloud

Deploying resources locally using virtualisation and resource management tools is often called a “private cloud.” While local deployment cannot offer many cloud computing advantages, this approach sometimes provides dedicated resources. In most cases, this deployment model is similar to traditional IT infrastructure, with application management and virtualisation technologies used to maximise resource utilisation.

Multi-Cloud

Multi-cloud refers to a cloud architecture that integrates multiple cloud services. Various cloud providers supply these services. They can either be public clouds or private clouds, depending on the specific use case.

Every hybrid cloud is a multi-cloud, yet not every multi-cloud is a hybrid. When various clouds link through some form of integration or orchestration, a multi-cloud transforms into a hybrid cloud.

You can plan a multi-cloud environment for better control over sensitive data. It can also serve as extra storage to improve disaster recovery. Sometimes, it happens by accident because of shadow IT. This shows that more companies are using multi-cloud to boost security and performance by reaching more environments.

Cloud Computing Service Models

Cloud computing models, or service models, currently fall into three main categories: IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS. Each model represents a distinct part of the cloud computing stack.

IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)

IaaS provides a cloud computing model that offers infrastructure resources (such as servers, storage, and networking) to users via virtualisation technology. In the IaaS model, users can rent virtualised infrastructure resources to build their applications, store data, and run services.

Features and Advantages:

  • Flexibility and Scalability: IaaS offers flexible infrastructure resources that users can scale up or down based on demand. This allows users to quickly respond to changing business needs.
  • Centralised Resource Management: IaaS centralises the management of infrastructure resources, including hardware devices, networking equipment, and virtualisation software. This allows users to focus more on application development and business innovation without worrying about infrastructure maintenance.
  • Flexible Payment Models: IaaS usually uses a pay-as-you-go model. Users pay only for the resources they use. This helps them avoid unnecessary expenses. This flexible payment model makes cost management more precise and controllable.

Applications:

  • Development and Testing Environments: IaaS provides development teams with flexible, scalable infrastructure resources to quickly set up and deploy development and testing environments.
  • High-Performance Computing is important for tasks that require a lot of computing power. This includes scientific calculations and data analysis. IaaS offers powerful computing and storage resources for these tasks.
  • Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity: By renting IaaS resources, organisations can create disaster recovery solutions to ensure business continuity and availability.

PaaS (Platform as a Service)

PaaS offers a complete platform environment needed for developing and running applications. In the PaaS model, cloud service providers handle hardware, operating systems, databases, and development tools. This lets developers focus only on building and deploying applications.

Features and Advantages:

  • Simplified Development Process: PaaS provides the necessary platform, including the operating system, databases, development tools, and runtime environment. Developers can focus on application development without managing the underlying infrastructure.
  • Rapid Deployment and Scaling: PaaS offers automated application deployment and scaling mechanisms, allowing developers to deploy and scale applications quickly. This speeds up delivery and enables rapid response to business needs.
  • Multi-Tenant Architecture: PaaS typically employs a multi-tenant architecture where multiple users share the same platform environment, improving resource utilisation. The system isolates users from each other to ensure security and stability.

Applications:

  • Web Application Development: PaaS provides comprehensive frameworks, tools, and services for quickly building and deploying web applications.
  • Mobile Application Development: PaaS supports mobile application development with appropriate tools and platform environments for building, testing, and publishing mobile apps.
  • Data Analysis and Big Data Processing: PaaS provides strong computing and storage resources for data analysis. It helps users manage and analyze large datasets effectively.

SaaS (Software as a Service)

SaaS delivers software applications to end-users via a cloud platform. In the SaaS model, users subscribe to applications from cloud service providers. They do not need to buy or install software.

Features and Advantages:

  • Zero Deployment and Maintenance Costs: In the SaaS model, users do not need to buy, install, or maintain software. They just subscribe and use it through the cloud platform. This lowers deployment and maintenance costs. It also makes things easier for IT teams.
  • Flexible Subscription Models: SaaS typically employs a subscription-based model, allowing users to choose plans based on actual needs. Users can adjust subscriptions as business requirements change, avoiding resource wastage.
  • Fast Upgrades and Updates: SaaS enables quick and easy software upgrades and updates. Cloud service providers can update software in the background. This lets users access the latest features and fixes automatically.

Applications:

  • Office Collaboration and Communication: SaaS is widely used in office collaboration and communication tools, such as online document editing, email services, and video conferencing.
  • Customer Relationship Management (CRM): SaaS providers of CRM software help businesses manage customer relationships, sales processes, and marketing activities.
  • Human Resources Management: SaaS offers HR management software, including functions for recruitment, training, and performance evaluation, simplifying HR processes for businesses.

Cloud Computing in the New Era

The smart industry has grown rapidly in recent years. It has unlocked the competitive power of digital and intelligent systems. These systems use cloud computing as the main hub. As the foundational computing power for large models, cloud computing has entered a new stage of development.

Traditional general-purpose cloud computing is rapidly merging with intelligent computing, evolving into an intelligent cloud. The intelligent cloud can support many chip types and open-source frameworks. It does this by combining and scheduling large computing resources. This enhances the efficiency of computing resource utilisation and ensures that various model algorithms can run efficiently and conveniently on the intelligent cloud platform.

The application of computing power models has driven the development of high-speed networks. FS has introduced high-speed modules and switch devices such as 400G and 800G, helping to enhance network performance.

FS has launched the H100 Infiniband solution. This solution relies on FS network architecture. It works with PicOS® and the AmpCon™ management platform.

Together, they improve high-performance computing networks. They also lower the overall network construction costs for users.

Conclusion

Each model has unique features and advantages, making it suitable for different application scenarios. Choosing the right cloud service model depends on business needs, resource requirements, and technical capabilities. Depending on the specific situation, a single model or a combination of multiple models can meet various demands. Cloud service models offer flexible, scalable, and cost-effective solutions, driving the development and adoption of cloud computing.

FS offers a variety of network equipment and custom solutions for users. Visit the FS website to enjoy free technology support.

How to Repair the Accidentally Cut Fibre Optic Cable?

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Fibre optic cable can be accidentally damaged, cut or smashed. According to the Electronic Technicians Association, one of the main causes of optical fibre failure is “backhoe fade”, during which the optical fibre cable is cut or damaged while digging. For this occasion, you can easily look for a backhoe and get the cut cable.

This article will provide a detailed guide on how to repair damaged fibre optics and the tools required. Additionally, it will briefly explain the importance of maintaining fibre health. Here are a few tools and steps suggested for you to repair broken fibre optic cable.

Fibre Optic Cable Repair Kits That You May Need

(1) OTDR (Optical Time Domain Reflectometer)

The OTDR is widely used for the measurement of fibre length, transmission attenuation, joint attenuation and fault location. For more information about OTDR, please refer to Working Principle and Characteristics of OTDR.

(2) Fibre Optic Cutter / Stripper

fibre optic cable cutter and fibre optic stripper are important tools in the fibre optic splicing and some other fibre optic cable cutting applications.

(3) High Precision Fibre Optic Cleaver

Fibre optic cleaver is used to cut the fibreglass for fusion splicing, also ideal for preparing fibre for pre-polished connectors to make a good end face. So it is very important in the fibre splicing process, and it usually works together with the fusion splicer to meet the end’s needs.

(4) Fusion Splicer

Fibre optic fusion splicer may be the act of joining two optical fibres end-to-end using heat. The machine is to fuse both the fibres together in such a way that light passing with the fibres is not scattered or reflected back from the splice.

Steps to Repair fibre Optic Cable

Step 1: Use OTDR to Identify the Break in Fibre Optic Cable

The first thing you need to do is to look for the break in your fibre optic cables. Commonly, the fibre-optic technicians utilize a device which is known as an OTDR. With the ability to work like radar which sends a light pulse right down to the optical fibre cable. It will be deflected to your device when it encounters break. It helps technicians know the position of the break.

Step 2: Use Fibre Optic Cutter to Cut Out the Damaged fibre Optic Cable

After knowing the location of the break, you should dig up the fibre optic cables with the break. The fibre optic cutter is used to cut out the damaged section.

Step 3: Strip the Fibre Optic Cable by fibre Optic Stripper

You should use fibre optic stripper to strip the fibre on the both end and peel the jacket gently to expose the fibre-optic tube inside. Then, cut any sheath and yarn by fibre optic cutting tools.

Step 4: Trim Any Damage on the Optical fibre Ends by High Precision Fibre Cleaver

The following picture lists the main 6 steps for fibre cleaving by high precision fibre cleaver.

Step 5: Clean the Striped Fibre Optic Cable

This step is crucial to ensure that your terminal will get a clean wire strip. You have to clean the stripped fibre with alcohol and lint-free wipes. Ensure that the fibre doesn’t touch anything.

Step 6: Splice the Fibre Optic Cable

Generally, there are two methods to splice optical fibre cable: (1) mechanical splicing; (2) fusion splicing.

(1) Mechanical Splicing

If you want to produce a mechanical connection, you need to put inline splice quick-connect fibre-optic connectors to the fibre. Hold the two fibres ends in a precisely aligned position thus enabling light to pass from one fibre into the other. (Typical loss: 0.3 dB)

(2) Fusion Splicing

In fusion splicing, a fusion splicer is used to precisely align the two fibre ends. You have to convey a fusion splice protector to the fibre, and place the fibres which is spliced within the fusion splicer. Then, the fibre ends are “fused” or “welded” together using some type of heat or electric arc. This produces a continuous connection between the fibres enabling very low loss light transmission. (Typical loss: 0.1 dB)

Step 7: Perform the Connection Test of Fibre Optic Cable with OTDR

The very last thing would be to see the connection of fibre-optic using the OTDR. Then put back those splices into the splice enclosure. Close the enclosure after which rebury the fibre optic cables.

Proactively Assess the ‘Health’ of Fibre Optics

Maintaining fibre optic cables in good condition is essential for ensuring long-term optimal performance. Environmental factors such as weather, temperature fluctuations, and mechanical movement can cause physical wear on fibre cables. These external influences may lead to fibre breakage or bend loss, with issues either appearing suddenly or accumulating gradually over time.

While human-caused breaks are unavoidable, detecting problems before service disruption occurs offers an opportunity to prevent failures. Therefore, maintaining fibre health is necessary, and some common maintenance methods include:

  • Regularly inspecting the lines and using tools like an Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) to test for visible damage is crucial.
  • Regular cleaning with specific fibre optic cleaners to prolong cable life.
  • Following detailed steps and using precision tools when repairs are needed to ensure successful data transmission recovery. Remember, the goal is not only to repair but also to preserve the integrity of the fibre infrastructure.

Conclusion

The failure of the optical fibre cable will lead to an interruption in data transmission, so fixing the damaged optical cable in time is an important task. After going through the steps for repairing the fibre optic cable, you may wonder whether you should choose mechanical splicing or fusion splicing. Here the suggestion is if the price is not a factor, you should go with fusion splicing since the signal loss is low. If you have a tight budget, you can consider mechanical splicing, which doesn’t require an expensive tool.

At FS, you can not only purchase a wide range of fibre optic cables, but also find tools for maintaining, testing, and repairing them. All of our products undergo rigorous testing, as FS is committed to ensuring that customers receive high-quality items. If needed, our technicians are always available to answer any questions and assist with troubleshooting.

Related Article: What Kind of fibre Patch Cord Should I Choose?

Unveiling the Advantages and Disadvantages of Optical Fibre

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Optical fibre is rising in both telecommunication and data communication due to its unsurpassed advantages: faster speed with less attenuation, less impervious to electromagnetic interference (EMI), smaller size and greater information carrying capacity. The unceasing bandwidth needs, on the other hand, are also yielding significant growth in optical fibre demands. Let’s take a review of common fibre optic cable types, explore the advantages and disadvantages of optical fibre, and learn tips on selecting fibre optic cable.

What Is Optical Fibre?

Optical fibre uses light pulses instead of electrical pulses to transmit information, thus delivering hundreds of times higher bandwidth than traditional electrical systems. Fibre optic cable can be protected by sheathing and armour to make it resistant to harsh environmental conditions. Hence it is widely adopted in commercial business, governments, military and many other industries for voice, video and data transmission.

How Optical Fibre Works

The working principle of optical fibre is based on the phenomenon of total internal reflection of light. When light enters the core with a higher refractive index and strikes the boundary with the cladding, which has a lower refractive index, at an angle greater than the critical angle, it is reflected entirely within the core rather than passing through the boundary. This total internal reflection allows the light to propagate through the fibre’s core, enabling efficient transmission of light signals even through bends and curves.

Common Fibre Optic Cable Types

Generally, there are three types of fibre optic cables: the two glass optical fibre—single mode fibre optic cable and multimode optical fibre, as well as plastic optical fibre (POF).

Single Mode Fibre Optic Cable

The “mode” in fibre optic cable refers to the path in which light travels. Single mode fibre has a smaller core diameter of 9 microns (8.3 microns to be exact) and only allows a single wavelength and pathway for light to travel, which greatly decreases light reflections and lowers attenuation. Slightly more expensive than its multimode counterparts, single mode fibre optic cable is often used in network connections over long lengths.

Multimode Fibre Optic Cable

Multimode optical fibre has a larger core diameter than that of single mode fibre optic cable, which allows multiple pathways and several wavelengths of light to be transmitted. Multimode optical fibre is available in two sizes, 50 microns and 62.5 microns. It is commonly used for short distances, including patch cable applications such as fibre to the desktop or patch panel to equipment, data and audio/video applications in LANs. According to the fibre refractive index distribution, multimode fibre can be divided into two types: Step-Index Multimode fibre vs Graded-Index Multimode fibre.

Plastic Optical Fibre (POF)

POF is a large core step-index optical fibre with a typical diameter of 1 mm. The large size enables it to easily couple lots of light from sources and connectors that do not need to be high precision. So typical connector costs are 10-20% as much as for glass fibres and termination is simple. Being plastic, it is more durable and can be installed in minutes with minimal tools and training. For applications do not require high bandwidth over great distances, POF is more competitive, making it a viable option for desktop LAN connections and low speed short links.

FS offers single-mode and multi-mode patch cables, covering a variety of types including OS2, OM1, OM2, OM3, OM4, and OM5, with customisation services available. Additionally, various specialised patch cables are available for purchase, such as armoured, industrial, and high-density options. All FS patch cables undergo rigorous testing to ensure you receive a high-quality product.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Optical Fibre

Though optical fibre has speed and bandwidth advantages over copper cable, it also contains some drawbacks. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of optical fibre cable.

Advantages of Optical Fibre

Greater bandwidth & faster speed—Optical fibre cable supports extremely high bandwidth and speed. The large amount of information that can be transmitted per unit of optical fibre cable is its most significant advantage.

Cheap—Long, continuous miles of optical fibre cable can be made cheaper than equivalent lengths of copper wire. With numerous vendors swarm to compete for the market share, optical cable price would sure to drop.

Thinner and light-weighted—Optical fibre is thinner, and can be drawn to smaller diameters than copper wire. They are of smaller size and light weight than a comparable copper wire cable, offering a better fit for places where space is a concern.

Higher carrying capacity—Because optical fibres are much thinner than copper wires, more fibres can be bundled into a given-diameter cable. This allows more phone lines to go over the same cable or more channels to come through the cable into your cable TV box.

Less signal degradation— The loss of signal in optical fibre is less than that in copper wire.

Light signals—Unlike electrical signals transmitted in copper wires, light signals from one fibre do not interfere with those of other fibres in the same fibre cable. This means clearer phone conversations or TV reception.

Long lifespan—Optical fibres usually have a longer life cycle for over 100 years.

Disadvantages of Optical Fibre

Low power—Light emitting sources are limited to low power. Although high power emitters are available to improve power supply, it would add extra cost.

Fragility—Optical fibre is rather fragile and more vulnerable to damage compared to copper wires. You’d better not to twist or bend fibre optic cables too tightly.

Distance — The distance between the transmitter and receiver should be kept short or repeaters are needed to boost the signal.

How to Select the Right Optical Fibre Cable?

Optical fibre cable has gained much momentum in communication networks, and there emerges a dazzling array of vendors competing to manufacture and supply fibre optic cables. When selecting optical fibre, you’d better start with a reliable vendor and then consider the selection criteria. Here’s a guide to clarify some of the confusions about choosing fibre optic cable.

Check Manufacturer Qualification

The major optical cable manufacturers should be granted ISO9001 quality system certification, ISO4001 international environment system certification, the ROHS, the relevant national and international institutions certification such as the Ministry of Information Industry, UL certification and etc.

Fibre Mode: Single Mode or Multimode

As illustrated above, single mode fibre is often used for long distances while multimode optical fibre is commonly used for short range. Moreover, the system cost and installation cost change with different fibre modes. You can refer to Single Mode vs Multimode fibre: What’s the Difference? and then decide which fibre mode you need.

Optical Cable Jackets: OFNR, OFNP, or LSZH

The standard jacket type of optical cable is OFNR, which stands for “Optical fibre Non-conductive Riser”. Besides, optical fibres are also available with OFNP, or plenum jackets, which are suitable for use in plenum environments such as drop-ceilings or raised floors. Another jacket option is LSZH. Short for “Low Smoke Zero Halogen”, it is made from special compounds which give off very little smoke and no toxic when put on fire. So always refer to the local fire code authority to clarify the installation requirement before choosing the jacket type.

Optical Fibre Internal Construction: Tight Pack or Breakout or Assembly or Loose Tube

Tight pack cables are also known as distribution style cables, features that all buffered fibres under a single jacket with strength members for Enclosure to Enclosure and Conduit under Grade installations. Breakout fibre cable or fan out cable is applicable for Device to Device applications with tough and durable advantages. Assembly or zip cord construction is often used for making optic patch cables and short breakout runs. While loose tube construction is a Telco standard used in the telecommunications industry.

Indoor vs. Outdoor

The choice greatly depends on your application. The major difference between indoor and outdoor fibre cable is water blocking feature. Outdoor cables are designed to protect the fibres from years of exposure to moisture. However, nowadays there have been cables with both dry water-blocked outdoor features and indoor designs. For example, in a campus environment, you can get cables with two jackets: an outer PE jacket that withstands moisture and an inner PVC jacket that is UL-rated for fire retardancy.

Fibre Count

Both indoor and outdoor fibre cable have a vast option of fibre count ranging from 4-144 fibres. If your fibre demand exceeds this range, you can custom the fibre count for indoor or outdoor optical cable. Unless you are making fibre patch cords or hooking up a simple link with two fibres, it is highly recommended to get some spare fibres.

Conclusion

Optical fibre provides a fast, constant and stable Internet connection that allows a lot of data to be transmitted over incredible distances. As data demands become enormous, fibre optic cabling is the sure way to go for network flexibility and stability.

FS offers a wide range of network devices and can also customise products to meet specific user needs. Our expert team can design tailored solutions for building cost-effective and high-quality networks. Visit the FS website now to learn more about our products and solutions. Our professional technicians are always available to answer any questions you may have.