Case Details
Highlights
- A complete 40G high-density MPO cabling solution connecting EoR (End of Row) and ToR (Top of Rack) in the data center.
- NS high-density cabling components simplify installation and ensure clear, structured cabling across and within racks.
Key Stats
- Eight customized 144-fiber NS MPO-12 high-density trunk cables connect the ToR and EoR cabinets, enabling high-capacity connectivity in a compact footprint.
- EoR and ToR cabinets each use 96 MPO-12 fibers to link 40G switches. All fibers are neatly organized through NS MPO panels, preventing bending strain and maintaining optimal transmission performance.
- Four 1U high-density fiber enclosures—two in each cabinet—accommodate 16 plug-and-play NS MPO panels, significantly improving deployment efficiency.
- Correct MPO Type B polarity is ensured using NS key-up to key-down panel design, supporting error-free system transmission.
Overview
Enterprise data - including customer information, R&D data, and operational assets—must be kept secure and accessible at all times. Data loss or exposure can result in irreparable damage to any organization.
Our client is an ISP and data-service operator based in Valencia, Venezuela, delivering connectivity and secure data solutions to regional customers. As their business expanded, the client needed to deploy new 40G links at the Leaf network layer to support increasing data transmission demands. Their objective was to connect all Leaf switches to Spine switches to balance traffic loads, reduce bottlenecks, and improve overall performance.
They also required a clean, easily manageable high-density MPO cabling system between their EoR and ToR racks, one capable of supporting current demands while accommodating future growth.
Challenges
The client planned to connect multiple cabinets using MPO-based 40G transmission links between EoR and ToR. However, being focused primarily on software-driven data services, they lacked experience with physical-layer cabling, especially regarding:
- Ensuring correct MPO Type B polarity
- Selecting proper male/female connector types
- Maintaining consistent polarity across an end-to-end MPO system
Additionally, the client needed a highly organized cabling structure that could handle:
- Up to 96 MPO-12 connections per cabinet
- Both intra-cabinet and inter-cabinet cabling
- Future scalability without major redesign
Solutions
With Network-Switch.com’s extensive experience in high-density structured fiber cabling, the client collaborated with NS to design and deploy their 40G upgrade.
1. NS Custom 144-Fiber High-Density MPO Trunk Cables
NS supplied eight custom-length, 144-fiber (12 × MPO-12) OM4 Type B trunks for cabinet-to-cabinet EoR-ToR connections.
Key features include:
- Durable double-jacket construction for improved protection
- Reduced connector stress and minimized risk of bending-related damage
- High-bandwidth performance for 40G environments
- Longer equipment lifetime due to optimized routing
2. NS MPO-12 OM4 Type B Jumpers for Internal Rack Cabling
Within each cabinet, 96 MPO-12 OM4 Type B jumpers were deployed for Leaf-to-Spine connection paths. These jumpers ensured consistent polarity and stable transmission across all internal links.
3. NS High-Density Enclosures and MPO Panels
To manage the dense fiber layout, NS provided:
- Four 1U high-density sliding enclosures
- Fully loaded with 16 NS MPO plug-and-play panels (key-up to key-down)
This configuration created a modular and highly organized structured cabling framework.
4. Consistent MPO Type B Polarity Throughout the Deployment
By using only Type B components - including trunks, jumpers, and MPO panels—the client achieved:
- End-to-end polarity alignment
- Elimination of polarity-flip cables
- Reduced installation complexity and error risk
Results
By following NS’s end-to-end Type B MPO design approach, the client successfully deployed a clean, consistent, and easily manageable 40G cabling environment.
Key results include:
- Customized MPO trunk lengths reduced unnecessary cabling and improved space efficiency
- Better airflow and reduced clutter in both EoR and ToR racks
- High-quality MPO connectors and low-loss optical fiber ensured stable, high-performance transmission
- NS 1U high-density enclosures enabled neat routing of 96 MPO-12 fibers per cabinet
- Easy scalability, panels can be upgraded to MPO-24 or LC modules in the future
The final solution achieved an organized, scalable, and efficient 40G EoR-ToR structured cabling system, supporting the client’s long-term performance and expansion requirements.