Copper to Fiber Media Converters
Copper-to-Fiber Ethernet Media Converters for Data Centers
iConverter® Managed Media Converters
iConverter Managed Media Converters are part of the modular iConverter Multi-Service Platform of media converter, transponder, NID, and multiplexer modules. These network modules can be combined in a variety of chassis configurations to provide a managed, flexible and scalable architecture for today’s evolving data center networks.
iConverter 10G Media Converters and enable data center copper and fiber server connectivity and fiber distance extension.
10G Server Application
10 Gigabit Data Center Server Connectivity
iConverter 10G media converters provide a variety of 10G data center connectivity solutions, including resolving interface disparities between equipment with 10GBASE-T RJ-45 ports and existing rack servers or switches with fiber optic ports. Architecture changes such as migrating from Top of Rack to End of Row can present cabling challenges when extending network distances from racks of servers.
In this application, fiber cabling is used to extend distances between 10G switches and servers. An iConverter 5-Module Chassis with iConverter XGT+ 10G plug-in media converters is used to convert the CAT-6A cabling from the RJ-45 ports on the aggregation switch to fiber. The iConverter XGT+ supports SFP+ or XFP transceivers, and can achieve fiber distances of up to 80km.
At the other end of the first fiber run, a standalone iConverter XGT+ is used to convert the fiber back to copper for connectivity to a 10G server with RJ-45 ports. The second fiber run connects directly to a fiber port on a 10G switch.
The iConverter XGT+ supports CAT-6A cabling (up to 100 meters) to extend distances to servers, switches and patch panels. For CAT-6A cabling links less than 30 meters, the XGT+ supports 10GBASE-T Short Reach mode to conserve energy by reducing power and cooling requirements.
Gigabit Server Application
Gigabit Server and Workstation Connectivity
In this application example, a Gigabit switch with copper RJ-45 ports is connected to remote servers and workstations with fiber.
A 1U high iConverter 5-Module chassis is installed in a network rack with a Gigabit switch. Four iConverter GX/TM2 plug-in media converter modules are installed in the chassis, and provide managed copper-to-fiber conversion. The GX/TM2 plug-in media converters (also known as Network Interface Devices) feature built-in SNMP management for remote configuration, fault management, and VLAN with Quality of Service.
GX/TM2 media converters support a variety of fixed fiber connectors, or they can use Small Form Pluggable (SFP) transceivers. The four fiber links shown can be dual or single-fiber, multimode or single-mode, and can run to remote locations up to 160km away.
Two GX/TM2 standalone media converters connect the copper ports on the servers to the fiber links.
Two more GX/TM2 standalone media converters connect workstations to the switch, enabling Gigabit fiber-to-the-desktop.
Note that FlexPoint or miConverter media converters can also be deployed in unmanaged applications.
