Let's face it. Standing in front of your boss explaining why the network is slow or worse yet--down!--is no fun. For businesses today, networks are their very lifeblood. If the network is down, so is business, and by extension, so is revenue. Not a pretty picture. How can the above scenario be avoided? Enter---the switch, or better yet, the fiber optic switch.
Switches can go a long way toward smoothing out the bumps in your network. What if you could harness more bandwidth, AND avoid time consuming data collisions? As more users or workstations are added, available bandwidth decreases and the chance of "bogging down" is escalated. Because switches can "take a look" at each packet of data and process it accordingly, signal collisions can be avoided. No longer does a signal have to be repeated to ALL ports--as with hubs. That signal can in fact be mapped or filtered and sent only to exactly where it needs to go. Or, if there is a problem with the signal, not sent at all. Thus, the possibility of collisions become greatly reduced and the problems of an over-crowded network are eased.
Other important advantages to switches include the "plug and play" element. Switches can determine ethernet addresses in use on each segment and create a table as signal packets are passed through the switch. Furthermore, they are versatile enough to connect different network types together as with ethernet and fast ethernet as well as networks of the same type.
In fact, there are also no protocol issues with switches since they occupy the same hardware layer as a hub.
So, if a regular copper switch can do all of this, why choose a fiber optic switch? Simply put, there are several more advantages that a fiber optic switch can offer that a copper one cannot. First and foremost, a fiber switch will allow you to harness ALL available bandwidth. Fiber, by definition, increases the bandwidth available for consumption and switches over fiber are no different. Distances are also increased with the use of fiber, so you will be able to send more information farther with the use of an optical switch. Immunity to EMI/RFI disturbance as well as lightning strikes becomes a huge advantage in mission critical applications. In a word, network applications linked with fiber are simply more "secure" than their copper counterparts. Find out about all of the switches that VERSITRON offers by clicking below.
How to connect a fiber optic cable to a switch?
Connecting a fiber optic cable to a switch is a simple process that requires a few basic steps.
Here are some pointers to help you get started:
- Identify the type of fiber optic cable: There are two common types of fiber optic cables - single-mode and multi-mode. Make sure you have the correct cable type for your network.
- Prepare the cable: Strip back the protective jacket and separate the fibres, being careful not to damage them.
- Clean the connectors: Use a lint-free cloth and alcohol-based cleaning solution to clean the connectors on both the cable and the switch. Make sure the connectors are completely dry before proceeding.
- Connect the cable to the switch: Align the connector on the end of the cable with the port on the switch and gently push it in until it clicks into place.
- Test the connection: Use a cable tester or network analyser to ensure the connection works properly.
Through the elimination of data signal collisions, the increased bandwidth opportunities, coupled with longer distances that signals can travel, and immunity to outside disturbances, fiber optic switches can take your network to greater heights of efficiency. Salt and pepper those switches with some management options, and you, not your network, are in the driver's seat. That unhappy scenario of a network administrator facing his boss with yet another network glitch need never be played. You can also check fiber optic switches buying guide to get an idea about correct fiber switch selection
