Cabling Recommendations

Comply with the following recommendations:

• Ensure that cable distance and rate limits meet IEEE-recommended maximum speeds and distances for signaling purposes. For information about attenuation and power loss in optical fiber cables see:
  • ANSI T1.646a-1997 Telecommunications – Broadband ISDN - Physical Layer Specification for User-Network Interfaces Including DS1/ATM (1997)
  • ANSI T1.646-1995 Telecommunications – Broadband ISDN - Physical Layer Specification for User-Network Interfaces Including DS1/ATM (1995)
• Ensure that power cables deliver sufficient power to the system.
• Attach laser fiber connectors only to Class 1 laser devices in accordance with IEC 60825-1, Safety of Laser Products - Part 1.
• Route cables so that they do not restrict ventilation or airflow.
• Route cables so that modules and field-replaceable units are easily accessible.
• Route cables in a logical direction to prevent loss of connectivity to other equipment in the rack, associated equipment in adjacent racks, or to the backbone network.
• Consider using cable-management brackets to keep network cables untangled and orderly and to prevent cables from hindering access to other slots.
• Verify that the cable fits within the allocated space. Some optical fiber cables incorporate strain relief features and minimum bend radius requirements and may exceed the specified depth of the chassis and the cable management bracket. To avoid cable damage, choose cables that fit in the space provided for the chassis.
• For specifications on cables for line modules, see the E120 and E320 Module Guide.

For additional cable recommendations, consult the document GR-63–CORE: Network Equipment Building System (NEBS) Requirements: Physical Protection, Issue 2, April 2002.