Fiber Connectors Query

[ayram23]

Hi,

I have a "Cisco Small Form-Factor Pluggable Gigabit Interface Converter(LC Connector)" and "Cisco Gigabit Interface Converter(SC Connector)" with me. I have only SC - SC Fiber patch cord and LIU with SC Connectors with me. Will i be able to connect both the converters with this patch cord ?

Regards,

R. Rajaraman.

[johansens]

The short answer is no.

The long answer is, no because the physical dimensions of the SC and LC connectors are entirely different. They are both rectangular on both fiber-strands, but they are of different size, and even though the fiber core is the same size, you wouldn't get the LC connector in the right position and keep it there steady without the whole SC-connector assembly (if you had a LC-LC fiber-optic cable to begin with).

Check here for some more info :

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/routers/ps341/prod_module_installation_guide09186a00801cc731.html

When you only have a SC-SC cable, you are stuck I'm afraid. Why not get a SC-LC cable.. it can't be that expensive.. go to a third-party vendor and buy one.

[ayram23]

Hi,

Thanks for your reply.

I need one more clarification. If i use SC-LC patch cord in one building (for SFP) and SC-SC Patch cord in the other building (for GBIC). Is it possible for both modules to communicate? or i need to have the same patch cord on both sides for the communication to happen?

Regards,

R. Rajaraman

[konigl]

SC-LC patch in one building and SC-SC patch in another should be fine. The connectors on the physical ends of the fiber patch cables and equipment don't matter so much (other than to make the local physical connection, of course).

More important is that the same type of fiber is used from one end of the connection to the other, either single mode fiber or multimode fiber.

Also, that the Gigabit optical transceivers at both ends match: SX to SX, or LX/LH to LX/LH, or ZX to ZX.

It's convenient when the connectors on the equipment (MT-RJ, SC, or LC) and connectors on fiber patch panels (ST, SC, LC, etc.) match. But more often than not these days, it is the job of the patch cable to adapt dissimilar connector types.

[jroyster]

Also make sure the fibers are the same size. There are different sizes of MM and SM fiber. For example many times people struggle with a fiber connection because the patch cord is 50 micron fiber and the horizontal (or permanent) fiber is 62.5 micron.

You should be able to read the core size on the outer jacket of the cable.