Page 20 - October November 2014

20 Telecom Reseller
October/November 2014
The Passive Optical LAN: Providing
is replaced with zone enclosures, eliminating the
need for a closet cooling system while reducing
Enterprises Mega Improvements in Network power consumption.

Performance and Flexibility – Part 2
Ease of installation
Generally speaking, POLs are easier to installed
because they are simpler, consisting mainly of
iber optics passing through splitters that deliver
services to the user faceplates to which their
substantial,” says Dr. Ian Timmins, Vice President This architecture also equipment is attached.
of Engineering, Enterprise Connectivity Products addresses the “green” Also, pathway space requirements, such as
Sullivan
at Optical Cable Corporation (www.occiber. the headspace over drop ceilings, are reduced
com) of Roanoke, VA − a manufacturer of a initiative and saves on costs signiicantly.
by Ed Sullivan
broad line of data communication cabling and connectivity solutions. “Fiber ofers high- at the same time.
A typical POL “zone” coniguration is composed of an MDF (main distribution frame)
Sperformance bandwidth over much greater that runs iber to a zone distribution enclosure
econd in a two-part series covering the distances than copper-based infrastructures. Investments in wiring closets and associated that is typically mounted in the ceiling. he zone
subject of passive optical LANs and the When you install a POL you’re really setting electronics and are eliminated as well as climate distribution enclosure contains splitter cassettes
advantages they have over copper-wired
yourself up with a highly reliable infrastructure control costs. Installation costs are reduced (1 to 32 splitters) from which ibers are run to
networks, this installment discusses the technical, that’s far more future-proof than any because the iber cables are less expensive
the user via ONT (optical network terminal). A
economic and environmental beneits, as well as conventional copper-based network.”
and easier to install. POL lattens the LAN by copper patch cord connects the ONT to the user’s
installation issues.
POL over single-mode iber represents a reducing the number of switches and routers on a Ethernet NIC (network interface card).
To provide some background on the
major bandwidth upgrade for enterprise network by connecting devices to a single switch Some suppliers have developed proprietary
subject: a Passive Optical LAN (POL) is a networks currently operating with 1or 10 Gb to rather than separate switches. Reaching multiple POL devices to enhance ease of system
telecommunications network composed of the desktop. Also, single-mode iber reach for users with each iber gives POL lexibility not installation. For example, ceiling-mount zone
point-to-multipoint iber conducted through POL is in the 10-20 kilometers range, whereas present when compared to copper-based LANs.
enclosures and rack-mount enclosures for retroit
unpowered splitters. POLs enable enterprises conventional copper architecture is typically his architecture also addresses the “green” installations.
to simultaneously converge multiple services limited to a 100-meter channel.
initiative and saves on costs at the same time. Ed Sullivan is a Hermosa Beach, CA-based
such as data, VOIP, video, building security and Timmins adds that CapEx and OpEx here is no electric power requirement for writer. He has researched and written about high
management services and wireless devices.
advantages are signiicant as well. POL is electronics between the OLT and users. he need technologies, healthcare, inance, and real estate
“he performance beneits of POL are
signiicantly less costly than copper-based LANs.
for a telecommunications room, or wiring closet,
for over 25 years.

Diamond Sponsors
Gold Sponsors

Platinum Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

p1-28_TR_Oct/Nov_2014.indd 20
10/11/2014 22:54