I'm looking for a modular, cost-effective automatic / intelligent fibre
optic patch panel.
I'm not looking at these photonic x-connects, but really for something
which does the patching instead of a technician.
TIA
Arnold
http://www.laser2000.de/out/media/glimmerglass_system_100(1).pdf
Thank you, Andrew ... while Glimmerglass is really an exciting and
excdellent system, these devices are exactly those photonic cross
connects I'm _not_ looking for :9
Are you looking for a robot to install your fiber jumpers between patch panels?
Something like: http://telescent.com/tswitch.php
Are you looking for a robot to install your fiber jumpers between patch panels?
Exactly ...
Something like: http://telescent.com/tswitch.php
... like this, Matthew. Do you know Telescent systems?
http://www.laser2000.de/out/media/glimmerglass_system_100(1).pdf
Thank you, Andrew ... while Glimmerglass is really an exciting and
excdellent system, these devices are exactly those photonic cross
connects I'm _not_ looking for :9I'm looking for a modular, cost-effective automatic / intelligent fibre
optic patch panel.I'm not looking at these photonic x-connects, but really for something
which does the patching instead of a technician.
Arnold
Curious what the use case is where a photonic or L1 switch wouldn't get
the job done?
With the robotic system you still need to wire everything up so it's
available to be xconnected.
FiberZone was another vendor who made robotic patch panels, but I'm not
sure they are around anymore.
Interesting also Verizon has a patent on automated patch panels, but using
very specific mechanics.
https://www.google.com/patents/US8175425
Phil
Curious what the use case is where a photonic or L1 switch wouldn't get
the job done?With the robotic system you still need to wire everything up so it's
available to be xconnected.
We've done electromechanical cross connect termination before on a very
large scale.
those systems typically don't have the capacity to connect 100% of the
edges at once.
FiberZone was another vendor who made robotic patch panels, but I'm not
sure they are around anymore.
their website is still there, I've never seen an AFM live.
Just a matter of costs, Phil. Of course a photonic switch would also do
th job. But I neither need the speed of switching over nor all the other
features a photonic switch offers. Makes sense?
Arnold
Hi Arnold,
I have recently been talking to these guys (
https://www.metamako.com/use-cases/ ) about intelligent cross connect
management within our data centers.
Maybe this would work for you, and probably less complicated than a robot.
Cheers
Pete
Doesn't the MetaMako device do exactly the same thing as the Glimmerglass photonic switch?
Ammar
Actually you are right Ammar, it does look similar so maybe not appropriate in this situation.
Automated cross connects are one of the challenges they are looking to address so it would be interesting to understand why this would not work.
-Pete
Those photonic switches are getting cheaper because a ton of people make them now and the components aren't really very expensive. Of course the cost is relative, and I don't know what an electromechanical switch might cost. Glimmerglass, Calient, Polatis were some of the early ones but I've seen a bunch of vendors with 192/384 systems.
Phil
Aren't all of these photonic switches active devices? i.e. Lose power
and your light disappears.
The robotic device linked earlier in the thread, specifically states
that all you lose in the event of a power outage is the ability to make
changes.
Not for basic xconnect, they use MEMS arrays (mirrors). You need power to change things and some do offer more advanced stuff like VOA, protection, etc requiring power.
Phil