SYSTIMAX® InstaPATCH® 360
Traffic Access Point (TAP)
Solution
Design Guide
www.commscope.com
Contents
Introduction 3
How Does a TAP Work? 3
The TAP Ecosystem 4
InstaPATCH 360 TAP Module Family 4
InstaPATCH 360 TAP Fan-out Array Cords 5
InstaPATCH 360 TAP Pre-terminated Fiber Cables 5
Traffic Monitoring System 5
Fiber Cabling System Design with TAPs 6
Example 1—10Gbps Ethernet 6
Example 2—8Gbps Fibre Channel 8
Optical Channel Loss Evaluation with TAPs 10
Loss Evaluation of Main Traffic Channels 10
Loss Evaluation of Shorter Monitor Channels 11
Loss Evaluation of Longer Monitor Channels 12
TAP Installation 12
Ordering Information 13
References 15
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Introduction
The need for real-time network traffic monitoring in today’s intelligent data center has become
compelling. Data center network administrators need to gain better visibility of their networks,
optimize the performance of mission-critical applications and, more importantly, secure their
networks.
In fiber-optic networks, a traffic access point (TAP) can be integrated into the fiber cabling
infrastructure, enabling network traffic monitoring from physical layer (layer 1) and above
in real-time fashion with zero packet loss. Because TAPs continuously pass all traffic running
between the endpoint network devices with zero latency—while duplicating that exact same
traffic to the monitor ports simultaneously—TAPs are one of the most efficient ways to monitor
traffic and network link quality in data center and telecom carrier networks.
This design guide will help you understand and design fiber cabling systems using CommScope
SYSTIMAX® InstaPATCH® 360 TAP solutions to support applications and enable real-time
network traffic monitoring at the same time.
How Does a TAP Work?
TAP modules provide an important feature for data center monitoring and management. A TAP
module is a compact package of fiber-optic couplers or splitters that can be used to passively
divert a fixed percentage of light energy away from main transportation channels as a way
to monitor the traffic status or content in real time without disrupting the main channel traffic.
The optical couplers or splitters inside a TAP module are the key components that split the light
energy from the input port into two output ports according to designed split ratio.
Figure 1 shows example signal paths of 12-fiber multimode fiber (MMF) TAP Modules. On the
right side of the diagram the rear surface of the TAP modules provide one Multiple-Fiber PushOn/Pull-off (MPO) connector serving the main traffic channels for connecting to a trunk cable,
and another MPO connector (red) serving the monitoring channels for connecting to monitoring
equipment via MPO-LC array cords. On the left side of the diagram the front surface of the
modules provide 12 LC receptacles for patching.
Couplers are unidirectional components and are arranged in an alternating sequence for
duplex transceiver connectivity at the LC connectors. As shown in the upper part of Figure
1, Channel 1 of the LC connectors receives traffic from Channel 1 of the MAIN MPO port
after a portion of its optical signal is split into Channel 1 of the TAP MPO connector. Other
odd-numbered LC connectors follow the same signal flow. The lower part of Figure 1 shows
Channel 2 of the LC connectors, which serves only for signal input, and its signal is split
between Channel 2 of the MAIN MPO and the TAP MPO connectors. Other even-numbered
LC connectors follow the same signal flow.
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Figure 1. Fiber TAP signal path illustrations
TAP modules, therefore, must be tested or deployed with channel directionality in mind. The
transmitter (or the meter source) must always be connected to the input of the coupler. Also, the
receiver (or the meter detector) must always be connected to the outputs of the optical coupler.
Connecting in an opposite direction will not affect the main traffic, but will result in a lack of
output from the monitoring channels.
The TAP Ecosystem
The TAP ecosystem mainly consists of the InstaPATCH 360 pre-terminated fiber cables,
InstaPATCH 360 TAP modules, InstaPATCH 360 TAP Fan-out Array Cords, and the monitoring
equipment. The TAP modules, combined with the array cords, provide flexible choices to
network designers for various network configurations. The monitoring equipment is designed
to detect and analyze traffic collected from the TAP.
InstaPATCH 360 TAP Module Family
The optical TAP is a completely passive device integrated in the optical network physical layer
and is invisible to potential intruders. Due to different network application environments, the TAP
family has a variety of different formats, such as number of fibers, fiber type, and split ratio.
Figure 2 shows some examples of the CommScope TAP family, including combinations of
12-fiber or 24-fiber, MMF or Single-mode fiber (SMF), and 70/30 or 50/50 split ratio.
(a)
SMF 12-fiber,
Front view
Figure 2. Front and rear views of InstaPATCH 360TM TAP modules
(b)
SMF 12-fiber,
Rear view
(c)
MMF 24-fiber,
Front view
(d)
MMF 24-fiber,
Rear view
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The MMF TAPs are designed to operate at 850nm wavelength. The MMF TAP can be
deployed with bend-insensitive or traditional OM3 or OM4 fiber cabling. The single-mode
fiber TAPs are optimized for operation at 1310nm wavelength.
The designed split ratios of the TAP modules are selected for compatibility with the supported
applications. The available split ratios are 70/30 and 50/50. The first number of each split
ratio indicates the percent of the input power split off to the main channel output. The second
number indicates the percent of the input power split off to the monitor output. The optical
power budgets of some applications, such as those for Ethernet on MMF, are sufficiently robust
to support transmission through the higher loss of a 50% split or a 70% split, while others,
such as many of those for Fibre Channel on MMF, are not as robust and must rely on the
stronger signals from a 70% split. Refer to SYSTIMAX 360 Traffic Access Point (TAP) Solutions
Performance Specification Volume 5 for channel topology design limits for all supported
applications.
The InstaPATCH 360TM modules insert into the panel openings of InstaPATCH 360 shelves
and panels and can be placed side by side with InstaPATCH 360DM modules. This permits
flexibility in patch panel placement in new or retrofit situations. InstaPATCH 360TMs follow the
alpha/beta orientation conventions of Method B array polarity just like 360DMs.
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InstaPATCH 360 TAP Fan-out Array Cords
In addition to the TAP modules, the InstaPATCH 360 TAP solution includes a family of MPOLC Fan-out Array Cords that provide great flexibility for network designers. The InstaPATCH
360 TAP Fan-out Array Cords are designed to be connected to the TAP port(s) of InstaPATCH
360 TAP modules, and pass network traffic to a third-party network monitoring system. The
InstaPATCH 360 TAP Fan-out Array Cords are configured as unpinned MPO to 12 simplex LC
array cord assemblies. They are available in Plenum or LSZH materials, and LazrSPEED 550
fiber (OM4) or TeraSPEED fiber (single-mode).
InstaPATCH 360 Pre-terminated Fiber Cables
InstaPATCH 360 cables terminated with unpinned MPO plugs attach to InstaPATCH 360TM
modules. They are available in Plenum or LSZH sheath materials. LazrSPEED 300 (OM3) and
LazrSPEED 550 (OM4) cables are used with multimode 360TM modules, and TeraSPEED
(OS2) cables are used with single-mode 360TM modules.
Traffic Monitoring System
Another major part of the monitoring system is the monitoring and analysis equipment, including
receivers, analysis hardware and software, as shown in Figure 3. The monitoring system
receives the signal from the TAP and analyzes the traffic. Commercially available monitoring
systems include those from Virtual Instruments®, GigaMON® and others.
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