Due to its ability to produce an easy-to-manage cabling environment and significantly boost network performance, fiber enclosure is becoming increasingly important in today’s equipment rooms, central offices, and high-density data centers. Rackmount fiber enclosures are extremely useful in rackmount cabling applications. There is a wide range of rack mount fiber optic enclosures on the market to meet the needs of various users. In this post, we’ll look at a range of fiber enclosures in a variety of designs and types, as well as some considerations to assist you to choose the ideal one.
Rack Mount Fiber Enclosure Configurations
Rackmount fiber enclosures are primarily intended for 19-inch rack mounting and include 1U, 2U, 3U, and 4U rack units (RU) that are outfitted with fiber optic patch panels, cassettes, or modules. For 1U and 2U rackmount enclosures, they provide full front and rear access via a drawer that slides forward and backward. Fixed bulkhead enclosures are available in 3U and 4U rackmount configurations. 1U rack mounts fiber optic enclosures are the most often used size in data center server rack cable management.
Accessible Types of Rack Enclosure
Rackmount fiber optic enclosures are classified into two types: regular fiber enclosures and slide-out type fiber enclosures. The standard type of fiber enclosure is less expensive but more difficult to obtain than the earlier type of fiber enclosure. Those with a slide-out cover, on the other hand, are more expensive than models with a cover that can be removed.
Nonetheless, cable installation and maintenance can be quite advantageous. Because slide-out versions include a simple slide-out support tray, you don’t have to remove the complete fiber enclosure from the rack to gain inside access. It has been demonstrated to save time and energy in the long run.
Loaded Items： FAP or MPO/MTP Cassettes
Rackmount enclosures come with a variety of accessories to meet various cabling needs, including fiber adapter panels (FAPs) and MPO/MTP cassettes.
A rack enclosure with FAPs is suitable for both pre-terminated and field-terminated cabling installations. Adapter patch panels are commonly used to connect LC, SC, and MPO/MTP fiber cables. According to the adapter numbers on FAPs, rackmount enclosures can support up to 96 fibers. A 1U rackmount enclosure can normally hold up to 4 FAPs, but a 4U rackmount enclosure can hold up to 12 FAPs.
In addition to FAPs, MPO/MTP cassettes can be installed into rack enclosures to offer secure transitions between MPO/MTP and LC or SC connectors. This rack enclosure, as a pre-terminated rack mount patch panel, is intended to connect MTP/MPO backbone and LC/SC patching. Rackmount enclosures including MPO/MTP cassettes, such as the 1U ultra-high-density rackmount enclosure, can accommodate up to 144 fibers in a 1U rack space.
Selecting the Best Fiber Enclosure for Your Rack
Here are some pointers to consider while selecting the best rack mount fiber enclosure.
Physical Capacity
Make a note of all your requirements, as well as the exact dimensions: height, depth, breadth, and weight, before you go out and buy a rack mount fiber enclosure. This will assist you in determining the type of rack mount fiber enclosure you will require. Remember to choose a rack mount fiber enclosure that can hold all of your present equipment as well as future expansion.
Accessibility Requirements
For installation and ongoing maintenance, your rack mount fiber enclosure should have numerous access ports through the cabinet’s rear and top. Accessing your enclosure to install cables without disrupting or moving active fibers isn’t always easy. Slide-out or swing-out rack mount fiber enclosures make it easier to reach your equipment in these situations, but they are frequently more expensive. While cover detachable enclosures are less expensive, they are more difficult to access and maintain.
You should also think about any other equipment you want to install in your enclosure, such as hubs, routers, patch panels, and monitors. Remember that any attachments that aren’t rack-mountable will necessitate the purchase of additional trays, shelves, and mounting hardware.
Conclusion
The rack mounts fiber optic enclosure, as an expert in data center space optimization, makes the fiber cabling system the most serviceable and manageable. It comes with 1U, 2U, 3U, and 4U rack units, as well as several mount types. You can select the best one based on the physical requirements, accessibility requirements, and budget of the rack mount fiber enclosure.