Comparison of the advantages of 8-core and 12-core optical cables

8 Fiber vs. 12 Fiber Cable: How to Choose?

Because 12 is significantly greater than 8, 12-fiber optics does have an advantage in terms of the density of connector fibers used compared to 8-fiber optics, so a large number of fibers can be installed faster with 12-fiber optics.

However, due to the higher number of 40G and 100G line deployments, and these lines use eight-fiber transceivers, the advantage of keeping the number of fibers in the MTP backbone connection technology consistent with the number of transceiver fibers is better than 12 fibers The density advantage of fiber optic connectivity technology.

Also, when using MTP to LC duplex breakout cables to connect to switch line cards, the 8-conductor breakout cables can be easily routed to ports on all common line cards because the number of ports on all common line cards is divisible by the number four (Because the 8-core breakout jumper provides four LC duplex connections).

In the case of 12-conductor breakouts that provide six LC duplex connections, these breakouts cannot be easily routed to line cards with 16 or 32 ports because the numbers 16 and 32 are not divisible by the number six. The comparative advantages of 8-fiber cable and 12-fiber cable connection technologies deployed in data centers are detailed below.

Advantages of 8-Fiber Cables

The best choice for two-fiber and eight-fiber transceiver technology

Ensure that the eight-fiber transceiver system achieves 100% fiber utilization, and the conversion equipment from 12-fiber cable to 8-fiber cable will not increase the cost and insertion loss

Breakout jumpers can be easily routed to ports on all common line cards in the switch

For any connection in the link, only MTP jumpers without alignment pins are required

The most flexible solution for 40G, 100G and 400G data transmission networks

Advantages of 12 Fiber Optic Cables

Higher fiber usage density per connector than 8-fiber cables

Compatible with existing 12-fiber cable MTP deployment installations with a large number of cores