Forty-Eight Port Panel for Copper and Fiber Optic Cabling

R&M, the globally active developer and provider of cabling systems for high-quality network infrastructures, based in Wetzikon, Switzerland, is extending its family of high density fiber optic distributors for data centers with a version for mixed FO and copper connection use. The new Netscale 48 patch panel has, as its name suggests, 48 ports. It is the height of one unit in a 19″ rack. The main new feature is the dual function. Along with fiber optic cabling, the panel accepts copper cabling. Until now, two height units were required in data centers to bring the two transmission media together in one rack. With Netscale 48, FO and copper cabling can be combined on one height unit in the most confined of spaces in data centers and in the LAN environment. This compact mixed-media solution helps free up valuable space for more cabling, switches and servers.

The mixed media platform Netscale 48 can be equipped with all types of adapter available on the market today. These include the FO connectors LC, SC, MPO, E-2000™ and even the latest types CS, SN, MDC of the Very Small Form Factor (VSFF) class. The R&M products Cat. 6A ISO, Cat 6A EL and Cat. 8 can be used for copper connectivity.

R&M supplies pre-terminated cabling systems which technicians will find easy both to install and remove. Optical fibers are spliced directly on the platform. Netscale 48 was designed in such a way that changes can be made without disrupting the network. A further new feature is the integrated patch cord manager. It saves space-consuming additional height units with cable guides on the front.

Netscale 48 supports Automated Infrastructure Management (AIM). The sensor strips of the AIM system R&MinteliPhy can be plugged in or replaced during operation (hot-pluggable).

Maximum cabling density

The Netscale range from R&M offers the highest density of FO ports in 19″ cabinets in the industry. The family includes the larger platforms Netscale 72 and Netscale 120. Netscale 72 is used to simplify migration to new network generations. A typical case is the step from a 10 Gigabit network to a 40 or 100 Gigabit network. Furthermore, Netscale 72 is used to create spine-leaf network architectures in cloud data centers. With up to 120 ports per height unit in a 19″ rack, Netscale 120 offers the maximum cabling density for 10, 40 and 100 Gigabit Ethernet. It is also the first Ultra High Density platform with integrated functions for automated infrastructure management. In this way, Netscale helps data centers manage the exploding quantities of ports and cables.