Maximize performance and protect investments in data center infrastructure by following best practices for fiber optic certification testing. This includes a 6 step process of inspection, cleaning, basic and extended testing, documentation and troubleshooting. Extended testing with an OTDR can identify unnecessary bottlenecks and ensure links meet tight loss budgets, while documentation of test results provides valuable information. Adhering to fiber testing standards and using qualified instruments ensures infrastructure is future ready and the certification process is profitable.

1. Maximize …
Optimize …
Protect …
Realize the Value in modern
Data Center Infrastructure
Christian Schillab
Marketing Engineer / EMEA
Fluke Networks
christian.schillab@flukenetworks.com
© FlukeNetworks

2. Agenda
 Driving forces to reduced uncertainty
 The ‘6 Steps’ of the Right Fiber Certification Process
 Opportunities and methods to maximize
performance margins
© FlukeNetworks 2

3. 3
Yesterdays fast is todays slow
Yesterdays incredible is todays expected
Yesterdays connector budget is
todays link budget
Link budgets are tight because:
• “Zoned” Data Centers require 4 or more connections in
a channel
• Manufacturers offer “Ultra Low Loss” components
• Customer seek a “Future Ready” infrastructure
© FlukeNetworks

4. Testing - “Zoned” Data Centers
 After the installation only the links can be tested
 The “Patched Channel” is configured by the network user
 Total budget 10G: 2.6dB 40/100G 1.5-1.9dB
 There is very little room for error !
Link Test #1 Link Test #2 Link Test #3
Channel
© FlukeNetworks 4

5. Tight budgest driving for reduced uncertainty
The Challenge The Answer
Tight
Loss
Budgets
Little
room for
measurement
uncertainty
The ‘6 Steps’ of the
Right Fiber
Certification Process

6. Fiber Testing Best
Practices
 x
BASIC Tests
Verify TRC
• Inspect &
Clean
• Replace
o.k.?
y
n
Set Reference
Pass
Fail
Trouble Shoot
LSPM: Loss
Length Test
OTDR?
y
n
Isolate
Problem
& Correct

• Inspect & Clean
• Visible Light Source
• Replace / Re-Terminate 
EXTENDED Tests
EXT.
Tests
>300
Tests?
y
n
no
all or
conditional
OTDR:
• Connector Loss
• Link Loss
• Reflectance
• Length
Pass
Fail
Isolate Problem
& Correct
Doc.
Endf.
Grade
End faces
Grade per
IEC
• Scratches
• Dirt
• Dust
Pass
Fail

• Clean
• Replace 
no
all
Inspect
& Clean
Inspect for
• Dust
• Dirt
• Scratches
o.k.? y
n
• Clean Dry
• Clean Wet
• Replace 
Create ProjX
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7. Fiber Testing Best
Practices
Create ProjX
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Inspect
& Clean
BASIC Tests
Trouble Shoot
Doc.
Endf.
Grade
End faces
no
all
EXTENDED Tests
EXT.
Tests
no
all or
conditional

8. Standard Methods
TIA-568-C
Tier-1 Tier-2
ISO 11801 AMD.1 / ISO/IEC 14763-3
BASIC Test Regime EXTENDED Test Regime
Note: EXTENDED supplements BASIC test regime rather then replacing it
LSPM: Light Source & Power Meter
or OLTS: Optical Loss Test System
OTDR: Optical Time Domain Reflectometer
Pro
& Con
 Truly measure the loss
 Most accurate
 Not suited for trouble shooting
 Most effective for trouble shooting
 Identifies bottlenecks
 Less accurate loss “calulcation”
Standards for
Fiber Optic Test Methods
© FlukeNetworks 9

9. BASIC Tests
Trouble Shoot
EXTENDED Tests
EXT.
Tests
no
all or
conditional
Doc.
Endf.
Grade
End faces
no
all
Document
… upload to
LinkWare LIVE
Inspect
& Clean
6 Steps….1
2
3
4
3B
5
6Create ProjX
… fetch from
LinkWare LIVE

10. BASIC Tests
Trouble Shoot
EXTENDED Tests
EXT.
Tests
no
all or
conditional
Doc.
Endf.
Grade
End faces
no
all
Document
… upload to
LinkWare LIVE
Inspect
& Clean
Project
Definition
Project Definition

11. 800+ Installers VOCs:
Top eight problems (hours wasted)
Average amongst all respondents in the previous 30 days

12. Top eight problems:
Wrong Configuration (Limit, IDs, Standard, …..)
Average amongst all respondents in the previous 30 days

13. Project Definition
 New relaxed ISO limits do not reflect what is possible and/or
needed to be future ready  Custom Limits
 Limits, Cable Types, Cable ID are best known by planner/project-
manager
• Limits
• Cables
• Cable ID

14. BASIC Tests
Trouble Shoot
EXTENDED Tests
EXT.
Tests
no
all or
conditional
Doc.
Endf.
Grade
End faces
no
all
Inspect
&
Clean
Create ProjX
… fetch from
LinkWare LIVE
Document
… upload to
LinkWare LIVE

15. Inspect & Clean
 Dry clean will only remove
dust and fresh skin oil
 Inspection will tell
whether…
– Wet cleaning is needed
– Wet cleaning was successful
– Abrasive dust could damage
the mated plug
– Replacement is needed

16. Dirt will transfer
Conclusion: Clean measurement cord after every mating
=+

17. BASIC
Tests
Trouble Shoot
EXTENDED Tests
EXT.
Tests
no
all or
conditional
Doc.
Endf.
Grade
End faces
no
all
Inspect
& Clean
Create ProjX
… fetch from
LinkWare LIVE
Document
… upload to
LinkWare LIVE

18. Being certain of loss uncertainty
© FlukeNetworks 19
Significance

19. • TRC varication stored as
part of project
• A TRC verification test
should be run with regular
intervals
Set Reference &
TRC verification
© FlukeNetworks 20

20. Normative Requirement
• ANSI/TIA-526-14-B
• ISO 1180  ISO/IEC 14763-3 Ed.1 62
• EN 50173  IEC IEC 61280-4-2
In the past …
…Expensive & Bulky
It is highly recommended by many
manufacturers in particular when
testing highest grade components for
very demanding limits
Today …
… 1.) Less expensive 2.) Smaller then a mandrel
It helps to prevent
1. FASLE FAILs
… Revenue at risk
2. FALSE PASSes
… Reputation at risk
Never …
… does not work reliably
Encircled Flux

21. Marginal Compliant Link Marginal Failing Link
EF
MPD
Encircled Flux helps to prevent
FALSE PASSes and FALSE FAILs
“FALSE FAIL“…
Revenue at
Risk
“FALSE PASS“…
Application at
Risk
LIMITTRUE
LOSS

22. Similar to SC/LC/ST/FX/…
• Non critical connection on the
power meter (critical for 1 jumper
method)
• EF compliance
Unique to MPO….
• Test all 12 fibers
• Identify polarity: “A”, “B”, “C”
& “special”
• 1 jumper method & pinned or un-
pinned links
… solved with PanMPO™
Special MPO testing needs ?

23. BASIC Tests
Trouble-
Shoot
EXTENDED Tests
EXT.
Tests
no
all or
conditional
Doc.
Endf.
Grade
End faces
no
all
Create ProjX
… fetch from
LinkWare LIVE
Document
… upload to
LinkWare LIVE
Inspect
& Clean
Trouble Shoot

24. OTDRs are not only
for “Gurus”
 EventMaps simplify
the presentation
 Overall (Link) limits
complement
component limits
 Launch & Tail fibers
are automatically
excluded

25. BASIC Tests
Trouble Shoot EXTENDED
Tests
EXT.
Tests
no
all or
conditional
Doc.
Endf.
Grade
End faces
no
all
Inspect
& Clean
Create ProjX
… fetch from
LinkWare LIVE
Document
… upload to
LinkWare LIVE
EXTENDED Test
Regime

26. Why EXTENDED Testing ?
 Identify, locate and eliminate
unnecessary bottlenecks in
otherwise compliant links
 Further increase performance
margin
 Identify connectors with excessive
reflectance
 Document the state of the
installation

27. Testing with a SMART Loop
 > 9 out of 10 OTDR tests are
performed incorrectly. The list
of reasons is long
– No Bi-Directional test and/or
averaging
– No tail fiber
– Incorrect handling of launch and
tail fiber
– Adaption with hybrid cords
– etc.
 A SMART Loop concepts forces
the user to perform the test
correctly
 Multiple remote loops support
operation by 1 technician

28. ACCELERATED EXTENDED Testing
with a SMART Loop
29
 A built in experts verifies the integrity of the test setup
 The testing time reduced by > 50%
Tail Fiber
Launch Fiber
Fiber A
Fiber B
Phase #1:
End 1 End 2
Launch Fiber
Fiber A
Fiber B
Phase #2:

29. Testing with a SMART Loop
 > 9 out of 10 OTDR tests are
performed incorrectly. The list
of reasons is long
– No Bi-Directional test and/or
averaging
– No tail fiber
– Incorrect handling of launch and
tail fiber
– Adaption with hybrid cords
– etc.
 A SMART Loop concepts forces
the user to perform the test
correctly
 Multiple remote loops support
operation by 1 technician

30. BASIC Tests
Trouble Shoot
EXTENDED Tests
EXT.
Tests
no
all or
conditional
Doc.
Endf.
Grade
End
Faces
no
all
Create ProjX
… fetch from
LinkWare LIVE
Document
… upload to
LinkWare LIVE
Inspect
& Clean

31. Inspection equipment
 Without inspection equipment, you will
never know if the connector is clean or
not
 Even with inspection equipment, there
are arguments as to what is acceptable
for a fiber connector
 IEC 61300-3-35 defines levels of
acceptable scratches and debris on the
end faces of fiber connectors
 Automated field inspection is
something to consider
 Images can be stored and made part of
the documentation
© FlukeNetworks 32

32. BASIC Tests
Trouble Shoot
EXTENDED Tests
EXT.
Tests
no
all or
conditional
Doc.
Endf.
Grade
End faces
no
all
Create ProjX
… fetch from
LinkWare LIVE
Document
and/or
upload to
Cloud
Inspect
& Clean
Documentation

33. Reporting
• Progress
• Results
• Unexpected

34. Documentation
There is
always some
copper
somewhere !

35. Fiber Testing Best
Practices
 x
BASIC Tests
Verify TRC
• Inspect &
Clean
• Replace
o.k.?
y
n
Set Reference
Pass
Fail
Trouble Shoot
LSPM: Loss
Length Test
OTDR?
y
n
Isolate
Problem
& Correct

• Inspect & Clean
• Visible Light Source
• Replace / Re-Terminate 
EXTENDED Tests
EXT.
Tests
>300
Tests?
y
n
no
all or
conditional
OTDR:
• Connector Loss
• Link Loss
• Reflectance
• Length
Pass
Fail
Isolate Problem
& Correct
Doc.
Endf.
Grade
End faces
Grade per
IEC
• Scratches
• Dirt
• Dust
Pass
Fail

• Clean
• Replace 
no
all
Inspect
& Clean
Inspect for
• Dust
• Dirt
• Scratches
o.k.? y
n
• Clean Dry
• Clean Wet
• Replace 
Create ProjX
… fetch from
LinkWare LIVE
Document
… upload to
LinkWare LIVE

36. Qualified instruments and personnel paired
with an efficient work flow ensures …
• “Next Generation Readiness” by maximizing performance
margins
• ensures a profitable certification of fiber optic cabling
systems
Conclusio
37© FlukeNetworks

37. Christian.Schillab@FlukeNetworks.com
THANK YOU
FOR YOUR ATTENTION ?
Questions?

38. Back Up Slides

39. ISO/IEC 14763-3 states …..
40