User Needs for Fiber Connectors

Bob Fink
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

IEEE 802.3z meeting
Irvine, CA
10-12 March 1997

===================
Basic requirements

An industry standard duplex fiber connector that can work in a gigabit per second system, i.e., an accepted, proven design

Inexpensive, readily accessible jumper cables from it to 
other existing connectors

well, it's hard to think of much more that matters to 
me...except not delaying the standard

===================
What it doesn't need to be

The cheapest alternative

The smallest alternative

The same as anything else in my campus

A replacement for anything else in my campus

===================
What we use now

ST
SC
MIC
SMA
Biconic
a few others I can't recall

===================
Experience

Simplex ST has worked well for our wiring plant cross connects

We are not about to change our cross connect standard, whatver happens, for a long time to come

Keys have really been a drag and not useful

No really good wall receptacle standard exists to date

One more connector standard isn't a big deal 
(and whatever it is, it won't be the last :-)

Religion over fiber connectors is a waste of time

===================
What I expect will happen

The network router, switch, hub and NIC industry will eventually converge on what is best for space and cost considerations, independent of what is in the initial Gigabit Ethernet standard

Does this bother me....nope!

===================
Making a decision

Any decision for Gigabit Ethernet should be based on the previously agreed criteria from Vancouver

Basically, we go with the Duplex SC unless there is VERY 
strong, timely sentiment for another connector in its place 
that meets the Vancouver criteria

Don't have a connector war

Don't let the decision delay the standard!

- end