fiber help --- building to building

[ToddW2]

I had another thread about Cat6 and my T1 setup and it was suggested I run fiber from my office building to my house building.

I obviously only want to run fiber between the two switches, and then from the switches I will run Cat6.

I have no idea what fiber I need, or what are quality switches that won't break the bank.

I believe I need:

50/125 OM3 LC-LC fiber cable

And obviously a switch that accepts the type of cable. If possible I'd like switches <200 as this is my home/business connection and not a huge network that will support a lot of users. 4-8 port depending on price, I don't mind running another switch for the Cat6 off the fiber switch if it's only a 2 or 3 port if that saves good amount of $$ too.

So questions:
- Where can I get 125 or so feet of the correct, quality, fiber with the ends on it already?
-- Can fiber be coiled at the end if I get too long?

- What are some good switch choices?
- Do all switches need "transceivers" for the fiber or do some come built in?

School me please

 

[wizdum]

If you only need gigabit speeds, you can use fiber optic media converters on each end to change the fiber into gigabit copper, then connect that to a regular gigabit switch with a patch cable.

It may or may not be cheaper to go that route, depending on how hard it is to find a pair of gigabit switches that fit your needs, with the correct fiber connections.

 

[jimh425]

I'm not sure why you want fiber, but you can find switches that have fiber ports and the rest being wire. I have a Netgear Prosafe that does, for instance. You need the connectors that work for your fiber and switches. The biggest difference in the switches is what features/quality they have. Yes, you can coil the fiber if it is too long.

 

[Metraon]

Sorry I missed the thread before, but is it in the same building or the fiber will go outside ?

I suggest you take a look at Lanshack, they got several pre-terminated fibers for outdoor/indoor.

Its quite rare that switches/vendors makes combo deals with fiber modules included in them. Because they want the consumer, not to be limited to a certain model/connector. So they leave the slot empty, its often referred as an empty SFP port, or SFP cage. So you just have to buy an additional SFP module for every switch/router who matches the connector and the mode you want. You only have to buy the module and put in in the switch or router and voila.

For example
http://routerboard.com/RB2011UAS-RM
5 Gigabit ports, 5 10/100 Ports, 1 SFP Port
or
http://routerboard.com/RB260GS
5 Gigabit ports, 1 SFP Port

You can buy 2 SFP modures like those
http://routerboard.com/product/180

In this case, you have to put LC-LC multimode fiber.

Routerboard offers some router/switchs for about 100-130 $. The SFP modules are about 30-80$.

I am not that aware of many switch with SFP modules under 200$, someone will probably link some small business HP/Cisco/Netgear switch. Like This

Or like wizdum said, you can buy Fiber to ethernet media converter. Then, no need to buy a SFP module and a switch with a SFP port. You can buy a simple gigabit switch and 2 media converter.

 

[ToddW2]

Two different buildings, and fiber will go outside about 100', in conduit or?

Where can I buy the fiber cable with the proper connectors?

I`m going to measure with some yarn, and then add 10' or so, but I`m thinking from switch <-> switch in each building will be 120-150'.

The NETGEAR router you linked to: Netgear ProSafe GS110TP Ethernet Switch
Looks like exactly what I was going after, something not too extreme, can be mounted on the wall easily, and has standard functionality.

Will I still need the http://routerboard.com/product/180 for the NETGEAR switches?

Thanks for the help

After reading about that NetGear looks like I may have to get some more PoE security cameras and 2 IP Phones too

 

[Metraon]

Look Here for some pre-terminated fibre, you can choose the lenght you want, it also can be delivered with a pulling eye and a swivel to help you pass the fiber in a conduit.

There is always aerial fibre, but I am no expert in this matter, and installing it can be a bit more tricky.

Normally vendors, recommend you stick with the recommended SFP modules. So if you buy a netgear switch, the vendor will recommend that you buy a recommended SFP module if the device does not require coded SFP then you can use any SFP module.

There is also, generic SFP modules, they are cheaper and they seems to works with specific brands. Like this one is a LC LC.

 

[dave99]

I used some cheap sfp modules from ebay, to connect an hp 1810g and some crappy d-link managed switch. Works fine with the generics, since they were so cheap I bought a couple extras to keep on hand in case they die. They were 16 bucks each, new. I searched for the HP model number (j4858c) to find.

As for fiber, I got it at monoprice.

 

[ToddW2]

Thanks guys!

I think I may change the network design, still not 100%.

I`m thinking of maybe keeping the T1 Hardware, and Router at the house, running a RJ45->Fiber adapter for a run to the office, and then using the other port on the router for the house switch. This way I don't need to run to the office with CAT6 for the T1 hardware, and then back to the house with Fiber. 1 Run of Fiber, and call it good.

It just makes my backup / power-outage situation more of a pain because I have to come to the house to swap from the grid to generator, and with 2'+ of snow a 100' walk to do that isn't too fun

So many options, at least I understand them now, and can price them out.

Thanks everyone again!

 

[ToddW2]

delete woops