Overview

A South Korean research institute is planning to expand its HPC facility by constructing a new server room. The existing HPC data center utilizes an Infiniband HDR (200G) network, while the new facility will deploy Infiniband NDR (400G). The primary requirement is to establish high-speed interconnection between these two generational networks.

Challenges

1.Stringent Cabling Space Limitations

The special wall construction prohibits drilling, restricting cabling to the five pre-installed 10mm-diameter copper tubes. However, standard MPO fiber patch cords have connector widths of approximately 12.45mm, far exceeding the tube capacity.

2.Conflict between Cross-Generation Interconnection and Conventional Cabling Solutions

The new Infiniband NDR switches utilize OSFP ports, while the existing Infiniband HDR switches employ QSFP56 ports. Typical solutions like 400G OSFP-to-2x200G QSFP56 AOC (Active Optical Cables) are too large to accommodate the client's stringent 10mm inner diameter copper conduit routing environment.

3.On-Site Fusion Splicing Restrictions

As a classified facility, the institute faces complex approval processes for fusion splicing equipment, personnel certification, and operations. The client rejects on-site splicing for security and efficiency reasons.

Solution

AICPLIGHT adopted an innovative "Optical Module & Field-Assembled MPO Patch Cord" hybrid solution.

1.Combine optical modules with MPO patch cords

Replaced standard 400G OSFP-to-2x200G QSFP56 AOC with 400G OSFP SR8 module (NDR side) and 200G QSFP56 SR4 module (HDR side), connected via fiber patch cords to achieve cross-generation interconnect from NDR to HDR.

2.Customized "Easy-Install MPO Components" for Copper Tubing

Addressing the challenge of standard 12.45mm MPO connectors not fitting through 10mm copper tubing, AICPLIGHT offered customized MPO cables with rapid on-site assembly solutions.
  • Prefabrication Phase: Factory completion of the MPO cable's core components, including MT ferrule-fiber coupling, fixation, and precision polishing.
  • Delivery Format: Separate pre-assembled MT ferrule components and MPO connector shells, shipped according to simplified installation steps.
  • Conduit Threading: The client's implementation team first threads the slim MT ferrule (without MPO shell) through the 10mm copper tubes.
  • On-Site Assembly: Post-threading, the team uses provided tools and instructional videos to rapidly and accurately attach the MPO shell components on-site, restoring full MPO patch cord functionality.
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Advantages

1.Overcoming Extreme Cabling Constraints

By ingeniously disassembling MPO patch cords into MT ferrule + housing components, the solution utilizes slender MT ferrules to successfully traverse specialized copper conduits with an inner diameter of just 10mm. This completely resolves the bottleneck where standard MPO connectors (12.45mm) cannot pass through walls. The solution eliminates high-precision fusion work in secure facilities, avoiding complex equipment/personnel approvals processes.

2.High-Efficiency Cross-Generation Interconnect

400G SR8 (NDR) and 200G SR4 (HDR) optical modules ensure bandwidth compatibility and link performance between Infiniband NDR and Infiniband HDR networks, meeting HPC's stringent demands for high throughput and low latency.