topic Metrocluster and Patch Panels in ONTAP Discussions

Metrocluster and Patch Panels

menzies — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 07:13:21 GMT

I have a Partner who has asked about the use of patch panels with Metrocluster, other than http://media.netapp.com/documents/tr-3552.pdf has anyone any advice they can provide.

Many thanks in advance.

Craig Menzies

Re: Metrocluster and Patch Panels

thomas_glodde — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 11:20:28 GMT

Craig,

we have plenty of (Fabric) MetroClusters running using patch panels. Be aware tho that patch panels might "eat" a bit of the allowed maximum cabeling lenght. eg. if the distance is close to the allowed 500m with OM3+ cables, path panels cause additional damping and your metrocluster might fail to synchronize. hard to tell tho how much lenght a patch panel costs, depending on cable & manufacturing quality, it will cost you between 5 and 50m distance.

So it will be something like this:

[Head1] -> [5m LC-LC Cable to] -> [Patch Panel (costs you 10m)] -> [200m OM3+ cable to] -> [Patch Panel (costs you 10m)] -> [5m LC-LCL Cabel to] -> [Head2] = 230m distance between the heads

Kind regards

Thomas

Re: Metrocluster and Patch Panels

menzies — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 10:05:32 GMT

Thanks Thomas, appreciate you taking the time to reply.

Regards,

Craig