I'm trying to determine the best way to connect 2 Prosafe GS748TPS over a distance of around 150m or so.
I've determined over some of the posts here already that I need to get a couple of AGM731F adapters and connect over the SFP port, but I'm not sure on which kind of cabling to use? Does anyone have any recommendations? Would OM3 be ok?
Also, when connecting the two switches, will they automatically connect or with it need to be configured to extend the network? Will POE also still work on the second switch?
In regards to the two switches, one is a G748TPS and the other is a G752TPS, they have different firmwares, will this cause any issues?
Do the SFP modules need to go in an any particular way so as there is a 'master' (the main switch) and 'slave' (the switch that's connecting to extend)?
If you will be just connecting the GS748TPS and GS752TPS switches using the AGM731F SFP module over a distance around 150m, then it is possible.
Be informed that the GS748TPS and GS752TPS switches are NOT compatible to be stacked together (wherein one switch is the stack master and the other switch is a stack member). It is because the GS748TPS and GS752TPS switches have different hardware platforms and different firmware versions.
The GS748TPS is compatible to be stack with the GS724TPS. You can either stack 6 GS748TPS or stack 6 GS724TPS. Also, you can stack a mix of GS748TPS and GS724TPS (for example: 3 GS748TPS and 3 GS724TPS). As reference, kindly check the data sheet here.
The GS752TPS is compatible to be stack with the GS728TS, GS728TPS and GS752TS switches. You can only stack up to 6 switches. For example: stack 6 GS752TPS or a mix of 2 GS728TS, 2 GS728TPS and 2 GS752TS switches. As reference, kindly check the data sheet here.
So, if I just wanted to connect the two to allow the existing network to be extending, does that require stacking, or can I just connect them up with the AGM731F's on either end and use the fibre cable?
Let say we have 6 switches configured as a stack, since the 6 switches are configured as a stack, it would operate just like 1 switch. To know more about stacking, kindly access the article below:
Again, if you will be just connecting the GS748TPS and GS752TPS switches using the AGM731F SFP module over a distance around 150m, then it is possible. This is similar to just connecting the GS748TPS and GS752TPS switches using a CAT5e ethernet cable. However, since the maximum distance of the CAT5e ethernet cable is only 100m and the distance between the GS748TPS and GS752TPS switches is around 150m, you will need to use the SFP ports of both switches and connecting them using the AGM731F SFP module.
I've got both powered on, but they are both showing slave master and and ID of 1. If I wanted to just use plug and play will that be ok, or does one need to change?
Thanks very much for all your assistance, we're all up and running and working like a dream!
I did just have one more question (please forgive my naivety), for an OM3 cable extending a network over 150m how many cores would be best to maintain the network speed?
Thanks for coming back to me. My apologies, I'm ordering some cable up now, and the company has asked how many cores I want, and noticed you can get OM3 cables with difference cores and want to make sure I order the correct one to allow.
This seems to be the number of fibers (and the related core of course) which can be in a cable. Each fiber is typically assembled with the fiber connector each. Still, for a single link and one direction there is one core, for two links eg in both directions there are two. If you want more connections (links, cores) available, there are comparable Thun cables available with many hundred fivers (corea) each.
The more common designation for simple fiber patch cables (to carry the light in both directions) is simply a duplex cable as used on SFP small modules.
That's great, thanks for that, I've got a short one like that for testing, but wasn't sure if there was anything else spec wise I needed for a longer distance to maintain network speeds.
I had a quick follow up question, I'm not sure if you'd be able to advise. I tested the stacking using a direct connection between the 2 switches and it worked a treat. We've since have 180m of fibre cable run between the two buildings, with connected via a patch panel each end, and running a cable to each of the switches, but am not getting any signal at all coming through.
I've checked the switches locally and they are both configured and showing the 2nd switch with no connection to it, is there something else that needs to be done when you introduce a patch panel into the mix?
Just to verify, are you using SFP/SFP+ cable connected to a patch panel? Personally, I haven't yet tried using a patch panel with SFP/SFP+ cable/s connected to it. What I usually practice is that switches are connected directly using SFP/SFP+ cable/s.
