The Gathering Technical blog

Fiber optics improvements in Vikingskipet #1

17 Mar 2014, by from Tech:Net

We have been working on improving the infrastructure inside of Vikingskipet.
We started with documenting a lot of cable runs at TG13, and we have between TG13 and TG14 been laying plans for how to make the situation better for not only TG14, but for years to come.
One part of the planning was to visit Vikingskipet and map the cable runs in January, to see how and where things are – and to better map the needs.

After that we had a design meeting which lead to the design we landed on:
TG14-fiber-rev0.2(This is not the final version.)
Based on the design we could calculate how much equipment we needed. And we started to call around to find the best prices. When we landed on a minimum cost of the installation we got the cost approved in the budget and we could start ordering the equipment.
Quickly after the first and most important batch of equipment arrived (the two cable drums), and we could travel up to Hamar to start the installation.
We have completed the first of two weekends of installation. In the first weekend we completed all the cable runs, and everything is ready for the next weekend – when we will weld the fiber optics (with pigtails) and install them in duplexes into ODF’s.
The longest run around the hall is 633 meters of G12 fiber (6 pairs) and the most traffic intensive run are 353 meters of G48 (24 pairs). Everything is single mode.
I recommend you to read a bit here if you don’t know what fiber optic cables are:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_fiber_cable

This is what a typical ODF looks like:
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The blue “connectors” is called fiber adapters.
The small cables beneath is the actual fiber, and they are welded onto pigtails:
Optical-Fiber-Pigtails-12-Fibers-SC-Pigtails- Which is connected into the fiber adapter, which also could be called a extender.
The reason why we say G12 (6 pairs) is because most fiber optic installations there’s one single fiber for Rx (receive) and one single fiber for Tx (transmit). There are possibilities to actually run Rx and Tx on one single fiber – the method uses different wavelength for Rx and Tx which requires special optical transceivers which can translate this.
There’s a lot of different form factors for optical transceivers, but the most common today is called SFP (+) – the form factor is SFP and the + indicates that it is 10Gig ready:
transceiver clamshell plastic box
In our setup we have mostly SFP+ and we are running single mode 10G transceivers between all of our nodes.
Most of the permanent infrastructure we already have is either old multi mode, or too few single mode pairs.
With this improvement we are able to run a more redundant setup, we can run more 10Gig connections between many more places and will give us much more flexibility.
Also worth mentioning is that we have purchased MPO cables, which is a G12 single mode cable with one single connector in both ends where you connect cassettes with connectors (they work as a mini-ODF):
24-mpo-os1-500x500
(The MPO cable with MPO connectors to the left and to the right the cassettes).
We will drop these cables from the bridge in the top (roof), this way can we do the cabling down to our distribution and core equipment in no time – at the same time as the cabling is not in the way for anyone.
Beneath are pictures from the first trip to Vikingskipet, where we pulled all the cables through Vikingskipet. Next time is welding time! πŸ™‚

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Inspector :Net

27 Jan 2014, by from Tech:Net

Tech:Net has visited Vikingskipet for a cable inspection…

We reveal some of our… less important findings:
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30 years old, but still highly applicable

12 Jan 2014, by from Tech:Net

The OSI (Open Source Interconnection) 7 Layer Model is 30 years old, but still highly applicable. If you don’t know it; read about it and learn it! Or maybe time for a little refresh, even if you already know about it? πŸ™‚

OSI

https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/docs/DOC-15624

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OSI_model

http://www.tcpipguide.com/free/t_HistoryoftheOSIReferenceModel.htm

Cisco + TG14 will be awesome \:D/

13 Dec 2013, by from Tech:Net

We got the call from Cisco who let us know that they want to continue sponsoring us with their AWESOME network equipment… which makes it possible for us to build an awesome network for everybody attending TG14 πŸ™‚

(: here are some cool Cisco-videos πŸ™‚

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEF-5mN7U3k]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wvl6HalipMs]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z3sFZaaj6A]

You better believe that only your imagination sets your own limits:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHTQIn98Wy8]
“The garden of the world has no limits, except in your mind.” ― Rumi

πŸ™‚

Internet and movie production…

05 Jun 2013, by from Tech:Net

Look at this video where Jerry Bruckheimer talks about how important IP- video and voice communication is for movie production:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xGMH95sAgo]

πŸ™‚

TG13 goodiebag

09 May 2013, by from Tech:Net

We are legally late out with the goodiebag this year. :/

Hope you nice people can forgive us for that πŸ™‚

It is packed and uploaded to the ftp:
ftp://ftp.gathering.org/TG/2013/Tech/TG13-netconfig.zip

We are sorry to inform that the VSS configuration fell between two stools.
If you want to learn more about VSS and configure it, look no further than here:
Configuring VSS on Catalyst 4500 Series

This one is also nice:
Campus 3.0 Virtual Switching System Design Guide

Random nice illustration πŸ˜‰
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Status update; 400 Gigabit VPN

11 Apr 2013, by from Tech:Net

Thanks to all of you who were interested in the VPN.

We wished that this could have been a reality, that would have been cool.
But alas, our speculations and wishes became this years aprils fool πŸ˜›

TG13-1april

We love you all! πŸ˜€

It’s over one year until next TG:

http://tiny.cc/TG14-Countdown

Hang in there! We will keep you posted… πŸ™‚

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400 Gigabit VPN

31 Mar 2013, by from Tech:Net

We will install 400Gbps VPN for our participants during the next months.

This way everyone can be connected, on high speed VPN, and get the TG-feeling up till TG14 πŸ™‚

Early registration here:
http://fnutt.net/

TG13 Dave Taht & Tech:Net presentations

31 Mar 2013, by from Tech:Net

Tech:Net’s presentation (in Norwegian):

_http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxTPCyQEpJc
ftp://ftp.gathering.org/TG/2013/Tech/TG13-TechNet-preso.pdf
_

Dave Taht’s presentation (in English):
Dave<em>on</em>the_guitar” /></a><br />
<a href=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2vSaUh5gKA
ftp://ftp.gathering.org/TG/2013/Tech/TG13-Dave-Taht-preso.pdf
Also relevant for his presentation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qz0yJ8N3cA0

The goodiebags and weathermap timelaps will be uploaded to:ftp://ftp.gathering.org/TG/2013/Tech/later, stay tuned! πŸ™‚

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