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Catalyst 2950 and Catalyst 2955 Switch Software Configuration Guide
OL-10101-02
Chapter 1 Overview
Network Configuration Examples
Long-Distance, High-Bandwidth Transport Configuration
Note To use the feature described in this section, you must have the EI installed on your switch.
Figure 1-8 shows a configuration for transporting 8 Gigabits of data over a single fiber-optic cable. The
Catalyst switches have Coarse Wave Division Multiplexer (CWDM) fiber-optic GBIC modules installed.
Depending on the CWDM GBIC module, data is sent at wavelengths from 1470 nm to 1610 nm. The
higher the wavelength, the farther the transmission can travel. A common wavelength used for
long-distance transmissions is 1550 nm.
The CWDM GBIC modules connect to CWDM optical add/drop multiplexer (OADM) modules over
distances of up to 393,701 feet (74.5 miles or 120 km). The CWDM OADM modules combine (or
multiplex) the different CWDM wavelengths, allowing them to travel simultaneously on the same
fiber-optic cable. The CWDM OADM modules on the receiving end separate (or demultiplex) the
different wavelengths.
For more information about the CWDM GBIC modules and CWDM OADM modules, see the Cisco
CWDM GBIC and CWDM SFP Installation Note.
Figure 1-8 Long-Distance, High-Bandwidth Transport Configuration
95750
Access layer
Catalyst 4500
multilayer
switches
Eight
1-Gbps
connections
8 Gbps
Catalyst switches
CWDM
OADM
modules
CWDM
OADM
modules
Aggregation layer