The choice of transmission medium for data centers has always been a controversial topic, especially when technical and business issues need to be considered in dedicated facilities (such as data centers). Some people believe that fiber optics should be chosen, while others believe that copper wire should be chosen. So, what's the difference between copper wire and fiber optics? Is it better to choose fiber optics or copper wire? To clarify how to choose between copper wire and fiber optics, this article will provide a detailed explanation from multiple dimensions.
What's the Difference Between Fiber Optics and Copper Wire? Fiber optics and copper wire are two common transmission media for data centers, both of which have anti-interference and good confidentiality. So, what's the difference between fiber optics and copper wire? The difference between the two is mainly reflected in the following four aspects:
Material Fiber optics, as an optical conduction tool, is usually made of glass or plastic, while copper wire is made of copper core (such as oxygen-free copper, pure copper, miscellaneous copper, bronze, etc.).
Transmission Signal Fiber optics uses optoelectronic conversion technology to transmit optical signals, the advantage of which is that it is not affected by electromagnetic interference; traditional copper wire transmits electrical signals, which attenuate quickly and are easily interfered with when used for long-distance transmission.
Transmission Distance As mentioned above, the transmission distance of copper wire is limited, generally not exceeding 100m, such as the maximum transmission distance of Category 8 network cable is only 30m, suitable for indoor applications (such as offices, data centers, etc.). The maximum transmission distance of fiber optics can reach 100km, such as the transmission distance of single-mode fiber optics can usually reach 10~20km, far exceeding the transmission distance of copper wire, very suitable for long-distance transmission applications.
Transmission Speed Theoretically speaking, the propagation speed of fiber optics is not as fast as that of copper wire. The propagation speed of fiber optics is about 210^8 m/s, while the propagation speed of copper wire is about 2.310^8 m/s. So why is the propagation speed of fiber optics slower than that of copper wire? This is because when fiber optics transmit signals, according to the principle of total reflection, the actual transmission distance of fiber optics is much greater than the length of fiber optics.
Transmission Rate When the transmission distance is the same, the attenuation of fiber optics is small and the loss is also small, the maximum transmission rate can reach 100Gbps (such as OM4 fiber optic jumpers), while the copper wire is easily interfered with by the outside world, the loss is large and the attenuation is also large, the maximum transmission rate is only 40Gbps (such as Category 8 network cable, DAC passive copper cable). In general, the transmission rate of fiber optics far exceeds that of copper wire.
Maintenance Management The production of copper wire crystal heads and the connection of equipment ports are very simple, while the cutting and splicing of fiber optics, equipment connection, and other operations require higher requirements and are more complex.
Cost Fiber optics are more expensive than copper wire because the manufacturing process is relatively complex, but now with the continuous improvement and innovation of fiber optic technology, the price of fiber optics has declined. Compared with copper wire, fiber optics have excellent durability and a long lifespan, are not easily damaged after installation, so the maintenance cost in the later period is much lower than that of copper wire, and fiber optics can save wiring space, while copper wire needs to occupy more space to achieve network wiring, which also brings additional costs. In general, the total cost of fiber optics is much lower than that of copper wire.
How to Choose Between Fiber Optics and Copper Wire Fiber optics and copper wire differ in transmission rate, transmission distance, maintenance management, and price cost, so which is better to choose in practical applications, fiber optics or copper wire? The following will analyze the characteristics of the wire and the technical level to teach you how to choose.
Characteristics of Fiber Optics As mentioned above, fiber optics not only have high bandwidth and long transmission distance advantages but also have low attenuation, strong durability, and high reliability. At the same time, because fiber optics are insulators, they will not be affected by electromagnetic interference and crosstalk during use, so they can be laid next to industrial equipment. Copper wire not only has good anti-interference, confidentiality, and easy installation/maintenance/management advantages but also has good flexibility and emergency power supply capabilities, even if the power is exhausted, it can continue to power the equipment.
Technology From a technical perspective, the appropriate type of data center transmission medium can be chosen based on the following three aspects:
The ability of the medium to transmit signals
If the wiring environment is harsh or the anti-interference ability is required to be high, choose fiber optics, which are less affected by other signals and have stronger anti-interference performance than copper wire.
Whether a power supply is needed through the cable
As mentioned above, copper wire can supply power, so if a power supply is needed through the cable, choose copper wire.
Portability or mobility issues
If you need to change and move frequently, choose fiber optics with bending sensitivity.
In general, fiber optics are more suitable when large bandwidth and long-distance transmission are needed (such as industrial Ethernet wiring), while copper wire is more suitable for short-distance transmission and low transmission rate situations (such as inside buildings or corporate offices), considering the cost issue, of course, the premise of making such a choice is that your equipment supports the connection of this transmission medium.
