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From: mdr@reed.UUCP
Newsgroups: sci.electronics,comp.dcom.lans
Subject: What can you do with an existing fiber optic network??
Message-ID: <5082@reed.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 23-Jan-87 00:57:02 EST
Article-I.D.: reed.5082
Posted: Fri Jan 23 00:57:02 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 24-Jan-87 23:43:59 EST
Organization: Reed College, Portland OR
Lines: 21
Keywords: fiber optics, phones, PBX, upgrade, LAN
Xref: watmath sci.electronics:157 comp.dcom.lans:161

How can you set up a fiber optic LAN so that it will later be easy to use the
installed fiber for other services such as video, voice traffic or whatever?

We have recently installed a fiber optic "Ethernet" throughout the campus using
FiberCom equipment (I'm not sure what type of fiber we're using - I can find
out).

I've heard some thoughts that by going with a fiber based network, we will
later be able to fully exploit the potential bandwidth of the glass.  Has
anyone retrofitted an in-place special purpose fiber network to carry
additional traffic, probably using equipment unrelated to the original?  Even
if the cable is multimode, wouldn't the FiberCom equipment have to specifically
forward those "channels" of the cable it was not using if the whole thing were
to work with independently operating equipment?

I am not a fiber wizard, as you might be able to tell, but would be interested
in people's (informed?) thoughts on what might be possible.

Mike Rutenberg
-- 
	Reed College -- Portland, Oregon -- 503/774-9192