AFL offers Xpress Fiber Management dual access module panel

As the name implies, the XFM-28 offers front and rear access in four rack units (RUs). The panel is particularly well suited to applications where additional rack capacity is required and floor space is at a premium.

Stephen Hardy

Jan. 23, 2020

2 min read

The Xpress Fiber Management (XFM-28) dual access module panel effectively doubles rack capacity.

AFL now offers the Xpress Fiber Management (XFM-28) dual access module panel. As the name implies, the XFM-28 offers front and rear access in four rack units (RUs). The panel is particularly well suited to applications where additional rack capacity is required and floor space is at a premium, according to the company.

The ability to support capacity at the front and rear, of course, doubles capacity. Thus, the XFM-28 supports 28 slots rather than the typical 14. The XFM-28 uses the company’s LGX modules and offers such cable management features as side cable ports with full pass-thru underneath the main bulkhead compartment. This feature enables cable routing from front to back within the panel without eliminating any module positions. The aluminum panel features universal WECO/TIA 19/23-inch rack compatibility.

“Network growth equals new bandwidth requirements and more fiber infrastructure, but central offices or headends are often confined to their existing footprint and unable to add racks to accommodate extra hardware,” explained Kevin Clayton, senior product manager for AFL. “The XFM-28 provides double the density of traditional front access panels, allowing twice the expansion without using any additional rack space.”

For related articles, visit the Data Center Topic Center.

For more information on cabling equipment and suppliers, visit the Lightwave Buyer’s Guide.

To stay abreast of data center network advances, subscribe to Lightwave’s Datacom/Data Center Newsletter.

About the Author

Stephen Hardy

Editorial Director and Associate Publisher, Lightwave

Stephen Hardy is editorial director and associate publisher of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report, part of the Lighting & Technology Group at Endeavor Business Media. Stephen is responsible for establishing and executing editorial strategy across the both brands’ websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products. He has covered the fiber-optics space for more than 20 years, and communications and technology for more than 35 years. During his tenure, Lightwave has received awards from Folio: and the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for editorial excellence. Prior to joining Lightwave in 1997, Stephen worked for Telecommunications magazine and the Journal of Electronic Defense.

Stephen has moderated panels at numerous events, including the Optica Executive Forum, ECOC, and SCTE Cable-Tec Expo. He also is program director for the Lightwave Innovation Reviews and the Diamond Technology Reviews.

He has written numerous articles in all aspects of optical communications and fiber-optic networks, including fiber to the home (FTTH), PON, optical components, DWDM, fiber cables, packet optical transport, optical transceivers, lasers, fiber optic testing, and more.

You can connect with Stephen on LinkedIn as well as Twitter.