Panduit FW2ERLNLNSNM010 Opti-Core OM5 Multimode Fiber Patch Cord
The Panduit FW2ERLNLNSNM010 delivers 10 meters of OM5 wideband multimode fiber in a riser-rated 1.6 mm duplex configuration, terminated with LC duplex connectors at both ends. Engineered for 100 Gbps short-wave division multiplexing (SWDM) and backwards-compatible with legacy OM3/OM4 infrastructure, this Opti-Core patch cord addresses the bandwidth demands of modern datacenters, enterprise MDF-IDF links, and high-speed storage networks where future-proofing and low insertion loss are non-negotiable. Factory termination, 100% end-face inspection, and standard Method A polarity eliminate the field labor and performance uncertainty of on-site connector installation.
Key Features
- OM5 wideband multimode fiber supporting 850–950 nm wavelengths for SWDM transmission
- 100 Gbps capable over 150 meters (100GBASE-SR4), 400 Gbps ready with BiDi optics
- Factory-terminated LC duplex connectors on both ends with standard polarity (Method A/TIA-568)
- 10-meter (32.8 ft) length ideal for cross-connect, horizontal, and intra-rack applications
- OFNR (riser) rated jacket meeting IEC 60332-1-2 flame propagation requirements
- 50/125 µm core/cladding geometry with lime green outer jacket per TIA-598 color coding
- 1.6 mm cable diameter for high-density pathway and panel applications
- Panduit Opti-Core factory termination ensures ≤0.35 dB typical insertion loss
- 2-fiber count in a duplex zipcord construction for bidirectional transmission
- Compliant with IEC 61754-20 (LC connector interface standard) and TIA-568.3-D
OM5 Wideband Multimode: Future-Proofing Beyond 40G and 100G
OM5 fiber represents the latest generation of laser-optimized multimode, expanding the usable wavelength window from OM4's single 850 nm band to a four-wavelength SWDM grid (850, 880, 910, 940 nm). This wideband capability allows a single duplex pair to carry four parallel 25 Gbps channels, achieving 100 Gbps over a single LC duplex connection without requiring breakout MPO cabling. For datacenter operators planning 100GBASE-SR4, 200GBASE-SR4, or 400G-BiDi migrations, OM5 eliminates the need for costly parallel optics infrastructure while maintaining full backwards compatibility with existing 10G/40G OM3 and OM4 links. The FW2ERLNLNSNM010's 10-meter reach covers typical top-of-rack to end-of-row switch distances, MDF-to-IDF backbone connections in enterprise campuses, and SAN fabric interconnects where low latency and high bandwidth density are critical. Panduit's Opti-Core manufacturing process ensures core-to-connector concentricity within 0.5 µm, minimizing modal dispersion and maintaining the tight insertion loss budgets required for error-free SWDM operation. The 50/125 µm core diameter provides an effective modal bandwidth of 3500 MHz·km at 850 nm (OM4-equivalent) while adding the wideband performance headroom needed for next-generation transceivers—meaning you can deploy OM5 today with 10G SR optics and migrate to 100G SWDM without re-cabling.
LC Duplex Connectivity and Standard Polarity for Plug-and-Play Deployment
The LC (Lucent Connector) form factor has become the de facto standard for enterprise and datacenter multimode terminations, offering a small footprint (half the size of SC), positive latching, and proven reliability in high-port-density switch modules and fiber distribution panels. Both ends of the FW2ERLNLNSNM010 terminate in duplex LC connectors wired to Method A (straight-through) polarity per TIA-568, meaning Position A transmit on one end connects to Position A receive on the far end—eliminating the polarity flips and A/B cable confusion common in legacy installations. This standard polarity pairs directly with SFP+, SFP28, and QSFP28 transceiver modules, media converters, and patch panels without requiring crossover adapters or field re-termination. The 10-meter length bridges the gap between short jumper cables (1–3 m) used for intra-rack patching and longer trunk runs (30–100 m) deployed in riser and horizontal pathways, making it the optimal choice for switch-to-switch connections within the same data hall, connections from a core switch to a nearby fiber enclosure, or linking adjacent equipment racks in a collapsed backbone architecture. The duplex zipcord construction—two individual 1.6 mm tight-buffered fibers joined by a thin web—provides the flexibility needed for tight-radius turns in crowded cable trays while maintaining mechanical protection and kink resistance. Each fiber's 900 µm tight buffer layer protects the 250 µm coated fiber from microbending losses during installation and provides the crush resistance required for pathway environments where cables may experience lateral loading from other infrastructure.
OFNR Riser Rating and Datacenter Compliance
Rated OFNR (Optical Fiber Nonconductive Riser) per NEC Article 770, the FW2ERLNLNSNM010's lime green jacket meets IEC 60332-1-2 vertical flame propagation requirements, qualifying it for installation in riser pathways, vertical shafts, and floor-to-floor conduit runs where plenum-rated cable is not mandated. The nonconductive construction (all-dielectric, no metallic strength members) eliminates the need for bonding and grounding in electrically sensitive environments, and the OFNR rating provides a cost-effective alternative to OFNP (plenum) cables in applications where the air-handling space exemption applies. Panduit's factory termination process—automated polishing, end-face inspection, and 100% insertion loss testing—delivers typical IL values of 0.35 dB or lower and return loss exceeding 20 dB, well within the TIA-568.3-D performance targets for duplex multimode links. Each connector endface undergoes interferometric inspection to verify core concentricity, polish geometry (radius of curvature, apex offset), and contamination-free surface finish before leaving the factory, ensuring Day 1 performance that field-terminated connectors struggle to match even with skilled installers and calibrated polishing fixtures. Protective dust caps on all four connector endfaces prevent contamination during storage and pre-installation staging—critical for multimode links where a single particle on the ferrule endface can scatter enough light to push insertion loss beyond budget and trigger bit errors on high-speed links.
Deployment Scenarios and Insertion Loss Budget Management
In a typical datacenter spine-leaf architecture, the FW2ERLNLNSNM010 serves as the leaf-to-spine interconnect where each leaf switch requires dozens of parallel 100G uplinks and cable management demands high-density, reliable terminations. The 10-meter length accommodates the physical separation between leaf switches mounted in perimeter racks and spine switches centrally located in the data hall, with enough slack for proper service loops and strain relief at each endpoint. For enterprise campus networks, this cable bridges the MDF (main distribution frame) to nearby IDFs (intermediate distribution frames) on the same floor or one floor above/below, eliminating the need for fusion splicing or outdoor-rated cables while providing OFNR flame performance for code compliance. In storage area networks (SANs), the FW2ERLNLNSNM010 links Fibre Channel switches to storage arrays or connects host bus adapters (HBAs) to the SAN fabric, where the OM5 specification's superior bandwidth-distance product ensures error-free 32G FC operation with headroom for future 64G and 128G migrations. Each 10-meter link consumes approximately 0.35 dB insertion loss (typical for Panduit Opti-Core), leaving ample margin in the IEEE and TIA-defined loss budgets (typically 1.9–2.6 dB for 100GBASE-SR4) to accommodate connector mating cycles, environmental aging, and the additional loss from inline splice enclosures or bulkhead adapters if required by the physical topology.
Quality Assurance and Traceability
Every Panduit Opti-Core patch cord ships with a certificate of compliance documenting the manufacturing lot, insertion loss test results, and conformance to relevant standards (TIA-568.3-D, IEC 61754-20, IEC 60332-1-2). The lime green jacket color provides instant visual identification of OM5 infrastructure per TIA-598 color coding standards, reducing the risk of cross-patching OM5 and OM3/OM4 links during moves, adds, and changes—a common failure mode in mixed-generation fiber plants where an OM3 patch cord inadvertently inserted into an OM5 permanent link can bottleneck a 100G circuit to 40G performance. For projects requiring asset management and change tracking, the consistent 1.6 mm diameter and lime green color simplify visual audits and cable pulls, while the factory-printed part number on the jacket (when space permits) or on the attached label enables rapid inventory verification without disconnecting active links. Panduit's global manufacturing footprint and supply chain ensure consistent availability for large-scale deployments, and the 10-unit carton quantity aligns with typical switch port counts (12-port, 24-port, 48-port line cards) to minimize packaging waste and simplify site logistics during installation.
Whether you're building out a greenfield 100G spine-leaf fabric, upgrading an existing 10G-to-40G infrastructure to support SWDM optics, or standardizing on OM5 to eliminate future cable-replacement costs during the next transceiver upgrade cycle, the Panduit FW2ERLNLNSNM010 delivers the combination of standards-compliant termination, riser-rated flame performance, wideband multimode capability, and factory-tested insertion loss required for mission-critical datacenter and enterprise fiber links. The 10-meter length targets the intra-building horizontal and backbone runs where pre-terminated reliability and plug-and-play polarity eliminate the labor cost and performance variability of field termination, while the OM5 specification provides the bandwidth headroom to support transceiver migrations through multiple 25 Gbps generations without requiring a forklift infrastructure upgrade.
