Fluke Networks announced new inspection tips for its FI-3000 FiberInspector Pro on October 22, releasing two extended-reach MMC tips — one keyed and one keyless — specifically for inspecting multi-fiber MMC connectors in high-density data center patch panels without disconnecting active infrastructure.
The problem the tips address is straightforward: as fiber density in racks increases, connectors become difficult to reach for routine inspection. Contamination on fiber connector end faces is one of the leading causes of optical network performance issues, and an NTT-Advanced Technology study found contamination-related problems reported by 80 percent of network operators. Previously, a technician would often have to disconnect adjacent cable assemblies just to reach the connector to be checked, increasing both downtime risk and troubleshooting time. The new tips allow access to bulkhead connectors and patch panel ports from the front of the rack.
The tips are designed to work with the FI-3000 FiberInspector Ultra, part of Fluke's Versiv cabling certification platform. Facilities teams and IT staff managing or commissioning data center fiber infrastructure may want to confirm that their inspection toolkit can handle MMC connectors, particularly if they are migrating to higher-density cabling architectures that use the MMC format.
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