A push-pull tab patch cable has the same components and internal-structure as the traditional patch cords, except a tab attached to the connector used for pushing or pulling the whole connector. This small push-pull tab looks simple but it is functional for high density cabling in 40/100G migration.

1. WHITE PAPER
Fiberstore (FS.COM) | Push-Pull Tab Patch Cords Make High Density Cabling Easy and Elegant
High Density Is the Trend
High Density seems to be the trend of this century. Every industry chases it. It is also true to optical
communication industry. Especially when more and more data centers are upgrading to 40G and
beyond, the trend and importance of high density become more significantly. Switches today can
provide more ports with higher data rate due to the shrinking of port size and advancement of
technology. To fit these ports and achieve photoelectric conversion with higher data rate, fiber optic
transceiver also shrinks largely in both size and interfaces. A typical example is the using of 40GBASE
QSFP+ transceiver which can support transmission data rate of 40G with a small size and MPO or LC
interfaces. However, new problems come out.
New Problem Comes out
It is inevitable that fiber optic connectors need to be plugged in switch or pulled out from switches
during cabling and daily maintenance. But for high density cabling, finger access to each patch cable
and connector becomes harder. It is almost impossible to unplug these connectors on the high
density patch panel, especially when they are right in the middle of the space. For patch cords with
connectors like LC that are locked on the interface, it would be more difficult, because you have to
firstly unlock the connector from the port before pull it out from the port (Shown in the following
picture). Most of the time a special tool is used. High density cabling and maintenance become
more difficult and time-consuming. To solve this problem, this post offers you a simple and easy
solution for high density cable management, which will definitely make you exciting.
Push-Pull Tab Patch
Cords Make High
Density Cabling Easy
and Elegant

2. WHITE PAPER
Fiberstore (FS.COM) | Push-Pull Tab Patch Cords Make High Density Cabling Easy and Elegant
Push-Pull Tab Patch Cable—Little Change, Great Difference
Here introduces a new patch cord with a special “pull” tab design that can help to solve the
problems of finger access in high density cabling. There is not much difference between this one
and traditional patch cords. But a little change can make great difference. The following will give you
an understanding of what this high density push-pull tab patch cable is.
A push-pull tab patch cable has the same components and internal-structure as the traditional
patch cords, except a tab attached to the connector used for pushing or pulling the whole connector.
This small push-pull tab looks simple but it is functional for high density cabling in 40/100G
migration. High density cabling for 40G/100G and beyond usually employs MPO and LC connectors.
The following suggested push-pull tab patch cables are attached with MPO or LC connectors.
 LC Connector Attached to Push-pull Tab Patch Cable
The on the left of the picture below shows the structure of a LC connector attached to push-pull tab
patch cable. The main body of the LC connector is of the standard size. The push-pull tab looks
simple but it is linked to the latch of the LC connector. When the tab is pulled the latch will be
unlocked easily and the LC connector can be pulled out from the patch panel without difficulty. It
has been proved that LC push-pull tab patch cords can increase cabling density more than 50%.
 MPO Connector Attached to Push-pull Tab Patch Cable
On the right of the picture above is a MPO connector attached with push-pull tab. The tab can
greatly simplify the use of MPO connectivity when manual access to the release slider and rear
portion of the connector is restricted. In this way, easy insertion and extraction of MPO patch cords
can be achieved.

3. WHITE PAPER
Fiberstore (FS.COM) | Push-Pull Tab Patch Cords Make High Density Cabling Easy and Elegant
Cabling with push-pull patch cords all you need is one hand and no external tools are required. The
push-pull tab can offer exceptional finger access even in the highest density environments. The
push-pull patch cord can be inserted and removed by pulling or pushing the connector. These cables
are available with OM3, OM4 and single-mode optical cable types.
 Get More From Push-pull Tab Patch Cable
The benefits of push-pull tab patch cable are not limited to the easy access of the fiber optic
connector. You can get more from this type of patch cords:
 Higher flexibility and adjustability: push-pull patch cords are available in various specifications
which can connect different generation of devices from 10Gb/s to 120Gbp/s or more.
 Space-saving: with push-pull patch cords, spare space for cabling is reduced which can increase
the density of cabling further more.
 Reliability: push-pull patch cords provide safe and easy push and pull of the specific connector
without affecting the other connectors around it.
 Economical: high density and ease of installation provide a low initial investment cost. The
above mentioned benefits provide a high return on investment.
Fiberstore Push-pull Tab Patch Cords Solution
We started with 1G switches. Those switches became 10G. Recently we’ve seen the trend of 40G. In
the future, those switches will become 100G and even 120G. It has been proved that push-pull tab
patch cords can support high durability and flexibility which fit the connection between devices of
different data rate. If you are looking for the connection solution for these devices, Fiberstore offers
you the best. The following chart shows you four most common applications of push-pull tab patch
cords.

4. WHITE PAPER
Fiberstore (FS.COM) | Push-Pull Tab Patch Cords Make High Density Cabling Easy and Elegant
Application Patch Cords Cable Type Connectors on Both Ends
10G to 10G Cabling
Duplex LC Push-pull
Tab Patch Cord
OM3/OM4/Single-mode Duplex LC Duplex LC
40G to 40G Cabling
12-fiber MPO
Push-pull Tab Trunk
Cable
OM3/OM4/Single-mode
MPO
(male/female)
MPO
(male/female)
40G to 10G Cabling
12-fiber MPO to 8 LC
Push-pull Tab Break
out Cable
OM3/OM4/Single-mode
MPO
(male/female)
4 Duplex LC
100G to 100G
Cabling
24-fiber MPO
Push-pull Tab Trunk
Cable
OM3/OM4/Single-mode
MPO
(male/female)
MPO
(male/female)
You can contact us at sales@fs.com for more details and customized service.

5. WHITE PAPER
Fiberstore (FS.COM) | Push-Pull Tab Patch Cords Make High Density Cabling Easy and Elegant
Contact Us
Manufacturing R & D (China)
Eastern Side, Second Floor, Science &
Technology Park, No.6, Keyuan Road,
Nanshan District, Shenzhen 518057,
China
Tel: +86 (755) 8300 3611
Fax: +86 (755) 8326 9395
Email: sales@fs.com
APAC Office (Hong Kong)
1220 Tung Chun Commercial Centre,
438-444 Shanghai Street, Kowloon,
Hong Kong
Tel: +852 81763606
Fax: +852 81763606
Email: sales@fs.com
North America (United States)
331 Andover Park East Ste330, Tukwila,
WA 98188,United States
Tel: +1-425-226-2035
Fax: +1-253-246-7881
Email: sales@fs.com
London Office (United Kingdom)
Third Floor 207 Regent Street, London,
W1B 3HH, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 2081441980
Notice: This document is for informational purposes only and does not set forth any warranty, expressed or
implied, concerning any equipment, equipment features, or service offered or to be offered by Fiberstore.
Fiberstore reserves the right to make changes to this document at any time, without notice, and assumes no
responsibility for its use. This information document describes features that may not be currently available.
Contact a Fiberstore sales team for information on feature and product availability.
Follow us
LinkedIn
Twitter
Facebook
G+
Pinterest
Youtube
Blog