Multi-fiber Push-On, a connector built around a rectangular MT ferrule holding a row or two of fibers, aligned by two steel guide pins on the male side fitting holes on the female side. It is the trunk connector of data centers and the native interface on parallel optics such as 40G and 100G SR4. Gender, key orientation and polarity method must all match or the link fails.
Trunk shows pinned on both ends, we need an unpinned MPO jumper or an unpinned cassette, pin against pin will wreck the faces.
Never mate two pinned MPOs or two unpinned ones: pin to pin chips the ferrules, and pinless to pinless misaligns every fiber.
Also heard as
- MTP
- array connector
Related terms
Polarity
The arrangement that ensures each transmitter in a fiber link connects to the receiver at the far end.
Pre-term
Short for pre-terminated cable: factory-made assemblies with connectors already on, pulled in and plugged in.
Ribbon cable
High-count cable in which fibers are bonded side by side into flat ribbons, usually 12 across, for mass splicing.
Connector
A removable termination that aligns the end of one fiber with another so light passes between them.