LC DUPLEX UNIBOOT

The LC Duplex "Uniboot" connector is a recent variation on Lucent's Local Connector (LC).  Uniboot connector technology allows cable assembly houses to terminate two fibers in a single, thin-diameter round cable jacket, reducing the number of discreet cables in patching area by 50%.  Conexus ezLINE™ cable assemblies traditionally incorporate LC Uniboot connectors.

SC DUPLEX

Originally developed by NTT, the Subscriber Connector or Standard Connector (SC) is a keyed, snap-in connector type largely utilized in legacy fibre channel applications.  Most SC suppliers simply clip two simplex SC connectors together to for a duplex connector.

MT-RJ

The Mechanical Transfer Registered Jack (MT-RJ) connector is the small-form-factor equivelent of IBM's legacy ESCON® connector.  MT-RJ is the native physical connection for ESCON® channels in IBM mainframes and is typically terminated on 62.5/125 multimode cable.   It is unique in that it uses a single ferrule to handle two fibers.

MTP®

US Conec manufactures MTP® connectors which consolidate multiple fibers (4, 8, 12 or 24) in a single physical connection.  MTP® is a solid, high-density interconnect option, ideal for the environment characterized by frequent change or extremely high density such as mainframe push-pull efforts.  

MTP is generally not a native connector type for hardware OEMs and therefore requires some transition to LC or MTRJ in the form of a transition harness (for attachment to hardware devices) or internal hydras (for attachment to patch panels).  This requirement for physical transition adds roughly 30% cost overhead to the structured cable plant and 0.5 - 0.9 dB loss to the link.

MTP® is a registered trademark of US Conec.

ESCON®

Enterprise System Connection Architecture, ESCON®, connectors were developed in 1990 exclusively for IBM mainframe connectivity.  ESCON® connector technology became largely obsolete when IBM changed the physical channel interface to MT-RJ on the mainframe in the late 1990's. 

ESCON® is a registered trademark of IBM Corp.

MU

MU connectors, developed by NTT are also known as "mini-SC" connectors.  MU is not as widely distributed in the United States as its small-form-factor counterpart, LC Duplex, but is seen as a native connector in some equipment types.

ST

Developed by AT&T, the ST connector (for Straight Tip) was the first defacto standard connector in the fiber optic cabling industry.  It is most commonly used as a passive, backbone connection on the rear side of a patch panel.  As small-form-factor duplex connectors such as LC have gained popularity, the use of ST connectors has been declining.