Fiber Manager Overview

ArcFM Fiber Manager is an integrated set of tools used to display, manage, and analyze the fiber optic networks within a network system. This powerful set of tools provides the ability to create and manage fiber splice connections, create and manage circuits, perform network traces, and generate reports and schematic diagrams.

Fiber Manager supports the use of both classic fiber features and flexible fiber features. The classic fiber features are the features that have always been used by Fiber Manager, such as a device point. The flexible fiber features are the features that can now be added, such as air-blown conduit.

The Fiber Manager tools require a Fiber Manager extension license. If your tools are not enabled (and you have an Edit session started), ensure you have a Fiber Manager license selected. In ArcMap, select Tools > Extensions and click the checkbox for Fiber Manager.

The main components of the Fiber Manager online help include the following categories:

Using Fiber Manager for the First Time
This section provides an overview of the basic Fiber Manager features including:
- A tour of the Fiber Manager Toolbar
- A discussion on how Fiber Manager relies on Favorites to organize and save attribute information for frequently used features
- A tour of the Connection Manager Form
Using Connection Manager
Connection Manager creates and edits fiber connections. These connections may consist of fiber to fiber splices and/or fiber to patch panel jumper splices. This section discusses Connection Manager's main functionality and the steps used to create and edit fiber connections.
Using Trace, Place, Connect
This tool also creates fiber connections. You can use to trace an existing fiber path, then place objects within that path and connect them to other object. This is especially useful if you model air-blown fiber.
Using Location Editor
Fiber Manager features may have a large number of complex, hierarchical relationships that can be difficult to modify once created. The Location Editor allows you to easily add, move and delete related objects in existing Fiber Manager features.
Using Circuit Manager
Circuit Manager lets you view, create, and maintain circuit information based on the connections created with Connection Manager. This section discusses Circuit Manager's main functionality and the steps used to create and edit circuit information.
Network Tracing with Fiber Manager
Fiber network tracing is used to highlight the connections and features of all the fibers within a selected fiber optic cable by tracing its path from beginning to end. Three tracing options are covered in this section including:
Understanding Report Results
Fiber Manager includes tools that provide information on your fiber network in the form of a printable report. Five report types are covered in this section including:
Schematics
Schematics show a graphical representation of connections in the fiber optic network. Three types of schematic designs are discussed in this section including:
- Circuit Schematics
- Fiber Trace Schematics
- Splice Schematics
Connection Conflict Resolution
Data conflicts can occur when simultaneous edits are made to the same fiber connections from two different database versions. ArcFM provides the Connection Conflict Resolution tool to resolve connection data conflicts.
Fiber Trace Properties
Use the Fiber Trace Properties window to enable X-style tracing or directional tracing.

The following example depicts a hypothetical Fiber Manager work flow. Your work flow will vary depending on your particular needs.

One of the first steps in managing your fiber optics network is to add features such as fiber optic cables, end devices, patch locations, and splice points to your database. Fiber Manager allows you to place preconfigured cables, patches, splice points, etc. from a list of Favorites. This saves time and reduces data discrepancies.
Once the features are placed on the map, Connection Manager is used to form network connections. Features are connected or disconnected within the network using the Connection Manager form.
After establishing splices in the network, a Splice Report can be generated to display buffer tube, fiber strand, attenuation loss, and circuit information associated with all cables intersecting at one particular splice point. Often a splice schematic diagram is then created to display and print the fiber optic network splices. Run a Patch Panel Connection Report to list port connections, port availability, and circuits associated with a particular patch panel on your map.
Use Fiber Trace to perform an end-to-end fiber trace on a single fiber within a fiber optic cable.
Generate a Fiber Trace Report to display all the elements that are in the connected path of this one fiber.
Use the information gathered from the Fiber Trace (step four and five) to determine where to create circuits (also referred to as light paths). Use Circuit Manager to create or edit circuits.
Create a circuit schematic to display and print the fiber optic network circuits.
The maps, reports, and schematics help you analyze, understand, and manage your fiber optic network.