A fiber-array-unit connector configured for pin-to-pin alignment, comprising: an array of optical fibers, with each optical fiber of the array of optical fibers having a coated section and a bare glass section that includes a fiber end face; a support substrate supporting the array of optical fibers, the support substrate having a substrate central axis, a rear-end section, and a front-end section that is elevated relative to the rear-end section, wherein: the front-end section includes a front end face that resides in a front end face plane, front-end recessed surfaces that are axially spaced apart from the front end face, and a top surface with fiber grooves that are substantially parallel to the substrate central axis and that respectively support the bare glass sections of the optical fibers so that the fiber end faces reside adjacent to the front end face, the front-end section further includes first and second alignment pin channels that run substantially parallel to the substrate central axis, that reside on opposite sides of the fiber grooves, and that terminate at a respective one of the front-end recessed surfaces, and the rear-end section supports the coated sections of the optical fibers, the optical fibers having either an interleaved configuration or a fan-in configuration at the rear-end section; first and second alignment pins respectively supported in the first and second alignment pin channels, with each of the first and second alignment pins axially extending from their respective first or second alignment pin channels by an extension distance dE; and a cover secured to the front-end section to hold the bare glass sections and the first and second alignment pins in place. a support substrate supporting the array of optical fibers, the support substrate having a substrate central axis, a rear-end section, and a front-end section that is elevated relative to the rear-end section, wherein: the front-end section includes a front end face that resides in a front end face plane, front-end recessed surfaces that are axially spaced apart from the front end face, and a top surface with fiber grooves that are substantially parallel to the substrate central axis and that respectively support the bare glass sections of the optical fibers so that the fiber end faces reside adjacent to the front end face, the front-end section further includes first and second alignment pin channels that run substantially parallel to the substrate central axis, that reside on opposite sides of the fiber grooves, and that terminate at a respective one of the front-end recessed surfaces, and the rear-end section supports the coated sections of the optical fibers, the optical fibers having either an interleaved configuration or a fan-in configuration at the rear-end section; the front-end section includes a front end face that resides in a front end face plane, front-end recessed surfaces that are axially spaced apart from the front end face, and a top surface with fiber grooves that are substantially parallel to the substrate central axis and that respectively support the bare glass sections of the optical fibers so that the fiber end faces reside adjacent to the front end face, the front-end section further includes first and second alignment pin channels that run substantially parallel to the substrate central axis, that reside on opposite sides of the fiber grooves, and that terminate at a respective one of the front-end recessed surfaces, and the rear-end section supports the coated sections of the optical fibers, the optical fibers having either an interleaved configuration or a fan-in configuration at the rear-end section; first and second alignment pins respectively supported in the first and second alignment pin channels, with each of the first and second alignment pins axially extending from their respective first or second alignment pin channels by an extension distance dE; and a cover secured to the front-end section to hold the bare glass sections and the first and second alignment pins in place.