One of the biggest challenges in the data center is usable space – people have run out of space for equipment. This product is designed to help with that problem! In this edition of Cable Talk, I install the Ladder Rack Enclosure in the cable lab. This product does not use rack space (RU’s or RMU’s), so it frees up space in your data center. It has high density fiber and copper ports. Learn how this product mounts to the ladder rack or wire basket tray.

“It’s total cable spaghetti.”

We hear this all the time from data center managers that need help cleaning up a cable mess, either in front of a high density fiber switch or layers of cable under the floor or in the overhead tray.

Unfortunately, there is no magic potion to cure spaghetti cabling.

The solution involves extensive planning – and probably some overtime.

So how did you end up with spaghetti cabling in the first place?

I have heard a lot of reasons. The most common is that it’s an inherited mess. Most currently operating data centers were built in the 1980’s, when hardware was HUGE and port densities were much smaller. There seemed to be no danger in running long fiber cables from port to port (or “point-to-point”).

However, computing needs skyrocketed and bandwidth needs grew exponentially. Data centers now handle as much traffic in one day as they used to handle in one month or even one year! Computing needs grew so much so quickly that it’s easy to see how cabling messes developed before there were cable management best practices in place.

So we know how we got into a mess of spaghetti cabling, but what can we do about it? Stay tuned for a plan on how you can turn spaghetti cabling into a clean structure cabling environment.

In this episode of Cable Talk, I cable up a Brocade 48000 using Skinny-Trunk harnesses. This solution makes cable management possible in this high density fiber optic switch. It also offers the highest performance ratings available. Learn how to cable up a Brocade 48000 like a professional to make it look and work great.

Since the ratification of IEEE 802.3ba, the transition to 40/100G Ethernet speeds is no longer a question of if, but when. We’re going to go over the five things you need to know in order to prepare for 40/100G speeds in your data center.

In this webinar, you will learn how to best prepare for 40/100G speeds, including answering the following questions:

• What is the connector of choice when it comes to 40/100G transmission media?
• What is the total link distance and what is the loss budget?
• What is “skew,” and do I need to worry about it?
• What bandwidth glass should I be using?
• What about optical trunk light path? Do parallel optics need a different light path than that of duplex transmissions?

Presented by:
Josh Taylor, Senior Product Manager, CABLExpress
Kent Goldsmith, Engineering Manager, CABLExpress