It’s not rocket science. It’s simple math. Quality cables in the the data center and following industry standards like TIA-942 will help you achieve more efficiency in the data center. Data center professionals and cabling infrastructure experts are making this point more and more.
For instance, in a recent Data Center Journal article, they highlighted the importance of industry standard for cabling as one of the key elements in creating a high efficiency data center.
A structured cabling system is an effective way to have both high quality cabling and meet or exceed industry standards.
It”s the experience of many an IT pro that it’s not so much a matter of if, but when, a point-to-point cabling solution becomes disorganized and difficult to manage. This is saying it nicely. You’ve seen the photos. You’ve heard the nightmare stories. Spaghetti belongs at your favorite Italian restaurant, not in your data center.
If you are not already implementing a structured cabling solution, it’s time to consider it. Why not increase your data center’s efficiency and make your life easier?
Sure there are some costs involved with migrating to a structured cabling system, but in the long run it’s worth its weight in gold.
You can learn more about industry standards and structured cabling solutions by checking out the following:
These links are a good start. However, there are plenty of resources in the “cabling blueprints” section on this website. We encourage you to get a good foundation of knowledge in these subject matters. Going forward they will become increasingly important.
How to create space when there is no space in the data center.
One of the most common problems in today’s data center is real estate. For those that have seen their data center evolve over time, they may see that what was once an expansive open “white” space is now a maze of racks and cabinets that are stuffed to the brim with hardware and cables. Space has become a premium for many organizations. Combine this with a lack of flexibility and time to consolidate hardware and cabling because of the need for maximum uptime, and you now have the current state of affairs for most data centers today. “Space saving” products are needed!
There are many innovative products that address the space issue. Here are a few of them:
These brackets eliminate the use of rack space for patch panels. They mount to any standard rack spacing with EIX-310D specs (which includes most racks and cabinets on the market today). This simple design allows for a TIA-942 recommended structured cabling system and utilizes no “U” space.
This is an enclosure that mounts above a rack or cabinet. It can be affixed to either ladder rack and/or basket tray. This is a good option for those that use overhead conveyance. Much like the Z-Mount brackets, it does not use rack space and allows for a TIA-942 recommended structured cabling system.
In this edition of Cable Talk, JT discusses TIA approved fiber polarity methods when using the MPO style (MTP®) connector in the data center. Light path, fiber cross, duplex patch cords, LC connectors, MPO modules and fiber optic trunking design all come into play.
Microsoft Visio is an easy to use yet powerful tool for cabling infrastructure design.
For years it has been the “go to” program for data center structured cabling design. It has gained popularity in recent years due to the importance, and need for a cabling TIA-942 cabling design. CABLExpress offers Visio stencils of the extensive data center structured cabling products like the H-Series fiber enclosures, RSD fiber enclosures and copper trunking panels.
Since the TIA 942 calls out for modular scalable products, the stencils meet that criteria. All parts that interoperate in real life are able to do so in the stencils. This allows the user to have a visual design that is more time effective and can help reduce errors in RFQ’s due to its visual nature. If you would like to download these stencils for free click here
The TIA 568-C.0 standard includes a rating system for survivability of cabling components using the acronym MICE. The acronym addresses site environmental classifications, environmentally controlled areas such as commercial building offices, light industrial environments and industrial environments. The standard includes a calculation table to measure the effects of the following conditions.
M echanical – vibration, shock and crushing factors I ngress – liquid and dust particles C limactic – temperature, humidity, solar radiation and chemical E MI – Electro Magnetic Interference
Of M.I.C.E. and Men
Human factors, especially in the mechanical aspect are often missed. Plugging and unplugging cables, accidental pulls and improper strain relief just to name a few. Make sure your cabling can meet these daily rigors. Ask about environmental testing procedures and find out what rigors your assemblies can handle!
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It’s not rocket science. It’s simple math. Quality cables in the the data center and following industry standards like TIA-942 will help you achieve more efficiency in the data center. Data center professionals and cabling infrastructure experts are making this point more and more.
