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CABSAT Dubai - U.A.E.
02.-04.03.2010
Stand ZT 23
The new dimension in expanded beam technology
Subminature expanded beam contact for use
in standard connector cavities according to
MIL-DTL-38999. The new contact brings the
expanded beam technology into a new dimension. Available as single fiber contact in male and female
version, it allows the integration of a rugged fiber
optic path in standard connector layouts. A high packaging density and handling with standard tools make the decision for expanded beam technology easy.
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Norm-compliant high-quality IT cabling systems for the data centers of the future
Data centers are the control centers of modern companies which provide and manage the flow of information throughout the company operations and process, store and file the data. In recent years the demands have become higher and higher – both in technological and legal terms – and management of data centers is becoming more and more complex and sensitive – a task which also grows with every change made in the data center. In high-reliability data centers all changes made make high demands on logistics systems as modifications to the structures of data centers for example change of hardware, the introduction of software updates or modifications to the infrastructure cabling must be co-ordinated in time and personnel such that the operation of the data center continues without interruption. This is one reason that nowadays for a data center the subjects of highest availability, flexibility, administration, documentation and security take priority, combined of course with aspects of the prevailing situation in respect of cost viability, protection of investment and future security for a foreseeable period of time. An essential contribution to these requirements is provided by a structured and transparent IT-cabling infrastructure. This is the basis for a problem-free data interchange and for secure and reliable interoperability of all active components and applications within the data center.
The primary and original tasks of data centers is the operation of IT applications on mainframes and servers and the maintaining and securing of data in storage systems. From an IT point of view an essential requirement is that of availability, in other words, total reliability without interruption of computer applications which as a rule are critical for business operation procedures such as ERP systems, production applications in industrials companies, data bases, office applications and the respective operating systems, but also the access to provider networks (MAN, WAN) and to the Internet.
In the IT field, the ISO-OSI 7 layer reference model defines the top priority as the application and the lowest priority is the so-called first layer, the physical infrastructure necessary for data transfer, the IT cabling and the data transfer equipment such as Layer 1 Switches. For the availability of IT applications in a data center therefore, its IT cabling system is essential: without a functioning IT cabling, none of the IT applications will run, IT hardware such as servers, switches and storage cannot communicate with one another, cannot exchange data nor process, hold or store these data.
IT cables however often have a long history and are no longer able to satisfy today’s demands such as high port density, high transfer speeds, and hardware changes without interruption.
Structured cabling of IT systems together with careful, future-oriented planning and documentation are therefore fundamental duties for the operators of data centers. Legal foundations such as Basel II or SOX also require overall stringent transparency. For IT cabling systems in a data center the standards DIN EN 50173-5, ISO/IEC 24764 apply and for the US American applications TIA-942 (TIER classification). In line with current developments over the last few years, all these standards have in common the requirement, i.e. the specification, for generic cabling systems – structured and equipment-neutral IT cabling. In addition they also express quite clear recommendations to design IT cabling as redundant, in order to ensure the operating safety of a data center to a very high level.
Planning, installation and approval of the IT cables in data centers is described under the norm series DIN EN 50174. Essential contents are for example the quality plan, earthing and shielding of copper IT cables and the documentation and approval for the whole data center IT cable systems.
By reason of the requirement for high reliability and the constantly increasing data transfer rates the demands on the quality of IT cable components for data centers are many times higher than for products used in LANs. Consideration of quality should be undertaken right at the early stage of planning and taken into account in the selection of components in order to satisfy the requirements for performance such as cable design, band widths and attenuation. IT cable components, both in the case of fiber optic cables and also copper, should preferably be supplied directly from the manufacturer as ready to operate systems for so-called “plug-and-play installations”. Such systems have the highest possible reproducible quality and therefore also the very best transfer properties. The company Rosenberger-OSI Fiber Optics with its system ranges PreCONNECT® STANDARD, PreCONNECT® HIGH DENSITY, PreCONNECT® SMART PLUG UND PreCONNECT® COPPER provides the solution for every application, backed by competent planning, installation and technical services.
Data centers are the “living” control centers of companies. They are therefore subject to constant change, driven by the short life cycles of the active components. In order that basic or extensive modifications to the IT cabling do not have to be undertaken with each new piece of equipment a structured and transparent IT cabling infrastructure which is physically independent of the existing equipment pool, - in other words an application neutral cabling – is recommended. This is to connect the respective machine locations with a unified and integrated IT cabling structure. In the standards DIN EN 50 173-5 and ISO/IEC 24764 this equipment cabling is divided into the segments horizontal and equipment cabling with the respective interface namely, equipment outlet (EO). The active machines are connected by means of an equipment cable which is as short as possible and specific to the machine via the equipment outlet interface to the horizontal cabling which is independent of the active component. In this way when a machine is exchanged, often involving a change of the connector interface on the machine, now only the specific equipment cable must be exchanged – without having to interfere with or reinstall the horizontal cabling. In this way the recabling associated with the replacement of equipment is reduced to the minimum, both in terms of costs and time – at the same time whilst fully maintaining the defined cabling structure. In equipment outlet<s> </s>interfaces suitable connectors should be chosen for the respective port density requirements of the machines to be connected. The standards DIN EN 50 173-5 and ISO/IEC 24764 name corresponding connector systems such as the LC duplex and the MTP® connector. In addition there are other particularly suitable connector systems available on the market which meet these requirements.
The requirement for high availability necessitates the redundant arrangement of connections and components: Hardware has to be replaced during the course of business operations and if one of the links is inoperative, an alternative way must take over such that the application can continue without interruption. The availability of applications is especially positively influenced by the utilization of IT cabling systems which are already ready to use from the manufacturers. It reduces to a minimum the length of time which installation personnel is required to spend in the security sectors of the data center both for the initial installation and also in the case of hardware changes and is thus an additional benefit for operating security.
For the connectivity of data centers amongst one another, e.g. redundant data centers, back-up data management centers or simply just external handling and securing of data at a different location then the connection to MAN and WAN provider networks (data transport services or so-called “dark fibers”) or the company’s own fiber optic links is of immense importance for security of operation and guaranteed availability. For this reason this connectivity, just as the internal data center IT cabling should be conceived and implemented according to the two-way principle.
For the secure and reliable operation of fiber optic IT cable systems in a data center, especially in terms of installation and in patch assignments, the responsible technicians must be trained in the peculiarities of the specific systems - in particular because of the sensitivity of fiber optic connector end face to pollution or damage and the kink and squeeze sensitivity of the thin fiber optic cable-patch. The advantage which has already been pointed out under the aspect of safety considerations, namely, of ready-to-use IT cabling systems from the manufacturer, is obvious immediately on installation in the form of time savings. Especially advantageous is that through the use of ready-to-use cabling components from the manufacturer for expansion of the data center capacity by means of an increase in the quantity and quality of IT equipment (known as “adds”), these machines are connected with one another within the fastest possible time and thus the actual IT applications can be taken up into operation at the earliest. The same also applies for hardware changes (upgrades). The carefully conceived installation of the connectors with the aim of avoiding pollution, especially dust particles is a decisive factor in the performance of the network. For this reason the connector end faces be cleaned with a suitable cleaning tool prior to installation and then assessed microscopically.
For a constantly and high-available data center, up-to-date documentation on the cable infrastructure is absolutely essential. This is the basis for perfectly functioning operations and for the planning of conversions or expansions; it must therefore be constantly up-to-date in all matters relating to the actual infrastructure installation. Closely associated with the documentation is also the clear and – even under less-than perfect lighting conditions – easily readable lettering of the cable together with a unique company-wide labeling. In order to support and alleviate this essential element, Rosenberger-OSI at present is continuing its work in the development of a software-based documentation tool under the name PreCONNECT® IPS which enables a partly automatic recording of data by means of retrofit Data Matrix Code Labels via hand scanner.
A well-conceived IT cabling system in conjunction with transparent cable management and up-to-the-minute documentation is certainly a basis for the high levels of flexibility and availability required in modern and future-oriented data centers. The utilization of qualitatively high value cabling components, ready to use, direct from the manufacturer can also contribute as a positive side effect to reduced maintenance and retrofitting costs and therefore in the end to a reduction of running costs.
Dr. Gerald Berg
Market Manager Data Center
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