< PreviousEkkoSense simplifies data centre power management Data centre performance specialist EkkoSense has launched Site Power View - to simplify capacity planning by using unique 3D power schematic visualisation to display data centre power usage in real-time. Introduced to support the EkkoSoft Critical software’s real-time M&E capacity planning for data centre power, cooling and space requirements, Site Power View delivers a detailed analysis of UPS, DC and cooling power use both at an individual room level - as well as cumulatively across entire data centre estates. “Site Power View directly addresses the requirement for real-time monitoring and planning of data centre power. Using a distinctive 3D power schematic visualisation it provides both data centre IT and facilities management teams with immediate insight into rack power usage and associated PDU utilisation across their estate,” explained EkkoSense’s Head of Product Management, Paul Milburn. “With the new functionality our latest EkkoSoft Critical 6.0 release goes beyond traditional reporting to offer true capacity planning at a fraction of the cost of more expensive and complex traditional DCIM and BMS solutions.” Milburn continued: “Previously data centre teams would have needed a combination of DCIM tools, outputs from their BMS, and multiple unwieldy spreadsheets to gain an understanding of power usage from a whole site perspective. Site Power View in EkkoSoft Critical 6.0 dramatically simplifies this entire process, with comprehensive power overlays and immersive 3D visualisations that not only display power usage, but also clearly show how power is being distributed and used from room to room. These full Site Power View schematics are critical for effective capacity planning, enabling smarter and faster capacity decisions across connected rooms.” Site Power View’s 3D visualisations enable the creation of a series of Interactive Reports covering Power Usage, Power Usage Breakdowns and Power Capacity across the entire data centre estate. Site Power View monitors both rack power usage and associated Power Distribution Unit (PDU) utilisation and indicates spare power capacity where available. EkkoSense solutions are available directly, or through the company’s expanding network of international partners across the US, Europe and Asia Pacific. n ProLabs’ innovative partnership with UNH-IOL sees its optical connectivity solutions pass with flying colours Global independent supplier of high-speed cabling and fibre optic transceivers ProLabs, has successfully demonstrated its connectivity solutions to the renowned University of New Hampshire Interoperability Lab (UNH-IOL). As a follow up to ProLabs investment in the University of New Hampshire Interoperability Lab, 25 products were sent to undergo the highly regarded UNH Open Networking Systems Interoperability testing, with all modules achieving the coveted standard in interoperability testing. Comprising of conformance and interoperability testing, alongside visual eye diagrams and with a focus on hardware level capabilities and compatibility between multiple devices, the rigorous testing marks ProLabs products as completely interoperable and fully conformed in specification and attestation parts. David Sohn, VP of Technical Services at ProLabs said: "Our optical products have been truly proven to be of the best quality, having passed these third-party independent trials by UNH-IOL, who are highly-respected within the industry. It gives ProLabs a competitive edge to have this level of acknowledgement. Customers can have absolute trust that the optical connectivity solutions they purchase from us, are guaranteed to be of the highest standard and will fully conform and operate in the environments they are specified for. This is a qualification unparalleled and on top of our pre-existing rigorous in-house testing, gives our components a unique and undeniable level of quality assurance.” This is the latest development in the partnership between ProLabs and the University of New Hampshire Interoperability Lab, which most recently included an appearance by ProLabs at the annual UNH-IOL Career Advancement Event. This continued collaboration is creating an innovative legacy to educate and inspire students as they continue to develop industry-wide networking applications as well as providing an incomparable quality control process. Michael Klempa, Technical Manager at the University of New Hampshire Interoperability Lab said,“We are pleased ProLabs has passed the required testing set forth in the Open Networking standards for both interoperability and conformance testing at the lab." Kempa continues: "It is encouraging to see a company incorporating interoperability as a key part of their production process. Alongside the testing, we are excited about the student advantage partnership with ProLabs. Our computer science and electrical engineering students are getting vital first-hand experience of working with component systems engineers from ProLabs, as well as allowing them an input to deliver their concepts and ideas. It is important we give these innovators of the future a thorough education to unlock the potential they could have on the industry.” As the sector advances and new technologies emerge, interoperability is becoming more important. Operators worldwide are looking for innovative solutions that are proven to address the ever-increasing demands that are being placed upon their networks. By achieving these results through industry standard testing and its ongoing collaboration with the University of New Hampshire Interoperability Lab, ProLabs is enforcing its commitment to high-quality interoperable solutions and the engineers of the future. n www.networkseuropemagazine.comwww.networkseuropemagazine.com NEWS IN BRIEF 10CityFibre chosen to deliver full fibre connectivity for public sites by the City of Wolverhampton Council CityFibre, the UK’s third national digital infrastructure platform, has been awarded a 20-year contract by the City of Wolverhampton Council to provide a full fibre network solution that connects the Council’s public sector estate, including schools, libraries, and offices in the city. The project is being made possible through the DCMS Local Full Fibre Network (LFFN) Challenge Fund, which provides local bodies with an opportunity to develop gigabit-capable connectivity to boost local economies. CityFibre will design, build, operate and own the network, providing Wolverhampton with future-proof full fibre connectivity that will underpin the city’s next phase of technological transformation. Taking in 170 sites, the new network will help to upgrade the delivery of frontline public sector services, lowering operational costs and boosting productivity. It will also help meet the growing demand from residents for digital services, support the improvement of educational resources, and bridge the digital divide. It’s also anticipated that the project will support the delivery of IoT initiatives such as urban traffic control, which will help to reduce emissions across the city. Local organisations such as The Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership will also stand to benefit from members gaining access to world class connectivity. Work will be delivered on CityFibre’s behalf by experienced local telecoms infrastructure partner, Connex 2000. The construction company will use modern build techniques to deploy the network quickly, while working closely with CityFibre, City of Wolverhampton Council, and local communities, to manage disruption and ensure a fast and successful rollout. Rob Hamlin, Chief Commercial Officer at CityFibre said: “We are delighted the City of Wolverhampton Council has decided to work with CityFibre on delivering this much-needed upgrade to critical public sector infrastructure. Increasingly local authorities around the country are realising the potential of full fibre to transform places like Wolverhampton into modern, fully connected, digital cities. By choosing a full fibre network, local authorities will be able future proof vital public sector infrastructure for generations to come.” n SolarWinds Deepens Hybrid IT Database Portfolio SolarWinds, provider of powerful and affordable IT management software, has announced the addition of Database Performance Monitor (DPM) to its IT operations management (ITOM) portfolio. Following the acquisition of VividCortex in December 2019, SolarWinds has extended its database management offerings to include real-time, deep-dive performance monitoring of popular open-source databases with the introduction of DPM. The addition of DPM extends the SolarWinds database portfolio, which also includes Database Performance Analyser (DPA), allowing customers to manage on-premises, hybrid, and cloud-native databases through a single provider, and with both on-premises and SaaS delivery—a benefit only SolarWinds offers. To meet the growing demand to monitor applications built on open-source and NoSQL platforms, DPM delivers a SaaS-based solution built to provide real-time health monitoring with down-to-the-second data granularity. By offering a dashboard approach to database and system monitoring, DPM gives IT professionals and database administrators visibility into availability and performance, and provides a real-time feedback loop for application developers, DevOps and monitoring engineers to improve database performance. In addition, the new tool features automated alerting for when a system is down, or when thresholds have been triggered. The SaaS-based offering complements SolarWinds Database Performance Analyser (DPA), the award-winning on-premises and cloud-deployed product serving the needs of IT organisations at businesses of all sizes – from the SMB to the large enterprise. Together with DPA, Database Performance Monitor gives tech pros the ability to optimise their database performance regardless of where the database is or the type - Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, MongoDB, Redis, Amazon Aurora, and PostgreSQL, all through a single provider. n High Port Density at an Angle R&M introduces angled patch panel with 48 ports / Fewer steps involved in assembly and network management / Stress-free cable routing Developer and provider of cabling systems for high- quality network infrastructures, R&M, is extending the family of high density ELISO patch panels with an angled model. This saves network technicians and installers a few steps both in assembly and in cable management in the rack. The new 19’’ angled panel offers space for 48 ports on one height unit. The RJ45 connections for the copper cabling are arranged in two rows. The angle out of the rack is just 100 millimeters. Connection modules of the types Cat. 6A EL and Cat. 6A ISO Special from R&M independently lock into the module holders of the ELISO patch panel. Installers simply click the modules into the holder. Mounting is completed without screws, brackets or other mechanical aids. A major effect of the angular form - the path between the connector and lateral cable management is shorter. The angular form simultaneously takes the pressure off horizontal cable management. The many patch cords have more space on the front than with comparable flat patch panels. In spite of the large number of ports, they do not have to be threaded into clips or bent much. They are routed flat, parallel and stress-free. An integrated rear cable support takes care of strain relief. Additional cable tie hooks help installers fix cables at a flat angle. The simplified handling also means less time has to be spent on cable and network management. The solution avoids diminished performance which can be caused by narrow radii, kinks and cable movements. The 48 port HD ELISO angled panel is perfect for use in data centers and building cabling. It supports the digital, automated infrastructure management system R&MinteliPhy. The R&MinteliPhy sensor strips can be installed at a later date. n NEWS IN BRIEF www.networkseuropemagazine.com 11 www.networkseuropemagazine.com 11The Spine of the Modern Economy By Denon Amen Yuyu Osunde Application Engineer HUBER+SUHNER MODERN ECONOMY www.networkseuropemagazine.comwww.networkseuropemagazine.com 12Many industries such as healthcare, transport, e-commerce, the financial sector and more have been digitally transformed, changing the way they store and transmit information and data. This is creating new ways of conducting business, disrupting old operating models and paving the way for modernisation in all spheres of the business ecosystem. As a result, data is becoming the new global currency and is becoming more inextricably woven into the fabric of the new global economy. As the digital economy continues to grow, its dependency on computer technologies and data processing is becoming increasingly critical to every day functionality. Processes such as customer service, transport, logistics and communication, to name a few, are increasingly reliant on data in order to operate. Data-driven industries The healthcare industry, for example, has significantly transformed with digitalisation and now provides greater quality and accessibility through innovative digital medical technologies like minimally-invasive surgeries, enhanced patient monitoring systems, and more accurate scanning equipment. These technologies have allowed patients to experience advanced healthcare which supports them on a quicker path to recovery. Technology has also completely overhauled the financial sector. As a result, the degree of automation and speed of trading has dramatically increased in the past decade. Now having access to advanced data analytics, financial institutions have been able to tailor services to custom fit the needs of their customers, meeting the rising expectation for personalised services. On another scale, digitalisation has completely facilitated E-commerce (Electronic Commerce), changing the ways commodities and services are traded and accelerating the volume of trade between consumers and businesses. Without the digital economy, high volumes of trade would not be possible and the modern economy would not be as advanced. As a result of these industries – and many more – relying on data to operate, 25 million terabytes of data is created every day, with that volume constantly increasing. Data connections have therefore become the backbone of the modern economy, driving everyday functionalities in critical operations such as business, healthcare and transport. The reliability of this data connection is pivotal in order to process and transmit information in an instant to provide real-time data conn ections. Data centres At the heart of vast volumes of data processing, is the data centre. Data centres process the transmission of all data which enables critical connectivity within everyday technologies in today’s modern digital economy. Therefore, the data centre ecosystem itself is a major economic enabler. They must connect vast amounts of equipment and technologies by protecting data and keeping track of its movement and storage. Doing so requires carefully planned and constructed data centres which provide seamless data connectivity with security, low latency, redundancy and most importantly, availability to deliver connectivity. Preparing for a data dependant economy The next evolution of technology innovation is already underway and with Artificial Intelligence (AI), cloud-based services, 5G and Machine Learning (ML) already infiltrating the global digital economy, data centres are becoming increasingly complex. To provide reliable data connectivity to power all these new applications and services, data centres must be prepared to provide the level of capacity required to match the scale of this demand. In order to do this, data centres are facing the challenge of providing the scale, speed and capacity to provide increased bandwidth to meet critical digital economy connectivity demands. With demand so high, data centres have enhanced the creation of jobs and innovation in the modern economy. Technological innovations such as AI and ML are creating new opportunities for businesses and consumers alike and are expected to grow the global economy by more than $15.8 trillion in the next decade. If data centres are going to keep up with increasing data demands influenced by new technologies, they too must be upgraded with the best high-class technologies to facilitate a resilient, future-proof data centre to meet increasing bandwidth and capacity demands. To be future-proof, data centres must be able to change according to their environment now and years into the future. They must adapt to meet increasing connectivity demands by using high-quality, high-capacity and flexible fibre management systems. Using the latest technology, fibre cabling structures can be customized with modules and structures to increase density in a simple and efficient way to directly meet soaring connectivity demands. Bandwidth demands With high volumes of fibre cabling required to match bandwidth demands, cabling is very complex to manage in a data centre. For maximum ease and efficiency in organising and storing cables, a fibre optic distribution system must be used to create a highly secure environment which can reduce the likelihood of human errors. For example, using high-density cross-connect technology, cables can be structured in a clear and concise way to reduce the risk of damage and down time in the connection. Integral to the successful service of the data centre is also the power, monitoring, cooling, communications, cabling, monitoring and metering to facilitate a high-capacity and reliable data centre. There is also a need to train and employ people in the highly technical field of designing, manufacturing, operations and maintenance of the whole data centre ecosystem – which has become the spine of a modern digital economy. n Over the past four decades, there has been a gradual but progressive evolution in the digitisation of every industry and corner of the world. In this relatively short period of time, this evolution has significantly transformed societies and the global economy. MODERN ECONOMY www.networkseuropemagazine.com 13 www.networkseuropemagazine.com 13With the coronavirus outbreak continuing to gather pace, many businesses around the world are having to provide remote access for all their employees, sometimes for the first time. This is being done under pressure to tight time constraints. It’s difficult for anyone to do their best work with deadlines looming, and worries and concerns about the current situation playing on their mind. IT staff are no different. Mistakes and misconfigurations are inevitable and that will potentially give hackers opportunities to exploit. At the same time, with networks under growing strain from increased traffic and surges in demand, the potential for outages to occur is also increasing. In this and other crisis scenarios from cyber-attacks to winter storms and natural disasters, there is therefore a higher premium than ever on secure remote access and network resilience - and business continuity is becoming even more vital. At the same time, if outages do happen in such crises, businesses may find getting the network up and running even more complex. With travel restricted or impossible, sending engineers out to remote sites to address downtime issues and resolve network faults may risk compromising their health and safety and therefore not be in any sense realistic. For every organisation operating today, keeping the business up and running is likely to be a key concern and the need for network resilience has risen in line with this. When disruption occurs, companies need to be prepared. They need a plan that enables them to recover quickly. The current crisis may have focused minds within networking teams and senior leadership to carry out risk analysis and put measures in place to reduce those risks. But what is clearly required is a new approach that goes beyond simply adding redundancy or even improving uptime to add a layer of intelligence – effectively a resilience quotient to the network’s plan B. That is because for organisations that need to ensure business continuity today, network resilience is key. Network resilience is the ability to withstand and recover from a disruption of service.[1] One way of measuring it is Ensuring Network Continuity in Times of Crisis by Alan Stewart–Brown, VP of EMEA Opengear www.networkseuropemagazine.com NETWORK CONTINUITY www.networkseuropemagazine.comwww.networkseuropemagazine.com 14how quickly the business can get up and running again at normal capacity following an outage. True network resilience is not just about providing resilience to a single piece of equipment whether that be a router or a core switch for example; in a global economy it is important (especially given today’s circumstances) that any such solution can plug into all of the equipment at a data centre or edge site, map it and establish what is online and offline at any given time and importantly wherever in the world it is located. That enables a system reboot to be quickly carried out remotely. That’s hugely beneficial at all times but especially at the moment where engineers and other workers are often unable to travel to either the data centre or edge location because of lockdowns and everything has to be done from afar. This is a scenario that looks likely to get more severe – in the short-term at least. We are already seeing interconnection providers starting to restrict access to sites with Equinix a case in point. Network Continuity Alternative arrangements If the remote reboot does not work, of course, it might well be that an issue with a software update is the root of the problem. With the latest smart out-of-band devices this can be readily addressed, because an image of the core equipment and its configuration can be retained, and the device rebuilt remotely without the need for sending somebody on site. In the event of an outage, it is therefore possible to deliver network resilience via failover to cellular, while the original fault is being remotely addressed, enabling the business to keep running even while the primary network is down. Building in resiliency through the OOB approach does cost money, of course, but it also pays for itself: certainly over the long-term and often also in just a one-off instance, depending on the outage and associated costs. You might only use this resiliency a couple of times a year, say – but when you need it, you really need it. Indeed, given the current situation, the cost of network resilience is a small price to pay for business continuity. OOB supports easier provisioning of new remote sites to flex and grow the network as well as fast speed of response. It is about insurance, but also remediation and maintenance. Why prevention is better than cure It is worth highlighting that time is critical in these scenarios. When network outages occur, the damage is cumulative so businesses need to pre-plan and ensure that they are putting in place network resilience as a preventative rather than a reactive approach. Often today the issue is not fully considered upfront. Organisations often defer discussions around network resilience based on the optimistic hope that a network outage never happens to them. In fact, network resilience should be built into the network from the outset. It should be a tick box exercise but typically it is not. Organisations generally either think that their network is somewhat resilient through the in band path or they are not thinking about their branches or remote sites as much as they should. Of course anyone that has just suffered a network outage will understand the benefits of out of band (OOB), as a way of keeping their business running in what is effectively an emergency but as referenced above it is likely to be much better to plan for resilience from the word go. After all networks are the ‘backbone’ to almost every organisation today, and many businesses will benefit from bringing network resilience into the heart of their approach from the outset. n Organisations need to ensure business continuity today. Network resilience is the ability to withstand and recover from a disruption of service. NETWORK CONTINUITY www.networkseuropemagazine.com 15 www.networkseuropemagazine.com 15 www.networkseuropemagazine.com 15Keeping the information superhighway clear www.camfil.com AIR FILTERS www.networkseuropemagazine.comwww.networkseuropemagazine.comwww.networkseuropemagazine.com 16Air filters in data centres offer a host of solid business benefits in a whole range of different applications. Here, they can prevent expensive and disruptive equipment downtime and failure as well as shield against electromagnetic interference that causes data errors and equipment failure. On top of this, they raise energy efficiency and lower energy bills. Statistics show that air filters can help reduce energy costs by two-fifths. Moreover, high energy efficiency rated filters reduce the carbon footprint of the facility, and flame-retardant air filters improve fire resistance. Mission critical computers in data centres and the cooling needed to keep them running draw enormous quantities of power. It has, for example, been estimated that data centres consume 2% of all the electricity used in the United States, 32% of which is used by air conditioning systems. In a bid to reduce the enormous cost associated with running these facilities, in locations with a naturally cool climate facility owners have turned to free air cooling. But the incoming air must be purified to protect the equipment. Indeed, data centre customers rely on air filtration to maintain the flow of clean air as well as the secure flow of data. Particulate and gaseous contaminants pose a serious threat to this security. They can come from a range of places including indoor sources, people entering and exiting the building and from outdoor ventilation systems. These contaminants can result in equipment downtime, complete failure or, in the worst cases, complete loss of data. The reasons? Server rooms may be exposed to high corrosion levels from particulate matter or molecular gas contamination with printed circuit boards, contacts and conductors most susceptible to damage. Other risks include obstruction of cooling air flow and deformation of surfaces and electrical impedance changes, circuit failure and burnout, with the associated fire risk. Filters help provide a healthy, safe indoor environment free from harmful air contaminants. But beware. Regardless of the type of cooling or air handlings unit (AHUs) installed in a facility, to manage pressure drop and maintain as close to peak fan efficiency as possible, it’s imperative that the choice of filters used is carefully evaluated. When you consider the number of filters needed in a system, guaranteed efficiency and total cost of ownership (TCO) are critical drivers for determining which filter is best. Indeed, low cost, coarse fibre filters can lower efficiency and raise in pressure drop, resulting in increased fan energy consumption and shorter filter life. Although the upfront cost for these inferior filters may be lower, the TCO is higher. As well as operating more energy efficiently, low average pressure-drop filters allow AHUs and fans to be downsized, saving operating costs and capital costs on initial installation. n www.networkseuropemagazine.com 17 www.networkseuropemagazine.com 17 AIR FILTERS www.networkseuropemagazine.com 17If cable management isn’t factored in during the design phase, things can soon become very complicated. Planning is essential. Although mapping cabling infrastructure and considering a wide range of eventualities and possible future needs may seem difficult and time-consuming at the outset, these efforts will always pay off once data centre installation commences. Layout based on network architecture can support workflow going forward. With this approach, key elements can be optimised: cable lengths, installation time, capacity growth planning and supply chain management (for example by using pre-terminated cables, possibly pre-cut to required lengths and delivered exactly when required). The biggest cable management challenge is providing a scalable solution. This can be separated into cable management for trunks between racks and for patch cords inside the racks. What’s more, data centre infrastructure and installation methods may vary considerably, further complicating the issue. Some facilities may initially install only power and infrastructure components, and add cabinets according to demand. Others might prefer to use structured cabling and pathways for the cabling between and inside the racks. Increasing density challenges To meet the growing bandwidth and flexibility needs of today and tomorrow, density in cabinets is increasing. This requires careful planning and management as increased density can easily result in unmanageable cabling. We’re seeing cables with significantly higher fibre counts, which have a smaller diameter than previous generations of cables. There is a practical limit to how small a cable can be manufactured and still be handled properly. Large numbers of patch cords placed close to each other can Cable management and containment Joost Grillaert, Product Manager at Nexans Cabling Solutions The difficulty - or ease - of data centre cable management is closely related to data centre design www.networkseuropemagazine.com CABLE MANAGEMENT www.networkseuropemagazine.com 18be very tricky to manipulate accurately. Moves, Adds and Changes, cable tracking and fault-finding can become very challenging indeed. New Ethernet technologies will require higher density connectors, making installations even more challenging. On the plus side, the size reduction does contribute to helping manage cabling in the pathway. Cables take up less space, and can be more flexible, allowing for neater bundles. The weight reduction can also simplify pathway requirements. As data centre networks densities increase, more connectors need to fit into a smaller space. This requires careful planning of pathways, and choosing connectors that accommodate intended use. If connections are to be used for patching and re-patching on an ongoing basis, it’s important that technicians can easily access the connectors. If you are not careful, the panels can become too dense. Keeping panels neat has become particularly important as densities increase. Integrating cable management into patch panels, for example by using angled panels and sliding trays, supports this. By respecting cables’ bend radii, making sure cables and bundles aren’t resting on each other, and carefully organising racks and trays, interference, transmission errors and permanent damage – and therefore downtime – can be avoided. Keep it cool Fast-rising temperatures resulting from inefficient air movement can lead to significant damage. Cabling can have a significant impact on airflow. Rack inlet and exhaust fans need to be kept clear at all times. However, poor cabling practices can block direct airflow from equipment fans. Proper patch cord management, reduced diameter cords, and appropriate panels are ways of mitigating this problem. Underfloor cabling can create air dams where cool air gets trapped and can’t move to the vents below the racks. Because the cables are below the floor and pretty much invisible, these issues can go unnoticed. This problem can be tackled by using cabling with a reduced diameter and observing proper pathway fill ratios. Cable containment solutions In a data centre environment, pathway systems are complex, The choice of cable pathway is mainly related to the architecture, with fibre pathways typically used in the core of the access network and copper/fibre in the access network. A leaf-spine two-layer data centre network topology, use of leaf switches (connecting servers and storage connect) and spine switches (connecting leaf switches), requires a different approach. In this case, the access layer is formed by leaf switches meshing into the spine. Obstacles along the path need to be avoided. Cables can be run through pathways under the floor, but also placed above or inside cabinets. Overhead cabling solutions can easily take the shortest route between locations and air temperature is less of a concern. Cable ‘waterfalls’ from overhead supports can run into vertical wire managers without strain. Overhead cable management systems can safely run into racks and enclosures for patching or installations at any time. It’s important to observe that overhead structures need to align with cabinet rows in the horizontal plane, but also offer vertical supports are necessary to accommodate today’s high cable volumes. It’s also vital to ensure transitions to racks can maintain prescribed bend radii. The tray system should be easy to adjust and extend on-site, without adding sharp joint segments, and also comply with security and building standards. A dedicated pathway should protect fibre optic cables and cords from accidental damage, offer sufficient capacity and be easy to install and reconfigure to meet future needs. A containment solution can provide a secure ducting for fibre optic cabling within a data centre, eliminating sharp edges that could cause harm. Moves, Adds and Changes of fibre optic patching becomes easier when cables are separated from a bunch of copper horizontal bundles. Future expansion and interconnection with channels of different sizes can be executed quickly. Keeping track Often, documenting patch cabling is overlooked, but inaccurate or incomplete documentation inevitably results in problems in provisioning new equipment, maintaining systems and troubleshooting. Today’s density and complexity call for automated, always up-to-date monitoring, mapping and management solutions. Of course, professional cable and connector management doesn’t exclusively rely on having the latest tools: quick wins include securely labelling cables and implementing consistent colour coding. Future-ready cabling Changing requirements and (distributed) approaches to data centre architecture are offering considerable challenges to racking, containment and patching systems. In increasingly high-density environments, manipulating tightly packed, increasingly small cables and connectors can be tricky. So is ensuring cabling can run without being troubled by elevated temperatures, physical obstructions, crosstalk, and so on. When planning and specifying cabling routes and containment and management solutions, it is vital to first map the needs of each part of the network and consider how future changes can be accommodated quickly and easily. This should help ensure the backbone and patching installed today will continue to support operations for years, even decades to come. n www.networkseuropemagazine.com 19 CABLE MANAGEMENT www.networkseuropemagazine.com 19Next >