< PreviousStable, agile and secure network for business growth A more resilient and agile network is a key platform that will enable enterprises to navigate such uncertainties. But how can businesses make their network truly stable, secure and fit for the future, and one that supports their strategy for innovation? Today, distributed locations must be interconnected, cloud environments integrated, data and connection security ensured, and wired and wireless networks integrated. Going forward, connected industrial environments, edge computing, 5G and WiFi 6 will play an increasingly important role in the growth of any organisation. Network managers need to integrate these diverse environments together so that the policies can be consistently applied across the network ecosystem. In addition to this, the interaction between man and machine further adds to the complexity of this diverse ecosystem. In an industrial environment, we have users, pieces of machinery, IoT sensors, servers and robots – all interacting with each other. A network needs to be able to manage the different demands of these diverse network participants - not just of human beings on a web browser. Cloud-centric architecture is the need of the hour, as it can enable enterprises to make the most of their networks. Building agility at the cloud edge with the ease of deploying different virtual network functions at these edges would enable better connectivity to critical applications in multiple clouds. For example, many enterprises are leveraging our global footprint and reach into over 190 territories to come closer to the cloud so that their mission-critical traffic is best routed to the cloud applications. Many enterprises have realised that the scalability required for them to deal with unforeseen circumstances like this pandemic is often limited by the hardware-centric model. As a result, the use of software-driven, cloud-native network-as-as-service, and virtualised multi-service cloud edge has become more popular. Enterprises have realised the need for faster deployment of network functions and routing policies. SD-WAN has also emerged as a key solution during this time. For most companies, in addition to rapid deployment and flexibility, security and reliability play a crucial role when it comes to choosing the right network solution. A secure network infrastructure is extremely important for an enterprise’s complete digital transformation. And this is where another trend comes into play - Secure Access Service Edge (SASE). However, SASE is not completely new as it's an amalgamation of many existing tools. SD-WAN and VPN technologies are combined with cloud-native security functions such as Zero Trust, CASB and firewalls. Most legacy WANs do not have a process to regularly update the customer premises equipment (CPE) with critical patches because each of these CPEs needs to be updated one by one which results in an increase in cost. With a centralised controller, this is another issue that SD-WAN makes more manageable. All this is intended to reduce complexity on the one hand and increase security on the other. If the integration of security into SD-WAN is not seamless, then the complexity remains, and SD-WAN won’t deliver the value enterprises expect. agile networks www.networkseuropemagazine.com 50SD-WAN enables enterprises to manage hybrid networks more effectively and thus remain competitive. They use a centralised control function to route traffic securely and intelligently across the network. SD-WAN enables better infrastructure and operational processes and can be updated more quickly across multiple sites. Furthermore, it provides additional security, reducing the need for separate firewall appliances. All of this ultimately improves application performance and delivers a high-quality user experience across the network. There are many use cases for which a software-based network makes sense. In manufacturing, a software- defined hybrid network can secure factories, ensure maximum availability through load balancing, or secure and control partner access via the extranet and generally segment access to applications. With the growing adoption of the hybrid workplace, virtualised networks can help organisations run their network’s functions in the cloud and also enable them to modify their IT architecture – when needed - without moving hardware. Not a cookie-cutter approach Sure, SD-WAN has a lot of benefits. But does this approach work as a cure-all for various network problems? The answer is no, not every company has the technical prerequisites to get the most out of this approach. Implementing SD-WAN was a greenfield endeavour a couple of years ago but increasingly SD-WAN is being deployed into an environment where other technology or even another SD-WAN already runs. Businesses need a mature and methodical migration strategy and a clear goal in mind. In its original form, the biggest weakness of SD-WAN is that it is designed to automate legacy WAN that was increasingly adopting the internet, but it did not originally address the demands for cloud access or SaaS application access. Organisations need to know their applications end- to-end. They need to know which applications create the most traffic on what days of the week and how important they are for the operational business. These organisations need to have access to the set priority of their application traffic because SD-WAN will produce the best results if the branch sites have more than one link, and when applications are identified and classified by their importance in the SD- WAN controller. In my opinion, enterprises need to identify what network works best for their requirement. Enterprises that have a hybrid IT architecture (some on-premises and some cloud-hosted) would benefit from SD-WAN in its pure form, ie a controller with CPEs at every site. However, if the customer has a pure cloud-based IT architecture with no owned data centres, a SASE (cloud-based gateways and interconnect) would be more suitable to deliver performance and security. The reason is simple: traditional SD-WAN still has more complexity on the branch-based CPEs than we need. Ideally, we lift up this complexity to cloud-based SASE gateways, so the CPEs can be simple routing endpoints that connect a branch to SASE gateways and a global network backbone. We need to acknowledge that SD-WAN and SASE are trends at the moment and perhaps tomorrow the hot trends would be called something else. However, the hype around them shows one thing clearly - the industry and enterprises have begun to consider and accept security and network as one unit to gain maximum security and flexibility at the same time. Today, to be truly innovative as an enterprise, this is more important than ever. n agile networks www.networkseuropemagazine.com 51The data centre market is no stranger to energy efficiency strategies, and in recent years has led by example in the mission-critical arena by cutting energy consumption and adopting greener expansion plans. Significant progress has been made and the sector has laid the groundwork to continue a greener growth path. To better envisage just how energy efficient data processing has become, imagine that if the airline industry was able to demonstrate the same level of efficiency, a typical 747 passenger plane would be able to fly from New York to London on just 2.8L of fuel in around eight minutes. In fact, despite their accelerated growth and reliance on power and cooling around the clock, data centres are only estimated to consume between 1-2% of the world’s electricity. A recent study even confirmed that, while data centres’ computing output jumped six-fold from 2010 to 2018, data centre energy consumption rose by only 6%. So, what are three of the top technologies helping data centres meet growing demand while keeping energy consumption as low as possible? Data centres are navigating a period of conflicting demand. On one hand, the race to net zero carbon emissions is intensifying and the industry is making strides in lowering energy usage, while on the other hand, we are seeing a rapid digital acceleration, the vast proliferation of smart devices and an upward surge in data demand. The total installed base of Internet of Things (IoT) connected devices worldwide is projected to amount to 30.9 billion units by 2025, a sharp jump from the 13.8 billion units that are expected this year. The race to Net Zero Technologies to manage carbon emissions during a time of growing demand Brian Johnson Segment Head ABB Data Centre net-zero technologies www.networkseuropemagazine.com 52ero net-zero technologies www.networkseuropemagazine.com 53Make the most of your presence NETWORKS EUROPE magazine is the longest established and industry leading technical journal for the network infrastructure and data centre marketplace. • NETWORKS EUROPE features editorial contributions from worldwide industry figureheads, ensuring that it’s the world’s best publication for information on all aspects of this constantly evolving industry. • Published every other month (x6 per annum), the magazine is produced in digital format, with a magazine viewing link (readable on all major electronic devices) e-mailed directly to subscribers on publication. • The readership consists of 26,000 industry professionals across Europe; with its core circulation covering the UK, Germany, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Italy and Spain. • The magazine's highly focused editorial content caters exclusively for an informed audience consisting of network infrastructure professionals, including; data centre managers, facilities managers, CIO’s, CTO’s, ICT directors, consultants and project managers. • Key editorial content areas include; news, legislation and technical information from industry-leading companies and commentators, with detailed case studies, as well as the latest thinking in technology and practices. Advertising Advertising can be in the form of company or product promotion. You can contact our advertising team for details on costs. We accept adverts that are submitted to us in the form of image files saved as high resolution (>300dpi) *.pdf, *.png, *.jpg or *.eps format files. Sponsored content We publish sponsored or branded content in the form of advertorials, case studies, white papers and product/company features. Our advertising team can help with advice and costs. Contact sales@networkseuropemagazine.com for more details. NETWORKS EUROPE The magazine for network and data centre professionals The latest in UPS technology For the data centre market in particular, downtime is estimated to cost just under $8,000 per minute and uninterrupted power supply (UPS) systems are increasingly relied upon to deliver reliable, quality power, without fault. As demand increases, operator safety, impressive sustainability credentials and digital capabilities are all criteria for a state-of-the-art UPS. Manufacturers are investing heavily in the development of UPS systems that can not only deliver a reassuring level of power continuity but can also drive down carbon consumption and support the grid, including the introduction of Medium Voltage UPS systems which can deliver impressive efficiency levels and improve power class protection dynamic performance at high voltages. Maximising renewable energy by leveraging battery energy storage systems Generating renewable power onsite and storing it for use in a battery energy storage system (BESS) is a growing energy efficiency technique, especially popular for data centres that are located in areas with constrained grid power, those connected to low-voltage systems or sites that suffer from a poor quality power supply. Although adopting BESS technology is a large-scale infrastructure modification, data centres can benefit from scalable solutions that grow with modular expansion plans. Those data centres keen to begin generating and storing energy onsite can start on a dual-feed basis, consuming both grid power and renewable stored energy – eventually moving entirely to large-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) to ensure reliable power connectivity in case of prolonged periods of power loss. Adopting fuel cell technology Unlike conventional batteries, fuel cell batteries can create a continuous supply of energy. These electrochemical cells convert the chemical energy of a fuel such as hydrogen and an oxidising agent (usually oxygen) to electricity through a pair of redox reactions. Fuel cell technology is growing in popularity for mission- critical environments like data centres because of the continuous power supply they can create. Once again, this is an area of great focus for manufacturers serving the data centre market. For ABB, incorporating emerging technologies such as the use of fuel cells into its data centre product portfolio is a primary goal. For data centre operators, being faced with the challenge of managing carbon emissions while meeting growing demand in tandem can be challenging, but it is a task the industry is tackling head-on with the support of future-focused manufacturers. n For the data centre market, downtime is estimated to cost just under $8,000 per minute and uninterrupted power supply (UPS) systems are increasingly relied upon to deliver reliable, quality power, without fault net-zero technologies www.networkseuropemagazine.com 55Single pair Ethernet an accelerator for smart buildings single pair ethernet www.networkseuropemagazine.com 56Today’s Smart Building’s ever-wider range of devices often feature IP addresses, sensors and actuators, but don’t require high data rates. Reliably cabling numerous sensors, actuators and terminal equipment, often in harsh and cramped environments, is more important than bandwidth. Traditional copper data cables and RJ45 connectors are often suitable, but their size is an issue, considering the increasing number of devices and connections required in building networks and the fact that the transmission range of 100m is often a limiting factor in reaching far away devices. As a result, standardisation bodies looked for ways of accommodating the increased demand for flexibility without increasing space requirements. ISO/IEC and TIA saw how new Ethernet standards operating over a single copper pair, developed for industrial and automotive applications, might enhance building networks. Single Pair Ethernet (SPE), based on xBASE-T1 protocols uses a single twisted pair for data transmission. LAN is compressed into a thin two-core cable with miniaturised connectors. This makes it possible to significantly increase terminal equipment connection density. IT and field bus components are integrated, installation and maintenance are simplified, and the costs of material and operating expenses are reduced. SPE is a logical continuation of Ethernet developments. Whereas the original 10Base-T or 100Base-TX protocols still used two separate transmission channels for sending and receiving (2 pairs), 1000Base-T uses all four pairs in parallel and bi-directionally. This implies a single pair can transmit data in both directions. Over 25 years ago, cabling standardisation bodies introduced enterprise network topology based on 4-pair copper cabling and RJ45 jacks. Since then, Ethernet has supported a growing range of services that formerly relied on discrete technologies and proprietary protocols. This resulted in significant changes to cabling infrastructure as Ethernet kept up with enterprise application demands and huge numbers of devices being added to networks. Matthias Gerber Market Manager Office Cabling Reichle & De Massari or for gs single pair ethernet www.networkseuropemagazine.com 57Smart Building solution The recent IEEE802.3cg application standard opened the door to the possible use of SPE in building automation, supporting the extended reach implementation of small sensors and the miniaturisation of networking equipment. SPE has the potential to become a key technology in Smart Buildings, connecting devices down to sensor/actuator level using a standard Internet protocol (IP) as a common platform for previously disparate connectivity. However, SPE is not necessarily a replacement for the existing RJ45 connector system in the digital ceiling. Rather, SPE will probably establish itself as a supplement to the existing Ethernet. SPE cabling can be deployed in an overlay network, instead of replacing legacy 4-pair LAN infrastructure. In a given equipment size, SPE offers far more possible connection points than traditional Ethernet cabling. Connection to the LAN is done with switches either centrally in the floor distributor or distributed in the zone at the service outlets. Synergies reduce operating expenses and manufacturer-neutral standard products can be used. SPE works with 10BASE-T1 to 1000BASE-T1, offers 15-1,000m link ranges at high transmission rates, and can supply terminal equipment with up to 50w with Power over DataLine (PoDL). It should be noted, however, that when using PoDL, the full transmission distance may no longer be achieved. Depending on the cable diameter, significant reductions in the distance are sometimes given for the higher remote power performance classes. Replacing legacy fieldbus and enabling ‘All over IP’ SPE may prove vital to helping integrate Internet of Things (IoT) into the LAN and connect in-building sensors, systems and devices formerly operating over BACnet or other proprietary fieldbus networks. Using SPE without interfaces to replace the traditional field bus can help realise the high connection density required for the networks of today and tomorrow, and makes installation faster, easier and more secure. Ethernet/IP transmits large quantities of (complex) data faster than field bus systems, allowing the collection and distribution of data from the entire network. single pair ethernet www.networkseuropemagazine.com 58SPE enables fast data transfer by avoiding Gateways for protocol conversions. The built-in authentication and security features of the IP protocol will help to protect Smart Buildings from cyber attacks. Its widespread adoption will help accelerate the development of smart building systems. The connectivity landscape is becoming increasingly standardised and unified, with IP as a common medium for previously disparate systems. Today, an Ethernet infrastructure for connecting devices is considered a prerequisite for building automation in a commercial building. Being able to use uniform, manufacturer- independent connectivity and transmission protocols makes installation and maintenance easier, increases the number of connection points, and reduces material and operation costs. A popular approach is introducing structured cabling in accordance with ISO/IEC 11801-6 (digital ceiling), as preferred by standardisation bodies. Pre-cabling with so-called service outlets in the ceiling is provided during initial building installation. These service outlets, spaced at regular intervals, provide connection points for all IP devices within a predefined zone and are connected to the nearest floor distributor via the structured ceiling cabling. SPE complements existing digital ceiling installations and can cover the last metres within a zone in a high-density ALL-IP environment. Beyond the structured digital ceiling approach, SPE can be used for simple point-to-point connections in so-called ‘on demand’ cabling. For distances over 100m, SPE has significant advantages. Depending on the PoDL power supply required, SPE can connect devices over distances of several hundred metres to a floor or intermediate distributor. Thanks to long transmission distances and small cable diameters, connections with SPE installation cables can help significantly simplify cabling structures in this environment, reduce the degree of utilisation in cable traces and reduce possible fire load. Making Smart decisions Everything from access management, fire safety and lighting to HVAC, communications and security rely on some kind of Ethernet-based connectivity, and the related devices need to be powered. SPE can help introduce significant cost savings and easier installation in building automation and management. Smart, converged networks allow energy- conserving technologies and applications to be introduced, such as intelligent management of building space and resources. However, when specifying an SPE solution, it’s important to make informed choices regarding connectors, and factor in distances. LC-Cu according to IEC 63171-1 appears to be the connector system of choice for structured cabling systems and building automation. Implementing a new technology such as SPE is always a lengthy process. A complete working system must be available to ensure end customer acceptance. Providing everything required would be a huge task for one company and probably not feasible. However, cooperating to develop a system of fitting components is much easier. The Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) System Alliance is an open association of leading technology companies from various industries and application fields. Alliance partners are bundling and exchanging SPE know-how in a goal-oriented way to jointly promote Single Pair Ethernet for IoT and IIoT. n The Single Pair Ethernet System Alliance The Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) System Alliance is an open association of leading technology companies from various industries and application fields. Alliance partners are bundling and exchanging SPE know-how in a goal-oriented way to jointly promote Single Pair Ethernet for IoT and IIoT. The Alliance’s mission is to provide a platform for: • Jointly working on technology challenges related to implementing SPE in IIoT application s • Stimulating exchanges between experts from different technology fields • Enabling participants to more rapidly build the Know- How needed for faster, more reliable implementation of SPE in their products • Preparing for fast establishment of SPE Technology in the market through joint marketing activities, promoting the technology and participating companies. • New companies are welcome and participation is encouraged! You can find a contact form on the Single Pair Ethernet System Alliance website. Based on the submitted application form alliance members will vote on accepting a new member. single pair ethernet www.networkseuropemagazine.com 59Next >