Cabling solutions for tomorrow’s technology

The way in which communications and data networks as well as DCs are designed and used is changing rapidly, as they become increasingly vital. This is largely the result of the vast uptake of portable devices, new ways of working and the shift to ‘virtual’ government, commercial and financial services. Computing devices are increasingly being equipped with affordable communication capabilities. According to research firm Gartner, the Internet of Things will encompass 26 billion interconnected devices by 2020. By then, Smart Buildings and Smart Cities will also generate vast amounts of data. All this will lead to further changes and demands placed on data networks and structured cabling.

 

No wireless access without structured cabling

 

Workplaces and public spaces need to provide far more access points, greater bandwidth, cabling and flexibility as more and more people carry devices and exchange greater volumes of data. In buildings, data storage, networking equipment and infrastructure management increasingly merging with camera systems, telecommunications, LAN, access control, video systems, imaging systems, energy management, safety/fire and environmental control and more. Building systems can share data, learn, adapt and improve, resulting in Smart Buildings that continuously respond to changes in, for example, usage and occupancy. A Smart City essentially consists of Smart Buildings connected by a network backbone. In these Smart Cities, next-generation networks play a vital role in solving issues related to mounting pressure placed on healthcare, education, safety and access to social, economic and cultural facilities.

 

 

No such thing as ‘overcapacity!’

 

All of the previously described technologies rely heavily on cabling. It’s important to realise that the use of data-hungry technology solutions might expand at amazing speeds, but the cabled backbone can’t simply be dug up and expanded every few years. If available bandwidth has to be shared amongst too many users, it becomes diluted to the point of becoming unusable. That’s why cabling has to be capable of supporting several consecutive generations of active equipment. Reliability, quality, ease of use and bandwidth must be as high as possible. Although many people think 1G bandwidth is enough for the foreseeable future, selecting the greatest bandwidth you can afford is advisable. What might seem like overcapacity today will invariably turn out to be a necessity in tomorrow’s world.

 

Besides designing and implementing a network, you also need to manage that network. Network visibility can help significantly enhance performance, improve response times and future-proof your business needs. This requires accurate and up-to-date documentation, knowing the exact location and status of all ports, switches, cables, links and routers and how they are all connected at any given moment. Monitoring also helps find weak spots, improve security, plan improvements and upgrades. However, this shouldn’t be added as an afterthought, but designed-in from the start.

 

Integration of Intelligent Infrastructure Management (IIM) / Intelligent Physical Layer Management (IPLM) with energy, building and other systems makes efficiency enhancements and development of ‘smart’ applications possible.

 

With a properly specified management system port and asset utilization will be significantly improved. Having an accurate, real time inventory of network components ensures connections and equipment is properly deactivated and avoids multiple assignments to a single ports. ‘Lost’ devices can be detected and optimized or shut down. Network resources can be used more efficiently, downtime is reduced and higher asset utilization can result in considerable savings. Integration of Intelligent Infrastructure Management Systems can also help organizations reduce their power usage, generating significant savings while helping them comply with strict governance.