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Cabinet Load: Why It Matters and Why It’s Changing

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For better use of floor space and decreased operating costs, the goal it have more active gear inside cabinets and enclosures. As a result, they’re getting wider, deeper and taller. In the past, most enclosures offered 42 RUs or 45 RUs of space. Today, many cabinets offer 48 RUs of space – and can offer as many as 52 RUs (or more).

But as cabinets grow in size, they also get heavier. If cabinets get too heavy, the floor may not be able to support the load; the cabinets may also be very difficult to move.

It’s becoming crucial to analyze load ratings (load capacities) when selecting cabinets. Here are the load ratings you need to know:

  • Static load rating: How much weight a cabinet can hold when racks are loaded in the data center
  • Dynamic load rating: How much weight a cabinet can accommodate when shipped fully loaded (important to note with services like Data Center Ready becoming more popular)
  • Rolling load rating: How much weight a cabinet can tolerate as it is moved/rolled across the floor

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Why PoE Demands Cat 6A Cable

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Power over Ethernet (PoE) is ideal for supplying a variety of networking, AV and computing devices without the need for an outlet or adapter. It also reduces the amount of building material required to power and connect a device to a network by allowing a single cable to provide both services.

No longer confined solely to VoIP phones and security cameras, powered devices are increasingly calling for PoE connections; and these devices are requiring higher power levels. Wireless access points, digital signage, videoconferencing systems and laptops all require an increasing amount of power running through their cables. In fact, a new PoE standard, IEEE 802.3bt, supports up to 100 W of power per cable.

However, higher power levels running through a cable can cause performance issues by making the cable hotter; and when the cable gets hotter, insertion loss increases. This increases the chance of a business experiencing productivity-draining downtime and may also damage the cable itself.

The type of cabling selected can make a major difference in terms of how heat inside the cable is managed, as well as how it impacts performance. Category 5e and Category 6 cable can be used to support PoE devices, but Category 6A is preferable for a number of reasons.

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What is Layer 0?

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Beneath your IT infrastructure lies a foundation: layer 0. It’s the one we often don’t talk about. It’s constantly overlooked but is so critical. Installed behind walls and above the ceiling, behind closed doors and in dark rooms, your cabling – although hidden, and seldom the topic of conversation among IT professionals – is, in my opinion, the most important layer of your information communication technology (ICT) infrastructure.

What is Layer 0?

Basically, layer 0 is made up of your infrastructure cabling and connectivity. It allows data to be reliably transmitted from one place to another at high speeds – whether users/devices are in the same room, in different buildings or separated by thousands of kilometers.

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What we Learned at the Ethernet Alliance’s Technology Exploration Forum

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On Sept. 29, 2016, a Technology Exploration Forum (TEF) was hosted by the Ethernet Alliance to research new Ethernet market demands and technological challenges that will make up the next decade.

Belden was invited to share some insight and engage common interests and new challenges in the Ethernet community. The Forum learned some interesting things from industry experts, including research groups such as Dell’Oro and LightCounting, at the Ethernet Alliance Technology Exploration Forum, and wanted to pass them along to you.

  1. The Current Status of Ethernet
  2. More Cost-Effective, System-Level Solutions
  3. The Potential for a Fragmented Market
  4. Multisource Agreements Fill Gaps
  5. Sweet Spots for Fiber

 ethernet-speeds

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Cheap Patch Cords = POOR Return Loss and Near-End-Cross-Talk

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In the quest to save money, it is common for network managers to consider low-quality, cheap alternative patch cords. But not all patch cords are created equal and cheap patch cords may not match standards, causing unwanted signal degradation.

As the number of network-connected devices continues to increase, the numbers of patch cords being used is also on the rise. This small component makes a big difference (and can potentially cause big problems) in network performance.

Low-quality, cheap patch cords are often the cause of reliability issues in high-speed channels. When something changes in the channel, the link need to be re-established. A cheap patch cord may dramatically change the channel, resulting in performance problems. If this type of cord is bumped or moved, a change in the channel occurs. The link drops, and the DSP must re-establish the link. One bad patch cord can cause performance delays for end-users, leading to frustration and network problems. Cheap patch cords can be the weakest link in a high-speed channel…full article

Simplify Your Infrastructure with Direct-Connect Assembly

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Internet of Things (IoT) is a reality. AV systems, security cameras and building management systems have now become part of your network. Nearly all IoT connections are now made using IP (internet protocol), which could hypothetically allow tens of billions of devices to connect to just one network.

As a result, Power over Ethernet (PoE) is also on the rise. In fact, BSRIA predicts that more than 80% of wireless access points (WAPs) will rely on PoE as a way to transmit electrical power and data to remote devices over standard twisted-pair wire in an Ethernet network by 2020. Between 20% and 50% of other devices and applications – security cameras, access control systems, lighting and HVAC – are all predicted to rely on PoE by 2020.

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Where to Find Hard-to-Get Industrial Security Data

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A common best practice in any field is to benchmark performance or results against industry norms. In the case of industrial control systems (ICS), security breach bench-marking is a challenge.

There isn’t a lot of data available and the data sets that are available are not as extensive or as granular as one would like. Informal information sharing occurs through government bodies, consulting firms and security vendors as well as at conferences. Unfortunately, it’s not available to many people involved with designing and operating network infrastructure in the manufacturing and process control fields.

Having said that, there is some ICS security breach data available and it is worthwhile to obtain it, review it and reflect on it. This article provides a list of freely available information on the state of industrial security and provides some context for each source.

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The Evolution of Wireless Standards

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In the late 1990’s, one of the first wireless standards was carried out. You may remember IEEE 802.11b – the first wireless LAN standard to be widely adopted and incorporated into computers and laptops. A few years later on came the IEEE 802.11g, which offered signal transmission over relatively short distances at speeds of up to 54 Mbps. Both standards operated in the unlicensed 2.4 GHz frequency range. In 2009, IEEE 802.11n (which operated in 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency ranges) was a big step up. It provided anytime wireless access and was the de facto standard for mobile users.

Understanding wireless technology and standards like these is key to making sure you are investing in technology and equipment that can support your organisation’s short-term and long-term network-connection requirements. Wireless standards layout specific specifications that must be followed when hardware or software are designed related to those standards.

Now that we have covered the major wireless standards of the past, let’s look ahead at current standards – and what is yet to come.

 

 

General-Purpose Applications

Today’s wireless standards, like IEEE 802.11ac (Wave 1 and Wave 2), operate in the 5 GHz frequency range. This standard is used for many general-purpose, short-range, multi-user applications, like connecting end devices to networks.

As we have mentioned in previous blogs, IEEE 802.11ax is the “next big thing” in terms of wireless standards. As the successor to 802.11ac, 802.11ax operates in both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency spectrums. It will offer 10G speeds, and the ability for multiple people to use one network simultaneously with fewer connectivity problems (and while still maintaining fast connection speeds). It will improve average throughput per user by a factor of at least four as compared to 802.11ac Wave 1.

 

High-Performance Applications

Operating at an unlicensed frequency of 60 GHz are IEEE 802.11ad and IEEE 802.11ay, which are used primarily for short-range, point-to-point applications vs. point-to-multipoint applications. 802.11ay is an update to 802.11ad, improving throughput and range. As compared to 802.11ad, 802.11ay can offer speeds between 20Gbps and 40Gbps, as well as an improved range.

 

IoT Applications

Operating at lower frequencies are standards like 802.11af (UHF/VHF) and 802.11ah (915 MHz). These standards are designed for extended-range applications, like connecting hundreds of remote Internet of Things (IoT) sensors and devices. They’re also used in rural areas.

Because they operate in lower-frequency ranges, they’re able to offer extended operational ranges. They can carry signals for miles, but have a low throughput of 350 Mbps.

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Single-Pair Ethernet Cabling: Four New Applications

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Four New Types of Single-Pair Ethernet Cabling

For years, Ethernet cabling has used four twisted pairs to carry data without worrying about noise in data lines. Recent developments in IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet Working Group) and TIA TR-42(Telecommunications Cabling Systems Engineering Committee) has unveiled four standards projects which may change that; instead of four balanced twisted-pairs cabling, these standards feature a single balanced twisted-pair Ethernet cabling.

Of these four, one will impact enterprise networks the most. We will cover this standard first, and then explain the three other types of single-pair Ethernet cables below.

IoT 1 Gbps Applications: 100 m Reach

A 2017 Ericsson Mobility Report says that there will be nearly 28 billion connected devices in place globally by 2021 – and more than half of these will be related to Internet of Things (IoT).

With the ability to deliver data at speeds of up to 1G, and PoE power, this standard is intended specifically for IoT applications. Known as ANSI/TIA-568.5, it will provide cable, connector, cord, link and channel specifications for single-pair connectivity in enterprise networks.

This single-pair Ethernet cable may help network professionals connect more devices to their networks as the industry moves toward digital buildings – where all types of systems and devices integrate directly with the enterprise network to capture and communicate data.

Most of the devices used in digital buildings – such as sensors – have minimal power and bandwidth requirements (in applications like building automation and alarm systems). In these cases, single-pair Ethernet cable can provide a cost-effective cabling solution. The cable is smaller and lighter than a standard four-pair Ethernet cable, so it can also reduce pathway congestion.

The three other single-pair Ethernet cable types don’t apply directly to data centers or enterprise networks, but they’re still important to understand.

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Supporting Your Future of Network Technology: 6 Ways to Design Layer 0

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The year 2014 was a key moment for the structured cabling industry. That is when the number of devices on the Internet officially surpassed the number of people on the Internet. In other words, we’re carrying and using more connected devices than ever before. Since then, Internet of Things (IoT) has begun to take over conversations about technology. Digital buildings – which feature a connected infrastructure to bring building systems together via the enterprise network – are moving to the forefront.

With these changes, how can you design your cabling infrastructure – your layer 0 – to support network technology changes? Every structured cabling system is unique, designed to fit a company’s specific needs. Taking the future into account during cabling projects helps maximize your investment while decreasing long-term costs. With correct planning and design, you’ll be ready for future hardware and software upgrades, be able to support increasing numbers of devices joining your network and will be set to accommodate higher-speed Ethernet migrations, such as 40G/100G.

We have gathered our best pieces of advice on how to design your layer 0 to support the future of network technology.

 

1. Abide by Cabling Standards

To provide guidance and best practices for the lifetime of your layer 0, following standards for structured cabling systems allows for the mix of products from different vendors and also helps in future moves, adds and changes:

  • TIA , North American standards for things like telecommunications cabling (copper and fiber), bonding and grounding, and intelligent building cabling systems
  • ISO/IEC, global standard harmonized with TIA networking standards
  • IEEE, which creates Ethernet-based standards for networks and relies on TIA and ISO/IEC layer 0 standards

2. Invest in High-Performance Cables

When your cabling system is designed to be used across multiple generations of hardware, it can remain in place longer while supporting fast and easy hardware upgrades.

Analyze how your business is currently run, as well as any expected business or technology shifts in the years to come. Then match these requirements with the performance characteristics of the cabling systems you’re considering.

Make sure that the category cabling can:

  • Support the full 100m distance per channel
  • Accommodate a tight bend radius inside wall cavities and other tight spaces
  • Support the highest operating temperature rating possible with low DC resistance
  • Maintain excellent transmission performance
  • Be bundled or tightly packed into trays and pathways without performance issues

Most Category 6A cables offer all of the benefits mentioned above, making Category 6A a solid decision that will support the future of network technology.

3. Find a Reputable Warranty

One of the best ways to ensure that your cabling and connectivity solutions will last is to find products that are backed by extensive and impressive warranties (such as a 25-year warranty).

When layer 0 is properly designed and installed, the structured cabling system will support your short-term and long-term needs. A reliable warranty ensures that this happens. For example, with a 25-year warranty, the installed system should meet or exceed industry standards for 25 years, as well as support future standards and protocols. If this isn’t the case, the manufacturer should address the issue.

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