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Are You Ready For The Era Of Private Wireless Networks?

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Written by Steve Carroll

In the next four years, Ericsson predicts that North Americans’ data consumption will increase by 500% per user. In 2026, the average user is expected to consume 48 GB of data monthly by 2026.

Much of this data consumption will occur over carrier networks—the networks that support mobile/cellular connections. Today, mobile networks carry almost 300 times more mobile data traffic than they did in 2011. And the vast majority of this traffic—80%—is now consumed indoors.

What does this all mean for the buildings where the data is consumed?

Adapting properties to support growth in dedicated in-building wireless will be key to keep employees, visitors and guests connected indoors. In fact, many buildings are now being evaluated based on the technology and connectivity they offer to their tenants and occupants. We’ll share more about this concept in a future blog, but there are certification programs that rank new and existing buildings based on their digital infrastructure, future readiness and user connectivity experience. One of the newest categories ranks the in-building wireless capabilities of a facility.

Poor indoor mobile connectivity isn’t something that can be overlooked any longer. But, many times, the building itself prevents a wireless carrier’s cellular signals from coming inside. Material like metal, tinted glass, brick and concrete act as physical barriers that slow down or prevent signal penetration.

In the past, mobile carriers were big investors in wireless infrastructure. If they knew their customers would be located in or near a venue—a high-rise office, arena or shopping district, for example—then they would help fund that facility’s wireless infrastructure to provide customers the best experience possible indoors (sometimes even paying a monthly fee to rent space for the infrastructure). In many situations, it didn’t cost the owner much money to deploy a mobile network.

Today, this approach has changed. Because most carriers no longer have the budgets to continue operating this way, enterprises now have to provide their own in-building wireless. As owners take on these costs, they’re looking for other connectivity options—such as private wireless networks.

In future blogs, we’ll talk about where private wireless networks work best, how they may be positioned to support emerging technology initiatives and best practices to design and deploy private wireless networks. For now, we want to explain what private wireless networks are—and how they’re different.

 

What Is A Private Wireless Network?

The purpose of a private wireless network is to give individuals or organizations the chance to deploy their own connectivity systems. These systems can operate by leveraging a combination of licensed, quasi-licensed and/or unlicensed spectrum. In other words, they can be LTE (the technology behind 4G) or 5G networks. They’re owned and operated by an enterprise, not a mobile carrier.

Globally, each region of the world is at a different stage of enabling its own access to private wireless spectrum. In the United States, private wireless networks can operate within the (CBRS) Citizens Broadband Radio Service and C-Band spectrum.

The CBRS frequency range spans between 3.5 GHz and 3.7 GHz and is licensed to the U.S. Department of Defense.

In 2015, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission decided to make this spectrum range available to a wider variety of users. The spectrum is “shared” between these groups and governed by the OnGo™ Alliance, a coalition of industry organizations focused on shared-spectrum solutions.

 

Why Are Owners Choosing Private Wireless Networks?

There are many reasons why an owner may be considering a private wireless network. One of the biggest reasons has to do with costs, like we mentioned above. In some cases, like in highly populated areas, carriers may continue to help fund infrastructure. In situations where they can’t or won’t, owners will be looking for cost-effective ways to bring mobile connectivity into their buildings.

Other reasons involve privacy and security. In a public network, data traffic travels back and forth to a central network in another location. Private wireless network traffic doesn’t have to do that. This not only improves security and privacy, but also lowers latency and improves speed.

Private networks also allow enterprises to control their own bandwidth distribution. A smart manufacturing plant, for example, may choose to prioritize connectivity for its latency-sensitive production lines over back-of-house systems.

 

Where To Learn More About Private Wireless

Recently, Belden teamed up with Ranplan to lead a discussion on the topic of private wireless.

If you missed it, you can watch Private Wireless Networks Explained on demand. We walk through the basics of private wireless so that you understand its capabilities and benefits in terms of deployment, bandwidth, maintenance and costs.

Because every situation is different, private wireless may not be the exact fit to replace a distributed antenna system (DAS). Belden can help you determine your specific connectivity needs.

To learn more about in-building wireless networks, download this Navigating In-Building Wireless white paper.

Find the original article here

Reduce Data Center Operating Costs to Improve PUE

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Written by Shad Sechrist

Data Centers

If you’re looking for ways to reduce data center operating costs, then lowering monthly energy bills is a great place to start. By far, the biggest contributor to high data center operating costs are these recurring expenses.

 

What drives your utility bill so high each month? In most data centers, it comes down to the operation of non-IT systems:

  • Cooling and air handling
  • Lighting
  • Security cameras

 

To determine how much of your total power usage goes to systems that don’t provide compute services, you can calculate your data center’s power usage effectiveness (PUE). This ratio compares the total amount of power used by your data center to the amount of power delivered to its computing equipment. It also reveals how much energy is used for non-IT activities and systems.

 

PUE = total facility power / IT equipment energy

 

A high PUE indicates that your data center uses more power than it should to run equipment. A low ratio suggests that energy is used effectively to get compute work done.

 

As we examined the Uptime Institute’s 11th Annual Global Data Center Survey, we discovered that energy-efficiency progress has slowed down for many data centers.

 

From 2003 to 2010, for example, the data center industry made great strides in improving PUE. The average data center dropped from 2.5 to 1.6. In the last five years, however, the industry hit a plateau. The average PUE has been stagnant, sitting near 1.56.

 

When this PUE is translated to a percentage (by using the data center infrastructure efficiency [DCiE] metric), it shows that approximately 60% of energy entering the data center is used to power the non-IT systems we mentioned earlier—not the compute gear.

 

Newly constructed data centers designed to maximize energy efficiency typically see PUEs of 1.1 or 1.05—proof that this level of performance can be achieved. And while there’s plenty of new space on the horizon, most data centers have been running for years and rely on older systems.

 

Why is PUE Progress Slowing Down?

By now, most data center managers have had time to pick the low-hanging fruit, such as:

  • Isolating supply and retain air through containment walls or using end-of-row doors on aisles to prevent air mixing.
  • Using blanking panels to fill unused “U” positions in racks or enclosures and separate hot and cool air.
  • Sealing holes in walls and raised floors with plenum-rated products.
  • Replacing missing or poorly fitting floor tiles.
  • Getting rid of underused or non-operational servers.

 

If your data center hasn’t implemented these best practices, now’s the time to do so. You’ll see an immediate improvement in energy use and lower data center operating costs.

 

The next phase of efficiency improvements, which can take PUE from 1.5 to 1.2 or 1.1, requires more time and money. Once you pick all your low-hanging fruit, here are some examples of what’s waiting higher up the tree.

 

Deploy Power Distribution Units (PDUs)

PDUs are like well-constructed power strips designed to be used in data centers. Today’s smart PDUs help data center managers remotely monitor power use, energy efficiency and environmental conditions.

 

They can track metrics like real-time power usage, data and event logs, the amount of current drawn by each PDU and the amount of current drawn by each outlet so you can optimize usage down to the device level.

 

This level of granularity is key. When you know exactly how much energy certain systems use, it becomes obvious as to where changes need to be made—even down to the rack level.

 

Install More Efficient Cooling Equipment

If you want to replace your legacy cooling equipment with new, more efficient systems to better control heat, there are many options to choose from. The right one for your data center depends on its size, location, configuration and unique design challenges.

 

You can choose to cool at the room level, the row level or the rack level (or use a combination), and there’s a long list of systems to choose from: computer room air conditioners (CRACs), liquid cooling and precision cooling are just a few examples.

 

If your cooling equipment is outdated, then it’s likely inefficient. Upgrading your system can reduce energy use and lower data center operating costs.

 

Invest in White Cabinets

Lighter-colored cabinets can conserve electricity in a few ways. Light colors like silver or white naturally reflect more light than dark colors (like black) because they have different light reflectance values (LRVs). For this reason, additional lighting is often needed to see labels and ports among dark cabinets.

 

When you lower lighting levels, you also reduce the amount of heat given off by the lighting system, which reduces cooling requirements. We estimate that swapping black enclosures for a lighter color leads to energy savings of between 1% and 2%.

 

Update Lighting

Modernize your lighting systems to take advantage of LED technology. LEDs are a good fit for data centers for many reasons:

  • They generate less heat than fluorescents, which translates to lower cooling costs
  • They use less energy than alternatives
  • They offer lighting uniformity so all areas are equally bright, reducing shadows that make maintenance work difficult

 

Occupancy sensors and lighting zones are also effective ways to control data center operating costs. When no one’s in the data center, the lights will automatically shut off. (Depending on your surveillance equipment, you may need enough illumination for proper video capture, but many of today’s cameras can see in low-light and dark conditions.) When the lights are on, initial entry areas and halls don’t need to be as bright as equipment areas, and they can be zoned accordingly.

 

Keep People Out of the Data Center

Data centers spaces are built to process data, not host people. Keeping the data center as “hands-off” or “lights-out” as possible is another step you can take to reduce data center operating costs.

 

IT equipment can operate at higher ambient temperatures than those typically comfortable for people. If you can automate certain processes and reduce the need for onsite staff, then the space doesn’t need to be as cool.

 

Lights-out data centers may not be common yet, but COVID-19 revealed what these unmanned spaces may look like. In many cases, the examples proved that data centers can operate with little human involvement.

 

 

Find the original article here

Three AV Trends To Watch

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Written by Bob Ferguson

You can be an innovator instead of trying to play catch-up when you know what AV technology is coming—and where it may show up. Here’s a short list of what we’re hearing about when it comes to AV trends and the future of the AV industry.

 

Three AV Trends To Watch:

#1: Technology for Hybrid/Hyflex Spaces

It’s no surprise: The future of the AV industry includes the pivot of work and education to hybrid and online approaches, addressing the practical and logistical challenges of bringing everyone together in person.

According to Statista, nearly one-quarter of K-12 schools rely on hybrid learning. Inside Higher Ed says that three-quarters of college students want to take online courses; 68% are interested in hybrid options. A recent Accenture report reveals that 63% of high-revenue-growth companies embrace hybrid workforce models, and 83% of workers prefer that model as well.

Technologies that can sustain seamless collaboration and productivity in environments that support face-to-face and online interaction will continue to be in demand.

For example:

Streaming rooms equipped with monitors and videoconferencing platforms for team meetings that involve in-office and remote teammates.
Videoconferencing “booths” or huddle rooms for one-on-one hybrid meetings and small impromptu brainstorms.
Interactive learning tools that can support things like polling, chat, screenshare, and virtual breakout rooms.

 

#2: Wireless Integration

Everyone has become accustomed to the ease and simplicity of wireless connections. With the opening up of the radio spectrum, bandwidth availability has increased dramatically. This additional bandwidth makes wireless an option to support AV applications, and this trend will only continue to impact the future of the AV industry.

Cellular services with 5G bring higher speeds, lower latency (faster responses), and the ability to connect more devices simultaneously without any problems. Through advanced antenna technology, 5G enables much higher levels of data transmission over systems by boosting bandwidth. You can increase this coverage by extending cellular coverage into your building.

Wi-Fi 6 and the 6 GHz band also open up a new spectrum that wasn’t previously part of the unlicensed spectrums. The IEEE 802.11 working group has already released a new standard to take advantage of this new 6 GHz band. It’s called Wi-Fi 6E, an extension of Wi-Fi 6. Wi-Fi 6E devices will operate in the 6 GHz band, giving them access to four times the amount of bandwidth currently offered by Wi-Fi in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. As this is adopted in the AV industry, look for AV devices that will take advantage of these benefits.

 

#3: Continued AV over IP Adoption

Legacy AV systems were designed around input devices (like microphones) and output devices (like speakers). To get systems to work together, other specially designed electronics were necessary to process signals and direct them to the proper location.

AV over IP overcomes many of these challenges by transmitting AV data over a network or the internet. It’s also cost-effective and easily scalable. For this reason, we see the continued growth of AV over IP as another trend that will persist in the future of the AV industry.

AV signals have become digital signals (0s and 1s), and one of the most efficient ways to transmit these 0s and 1s is with Ethernet packets. It isn’t idiotproof yet, but systems have come a long way in addressing latency and bandwidth concerns.

In addition—whether on their own network or part of the building network—AV systems can now take advantage of network diagnostics to troubleshoot problems and reroute signals to keep AV systems up and running.

The other huge advantage of AV over IP is its flexibility and adaptability to change. For example: If you need a flexible space that can accommodate lots of applications, then you can cable the room with Category 6A cabling. From there, changing a patch cable in the telecom rack can deliver AV input or output and even low-voltage power anywhere there’s a jack.

 

Supporting These Top AV Trends

Don’t let the least expensive part of your AV system be the cause of most system failures. Remember: The success of these AV innovations—hybrid working and learning, 5G/Wi-Fi 6 device integration, and AV over IP—depends on network infrastructure. Increasing numbers of users and devices (wired and wireless) mean that bandwidth and capacity will matter even more to support new technology and applications.

No matter what type of technology is deployed (videoconferencing, unified communications, workplace management apps, etc.), it needs to be supported by high-performance cabling and connectivity.

Not all cables are created equal, so pay attention to the specifications of the cable you select for AV. To ensure excellent performance, you should choose cable from a trusted and respected brand, follow recommended installation practices and use high-quality connectors.

Learn more about the future of the AV industry—or find out if your network infrastructure is set up to support these trends.

Find the original article here

How To Get Ready For Black Friday

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Black Friday is quickly approaching. We need to get prepared for all that is to come, big discounts, long queue’s, overcrowded stores, longer delivery times, and the crazy buzz that comes along with the day. We’ve got some tips on how to get you ready for Black Friday, but the JAYCOR edition.

Follow these 5 easy steps, to get ready for Black Friday, the JAYCOR way:

 

1. Sign Up To Our Newsletter

Sign up to our newsletter to make sure you’re staying up to date on all exclusive Black Friday details. Get information on what will be on sale, what flash sales are happening, how you can win competitions and so much more. This will ensure that you are up to date on the latest JAYCOR deals, and that you don’t miss out on any new deals launching that day.

Want to sign up? – Use the link here

 

2. Follow Us On Our Social Media Platforms

We have 4 social media accounts which you can follow us on. We’re on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter, so choose one or more of the accounts on social media that will work best for you and give us a follow. Turn on the notifications to get immediate updates on whenever we post a new deal, a flash sale or any competitions on Black Friday. The sooner you’re aware of what’s happening, the higher your chances are of securing that deal.

All links can be found here – Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter

 

3. Make A Wishlist

Check out our website and make a wishlist on all the JAYCOR products that you’ve got your eye on to see if they’re on sale on Black Friday.

 

4. Think Ahead

You know what your business needs are, and you know what products are frequently bought, so consider buying your most needed business supplies on Black Friday to try and save a buck or two in advance.

 

5. Budget 

Set a budget for Black Friday. You don’t want to overspend on products you don’t need, so set a reasonable budget that you can spend during Black Friday, this advice goes for businesses as well as the everyday customer too. 

Price Increase Notification for Belden Products & Services, Effective January 2022

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Price Increase Notification for Belden Products & Services, Effective January 2022

 

Dear Valued Customers,

As the price of semiconductors and some raw materials has continued to rise, and the demand for these products are still high, Belden has tried their best to source components with minimally increased prices and delivery dates that work best for us, but unfortunately the market situation has forced them to increase their prices varying between 4 and 15%.

The new prices will apply to all orders placed on and after 1 January 2023. All orders placed at the current prices before 1 January 2023, with a shipping request date after 31 December 2022, will be subject to price review and if necessary, a possible price correction.

In light of these increases we recommend you review any current or future demand for Belden products, and place scheduled orders now to take advantage of current prices. If you have any further questions on these processes, please contact us, and we’ll try our best to help you navigate this new pricing increase.

Sincere Regards,

Greg Pokroy
CEO
JAYCOR International (PTY) Ltd

Coaxial Cables – What are they, and how are they used?

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Written by Krista Thresh

What is a Coaxial Cable?

Coaxial cable is a type of cable that has an inner conductor surrounded by an insulating layer, surrounded by conductive shielding (outer conductor), and a protective outer jacket. Electrical signal flows on the center conductor.

 

How is a Coaxial Cable used?

Coaxial cable is commonly used by cable operators, telephone companies, and internet providers worldwide to convey data, video, and voice communications to customers. It has also been used extensively within homes.

Coaxial cable has been around for a long time as a technology (since the early 20th century) and has many singular advantages for reliable, accurate transmission.

It also has limitations that will cause it to be replaced in some cases by fiber optic cable, category cable or, sometimes, by wireless signals.

The key to coaxial cable’s success has been its shielded design, which allows the cable’s copper core to transmit data quickly, without succumbing to interference or damage from environmental factors.

 

What are the two most commonly used Coaxial Cables?

The two most commonly used coaxial cables are RG-6 and RG-11:

  • RG stands for “radio grade”, they are also known as RF cables, which stands for “radio frequency”
  • RG-6 cable is used for drops shorter than 45m
  • RG-11 cable is used for longer drops due to the increased performance over lengths more than 45m
  • Broadband cables used in homes have an impedance of 75 ohms

Coaxial drop cables are most commonly terminated using connectors that are designed to the F-type interface specified by SCTE. Over the years F-type interface has evolved significantly, resulting in several different termination technologies including crimp, screw on, and compression.

To make a connection, a male and female connector of the same type is necessary. Male connectors have a center conductor or pin sticking out, depending on the drop cable type, while female connectors have a receptacle for the center conductor or pin to interface with.

In cases of improper termination craft, damaged materials, or loose connections, it’s good to be aware that the result may be signal ingress or egress. This may cause tiling, fuzzy or snowy signals, or even complete signal loss.

 

The benefits of Coaxial Cables?
There are many benefits of using coaxial cables, but determining whether this cable option is viable for you, depends highly on what the cable can do.

  • Can be used for carrying video, audio, and other forms of data
  • Work better for shorter distances
  • Easy to install
  • Very durable
  • Best suited for home installations or medium-capacity data transfer networks
  • Cost effective

Need Approval? We’ve Got You Covered! – ERVITAL Fire Resistant Cables

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ERVITAL JE-H(St)H…Bd FE180/PH120

Fire alarm systems sit quietly in the background of connected infrastructure as people go about their daily lives. Shopping centres, hotels, offices, airports, and other types of transportation terminals are all responsible for the safety of the people that pass through them. Therefore, sophisticated fire alarm and suppression systems are required to ensure real-time dangers are alerted and addressed immediately.

In the event of a fire these critical safety systems must continue to operate, and this is where fire resistant or ‘circuit integrity’ cables play an important role. Circuit integrity cables connect sensors, alarms and other components of the fire alarm and suppression systems and feed information back to control centres.

There are a wide variety of standard and approvals required depending on the country and region, the application and environment, and at times the also the end-customers design and preference. Ensuring system integrators and contractors both select and procure cables that meet the required standards and approvals and perform accordingly is key to protecting your investments. Low-grade cables manufactured to reduce costs and that are purchased from unknown sources may not perform as expected. To safeguard against this make sure to request a copy of the test certificates specific to the cable batch your purchase came from.

The ERVITAL JE-H(St)H…Bd FE180/PH120 fire alarm cable from Erse Kablo, is manufactured with safety and quality in mind, and meet both local and international flame test standards and approvals, IEC, VDE, EN, and BS EN standards.

 

ERVITAL Fire Resistant Cables

 

Construction:

Conductor IEC 60228; VDE 0295; EN 60228 Class 1
Electrolytic Copper
Insulation Cross-linked Ceramic Forming Polymer Compound
Colour Code VDE 0815
Stranding 2 pair star quad, more than 2 pairs groups in layers
Wrapping Pes Tape + Glass Fibre Tape
Screen Tinned Copper Drain Wire + Al-Pes Tape
Sheath EN 50290-2-27 HFFR Compound
Sheath Colour RAL 3000 Red or RAL 2003 Orange

 

Best places to use fire resistant cables:

  • Indoors where people are densely populated
  • In places where there is electromagnetic interference
  • Instrumentation and control engineering
  • Industrial electronics
  • For signal transmission
  • Indoor communication systems
  • In safety and fire alarm systems
  • In places where human life and valuable materials
    and equipment need to be protected

View the product here – https://www.jaycor.co.za/product/ervital-fe180-ph120-e30-cable-14/

10 Criteria to Consider for Your Industrial Edge Compute Devices

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Witten by Jeremy Friedmar and Matt Wopata

Edge-computing

Industrial edge compute devices make edge computing possible. They offer a way to use and gain value from your data, supporting real-time decision making, enhanced security and faster analytical speeds.

In this new and growing market, there’s a plethora of choices. You’ll quickly find that you have several options to consider when searching for industrial edge compute devices.

To make the selection process faster and simpler, we compiled a list of 10 key criteria to consider when selecting an industrial edge compute device.

1. Compute Resources

Industrial edge compute devices have three main types of compute requirements to consider:

  1. Processor: power (number of cores, performance) and type (ARM vs. x86)
  2. Memory: quantity (GBs) and type (DDR3, DDR4 or DDR3L)
  3. Storage: quantity (GBs) and type (SSD vs. eMMC vs. SD card)

It’s vital to match these compute resources with the needs of the applications that will run on them. For instance, analysis equipment may require better processor performance than asset tracking equipment.

This example from industrial software provider Inductive Automation shows compute resource requirements for projects and applications based on their sizes.

2. Form Factor

When it comes to industrial edge compute devices, there are four types of form factors, offering you different choices in size, shape and other physical specifications:

  1. DIN rail (IP20, IP30 or IP40)
  2. Panel (on machine, IP67)
  3. Wall mount
  4. 19-inch rack

Again, your application will determine the right device size. For example, many small industrial edge compute devices are deployed in DIN rail or panel form factors.

 

3. Temperature Rating

There are two temperature ratings to consider for your industrial edge compute device:

  1. Operating temperature: the temperature range of the environment in which the device will operate (steel/glass manufacturers or baked goods production are heat-intensive environments while medical product manufacturing happens in a colder environment)
  2. Non-operating temperature: the temperature range the device can handle when it’s turned off

Due to the nature of industrial plant environments, industrial edge compute devices often require wider operating temperatures than non-industrial gateways or traditional IT servers. For example, an IT server in an office building doesn’t need to withstand the hot/cold conditions that may be found in a food and beverage processing facility.

You’ll often find common operating temperature ranges like these:

  1. 5 to 40 degrees C: IT rack servers
  2. -20 to 60 degrees C: IT gateways
  3. -40 to 70 degrees C: OT gateways
  4. -40 to 85 degrees C: extreme environments

 

4. Power Requirements

What type of power source do you need for your industrial edge compute device? The answer depends on your industry, region, application and what it requires in terms of device temperature, safety, power universality, device size, etc.

Popular input power voltages include:

  • 12V DC
  • 24V DC
  • 36V DC
  • 48V DC
  • 110/250V DC
  • 60/120/260V DC
  • 24V AC
  • 110/230V AC

You’re most likely to find industrial edge compute devices that support DC voltage ranges from 12V to 48V because industrial panels contain power supplies in that range.

5. Power Distribution

In addition to traditional power supply set-ups, new industrial edge hardware that supports power over Ethernet or power over data line can reduce installation complexity and wiring.

Two popular energy delivery mechanisms are:

  1. PoDL (power over data line)
  2. PoE (power over Ethernet)

Power over data line specifies power distribution over a single twisted-pair link segment. It operates in four types:

  • Type A: optimized for 10BASE-T1S
  • Type B: optimized for 1000BASE-T1
  • Type C: optimized for 10BASE-T1S, 100BASE-T1 and 1000BASE-T1
  • Type E: optimized for 10BASE-T1L

Power over Ethernet specifies power distribution on twisted-pair Ethernet cabling. It operates in four types as well:

  • Type 1: maximum power to port is 15.4W
  • Type 2: maximum power to port is 30W
  • Type 3: maximum power to port is 80W
  • Type 4: maximum power to port is 100W

6. Approvals

Industrial edge compute devices require adherence to safety standards, requirements and approvals that are different than those of non-industrial edge hardware components.

Common approvals for these industrial devices include:

  • cUL508/cUL61010-1/-2-201: safety standards for control industrial equipment
  • cUL1604/ISA 12.12.01/FM3611: electrical equipment in hazardous locations
  • ATEX 100a, Zone 2: hazard location classification
  • IEC 61850-3: communication protocols for devices at electrical substations
  • IEEE 1613: environmental and testing requirements for communications networking devices in electric power substations
  • EN 50155, EN 45545: standards for electronic equipment used on rolling stock for railway applications
  • EN 50121-4: standards for signaling and telecommunication apparatus installed in railway environments

Make sure the device you consider adheres to the requirements and standards of your application.

7. Native Networking Interfaces and Features

Industrial edge compute devices often require interfaces to support traditional IT and specific OT applications.

For example, to support IT applications, the devices may feature Ethernet, fiber, Wi-Fi and/or cellular networking interfaces.

To support OT applications, you may see networking interfaces like serial, IO-Link, Single-Pair Ethernet and/or 900 MHz.

Regardless of the networking interfaces integrated into the device, there are certain features you should look for to support data security and accessibility as well:

  • Firewalling (e.g., IP whitelisting) that permits or blocks data packets based on pre-set security parameters
  • Routing (e.g., LAN to WAN routing, WAN backup, IP masquerading, NAT, port forwarding, L2 bridging) to determine the flow of data transmission
  • Remote access/VPNs (e.g., OpenVPN, IPsec, etc.) so people offsite can retrieve the data they need
  • Redundancy (e.g., PRP, HSR, RSTP, MRP, DLR, etc.) to align availability and network recovery time with your application
  • Protocol support (e.g., EtherNet/IP, Modbus, SNMP, etc.) so the device can interact with different industrial networking protocols
  • Networking diagnostics (e.g., .PCAP exports) so you can find the cause of faults in the network
  • OT-specific features, including support for the emerging time-sensitive networking (TSN) standard

8. Native Edge Application Management

Modern industrial edge compute devices often come preconfigured with container managers and hypervisors that abstract edge applications from underlying hardware and enable users to seamlessly run virtual machines and containers from a variety of OT edge application vendors.

This feature allows you to manage and deploy workloads.

9. Security

Hardware-based security prevents unapproved code from running on the compute hardware and ensures that your sensitive data is securely stored on the device.

To ensure security, look for features like:

  • Secure Boot: a security feature that prevents malicious software from loading so only approved operating systems can boot up
  • TPM (trusted platform module): the ability to store security information on the device to improve tamper resistance

10. Non-Technical Considerations

To ensure that you get the most from your investment, there are a few non-technical points to consider for your industrial edge compute device.

First, examine the warranty and end of life (EOL) date. Industrial edge compute devices are expected to survive in the field for many years longer than traditional IT edge compute devices. Make sure the warranties and EOL dates reflect this. To compare typical lifespans:

  • OT devices: 5-10 years or longer
  • IT devices: 3-5 years max

Next, consider MTBF (mean time between failures), or the average time the device operates between breakdowns. Telcordia SR-332 test results can help predict expected downtime per year and system availability levels so you know what to anticipate.

Finally, take time to get to know the people behind the industrial edge compute device you’re considering. Do they understand your industry and your unique challenges? Can they answer your questions?

JAYCOR Awarded Tender to Design & Build SANSA’s Micro-Data Centre

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JAYCOR is very proud to be an integral part of the construction and deployment of the South African National Space Agency’s (SANSA) new Space Weather Centre in the Western Cape, due to be completed and launched later this year.

SANSA was formed in 2010, however, South Africa’s involvement with space research and activities began much earlier, helping early international space efforts to observe Earth’s magnetic field at stations around the Southern parts of Africa.

The research and work carried out at SANSA focuses on space science, engineering and technology that can promote development, build human capital, and provide important national services. Much of this work involves monitoring the Sun, the Earth, and our surrounding environment, and utilizes the collected data to ensure that navigation, communication technology and weather forecasting and warning services function as intended.

JAYCOR earlier this year was awarded the tender to design, supply, construct, and commission the Space Weather Centre’s micro-data center. A central and key component of the hybrid cloud/on-prem solution SANSA requires to deploy the center’s mission-critical services.

 

The scope of work for the 36m2 micro-data center included all racks and related infrastructure, external and rack UPS’s, PDU’s, access control, cooling, environmental monitoring, and the fire-suppression systems. With all components to be managed with a Data Center Infrastructure (DCIM) asset management software. JAYCOR’s expertise in connected infrastructure and the flexibility and agility to deliver a turnkey solution to SANSA with best-in-class OEM brands, and solutions to meet the scope of work, were key factors in being selected as a partner on the project.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As we celebrate Space Exploration Day this week and edge closer to the completion of the project, we take this opportunity to commend and celebrate all the people, past and present, committed to the advancement of the space science. And look forward to the future as we help play a small role in the advancement of South Africa’s space agency and the sciences.

 

Greg Pokroy

CEO
JAYCOR International

Digital Electricity – What you need to know

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Digital Electricity – What you need to know 

Digital Electricity is a new way to safely distribute high-voltage power over long distances by combining data and DC power into packets that are transmitted and received, similarly to how data packets travel over enterprise networks. It transfers high levels of power over non-power cable, and a complete system requires transmitters and receivers to function. These digital electricity cables are designed in conjunction with VoltServer, allowing them to support applications in various situations. Available in hybrid copper/fiber constructions to send power and data in a single cable run. Other additions to the digital electricity cable line include the hybrid cable versions for indoor and indoor/outdoor 2 mm breakout plenum cables. 

The transmitter takes in AC or DC power and sends it out on individual electrical circuits. From there, specialized digital electricity cables can be used to distribute the power. The receiver “receives” the electricity packets sent from a transmitter and converts the energy packets into the required form. 

PoE technology can carry up to 100W of power over a data cable for up to 100 m, digital electricity can carry up to 2,000W and travel up to 2km. Digital electricity is able to offer 20 times the power or 20 times the distance that’s currently available through PoE.  

Transmission distance comparison chart.

Transmission distance comparison chart. 

 

5 things you need to know about digital electricity: 

1. It ensures safety

By including “smart circuits” that can monitor when electricity is escaping, it’s able to immediately stop the electricity flow and continuously manage the flow within the circuit to ensure that electricity is flowing to the right places safely. In the event of an issue, the electricity process will stop within 3 milliseconds, which is fast and secure enough to prevent injuries or danger. With its class 4 systems, it makes the digital electricity cables just as safe, if not safer than class 2 and class 3 systems. 

2. It allows for ample power 

Digital electricity cables can be run through existing cable trays to double or triple the amount of power brought to the equipment. These cables can deliver power across long distances and are known to be 20x more powerful or can go 20x more distance than PoE with 2000W across a reach of up to 2km. 

3. It provides a back-up 

In the event of an emergency, the transmitter can run critical power to wherever it is needed, including wireless systems so operations can still be run when power is no longer available. 

4. It simplifies cable installation 

Due to how energy is handled within these systems, installation of digital electricity cables doesn’t need to be installed by an electrician which makes the installation faster and more cost effective. These cables are easy to relocate and reuse without leaving stranded outlets or conduit behind, as current Class 4 certified cables include the DEDN and DEWN product families. The cables have a stranded copper pairs design which maintains flexibility and performance during instillation, thus also improving electrical performance. 

5. It enables new applications 

Digital electricity allows power to be run much longer distances with less voltage drops and without dealing with large copper wires, allowing opportunities for other applications to be created and used. These cables are ideal for distributed antenna systems, passive optical networks (PONs), security cameras and wireless access points; can be used for indoor (plenum and riser), outdoor and overhead-burial applications. 

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