Network Infrastructure Blog

The global data center market is poised for substantial growth, projected to surge by over 6% year-over-year throughout this decade. This robust expansion is fueled by key technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), internet streaming, and gaming, shaping the digital landscape in profound ways. Amidst this accelerating growth, data centers are evolving into sophisticated hubs, increasingly automated and equipped to handle diverse applications and a myriad of compute and storage devices, effectively managing the escalating workloads of the digital era.

In the dynamic realm of data centers, the importance of a well-designed structured cabling system cannot be overstated. Whether the device requires a copper or fiber connection, having a patch panel design makes it easier and more efficient for the myriad of changes and upgrades that can be expected in today’s fast-paced data center environments. The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) underscores this commitment through its TIA-942 standards, while the International Standards Organization (ISO) reinforces global compatibility with ISO/IEC 24764.

What is a structured cabling system? It’s a connectivity design that strategically places patch panels or enclosures throughout the data center space so connecting devices into the network can be accomplished with short patch cords or jumpers. The connectivity between the patch panels and enclosures is considered “structured” and remains in place for years while the end connections of patch cords and jumpers into the devices can be plugged into and out of the cabling system. For a visual representation, see Figure 1, showcasing a common fiber structured cabling channel supporting duplex LC fiber connections. It’s important to note that the optical transceivers that the compute and storage devices require dictate what type of fiber and connector is to be used. These compute and storage devices can often operate on different fiber types and connector types. The choice of fiber and connector type is best determined by the application in relation to the speed and distance of the connection. With proper planning, the structured cabling infrastructure can be specified to support multiple generations of data center applications eliminating the need to re-cable for each upgrade.

Figure 1

The opposite of a structured cabling system is point-to-point cabling. This connectivity method is less expensive, requires little planning and is easy to execute at the beginning. The downside to point-to-point cabling is when new devices need to be added, moved or removed from the network. Upgrades often require new cables and existing cables are often left in place creating unnecessary pathway congestion. When installing a new point-to-point cable, the technician often uses a cable that is longer than is needed to make sure there is sufficient length to connect the devices on each end. As time goes on these “extra length” cables become difficult to manage and they block air pathways in cabinets and racks that are used to cool the data center equipment. This in turn increases the amount of energy needed to cool the compute and storage devices. As illustrated in the photos below, the once neatly installed fiber cabling begins to resemble a tangled web, challenging to navigate and manage. The inefficiency of point-to-point cabling, once masked by its initial ease of execution, now takes center stage, emphasizing the importance of a well-thought-out structured cabling system.

Figure 2

A structured cabling system offers many advantages over point-to-point in the data center space. Below are seven main reasons:

1. Ease of Management: Structured cabling provides a systematic and organized approach to managing cables within the data center. It allows for easy identification, tracing, and management of cables, which simplifies maintenance and troubleshooting tasks. Cable trunks or bundles reduce pathway conveyance and conduit space allowing for more cabling growth.
2. Scalability: Structured cabling systems are designed to accommodate future growth and changes in technology. They can easily adapt to accommodate additional equipment, upgrades, and expansions within the data center environment without requiring significant reconfiguration or downtime. Structured cabling allows the use of multiple generations of compute and storage equipment to work together seamlessly even with different connector types.
3. Reliability and Performance: A well-designed structured cabling system minimizes signal interference, crosstalk, and other issues that can degrade network performance. This ensures reliable and consistent data transmission speeds throughout the data center, which is crucial for maintaining optimal operational efficiency. A structured cable system installed by a Siemon Certified Installer has a 25-year warranty.
4. Flexibility: Structured cabling systems offer flexibility in terms of supporting various types of network equipment and technologies. They can accommodate different networking standards, protocols, applications, and optical transceivers to allow data center operators to easily integrate new devices and technologies as needed. Any relocation of equipment simply requires changes to patch cords instead of having to re-install new cabling.
5. Reduced Downtime: By minimizing cable clutter, simplifying cable management, and providing consistent administration, structured cabling helps reduce the risk of accidental cable disconnections and other human errors that can lead to network downtime. This helps improve the overall reliability and availability of services within the data center.
6. Cost-Effectiveness: While the initial investment in structured cabling may be higher compared to traditional cabling methods, it offers long-term cost savings by reducing maintenance costs, minimizing downtime, and providing a scalable infrastructure that can adapt to changing business needs over time.
7. Standards Compliance: As mentioned earlier, TIA-942 and ISO/IEC 24764 industry Standards detail best practices to ensure compatibility with a wide range of networking equipment and technologies. This helps simplify interoperability and integration efforts within the data center environment.

As AI computing and storage devices are installed into the data center, more fiber cabling is needed to support the higher speeds required for the graphics processing units (GPU) to function properly. A basic AI compute architecture has 128 nodes or servers with 16 spine and 32 leaf switches. The number of compute fiber strands between these devices is 8192! This number of fibers does not include the Storage, In-Band and Out-of-Band management connectivity needed for the architecture. Having a structured cabling system to support connectivity between the network racks and the servers and switches helps manage all these cables. Figure 3 provides a glimpse into the anatomy of a common AI channel using multimode fiber with angled (APC) MTP connectors that hold 8 fibers each. The MTP-to-MTP trunks can scale up in fiber counts to best match the application.

Figure 3

Structured copper cabling systems are also used in the data center. Copper trunks speed up cabling deployments by eliminating the time needed for connector terminations. Figure 4 illustrates a typical structured copper trunk application. It becomes evident that the strategic implementation of these trunks can significantly contribute to the overall efficiency and reliability of a data center’s cabling system.

Figure 4

In summary, in the world of data centers, machine learning, and AI, it is not just about computing power and sophisticated algorithms; it’s also about the silent workhorses behind the scenes – the well-structured fiber or copper cabling systems that enable these technological marvels to function seamlessly. So, the next time you marvel at the capabilities of data centers and AI, take a moment to appreciate the intricate dance of connectivity making it all possible.

Want to learn about Siemon AI Solutions? Visit our Generative AI webpage at www.siemon.com/ai.

In the world of data centers (DC) and Intelligent Buildings (IB), copper and fiber cabling are widely recognized as the primary media types for network connectivity. The ability to seamlessly integrate these two types of cabling offers a multitude of installation options to address various cabling applications, network topologies, and equipment connectivity requirements. In this blog post, we will delve into the challenges faced by network engineers when dealing with the integration of copper and fiber media types and explore best practices to overcome the most common obstacles.

Traditionally, copper and fiber connectivity each had their own dedicated mounting styles onto racks or inside cabinets. Copper cables are typically housed in fixed open 1U or 2U patch panels with labeled front ports for easy identification. On the other hand, fiber connections are typically accommodated in larger 1U to 4U enclosures with sliding trays to access the fiber connections within. While these fiber enclosures offer excellent cable management, splicing capabilities, and security, they can often pose a challenge for installation and maintenance in space-sensitive environments.

What’s driving the need to mix connectivity?

While copper offers significant advantages in Intelligent Buildings and for short-distance connections in data centers, fiber cabling excels in long-distance connections and scenarios requiring enhanced security, its inherent difficulty to tap provides a higher level of data protection compared to copper, ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of critical information. Fiber is ideally suited for connections exceeding 100 meters, delivering higher bandwidth capacity and immunity to Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) as well as reliable and high-performance connectivity over extended distances, making it an ideal choice for interconnecting telecommunication rooms and in and between data centers.

More recently, due to the ongoing increase in bandwidth requirements, fiber has become more common for short-distance applications as well, replacing copper uplinks. Today’s data centers are running more fiber links, replacing traditional copper switch-to-server connectivity to achieve speeds up to 100 Gb/s. This has driven users to a mixed infrastructure approach, where fiber is required for high speed and copper for lower speed.

These trends make the usage of a panel that allows users to combine their copper and fiber connectivity within a single patch panel the ideal choice, and when deployed in the right configurations, it helps them to enhance their space usage and design flexibility and scalability into their network infrastructure.

What do you need to factor into your approach when mixing copper and fiber?

To ensure efficient and reliable network infrastructures that meet the evolving demands of modern IT environments, it is essential to follow best practices when integrating copper and fiber cabling. Here are some recommendations to consider:

1. Utilize copper for distances less than 100 meters in IB applications and for short-distance connections, such as those between servers and switches in the data center space that are operating at 10Gb/s or lower speeds. Additionally, copper cabling is often more cost-effective than fiber, making it a practical solution for shorter runs. It is also ideal for distributing remote power such as Power over Ethernet (PoE) for IB applications. When higher speed is required, the few required fiber ports in IB environment can be mixed with a combo panel.
2. Leverage fiber for long-distance connections exceeding 100 meters. Fiber’s higher bandwidth capacity makes it ideally suited for connections between Telecommunication rooms, data centers, and the Internet. When dealing with extended distances, fiber provides reliable and high-performance connectivity.
3. Where higher speeds are required, the use of fiber, even for short distances, is recommended because of its application flexibility. The rise of 25/40/100 Gb/s uplink speeds is driving the increased adoption of fiber over copper. In this case, copper remains a requirement for the few Out-of-Band uplinks remaining, therefore mixing copper and fiber will save you critical rack space.

In conclusion, the seamless integration of copper and fiber cabling in data centers and Intelligent Buildings offers numerous advantages in terms of connectivity, flexibility, scalability and futureproofing. Siemon’s new LightVerse® Combo Patch Panels present an innovative solution that provides “the best of both worlds” combining the benefits of both media types while addressing the pain points experienced by network engineers worldwide. By following best practices and considering the specific requirements of each application, network experts can build efficient and reliable network infrastructures that will support their demands for many years to come.

Other resources we think you’ll like.

Base-16 is an MPO plug and play cabling system that utilizes an MPO-16 connector vs. the MPO-12 connector that is used for more commonly in Base-8 or Base-12 cabling systems. The MPO-16 connector has specifications that are defined in TIA-604-18 released in 2018 and IEC 61754-7-1 released in 2014, but the connector has seen limited market adoption.

With the recent introduction and promotion of Base-16 systems by some manufacturers, the time is right to share some helpful insights.

Is a Base-16 system required to support 400 & 800GbE?

No. Only one currently available 400G Ethernet application requires an MPO-16 connector – 400GBASE-SR8. All other current and planned IEEE 400G Ethernet applications use 2- or 8-fibers. There is expected to be very little market adoption of 400GBASE-SR8 because it uses the MPO-16, with almost no installed base. In addition, the SR8 application requires an MPO-16 with an Angled Polish Connector (APC) end-face, which is not standard for multimode fiber systems and may require specific installation and testing requirements. For 800GbE, there are several options that will utilize 2- or 8-fibers with an LC or MPO-12 interface.

Is Base-16 compatible with legacy installed Base-12 or Base-8 cabling systems?

No. The MPO-16 connector does not mate with MPO-12 connectors used in Base-8 or Base-12 systems. The MPO-16 connector has different alignment pin spacing and has an offset key vs. a centered key. This means you cannot directly connect an existing Base-12 or Base-8 system to a Base-16 system.

Can my Base-8 singlemode cabling system support 400G, 800G & 1.6TbE applications?

Yes. Most of the current and planned 400 & 800G Ethernet applications will utilize 2- or 8-fibers, so Base-8 will work great. For the few applications that do require an MPO-16 interface, Base-8 can easily be converted to 16-fiber for equipment connection by using a conversion cord or module that converts 2x8F to 1x16F. This can be done with multimode or singlemode for 400G, 800G or 1.6TbE applications if required. This means no need to rip and replace your Base-8 infrastructure to migrate to higher speeds.

Is the Base-16 system more cost-effective than Base-8 systems?

No. The price per fiber is approximately 20-25% higher for a Base-16 system. This is due to a few reasons…a higher cost connector with an APC end-face on MM, more polishing time for 16-fiber vs 8- or 12-, and a lower passing yield rate during production…all leading to higher costs to the market.

Do Base-16 trunk cables take up more space in the pathway since there are more fibers per cable?

Yes. The Base-16 cables are typically 20-30% larger than Base-8 cables with the same fiber count. Here are some examples:

• A 16F Base-16 trunk cable typically has an outside diameter (OD) of 4.9mm vs. a 16F Base-8 trunk cable which has an OD of 3.8mm
• A 48F Base-16 trunk cable typically has an OD of 9.1mm vs. a 48F Base-8 trunk cable which has and OD of 7.5mm

This means Base-16 requires more pathway space than Base-8 cabling.

Due to all the above reasons, Siemon continues to act as a trusted advisor to our clients and recommends Base-8 systems for new installations and will continue to only recommend solutions that solve problems, make sense for a given customer application, and are cost-effective.

Additional resources we think you’ll like:

• On-Demand TechTalk: The Journey to 400/800G Has Begun: Which Road Will You Take?
• White Paper: Optimizing New Short-Reach Singlemode Deployments with Verified Ultra-Low Loss (ULL) Components
• Application: Advanced Data Center Solutions & Applications Guide

Designing fiber optic networks and finding the right tools to optimize it is always a challenge. We need to find the right balance between demands of the network, cable performance and cost effectiveness. While fiber cable selection between singlemode and multimode networks is self-selecting, there is an array of options for multimode networks. The latest of which is OM5, which is designated as Wideband Multimode fiber (WBMMF) in the ISO/IEC 11801, 3rd edition Standard.

OM5 fiber is specified at 850 nm and 953 nm wavelengths. It was created to support Shortwave Wavelength Division Multiplexing (SWDM), which is used to transmit 400GBASE-SR4.2 over eight fibers. It can potentially be used to handle high-speed data center applications using two fibers to transmit from 40 Gb/s up to 100 Gb/s. However, this challenge can also be resolved with existing singlemode solutions.

All the current and future IEEE standards in development for 100/200/400/800 Gb/s data rates will work with either singlemode (OS2) or multimode (OM4). Some of these next-generation speeds, especially those operating at longer distances, will require singlemode. In addition, OM5 cabling costs about 20-30%  more than OM4. If you look at the cost of a full 100 Gb/s channel, including BiDi transceivers, the amount per channel is still 30-40% more than 100GBASE-SR4 supported by OM4.

A recent white paper published by Cisco “Understanding the Differences Between OM4 and OM5 Multimode Fiber”, discusses whether OM5 is an appropriate choice when OM4 will work just fine. There have been many claims that OM5 has better reach than OM4, although this is only true for a small handful of applications. For example, multi-wavelength transceivers with operating wavelengths that include longer wavelengths like 940 nm can leverage the reach advantage of OM5.

The TIA standard for OM4 only mandates a bandwidth of 4,700 MHz∙km at the 850 nm measurement wavelength. In contrast, OM5 has a requirement of 4,700 MHz∙km at 850 nm, but also has a requirement for 2,470 MHzkm at 953 nm. Does that mean OM5 is the better option? Not necessarily. Most of Cisco’s multimode transceivers are single-wavelength devices operating at 850 nm; therefore, there is no difference in reach for these transceivers whether OM5 or OM4 is used. BiDi uses two wavelengths and similarly the wavelength range does not present an opportunity to realize significant benefits from OM5.

The white paper concludes by stating that, “It’s an engineering truism that there’s no perfect solution, just the best solution for the application at hand. OM5 cable is not intrinsically better than OM4 cable. OM5 only delivers increased reach for transceivers with lanes operating at 940 nm. For conventional multimode transceivers operating at 850 nm alone, OM4 provides a cost-effective solution.”

Read the full Cisco White Paper

Additional resources we think you’ll like:

• On-Demand TechTalk: What are the benefits of OM5?
• Blog: Is OM5 fiber a good solution for the data center?
• Application: The journey to 400G and 800G has begun: which road will you take?

Whether in a classroom, waiting room, or telecom room, there is always risk of someone accidentally or intentionally disconnecting network equipment and devices. Network outlets in unprotected spaces can also be a way for sophisticated criminals to gain access to a network for the purposes of carrying out a cyberattack or installing malware, viruses, or ransomware.

There are a variety of advanced security systems like video surveillance and access control that can help physically protect people and property or even automated infrastructure management (AIM) solutions that can detect and alert disconnect of ports in data centers and telecom rooms. But sometimes the simple, low-cost solution of a lock is the best remedy.

Originally Inspired by Gum-Chewing Teens

One easy-to-use solution for physically protecting connections is Siemon’s LockIT™ Secure Connectivity System. The system includes patch cords that can be freely inserted into patch panel and work area outlets but require a special LockIT Cord Key for removal. They system also includes secure outlet locks for preventing access to unused ports.

Ideal for preventing disconnection of networked devices or access to unused ports in public and shared spaces, as well as in mission-critical data centers and telecom spaces, the LockIT Secure Connectivity system is just one of Siemon’s several customer-first innovations. And like all of our innovations, it’s got its own story.

The LockIT Secure Connectivity system was originally developed in response to a high school IT customer that mentioned needing a way to keep students from inserting gum and other debris into open outlets. The idea was brought to the Siemon design engineering team who took it as a challenge and came up with the innovative LockIt system that today offers protection against far more than just chewing gum.

Ideal for a Wide Range of Applications and Spaces

LockIT patch cords are available in Category 6 and 6A unshielded and Category 6A shielded performance levels for preventing disconnect of a wide range of devices in a variety of environments. They are especially popular for use in public areas such as schools, retail stores, waiting areas, and hospitality venues to prevent disconnect of surveillance cameras, public terminals, self-service kiosks, vending machines, digital displays, and other publicly-accessible networked devices.

• Also ideal for preventing disconnects within mission-critical data centers and telecom rooms, LockIT path cords come in both 26 and 28 AWG construction, with the smaller-diameter 28 AWG cords perfectly suited for protecting connections while reducing congestion and improving airflow and flexibility in high-density patching areas. Plus, the LockIT Patch Cord Key is uniquely designed with an extended length to easily unlock cords in high-density environments.

Available for use in any standards-compliant RJ45 outlet or duplex LC fiber port, LockIT outlet locks are a simple way to prevent access to unused network ports in any space, from the data center to the daycare center. Whether to secure unused patch panel ports reserved for mission-critical or specialty applications and/or to simply protect outlets from the damaging impact of chewing gum, paper clips, or tiny fingers, low-profile LockIt outlet locks are easily inserted into unused ports and can removed with the LockIT outlet key.

When it comes to physically protecting assets, IT managers also need a straightforward way to recognize which connections are tamper-proof. That’s why Siemon’s LockIT Secure Connectivity System is highly visible with LockIt patch cords featuring a bright red locking tab and LockIT outlet locks brightly colored in yellow.

With more devices connected to the network than ever before, there’s more of a chance of a device being accidentally or intentionally disconnected. While intentional disconnects of devices like surveillance cameras can significantly impact safety and security, others that don’t support mission-critical applications (think TV, digital display, or vending machine in a common area) can still cause plenty of inconvenience for both users and IT staff when disconnected. And let’s face it—any unused outlet can be tempting for cyber criminals looking to access a network, and they will always be a target for gum or spitballs in a school environment.

Click HERE to learn more about how Siemon’s LockIT can help you easily and cost-effectively protect your network connections.