In this time where many of the organizations are investing in the virtual data centers, there are still many other institutes that prefer to have a data center present within their infrastructure. Virtual data centers are an optimum choice for organizations who do not want to riddle themselves with cabling hassles. On the other hand, having an in-house data center may provide you with more control over the set-up. However, in-house data center comes with its own unique set of professional requirements that can only be dealt with if you have sound knowledge regarding the working and cabling of data centers.

If you want to have an in-house data center, you would still need a third party’s help to execute your plan. However, having knowledge about this entire process will help you be more involved during the installing and cabling procedure and will aid you in making more informed decisions when it comes to expanding the data centers in the future. Because of this step’s importance, we have put together a comprehensive guide that will take you through all the significant considerations and problems that you may encounter during the data center cabling.

Structured or Unstructured: Starting with the Basics

Unstructured cabling system represents a jumbled mess of cables when the optical links are deployed from device to device without the use of patch panel. Because of this, the unstructured infrastructure lacks order and can easily become congested with the number of optical patch cords. The routing of new patch cords can be a hassle since the lack of order requires the patch cords to be routed through undesirable places, for instance, the floor or the ceiling. Additionally, the data centers having unstructured infrastructure are prone to overheating as the congestion leads to restricted air flow.

As the name suggests, the structured cabling system is a sophisticated network of wires and cables that are managed through patch panels for better control. Apart from the usual expenses, the structured cables require additional investment in the form of pre-terminated MPO cabling to help create a systemized cabling infrastructure. Because of this, the entire infrastructure is easily scalable and much easier to manage.

Apart from the downsides of expensive nature and link-loss budget, the structured cabling infrastructure still remains a favorite choice among many organizations due to the ease of use that accompanies it. So, the aspect of well-organized cables easily trumps the unstructured cabling infrastructure.

The unstructured cabling infrastructure has high energy costs, a limited life cycle and is difficult to expand when it comes to introducing new devices to the existing system. It has low installation costs and can be easily set up. However, the lack of order causes it to face excessive downtime that impacts the overall performance. Comparatively, the structured infrastructure is difficult to install, has high installation costs; however, the high performance and its easily buildable nature easily trumps its downsides. That said, choosing the infrastructure solely comes to your preferences and building space.

Data Cabling Center: Fiber, Copper or the Amalgamation of Both?

The next step in building a suitable infrastructure is choosing a type of cable for the purpose of data transmission. Earlier, industrialists relied on copper wires or coaxial cables to meet the data center demands. On the other hand, the introduction of the fiber optic cables has been garnering attention and praise due to its high performance. That said, it is not necessary that you also make a switch to the latter option since copper cables are equal to fiber optics when it comes to great performance.

One exceeds where one lacks and where one lacks the other one exceeds. To better understand which will be better for your data center, we have broken down the qualities of both the options:

Copper Cables:

The performance of copper cables exceeds when it comes to data centers. Apart from being a suitable option, the copper wires have low overall costs accompanied by lower operational expenditures. That said, opting with the best copper wire will not solve all your problems as you would still need high-quality patch panels, connectors (Cat 6 connectors, etc), patch cords, termination and much more to amplify its performance.

Here are some other benefits of choosing copper or coaxial cable for cabling purposes:

It has the ability to transfer a higher data rate over a longer distance of several meters. Usually, the data transference depends on the network speed which makes copper ideal for the usage within the data centers.

It transfers data at the highest available bandwidth when it comes to several servers in a single rack or between various switches present in a group.

When it comes to costs, copper cables offer a cheaper solution compared to fiber optics. Keeping this factor in mind while designing larger data centers can save up millions in dollars.

The copper cables consume less power. Thanks to their thermal design, they do not require excessive cooling which means you could save up some more by opting for this option.

Copper cables experience less downtime and improved performance since they have 50 million hours in MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures).

Four to eight meters of copper cable can easily provide a bandwidth of around 100Gbps. This makes them a suitable choice for data centers that are focused on efficiency and performance.

Fiber Optics:

Data centers require cables and wires that could meet with their requirements for high reliability, enhanced performance, and high bandwidth data transfer capabilities. Fiber optics is not far behind when it comes to meeting with these requirements. Here are some of the other benefits one could avail once they choose fiber optics:

When it comes to delivering high bandwidth, the fiber optics is unmatched. No other type of cables has yet been made to handle the same amount of bandwidth transmission.

Fiber optics offer low power loss which allows them to transmit signals at longer distances without affecting the signals’ quality.

It has resistance to electromagnetic interference which means it can perform well in environments surrounded by heating, ventilation, and/or other sources of electromagnetic interference.

Since the data is transferred through the light in these cables, there is a significantly low-security risk.

Compared with the copper cables, fiber optics come in a small diameter that saves up space and creates room for other cables.

The biggest advantage of fiber optics is that it can accommodate the growing needs of bandwidth. This means that you would not need to replace the existing infrastructure. Instead, you can add new equipment to existing infrastructure to meet with the increased bandwidth requirements.

So, which one is better for your data centers? If the truth is told, both of them offer some amazing features and benefits. However, it is extremely rare for an organization to prefer one cabling choice over the other. In more than one instances, many of the organizations have learned to work both of these together for optimized results.

With the help of a fiber media converter, both the cables can work together allowing the industries to benefit from increased performance. If your data center can accommodate both the cables, then it is best to opt for the amalgamation of fiber optics with copper/coaxial cables.

Important Data Center Cabling Considerations

Since the data center cabling is the lifeline of your business, it is appropriate to spend some time designing the overall infrastructure before hiring the appropriate parties to start with the building process.

There is a myriad of reasons that you need to consider when it comes to the data center, for instance, you need to take into account your needs, your business’ requirements, and go through various design requirements. That said, here are a few considerations that will start you off on the right foot!

Selecting the Right Cabling Design

There are two major cabling designs in data centers; horizontal cabling and backbone cabling. The horizontal cabling supports mechanical termination, patch cords, and horizontal cross-connect when it comes to the Horizontal Distribution Area (HDA). In addition, the horizontal cabling supports all types of cabling options, i.e. fiber optics, copper or the combination of both.

On the other hand, the backbone cabling focuses on the simplification of the data center’s design since it supports mechanical termination, patch cords, and main connects to other parts of the data center. Because of this, backbone cabling is better managed; however, the problem arises when the cabling is to be done in a distributed data center environment or in one that has multiple entrances.

There is another approach to the cabling design called zone cabling. This cabling design is also great; however, it can add up to the overall costs since it requires tons of moves, changes, and additions. Also, this approach is rendered useless when it comes to a cross-connector channel in the data centers.

Appropriate Planning

Space planning comes with its own set of practices, i.e. central patching and independent switchblades. The central patching is an appropriate choice since it allows smooth running of cables from the HDA along with the EDA (Equipment Distribution Area) to the central patching. Additionally, the central patching would still be a desirable option if your industry is regulated by general compliances and security rules.

Media Selection

Media selection is a vast subject and covers various aspects of the data center cablings. First off, you need to start with selecting the kind of cables you need for your data centers. We have already covered this aspect of data centers in the details above. Moving on, you also need to assess the terminators required for every connection.

Additionally, you need to be prepared for the growing demands of your data centers. As you start to hook up more cables, you need to have a cooling system and the overall power will also increase. You also need to set up some measures to reduce the instances of electromagnetic interferences.

Some Tips for keeping it all Under Control

Setting up data centers requires expertise and professional knowledge without which the cabling process may seem insurmountable. However, one can never be too careful. This is why we have enlisted a couple of important tips that will keep the pressure of committing deadly mistakes at bay!

Label everything because if you do not, you are only increasing the work for you! Even if you are using a structured cabling infrastructure, you still are required to label the cables at both the end including the patch cables and the short runs. Labeling makes it easier for individuals to test for circuits or when it comes to re-plugging the cables in their designated places.

Measure your cables carefully to avoid creating a mess of discarded wires and cables. You may think that a few inches of wasted cable is not going to hurt you. However, it can certainly amount to a lot of money if you are cutting off the excess from every cable.

Ensure to leave room for expansion in the future because you never know when your organization will expand. With the expansion, the need to have a quicker and faster data center will increase as well. So, if you have enough space, you can add to the existing infrastructure without having to build a new one from scratch.

Opt for the cables that have been tested for performance by the Telecommunications Cabling Systems. This brings us down to the widely used copper cable and fiber optics. Depending on your needs, you can choose anyone. That said, avoid low standard cables in a bid to save up some money. They not only have substandard performance but may also end up costing you dearly in data transference.

Just like you should not save on cables, the same goes for terminations as well. Cheap terminations do not last long and if your cables are constantly losing connection, blame it on your terminations. If this happens more frequently, you need to remodel them, which will be a headache!

Do not rush through the testing process. When a cable has been hooked up, stop and check it for its working. If the cable is not delivering maximum results, you need to trash it and replace it with another one. The point is, test, test, and test to save yourself from additional troubles later on.

Wrapping Up

Data center cabling does not need to be difficult. That said, jumping into this arena with no previous knowledge about the setup of the data centers can cost you dearly. If you are unaware of the ups and downs of this procedure, then you are not alone! There are tons of organizations that end up with an underperforming data center just because they were not able to grasp the information required to build a foolproof system.

Because of this reason, we have made a comprehensive cabling guide that can help you when you need it most! When you are cabling data center, you also need to pay attention to the security aspect. Since the data is your organization’s most important asset, you need to look into the CCTV security networks. Keep in mind, that RG59 and not RG58 cable works best with the wiring process of CCTV security. For more information regarding protecting your data centers, give this article a read!