Cabinet and rack space in network cabling installations pose significant problems for organisations, according to Molex Premise Networks, the industry's longest established structured cabling manufacturer and the UK connectivity, networks and support specialists Comunica. As a result of ever increasing real estate costs, IT and network managers are often faced with the task of maximising network capacity under space constraints. Products such as Molex's new high density patch panels, combined with good network design and management can help maximise efficient use of space and minimise consequential network problems.
For organisations such as Internet Service Providers and data centres that need to get as many ports in their racks as possible, the problem of space is very real. The same is true for businesses located in high price real estate areas and for companies in listed buildings where the business needs to increase the number of desk outlets but have only a finite size of network room, which is full to capacity.
"This issue varies in importance depending on the type of business involved. An SME is likely to be concerned about space for its employees, whilst a large ISP needs to maximise the cabinet and frame space planning - they each have diverse needs," comments Roddy Adams, Associate Director - Design, Comunica.
"As networks expand and equipment becomes redundant, new equipment is installed. Unless the removal of the old equipment is managed properly, it is very easy for the comms room to become congested with redundant equipment. The resultant effect is a poorly managed, untidy and potentially fragile network. When deciding on how to optimise a network when space is a constraint, the size of chassis, edge cards and port density per card all play a big part in the decision making process," he adds.
Potential network problems resulting from space issues include: overheating of equipment resulting in network failure; a mass of cabling spaghetti resulting in a fragile cabling infrastructure; very high network failures; non-existent documentation; no ability to plan network moves and changes; inefficient asset utilisation.
"High density patch panels are valuable for IT and network managers where space and or cost of space is critical," comments Eugene Botes, Molex Premise Networks. "Where you cannot expand but you have to or where the cost of land is high, such as in Canary Wharf, a high density patch panel solution means more efficient use of space can be achieved and the number of passive panels in each installation can be reduced. By having five cabinets instead of seven an organisation could fit in an additional dealers desk."
"Standard patch panels offer just 16 or 24 ports in a 1U high rack. New high density patch panels now available from Molex Premise Networks for Category 5e installations offer 32 or 48 ports in just 1U. Use of the new panel cuts total communications rack space usage, offering a 30-50% space saving in the communications cabinet, without compromising termination practices or usability," he adds.
Comments Adams: "The use of high density equipment and panels is an option on smaller installations, however, you still have to patch and extend circuits using patch cords. You can only fit so many patch cords into a given space. Over the past few years several manufacturers such as Molex have designed cabinets and frames with equipment and cabling in mind. No longer does one rack fit all requirements."
For more information contact Eugene Botes, Sales Executive, sub-Saharan Africa, Molex Premise Networks, 082 854 1505, [email protected]
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