Datacenter cabling, along with power and cooling infrastructure, is critical to a data centre’s performance. There are several ways to optimize your cabling infrastructure as well as potential problems to be aware of. Whether it’s an incorrect cable type, reversed polarity or poor physical installation and management, a poorly implemented cabling infrastructure can impact cooling, cause increased downtime and affect long-term data centre cable management. Following a well-planned data centre cabling process is imperative to completing a project on time and within budget. Here, we outline potential challenges and how to prevent creating a confusing cabling environment, it is always a good idea to opt for professional help and get these issues fixed right away.
Design data centre cabling infrastructure early:
Every data centre should follow a structured cabling plan. A poorly-managed cabling design and implementation process can cause complex problems for the future management of the data centre, such as impeded airflow, difficulty with end-to-end identification, and removal of disconnected services which add time and complexity to the repair process. Without a formal audit or management plan, problems can occur and the resulting corrective actions are expensive in terms of cost and downtime.
Use High-Quality Cables:
A data centre should use the highest grade copper or fibre cables to meet today’s specifications and those of the future. Some older fibre cables won’t tolerate the reduced bend radius required in today’s robust data centre. The economics of using older cabling is alluring, but it will wreak havoc and result in increased installation time and a much higher cable failure rate.
Consider using patch cabling installations:
A structured data centre cabling solution that utilizes centralized patch panels minimizes the need for additional direct cable application, thus reducing the likelihood of cables being installed incorrectly. Today’s data centres are seeing an increase of direct route circuits to meet the requirements for maximum bandwidth. Structured cable interconnection systems offer the highest quality of the initial installation or expansion, but a mandatory connectivity program that’s effectively-maintained and managed is still and will always be an intricate part of the data centre regime.
Thoroughly document all types of data centre cabling:
Patch cabling documentation may seem unnecessary, but poor documentation leads to difficulties maintaining and provisioning new equipment and troubleshooting connectivity issues. To maximize efficiency and minimize downtime during implementation, it’s imperative to document cable types, connectors, cabinet elevations and the number of data and power ports. DCIM software can make it easy to search, plan, provision, and document patch cable installations down to the port level. This method manages the capacity and usage of the in-rack patch and network switch port information. You can create a visual diagram showing which ports are in use on a device.
Predetermine the length of cable needed:
Using the correct cable lengths keeps your data centre free of loose cables and helps keep costs down by reducing waste. But taking a tape measure to the data centre floor is a time-consuming process. A comprehensive DCIM solution will do the work for you and help quickly measure with CAD-level accuracy not just the horizontal distance between cabinets, but also the vertical distance from the device to the ceiling or floor. Having correct length cable runs will provide a cleaner environment that is easier to maintain and allow for better cooling and airflow.
Validate connections:
When planning and installing data centre cabling, it’s easy to focus on distances between starting and termination points and the amount of cable that you’re using. However, the compatibility of the physical connectors is just as important. You can’t provision new equipment to a rack without ensuring that the switch or patch panel has compatible ports. A complete DCIM solution will validate the compatibility of your connections before allowing you to make the planned move, add, or change.
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