While data centres may come in a variety of shapes, sizes and locations, typically they share a common need, namely high performance cable infrastructure.
Thanks to ever-increasing volumes of data being pushed across networks by servers, storage facilities, switches and routers (amongst other data centre equipment), it’s more important than ever before to ensure that data cabling is fastidiously specified and installed, ensuring it performs faultlessly under pressure, and that insidious problems are not impossible to track should they make an appearance.
Here Are 6 Data Centre Cabling Best Practices to Keep in Mind
1. Quality drives performance
Don’t compromise on cable quality. Poor quality cabling brings a host of problems with it, such as substandard sheathing, non-pure copper cores and poor twist ratios, all of which can cost your network in terms of signal loss and degradation, and may result more expenses as a result. As the old saying goes, “Penny wise, pound foolish”. All your company’s cabling should conform to high-end performance and operational criteria.
2. Build it to last
Cabling should have a built-in capacity that allows for increases in performance and operational capacity. This means allowing for increases in performance in terms of the quantities of cable installed, and the operational capacity with each cable. It’s economically prudent to allow for growth long-term in your cabling infrastructure versus facing continual requirements for upgrading as demand on the network grows.
3. Choose your cabling wisely
The minimum specification for data centre cabling deployments should be Category 7 (CAT7). While CAT7 terminations are different from CAT6a, the two are compatible, which helps support network evolution and other devices should the need arise.
CAT6a solutions are also feasible options within certain data centre environments, such as a tenant area within a larger co-location facility, or a company's internal facility. It all depends on the size of the facility and the volume of data needing support.
Fibre optic systems are also prevalent in data centre architecture, particularly for SAN and large data volume transfer applications. These systems lend themselves to challenging installations where physical and environmental characteristics, such cable routes, space volumes and hostile service proximities make the deployment of copper cable a trickier option.
4. Keep length to a minimum
Cables should be installed along the shortest length possible, with care to minimise bends and changes in direction. You'd be surprised at how many companies get this simple point wrong and the negative impact it can have.
5. Choose wisely when designing your cabling solution
Data centre cabling should be fully separated from mains power services and electrical cables. The most optimum designs have their mains power installed within the floor void, and their IT cabling overhead (or vice versa).
6. Maximise airflow
It’s increasingly vital that data centre operational areas be designed to maximise airflow, and thereby reduce power costs and environmental impact. Cables should be routed so that they do not block or interfere with hot and cold aisle provisions.
In environments where space volume is limited, a need exists to deliver connectivity within the smallest footprint possible. Fibre optic cable can deliver similar quantities of circuit connections within a much smaller bundle in these instances.
