Overview of Data Center Cabling Deployment Practices and Pitfalls

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Overview of Data Center Cabling Deployment
Practices and Pitfalls

• John Russell, RCDD
• NetVersant

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How do we keep from tying ourselves into knots?
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With accurate planning and some good house
keeping practices its possible to keep the cable
plant manageable
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Todays Situation

• Systems are getting smaller
• Connectivity requirements are increasing
• The available space for growth in the DC is being
  used up by infrastructure

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• Even some well thought out plans are becoming
  overwhelmed

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How Did We Get Here?
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Unstructured Cabling in Todays Data Center
LAN/SAN Environment

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STRUCTURED VS. UNSTRUCTURED CABLING SOLUTIONS
Server racks
The cabling starts with a few connections . . .
And this is how it ends up . . .

• No defined cable paths
• Changes made at active equipment
• Problem determination difficult
• System growth can be impacted
• Mess under the floor

Storage
Switch racks
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STRUCTURED STAR TOPOLOGY BACK TO MDA CROSS-CONNECT
SAN
Server Cabinet
MDA
Equip Distribution
Equip Distribution
Equip Distribution
Equip Distribution
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DATA CENTER CABLING INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIREMENTS

• Network Efficiency - High performance, reliable,
  stable, high density (low profile) solution.
  Effective overall operation.
• Manageability - Increased control of the data
  center infrastructure.
• Flexibility - Quick and easy moves and changes
  (without incurring scrap)
• Scalability - Fast and easy provisioning of
  connectivity for a simpler, more efficient
  deployment of system equipment. Scalable
  bandwidth 10/100/1G/10G

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Pathways

• Underfloor tray systems
• Only down Hot aisles
• Adequate room for growth

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• Even with adequate planning, growth can fill all
  the available space

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• Penetrations
• Planning
• Sealing

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• Overhead trays
• Supported from Structure
• Laid out so as not to block lighting, sometimes
  cooling

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• Support needs to be strong enough to handle the
  weight
• Additions or changes may require working over
  critical systems

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• Vertical Transitions

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Ideally a facility would use a combination of
methods
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TIA-942Telecommunications Infrastructure
Standard for Data Centers
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How is the Network configured?

• Centralized?

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• Distributed (rows or zones?)

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• Distributed to the Cabinet level

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• Where do you put the panels?
• Underfloor

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• Easy to prep areas before deployment
• Need adequate space
• Requires opening tiles for access

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• In each cabinet

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• Simplifies server connections
• May use up available space
• Difficult to add to in existing environments
• Cabinets may need modifications for cable
  entry/panel mounting

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• On the overhead

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• Also easy accessibility
• Requires working systems
• Need strict cable Mgmt

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Fiber vs. Copper

• Fiber has more bandwidth potential
• Devices still need a connection
• Multiple networks mean multiple connections
• More devices attached to more networks mean more
  connections

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SANS

• Lots of fiber connections

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• Most SANs start out small
• Direct connections with patch cords
• Not as likely to implement a Structured Cabling
  System

Point-to-Point Jumper Cable Installation
Structured Optical Cabling Solution
200 Jumper Cables
3 Trunk Cables
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• Possibly multiple MDAs
• High concentrations of cables
• Redundant pathways

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• When facilities are being planned it is critical
  to take into account all the potential systems
  and applications that could be deployed.
• A well planned infrastructure to support the LAN
  probably wont be able to support a SANs (or
  other specific network) needs.
• Where the actual devices are placed can have a
  large impact on how the infrastructure needs to
  be planned.