New rules for wiring in the cloud computing era

IDC statistics show that the total number of data centers in China has exceeded 500,000, and the size of China’s data center market will reach $15.7 billion in 2015. In the data center sector, cloud computing data centers are daunting and growing in size. Unlike traditional data centers, the relationship between infrastructure and it in cloud computing data centers should be continuous and unified.

Cloud computing, virtualization, mobile Internet, big data and so on are often talked about as new challenges for the network cabling industry, but at the same time, it is an opportunity.

High Density

In traditional data centers, 80% of network traffic is concentrated on the desktop computer, while data center traffic is relatively small, accounting for only 20%. The advent of the mobile internet era has led to explosive growth in data. In a cloud computing data center, network traffic is like an upside-down pyramid, with 80% of traffic concentrated in the cloud, while 20% of traffic is on the desktop computer side. As a result, cloud computing data centers require a more powerful network backbone system.

In an interview with reporters, COMMSCOPE, Simon, Panduit, TE Connectivity AMP, Rosenberg, Nexans and other manufacturers have expressed similar views: high performance, high density, high security, high intelligence, highly scalable and excellent energy-saving characteristics represent the development trend of the next generation of data center cabling. Te Pip cabling says virtualization is also a serious challenge for future data center networks and cabling systems. In the traditional data center, the general server hardware resource utilization rate is about 30%. In order to reduce the energy consumption of data centers, many data centers have adopted virtualization technology. Using server virtualization As an example, virtual a physical server into several logical servers can better consolidate resources and reduce energy consumption. After virtualization, hardware resource utilization can improve 60%~80% and reduce energy consumption by 30%~40%.

However, after virtualization, it is necessary to improve the performance of the network so as not to cause the bottleneck of network transmission. Cloud computing and virtualization place higher demands on data center network architectures and data center network cabling Systems, and will also drive data centers to adopt 10G to the desktop, 40g/100g.

A joint market study by Intel, Crehan, Dell ‘ Oro, and IDC four organizations shows that in 2014, a large number of 10GBASE-T network cards will be applied to servers, which requires that the network backbone must have a higher transfer speed and that the network backbone will deploy 40g/100g Ethernet. From a cabling point of view, Rosenberg believes that the cloud data center will mainly consider two aspects: one is how to manage the wiring scale after the expansion, and the other is the core virtualization network high bandwidth corresponding to the wiring level.

Nexans believes that although the cloud data center does not yet have a unified standard, but for cabling, integrated, modular wiring system is undoubtedly the general direction of future development. Green energy saving is a hot topic in cloud data center. The United States tia-942a “data center telecommunications infrastructure Standards” specifically added a section to describe energy-saving measures, and from wiring, road through and space design and other aspects of the recommendations, including the use of finer cables, timely removal of obsolete cables, the use of cabinets or cabinets with a reduced airflow bypass design cabinets, In the cabinet using brush board, sealing ring or empty plate to reduce air movement, isolation of equipment with different environmental requirements, decentralized layout of high-density equipment and so on. “The share of fiber optic systems in data center cabling has increased year by year,” said Chen Yutung, technical support manager at Simon Inc., USA. In many projects, the number of fiber optic systems has exceeded the copper cable. Plug and Play pre-end cable solutions that complete termination and testing at the factory avoid the waste and waste caused by traditional on-site termination. Plug and Play deployment can significantly reduce installation time. Simon in the United States uses a 20%~30% cable diameter that is smaller than the average indoor ribbon cable diameter, saving a lot of space and is conducive to optimizing air circulation, easy to dissipate heat. ”

Intelligent need to cooperate and win-win

Intelligent Cabling systems have emerged ten years ago. Now, the intelligence of the wiring system should be closely linked with the intelligence of the whole data center, and develop and improve together. Panduit emphasizes that wiring intelligence has three key points, including interface optimization, end-to-end link management, intelligent wiring and integration of the entire environmental control system of the machine room.

Panduit’s existing intelligent wiring system is already the third generation of product–PIM physical layer management system, not only can manage intelligent wiring system but also has asset management, power supply, temperature and humidity management, and other rich functions. Chen Yutung also said that the Intelligent data Center cabling system is an integral part of the data center management system. In the big environment of the data center, intelligent cabling system should be closely integrated with network management, cabinet management, distribution management, environmental management, etc., and not just to provide isolated information fragments.

Data center users need comprehensive data center monitoring data, including IT equipment and computer room physical infrastructure, to improve data center operations, improve efficiency, and assist decision-making. DCIM (Data center infrastructure Management) is not a recent term, but the last two years have been a hot word. Manufacturers that provide the overall solution for the data center put DCIM in a very important position. Some domestic startups have also begun to develop DCIM software independently. Today, in the context of data center convergence, the relationship between it devices and the physical infrastructure of the computer room is getting closer, and the two are no longer independent of each other and need to be managed uniformly.

This is also the DCIM to shoulder the heavy responsibility. Rosenberg Company agrees that DCIM is one of the inevitable trends in future development, and also believes that DCIM and IIMs (Intelligent infrastructure Management system) are not contradictory, DCIM equivalent to IIMs for the data center applications more professional infrastructure management system, you can put the cabinet power distribution,

Cabinet temperature and humidity monitoring and other management functions are integrated to improve the overall management efficiency of the data center infrastructure. IDC’s survey reports show that more than 50% of data center users have plans to adopt DCIM software. DCIM software can provide unified data center management, including all physical assets such as network devices. There is no doubt that there is great potential in the DCIM software market. However, TE Pip Cabling believes that, because of the complexity of the systems involved in the data center, to date, no DCIM software vendor can say that its software can cover and manage all the physical facilities in the data center.

In the field of DCIM, larger vendors include IBM, HP, CAS, BMC, and more. Currently, DCIM software does not yet have uniform international standards.

TE AMP believes that DCIM will work together in the future, such as working with several different areas of vendors to share data through an open application interface (API). Intelligent Cabling Management software is a subsystem of DCIM software. The ISO/IEC JTC1 SC25 Working Group is discussing the standard ISO/IEC 18598 for Automatic Infrastructure Management (AIM), which is now in the third edition of the draft. According to the draft, the intelligent cabling System consists of two aspects: one is wiring management, including wiring planning, MAC change control, monitoring, and alarm, archiving and auditing, and the other is automatic infrastructure management, which mainly includes work order management module, monitoring and Alarm module, History and report module.

Provide a total solution

In the IT industry, integration is already the trend. Many IT vendors are committed to providing converged, end-to-end solutions that provide not only hardware but also software and services.

We also note that some cabling manufacturers, in addition to continuing to consolidate their position in the traditional wiring field, to provide more comprehensive and advanced wiring solutions, are also actively expanding into related areas, committed to providing end-to-end physical infrastructure solutions, and some even put forward the slogan to transform into infrastructure service providers. In July 2013, COMMSCOPE acquired the Redwood Systems Company. Redwood systems mainly provide LED lighting solutions for data centers and building buildings. Redwood Systems ‘ products can be integrated into CommScope’s standard structured cabling infrastructure platform for effective integration of it and building systems.

Industry commentators have commented that the acquisition will further enhance CommScope’s leadership in data centers and smart building infrastructure solutions, allowing CommScope to provide a more comprehensive infrastructure management platform. Chen Lanlan, sales director of Greater China, a company in the United States, said in an interview with reporters that while wiring and wiring related products remain at the heart of the COMMSCOPE business, CommScope has actively moved into other product areas, such as data center management software, modular data center solutions, intelligent LED lighting systems, and more.

Through the acquisition, COMMSCOPE, on the one hand, enriched its own product line, found a new business growth point, on the other hand, CommScope has the ability to provide software and hardware integrated data center solutions, its business to a new level. The scope of data center infrastructure is broad, and integrated cabling is only a small part of the data center infrastructure. In order to achieve the rapid development of the company’s business, TE Connectivity AMP is also in accordance with the market conditions and customer needs to continuously expand their product line. For example, TE Connectivity AMP now has fiber optic groove solutions, AOC active fiber solutions, cabinets/rack solutions, carrier data center fiber solutions, and more. Te Pip Cabling notes that in the area of integrated cabling, there have been many acquisitions of data center products in recent years.

TE AMP also does not rule out the possibility of future expansion into the data center product domain. According to reporters understand that TE Connectivity AMP is currently undergoing internal integration, the integrated Broadband Network Department (formerly known as the Enterprise Network Department) will cover the operator optical fiber network access, data center, enterprise network wiring, wireless antennas, and other business areas.

After adjustment, the advantages of TE AMP cabling in outdoor fiber access and cloud computing data centers will be even more pronounced. Rosenberg currently offers cabling solutions that include traditional cabling hardware, management software, intelligent cabling systems, and services.

Rosenberg is already a service provider capable of providing end-to-end infrastructure. “Our positioning is clear: to expand our business as a total solution provider for the data center Telecom infrastructure,” Chen Yutung said. ”

New standards ready to be issued- March 2013, the IEEE 802.3BQ 40gbase-t Working Group was formally established. Since 40GBASE-T PHY’s chip technology and processing capabilities have not yet been determined, manufacturers ‘ products do not yet ensure support for 40gbase-t applications.

However, some vendors have already analyzed the 40gb/s throughput on the basis of the assumed PHY capability, which also provides the basis for the implementation of higher speed Ethernet projects while exploring the technical feasibility. Nexans believes that 2014 is a critical year for the development of integrated cabling systems, as many industry standards are likely to be promulgated, such as the 40GBASE-T Standard, and new 40g/100g parallel transmission standards may also be dusted, while the national standard will also have new trends.

Since 2013, Jackson has introduced new standards for 40G transmissions on a number of occasions and plans to introduce solutions in the first place when the new standards are promulgated. In an interview with reporters, TE Connectivity AMP also made it clear that the company will develop products and solutions for new network standards to better support higher levels of network cabling systems and provide higher density network connectivity systems. TE Pip cabling Solutions allow for better integration of 100G and 40G networks, allowing users to scale and upgrade in the future.

4G is a new opportunity

4 G is another new milestone in the field of mobile communications. The development of 4G network will have an extremely far-reaching impact on many industries and enterprises.

TE Connectivity AMP believes that the rapid development of the 4G network will drive a large number of domestic base stations and computer room construction.

Te Pip Cabling can provide solutions related to the connection and laying of fiber optic networks, such as high-density fiber wiring systems, high-density optical fiber management systems, for the special needs of telecom operator room networks. Rosenberg has a dedicated business department responsible for LTE communications solutions. Since 2014, the continuous updating of LTE technology has driven the entire communications market in a good direction.

The LTE-related optical fiber communications products and solutions provided by Rosenberg have also gained a number of business opportunities as a result. “We are actively involved in major 4G network deployments around the world,” said Wang Sheng, sales director of wireless network Solutions in the company’s wireless business division and China. We are willing to share COMMSCOPE’s leading technology and extensive practical experience in 4G networks with our communications operators in China.

In 2014, all wiring manufacturers have aimed at the vertical industry market, according to the special needs of different industries to provide suitable wiring products and solutions have become the common goal of wiring manufacturers.

Customers in the financial, government, medical, energy, Internet and other industries have a rigid demand for data centers, not only to optimize the original data center but also to continuously expand the size of the data center, so the data center cabling system has also put forward new requirements. COMMSCOPE, Simon, TE Connectivity AMP, Rosenberg, Nexans, and other wiring manufacturers have said they will dig deep into the application needs of vertical industries to provide comprehensive, efficient, reliable and flexible wiring solutions.