Cabling for your data center of the future

Parallel optic cabling is becoming ever more popular in data centers, as demonstrated by its use in multimode solutions with the applications 40 GBase-SR4, 100 GBase-SR10 and 100 GBase-SR4, which have been standardized in accordance with IEEE (Ethernet). With the introduction of 100 GBE-SR4, only four channels will be needed for the parallel operation of 25 GBE serial connections. This makes the 12-fiber MPO push-on connector an effective interface solution in this environment. The further development of parallel optic solutions in data centers can be expected in the future. This is thanks to the incentive provided by the IEEE. 802.3 standardization initiatives as well as the numerous MSA transceiver developments. In this context, data streams of 400G and higher over transmission paths of up to 100 metres using a corresponding number of OM4 fibres are considered to be self-evident.

The IEEE 802.3 Ethernet Working Group is working on several new Ethernet versions in parallel. Alongside the upcoming speeds of 200GBASE-SR4, 400GBASE-SR16 and 400GBASE-SR8, the Group is also looking at 100GBASE-SR2 and what is now the third 100G version. Even lower intermediate speeds using 25GBASE-SR and 50GBASE-SR are not yet obsolete. The aim of all these standardization projects is to define transmission over a minimum of 100 metres using MMF. Here, MMF refers to the graded index 50/125µm OM4 fiber. The shorter distances achievable using OM3 will also be specified. This should make it possible to check whether existing OM3 cabling can still be used.

The Ethernet transmission protocol 100 GBE-PSM4 will eliminate the tight length restriction of the multimode variant of max. 150 m depending on the protocol (IEEE 802.3). PSM4 technology was developed as an economical single-mode variant that can be used for transmission paths of 500 metres with channel attenuation of 3.26 dB (IEEE 802.3bm). In this context, Rosenberger OSI has extended its PreCONNECT^® OCTO cabling concept to include single-mode applications. Based on the SR4 and PSM4 protocols, only eight fibers are connected even if the MTP^®/MPO 12-way push-on connector is used as the interface. Modern cabling infrastructures for parallel optic data transmission therefore now only make use of cables with eight fibers or multiples thereof, instead of the twelve fibers that were generally used for MTP^®/MPO-based cabling solutions.

Studies show that approximately 50 percent of all the failures that occur in data centers can be traced back to the inadequate quality of the employed connection technology. This is catastrophic for high-availability data centers where the logistical requirements are particularly high. In such cases, any modifications that are needed to the data center structure must not have any impact on day-to-day operation. A structured, transparent IT cabling structure is the basis for trouble-free data transfer and the secure, reliable interaction of all the active components and applications in the data center. In addition, data centers must permit access to public communication networks, cloud providers and, of course, the Internet.

Security, reliability and durability are the decisive criteria for professional data center cabling. Flexible solutions are therefore at the very top of any customer’s wish list. Quality demands are increasing in line with the growth in network load. Through customized planning and intelligent cable management, the data center infrastructure can be optimized with no great effort. Latencies fall as data throughput increases. In the medium to long term, it is well worthwhile opting for high-quality components when choosing new network cabling. When doing so, it is necessary to consider high availability levels just as much as scalability and security.

Plug & Play systems provide the greatest possible reproducible quality and therefore offer the best transmission capabilities. These solutions are also preconfigured to provide the flexibility that is essential to accommodate future growth. As “living” control hubs, data centers must grow with the business processes as well as with newly introduced applications and increasing data volumes. Against this background, it makes sense to choose a clearly structured, transparent IT solution that is independent of the current “equipment pool”. This results in a physical, that is to say application-neutral, IT cabling structure that ultimately gives businesses considerably more room for manoeuvre.