Unforeseen and yet unavoidable - The effects of the corona virus on the utilization of data cabling

  

What is the significance of a cabling infrastructure that is tailored to requirements in today's world?

How quickly and significantly life can change is becoming apparent more than ever in the current situation due to the corona virus. Social life has been turned upside down. Companies have to change their structures and ways of working, in some cases complete business models are obsolete. Social interaction is being particularly affected. Conversations that were otherwise conducted in person now take place virtually. Our lives have increasingly shifted towards the online world and it is becoming clear more than ever that appropriate data cabling is essential. To ensure that companies and organizations are well prepared for such situations in the future, it is necessary to understand the importance of high-performance data cabling as part of the critical infrastructure and to make it future- as well as crisis-proof.

  

Data centers - the hub for a functioning data exchange

"Social distancing" entails many limitations. The vast majority of employees are working from their home office. Without functioning Internet connections, digital life and work would not be possible. However, in order to manage the current situation in the best possible way, a smooth workflow is now more important than ever. This is where data centers have a crucial role to play. Whenever online services are used, connections to data centers - i.e. central nodes - are established in the background. They play a decisive role in processing large amounts of data. No matter whether it's a video conference, a WhatsApp message or a simple phone call. Data centers are permanently involved.

Data traffic in the fast lane

The increase in data traffic in recent weeks in Germany alone was just under 10 percent. At the beginning of March, a record 9.1 terabits per second of data exchange was measured for the first time ever by the German Commercial Internet Exchange (DE-CIX) in Frankfurt. In order for the networks to be able to withstand such demands, a high-performance IT infrastructure is required.

  

Therefore, clear structures, scalability and redundancy are essential to achieve this. The basis for the clear structure is the ISO-OSI seven-layer reference model. It defines the application as first priority. The first layer of the reference model is the physical infrastructure on which the data transport takes place. This includes cables as well as components such as distributors with patch panels. IT cabling - according to EN 50600 / DIN EN 50173-5 - is fundamental for the availability of applications. If, for example, a connection to a physical server does not provide the required performance in terms of latency and the necessary data throughput, it has a direct effect on other components of the network. This may also affect the access to all other virtual servers served by such a physical server. Many people experience this now, for example, just when the connection to an online conference breaks down or cloud storage becomes extremely slow, reducing the effectiveness of work in the home office. To put it in a nutshell: Without functioning data cabling there are no IT applications available. The disastrous consequence would be that devices such as servers, switches and storage would no longer be able to communicate and exchange data. The processing, provision and securing of information would also be impossible. The cabling of IT infrastructure, which has been a core competence of Rosenberger OSI since 1991, is often not adequately taken into account. Especially today, however, everyone should be aware that cabling is the backbone of communication in data centers.

  

Highest quality for a powerful connection

Good cabling is defined by many factors. A high-performance connection is decisive for reliable data transmission. This includes an appropriate installation of the cabling and a continuous quality control. During installation, the utmost care, comprehensive know-how and the availability of the necessary resources are crucial. After all, the ever more demanding IT applications are becoming increasingly less error tolerant. As a result, they also require absolutely uncompromising quality in terms of cabling - not only of the components, but also of service. For example, the careful placement of connectors is an essential factor for high network performance. All types of soiling must be avoided, which is why the connector surfaces should be cleaned with suitable cleaning tools before installation and then examined under a microscope. Otherwise, lack of care will have a negative effect on the data throughput.

Cabling systems with the quality feature PreCONNECT® PURE, for example, take this safety concept into account. Sealed connection interfaces on the trunk cables protect the connector front surfaces from dirt and damage during installation and before commissioning. This ensures that the best possible insertion and return loss is provided and the greatest possible transmission range is guaranteed.

  

Thought out - strategic - well-planned

The realization that cabling requires increased attention is a first important step for a future-oriented company. When developing an own IT strategy, it is advisable to call on experts in this field due to the complexity of the topic. The cabling experts from Rosenberger OSI, for example, can provide support with their long-standing experience at an early stage of project planning. In the coming years, it may be decisive in terms of competitiveness to take measures immediately in order to build a future-proof data center infrastructure. In addition, it is important to be informed about the latest forward-looking technologies in order to be prepared for the developments of the coming years and to build a future-proof cabling infrastructure.

Do you want to prepare your data cabling for the future? Our experts will be happy to advise you!