Intelligent cabling - what and why?

By Rosemary McGlashon, European Technical Manager for 3M

Until recently, one vital but largely invisible part of the data network has been overlooked: the cabling network, which although not as 'glamorous' as some other components involved, plays an essential role in transporting all those bytes of data to their final destinations.

Now, a new approach called intelligent cabling is bringing traditionally 'passive' data cabling systems in line with the rest of the active network, providing greater visibility of performance and reduced cost-of-ownership. Intelligent cabling helps prevent problems before they occur, thus reducing time-consuming troubleshooting and potentially expensive processes. Also, by remotely monitoring the network, intelligent cabling minimises the time associated with routine 'moves, adds and changes' (MACs), reducing the need for unnecessary site visits to check cable connection configurations.

So why do we need a new approach to cabling? Conventionally, records of all the individual connections in a cable system have been kept manually, usually in a computer spreadsheet. Envisage a large network - say, one supporting several hundred desk workers, or a data centre - and it rapidly becomes clear that the number of cable connections and associated records could run into thousands.

Spreadsheets depend on manual input, which can lead to errors, for instance caused by someone failing to report to the spreadsheet owner that a connection had been reconfigured. When this happens, someone needs to go to the connection point or 'patch panel' (where a number of connections are aggregated onto one board) and manually check what is connected to what (which is often not obvious, unless connections are clearly labelled or colour-coded).

Where required, it may then be necessary to reconfigure those connections, or request the assistance of the original installation company: in either case, this wastes time and money. Given that the scale of networks is likely to continue to grow, then so would the headache associated with cabling, which is where intelligent cabling can help.

What is intelligent cabling?

Intelligent cabling involves linking computerised information to the physical cable network, to provide 'realtime' information about the configuration of cabling connections, thus removing the need for manual records that
can become out-of-date or are at risk of error caused by human input.

Generally, the 'intelligent' part of the system does not impact on the data path and the system can be fitted with any data media choice, whether single mode or multimode fibre or category 5e, 6 or 6A copper cabling. Often, the connectivity intelligence comes through a sensor which records and monitors the connection of a patch-cord plug into a socket on a patch panel, through, for example, a pin on the plug touching on a sensor at the panel.

The pins at each end of the patch-cord are connected through an internal extra wire. This loop of connectivity is continuously monitored by a scanner connected to the panel and reported back through equipment that collects data from the scanners into the network database. This is supplemented by the information collected from the switches and routers in the network to form the complete picture. Software adds the functionality and processing of the information to the user requirements.

Benefits

MAC work orders can be created in advance and scheduled for execution. The intelligent cable patch panels guide the technician through the process by lighting up an LED at the ports where changes are to occur. This speeds up the process, helps prevent mistakes being madeand also means that staff with limited training, for example at a remote site, can make simple MACs. The system can also send alerts concerning problems - for instance, a broken patch cord - using various methods such as email or SMS.

Intelligent cabling is not just useful for occasional MACS: it can also be used to efficiently provision whole department moves. By looking for space on network switches, links and outlets, automatically creating a movement order, by guiding the technician and updating the records, intelligent cabling can save the time usually associated with planning and execution, while simultaneously improving accuracy.

Security and asset management

Intelligent cabling can also offer increased network security and improved asset management. Together with the system's intelligence, SNMP (simple network management protocol) can be used to create a map of both passive cabling and active equipment (such as laptops, IP phones and printers) according to their location in the network. This means that the system can be set up to detect changes to devices, so that intruders and their IP addresses can easily be located, or an alert sent when assets are disconnected from the network. Links can also be marked as 'secure' (for example, the CEO's IP address), so if they are broken, whether accidentally or deliberately, notification is immediately sent to the network administrator.

Some intelligent cabling systems can also be integrated with CAD drawings of the network layout, so that the locations of equipment and network components can be viewed graphically. Some systems will even integrate the results of cable tests (typically carried out once installation is complete).

Simplified system reporting helps to manage assets more efficiently too. There can be continuous monitoring of key performance indicators against plans, or early-warning indicators of emerging problems, thereby improving service quality and reducing network downtime. The system can also identify under and over-used components or other network resources.

Checklist Intelligent cabling systems have been evolving for around a decade, but are only now becoming widespread, largely driven by the fact that networks are growing in scale and complexity. There is a rapidly growing choice of systems available, but not all systems are identical. For example, potential purchasers should check that a proposed system does actually supply the expected functionality, such as monitoring the connectivity loop through the patch cord, so that the database does not rely on the patching sequence and can monitor real connectivity.

Also, to make full use of the system, integration with existing software and network equipment - such as switches and PABXs - should be considered. A good system should also be scalable and flexible enough to deal with any patching area, from office branches to the largest data centre.

If the right system is chosen, intelligent cabling clearly has some tangible benefits to offer, including improved efficiency and security, better asset management and reduced costs. Given that many network managers have to juggle the need to support ever-growing volumes of data traffic and connections, versus extremely tight budgets, it is no surprise that intelligent cabling is increasingly appearing on their shopping lists.

Ends

About the author: Rosemary McGlashon has over 20 years experience in structured cabling and is currently European Technical Manager for 3M, the diversified technology company, which has ranges of both fibre and copper cabling components and systems under the Volition brand name. Rosemary is currently on the UK national committees for both cabling standards and fibre components and attends IEC and Cenelec working groups as UK expert for fibre connectors, closures and testing. She is secretary of IEC SC86B working group 6 on optical fibre connectors.