Making Use of Innovative Cabling Technologies to Deliver the Best Preterminated. System for 10G Networks

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1 Not All Pre-Terminated Cabling Systems Are Created Equal Making Use of Innovative Cabling Technologies to Deliver the Best Preterminated Cabling System for 10G Networks Table of Contents Introduction Fast, Easy Installation... 2 Performance and Reliability... 3 Flexibility and Scalability... 5 Long-Term Sustainability... 6 The Belden Advantage About the Author... 6 Today s Data Center managers are striving to increase bandwidth and processing capacity while maximizing space efficiency and sustainability for overall reduced operational costs. Consequently, Data Center managers need high-performance solutions that help optimize power and cooling, take up less space, and maintain zero downtime for maximum network availability. While each key need has an impact on cost, nothing has a more direct impact than maintaining network availability. Downtime of the network is the most costly situation of any business, averaging anywhere from a few thousand dollars to more than $500,000 for every hour of downtime. Network downtime not only impacts staff productivity and the ability to conduct business, but it also has a severe long-term affect on overall customer satisfaction. Downtime can be caused by a wide range of situations, but studies show that issues with the Data Center cabling infrastructure can be an overwhelming cause. These include poor network transmission performance, inadequate cabling management, and maintenance and upgrades that require network reconfigurations. To minimize downtime, many Data Centers perform installation, upgrades, and system maintenance during off-peak hours under strict deadlines and budgets. Extremely critical environments like a healthcare facility, trading floor or call center may even require that these tasks be completed in a single overnight operation. Cable termination is one of the most time-consuming and labor intensive processes of any installation, upgrade or reconfiguration. While field-terminated connectivity systems are generally less costly to purchase, they carry much higher installation costs. Many Data Centers are investing in copper and optical fiber pre-terminated cabling solutions that reduce downtime and the need for on-site field termination and electrical verification testing while providing better performance and sustainability. Pre-terminated cabling systems are like building blocks for the Data Center following planning to determine cable lengths, these systems are delivered, unpacked, prepared for deployment and connected extremely quickly in the same location where they will be installed and without the need for special tools or field termination. They are the ideal solution for Data Centers, storage area networks (SANs), disaster recovery locations, or any networking environment where downtime is not an option and rapid deployment, reliability and performance are critical. With preterminated systems, today s Data Center manager can: Reduce time and cost of cabling installation, maintenance and upgrades Enhance network performance due to consistent factory terminations and testing Provide better scalability for new technologies and applications Enable improved cable management, improved airflow and a neat, clean appearance Offer greater flexibility and portability due to reusability and reconfiguration of components Provide a more environmentally-sound option by cutting down on material, inventory and waste When it comes to evaluating, selecting, and specifying pre-terminated copper cabling solutions, Data Center managers are faced with a variety of choices from proprietary, cassette-based systems, to cabling assemblies terminated with either modular jacks or modular plugs. It is therefore essential to understand the key technological differences between available solutions for effectively determining which offers the fastest and easiest installation, best overall performance, maximum flexibility and scalability, and long-term sustainability. 1

2 Fast, Easy Installation Since the main benefit of pre-terminated copper solutions is to reduce the time and cost associated with Data Center installations, maintenance, and upgrades, determining the solution that offers the fastest, easiest, and most reliable installation is a key factor in product selection. The deployment speed of a pre-terminated system can be impacted by: I ntuitiveness of the plugand-play method Ease of routing cables in pathways and spaces Patch panel configurability and cable management Product availability and ease of ordering process Many pre-terminated copper solutions are available with factory-terminated 8-pin modular RJ45 jacks. In the field, these jacks need to be individually snapped into a patch panel. Other termination options include plug-and-play cassette-based systems where 6 or 12 jacks are pre-installed in cassettes that also need to be snapped into a patch panel. While these solutions eliminate the need for termination, snapping the jacks or cassettes into the patch panels adds an extra step in the process. Furthermore, more time is required to remove jacks or cassettes from patch panels during reconfiguration or redeployments. The jacks or jack assemblies are also more prone to be dislodged or disconnected due to manipulation of the cable assembly during installation or removal. The Belden 10GX Pre-Terminated Cabling System features cable assemblies that are preterminated using an RJ-45 plug interface. These cable assemblies simply plug into the back of a patch panel pre-loaded with RJ-45-toRJ-45 in-line couplers that position an RJ-45 jack on both the front and back of the patch panel. This eliminates the time needed to snap any jacks or cassettes into the patch panel. Moreover, plugging into a jack interface is a 2 well-known, intuitive connection method for data connectivity used throughout the LAN. Plugs have an overall smaller footprint compared to jacks (see Figure 1). When preterminated cable assemblies are terminated with RJ-45 plugs, they are inherently easier to pull and route from one patch panel to another. This is especially beneficial in the Data Center environment where the density of cables is much higher. Cassettes feature a larger footprint than jacks, making them even more difficult to pull and route, and, requiring more pathway space. When pre-terminated cable assemblies are designed with a smaller 6-cable bundle Plugs Jacks terminated to individual plugs like the Belden 10GX Pre-Terminated Assemblies, these cable assemblies can be easily plugged into the back of the patch panel in a straight alignment for either center, left, or right-entry cable dressing, offering more flexible configurability and cable management (see Figure 2). This makes it easy for Data Center managers to stock standard lengths, reconfigure connections, and adapt to cable routing constraints in the rack or cabinet. In contrast, pre-terminated solutions that use more than a 6-cable bundle may need to be staggered to ensure that each cable is able to reach its specific patch panel port. This requires more detailed and careful planning Cassette Figure 1: The smaller plug footprint is easier to pull and route than jacks or cassettes. Figure 2: Belden 6-cable bundles can easily be plugged into center, left or right positions on the back of the patch panel in a straight alignment without the need for staggered lengths.

3 and ordering of pre-terminated systems, increasing the potential for errors and ending up with some cables that are too short or others that have too much slack. While all pre-terminated solutions require up-front planning to determine the required length of cables, smaller bundles of 6 cables terminated with individual plugs do not require staggered lengths. This allows Data Center managers to order one style of cable assembly without concern of where in the patch panel they will be plugged in left, right, or center. Further labor savings is gained because preterminated solutions eliminate the need for time-consuming transmission performance testing only continuity testing is recommended to ensure that ports are active. Each cable assembly comes with a comprehensive test report and is labeled with its part number, length, and unique serial number for requesting specific test reports directly from the manufacturer. The cable assembly labels can also be customized to signify the assembly s specific cabinet, patch panel, and/ or port location. This significantly speeds deployment and saves labor, especially for customers that utilize standard configurations throughout the data center. In fact, as has been seen in large installations that include thousands of ports, installation time has been reduced from weeks to days. Performance and Reliability Figure 3: A plug with its protective strain relief boot maintains pair geometry and performance over jacks. The wiggle test is a severe test that is used to evaluate the integrity of the mated plug/jack connection and the risk of loss of electrical continuity. Acceptance Criteria: 1. Plug retention in jack 2. No loss of electrical continuity of the mated connection and the shield after 1 minute (5 turns) of rotation with a load of lbf 3. No damage to the cable assembly (boot, cable...) Figure 4: In wiggle (gorilla) testing, which verifies the mechanical integrity of terminations, Belden 10GX Pre-Terminated Cable Assemblies demonstrated no damage to the plug assembly and no loss of electrical continuity after 1 minute (5 turns) of rotation with a load of lbf. Because pre-terminated solutions are factory terminated, they offer more reliable, consistent performance than field terminations that are prone to installation variance and inconsistencies. Pre-terminated cables with RJ-45 plugs offer assured performance and reliability over solutions terminated using jacks. In general, RJ45 plugs are more robust than jacks because they are designed with integrated cable strain relief boots that protect the conductors within the cable, preventing them from moving at the termination point (see Figure 3). A rigorous wiggle (gorilla) test is used to verify the mechanical integrity of terminations. The wiggle test (see Figure 4) is a severe test that evaluates the mated plug/jack connection with no loss of electrical continuity after one minute of rotation with an applied load of lbf. Belden 10GX Pre-Terminated Cable Assemblies demonstrated no damage or cracks to the plug assembly and no loss of electrical continuity due to the design of the strain relief boot and retained pair geometry. The Belden 10GX RJ-45 Coupler mates with an RJ-45 plug at the front and back of the patch panel. While some proponents of jack terminated solutions may claim they have better channel performance due to fewer connections in the channel, the Belden 10GX RJ-45 Coupler was actually designed to exceed the performance requirements of a single plug-jack connection. It uses Belden s Dual-FleX PCB technology derived from the proven FleX PCB technology used in Belden 10GX modular jacks, compensating for noise at the plug-jack contact point, on both sides, effectively eliminating the delay effect in crosstalk compensation. This creates a controlled plug-jack connection that is well balanced with improved crosstalk and return loss performance. 3

4 In a Category 6A 4-connector horizontal channel using Belden 10GX Pre-Terminated Cable Assemblies and 10GX RJ-45 Couplers, the 10GX Pre-Terminated Cabling System provides guaranteed Category 6A performance with built-in headroom extending up to 625 MHz. In fact, the 10GX RJ-45 Coupler is such a welldesigned connector that testing of a 100-meter channel using 12 couplers (24 connections) also met TIA/EIA-568-C.2 performance specifications for a 100 m Category 6A channel. In the Data Center, links between switch ports and server cabinets are typically much shorter than horizontal links in the LAN as short as 3 meters and usually no longer than 75 meters. Surprisingly, it is much more difficult to meet Category 6A performance requirements in a short permanent link or channel because pair-to-pair Near End Crosstalk Figure 6: Belden 10GX Pre-Terminated Cabling System Return Loss Performance for a 13-meter, 4-connector Channel Figure 5: Belden 10GX Pre-Terminated Cabling System NEXT Performance for a 13-meter, 4-connector Channel Figure 7: Belden 10GX Pre-Terminated Cabling System Power-sum Alien Crosstalk (PSANEXT) Performance for a 13-meter, 4-connector Channel. (NEXT) loss, Return Loss (RL) and Power Sum Alien Near-End Crosstalk (PSANEXT) loss are more seriously impacted at high frequencies by connectors located in close proximity to equipment (Figures 5, 6 & 7). With some connector designs, it may not be possible to meet Category 6A performance specifications when the cable distance is less than 15 meters in a 3-connector permanent link or 4-connector channel. Belden s 10GX RJ-45 Couplers are designed with performance that eliminates short length design restrictions that are often found with other pre-terminated solutions. With the Belden 10GX Pre-Terminated Cabling System, Data Center IT managers can rest assured that a 4-connector channel with a cable distance as short as 2 meters between connectors is certified to meet or exceed Category 6A requirements (see Belden Technical Bulletin Short is Tough ). Unlike other solutions on the market, both shielded and unshielded Belden 10GX Pre- 4

5 Terminated Cable Assemblies feature a robust double jacket design that ensures exceptional structural stability and unvarying transmission performance. 10GX Pre-Terminated Cable Assemblies also feature Belden s patented Bonded-Pair technology that bonds the individual insulated conductors together along their longitudinal axes for uniform conductorto-conductor spacing. Unlike nonbonded-pair cable where the physical structure of a pair can change when assemblies are squeezed and bent in pathways and cable managers, Bonded-Pair cable assemblies maintain their physical integrity and electrical performance even when subjected to handling stresses during installation. Because pre-terminated systems are often plugged and unplugged, or rerouted to accommodate Data Center reconfigurations, the ability of the pairs to Nonbonded-pair Bonded-Pair Figure 8: Nonbonded-pairs have a tendency to gap, varying the centricity of the two conductors. Belden Bonded-Pairs do not gap so the physical integrity of the pair is maintained. maintain their physical integrity is even more vital in these applications (see Figure 8). Now Available in Shielded For Data Center managers concerned about noise due to electromagnetic or radio frequency interference (EMI/RFI) from external sources or alien crosstalk from adjacent cables, shielded pre-terminated solutions can offer improved noise immunity and better alien crosstalk performance when properly bonded and grounded in accordance with TIA 607-B and TIA 568-C.0 requirements. When it comes to shielded pre-terminated solutions, a plugbased cable assembly is a much better choice. Just as pair geometry can be compromised with jack-based systems, so can the shield connection. Plug-based solutions are better able to maintain the integrity of the shield. Belden Shielded Pre-Terminated Cabling Assemblies have been tested under many cycles of Flex Fatigue testing as illustrated in Figure 9. This test verifies the mechanical integrity of patch cord terminations (both conductors and the shield) during multiple 180-degree flexions under a tension of 5 lbf. Flexibility and Scalability Pre-terminated solutions using standard form factor RJ-45 plugs and jacks on the back side of the patch panels offer maximum flexibility and scalability. In contrast, proprietary, cassette, or jack-based systems cannot be easily reconfigured as needs change. Proprietary terminated solutions will lock Data Center managers into always having to use that vendor s technology for the life of the system. Proprietary vendors also often cease supporting older versions of their products, or they may disappear from the marketplace altogether. Jack and cassette-based systems are not readily removed from patch panels, making it difficult to reconfigure Data Center connections. Because the Belden 10GX Pre-Terminated Solutions use standard RJ-45 plugs on the end of cable assemblies and RJ-45 couplers in the patch panels, the cable assemblies are easily unplugged and reconfigured at the back of the patch panel as needed even when plugged into a high-density (1U, 48-port) patch panel situated at the top of a fully-loaded cabinet. While some pre-terminated solutions may require a special patch panel or are only available in limited configurations and styles, Belden 10GX KeyConnect Couplers use a keystone design that is compatible with all of Belden s KeyConnect modular patch panels, adapters and faceplates with no need for special hardware. The 10GX RJ-45 Couplers can be pre-loaded in any patch panel, including high-density 48-port, 1U panels or AngleFlex patch panels. They can also be purchased separately in a variety of colors and installed in existing modular patch panels, allowing color-coded cabling for better management or to easily scale from existing systems to the 10GX Pre-Terminated Cabling System. Cassette-based pre-terminated solutions do not typically offer this level of flexibility and Figure 9: Belden Shielded Pre-Terminated Cabling Assemblies pass the flex fatigue test that verifies the mechanical integrity of patch cord terminations to lateral 180 degrees flexions under a tension of 5 lbf until an electrical open occurs. Acceptance Criteria: Minimum number of flex cycles before continuity failure > 40 cycles. 5

6 scalability. Furthermore, the use of the 10GX KeyConnect Couplers makes the Belden 10GX Pre-Terminated System perfectly suitable for use outside of the Data Center, including cross-connects in telecommunications rooms or consolidation points throughout the LAN. Long-term Sustainability Pre-terminated solutions are a more environmentally-conscious choice for today s Data Center. Because there are no field terminations, cable waste and packaging are significantly reduced, providing up to a 50% material reduction in Data Center cabling topology. In fact, the simplicity of a factory-terminated solution means energy savings and less waste throughout the entire supply chain process. The use of components that can be easily re-deployed and reused makes for a more sustainable Data Center and reduced longterm costs systems can be easily reconfigured and upgraded without having to replace the cables and connectivity. Because plugbased cabling assemblies are much more robust than jack- or cassette-based solutions, they can be easily unplugged, rerouted, and plugged back into another location within the Data Center or even used elsewhere in the LAN. In contrast, jack- and cassettebased solutions that have to be popped out of a patch panel are more easily damaged during reconfigurations, possibly rendering them useless and requiring replacements. Pre-terminated cable assemblies comprised of more than 6 cables that may have to be staggered for right and left entry and specially ordered to adequately reach each port on the patch panel, are not as easily reused in other areas of the Data Center. A smaller, flexible cable assembly like the Belden 10GX Pre-Terminated Cable Assembly used in a high-performance preterminated system means less cable to be deployed and less slack cable, making for a greener more sustainable Data Center. The Belden Advantage The Belden 10GX Per-Terminated Cabling System is the best choice for performance, ease of configuration and ease of deployment, and it is the easiest to order when it comes to selecting pre-terminated copper solutions for the Data Center. Belden 10GX Pre-Terminated Cabling System using patented Dual-FleX PCB technology in 10GX RJ-45 Coupler design combined with the double-jacket and Bonded-Pair technology of the 10GX Cable Assemblies delivers the best reliability and guaranteed performance and headroom above others on the market. Each assembly is packaged with a comprehensive test report and specific performance data are also available using the unique serial number found on each assembly. In addition to length, part number and the unique serial number, Belden offers custom labeling of cable assemblies to indicate specific customer information, such as patch panel, cabinet or port location. The 10GX Pre-Terminated System is available with both shielded and unshielded components. The Belden 10GX pre-terminated cabling system is available in both shielded and unshielded versions. The shielded solution can provide a higher degree of noise immunity when bonded and grounded according to TIA 568-C.0 and TIA 607-B standards. The 10GX Shielded Pre- Terminated System includes shielded cable assemblies, shielded couplers, and shielded patch panels for a true end-to-end shielded system that maintains shielding integrity throughout the entire system and provides a 10 db margin on PSANEXT and PSAACRF performance. The Belden 10GX Pre-Terminated Cabling System is fully supported under Belden s IBDN 10GX Certification Program including guaranteed bandwidth of 625 MHz, full support for 10 Gb/s Ethernet, and Belden s 25-year Product Warranty and Lifetime Application Assurance program. With simple planning, fast delivery and up to 90% reduction in installation time and labor costs, and virtually no testing or troubleshooting required, Belden s 10GX Pre-Terminated Cabling System brings plugand-play connectivity to a whole new level while ensuring performance and reliability, flexibility and scalability, and overall longterm sustainability with no compromise. About the Authors Paul Kish is the Director of Systems and Standards with Belden. Paul Kish is a key contributor to the development of cabling standards with TIA, ISO and IEEE and also serves on the BICSI Technical Information & Methods Committee. Benoit Chevarie Product Line Manager Copper Connectivity 6 Belden Technical Support BELDEN.1 ( ) Pre-Term-WP Copyright 2012, Belden Inc.