So, it appears that it’s “that time” at your business—namely, an upgrade of your data center is in order. However, first things first. Before you perform an upgrade and installation of your hardware, it’s recommended that you also ensure your cabling infrastructure is updated, too. Otherwise, it’s highly likely that your team will spend much time and effort troubleshooting links and channels, just to discover it is actually a cabling issue that was entirely preventable.
In this blog, the cabling experts at Connectivity will explain some potential cabling issues that could be present as well as recommendations to take note of.
Potential Data Center Cabling Issues
There are many cabling issues that can be present when a data center undergoes an upgrade, including:
Incorrect cable lengths: If a cable is too short to connect to new hardware, that’s an issue. Conversely, if it is too long, it could appear messy, experience reduced airflow, and even cause issues when tracing cables during hardware maintenance, moves, additions, etc.
Incorrect polarity: If the proper polarity is not present, the transmitting signal from hardware will not get to the receiver. In turn, downtime will be experienced, and you will be faced with troubleshooting multiple causes to find the error.
Inadequate cabling speeds: Your business’s cabling infrastructure, as it is presently, could be inadequate for future hardware upgrades. Sometimes connector changes are required when speeds increase.
How to Avoid Data Center Cabling Issues
It all comes down to being familiar with your current system. It is necessary to find where weak points are and implement solutions that are created to limit the potential of vulnerability.
Understand the cabling infrastructure that is already in place. Then, map out what your end vision is as it relates to your data center. This is critical for ensuring ROI after your upgrade.
It is always better to correct existing problems right now to ensure a smooth upgrade. By understanding your cabling infrastructure and pinpointing areas where limitations could live will help you confirm that your business will minimize the risk of problems in the long run.
Our Recommendations
Create an overhead diagram of the data center and ensure it includes cabling pathways. Identify where hardware will be mounted, and add these details to the diagram. Make sure to include any hardware naming schemes and port counts. Also, identify color-coding if you have used this in your design.
Formulate a plan that identifies areas that could experience growth—and guarantee that your cabling infrastructure can handle that growth. You want to ensure your setup will be able to accommodate future upgrades that require higher speeds.
Finally, ensure you have cabling that will support installations, such as trunking to the Main Distribution Area (MDA); open ports at MDA; and correct patch cabling for both MDA and equipment racks.
Connectivity Can Assess Your Cabling Infrastructure
If you are in the process of preparing for a data center upgrade, the team at Connectivity would love to have the chance to ensure you have the right cabling infrastructure in place to enable your project’s success.
Reach out and schedule a consultation today. We welcome the opportunity to guarantee that your data center upgrade runs smoothly and facilitates your company’s productivity and profitability in the long term. Contact us now.