DATA CENTER Best Practices Guide: High Density Cable Management Solutions Describes recommended cabling solutions for high density port solutions based on Brocade’s FC8-64 FC port blade.
DATA CENTER BEST PRACTICES GUIDE CONTENTS Introduction........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 3 Terminology .................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Overview of the FC8-64 FC port blade .....
DATA CENTER BEST PRACTICES GUIDE INTRODUCTION The lack of good cable management impacts serviceability and availability of the SAN. A good cable management solution provides customers with the ability to dynamically scale and adapt to changes in their IT infrastructure while minimizing required service time. This document provides customers deploying high density solutions with general guidelines for proper cable management.
DATA CENTER BEST PRACTICES GUIDE Overview of the FC8-64 FC port blade The Brocade® FC8-64 high density 64-port Fibre Channel blade (Figure 1) for the DCX® Backbone family combines industry leading port density, performance, scalability, and reliability to maximize the benefits of SAN and server consolidation.
DATA CENTER BEST PRACTICES GUIDE As an industry leader and innovator in high availability SAN solutions, Brocade developed a space efficient version of the standard Small Form Factor Pluggable (SFP+) media that enables high density port configurations as well as improved serviceability (Figure 2). These new “mini” SFPs (mSFP) retain all of the performance and functionality of the standard SFP+ and include individual port isolation for improved serviceability and availability.
DATA CENTER BEST PRACTICES GUIDE Figure 3. mSFP cable types PLANNING As port density per a director and a rack increase, having an appropriate cable management plan is key especially during servicing or scaling out the fabric. The cable management plan should include current and future SAN design requirements. Cables can be managed in a variety of ways, such as by routing cables below the chassis, to either side of the chassis, through cable channels on the sides of the cabinet, or using patch panels.
DATA CENTER BEST PRACTICES GUIDE This inefficient approach also contributes to the over-heating of data centers—particularly within raised flooring and around the racks where cable clutter primarily occurs—requiring additional resources to cool the systems. Figure 4.
DATA CENTER BEST PRACTICES GUIDE Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of implementing LC or MPO/MTP cabling solutions in static or dynamic environments: Low Maint.
DATA CENTER BEST PRACTICES GUIDE Extensive Cable Connection Mgmt Required: 1. LC-LC single cables require more cable management. 2. MPO trunk cables require less cable management. Selecting the appropriate cable management solution is dependent on your unique environment.
DATA CENTER BEST PRACTICES GUIDE Trusting the Standards Industry cabling standards are designed to protect the end user. Whether these standards are in draft or ratified state, they provide a firm foundation for establishing a coherent infrastructure, and guidelines for maintaining high levels of cable performance. Cabling standards define cabling specifications looking out to the next several years, thus supporting future desires for higher speed transmissions.
DATA CENTER BEST PRACTICES GUIDE (You can exclude Building and Room if there is only one instance of this entity in your environment.) Once the naming scheme is approved, you can start labeling the components. Be sure to create a reference document that will become part of the training for new data center administrators. NOTE: Additional recommendations can be found in the standard ANSI/TIA-606 Administration Standard for the Commercial Telecommunications Infrastructure.
DATA CENTER BEST PRACTICES GUIDE Cabling Installation (Front Side, Director Ports to Patch Panel): 1. Start cabling from the top ports (e.g. port 31). 2. Bundle the cables with Velcro in groups of eight to match the ASIC or trunk boundaries. This will facilitate servicing of the system through easy identification of the cable path. 3. Work your way down to the bottom port. 4. Bundle the 32 cables using Velcro (ports 0-31). CAUTION: Do not use plastic zip ties or metal tie wraps.
DATA CENTER BEST PRACTICES GUIDE Figure 7 depicts the 256 port cabling in its completed state. This methodology provides for an attractive environment that facilitates cooler equipment, troubleshooting, and manageable growth or changes. Figure 7. Completed cabling Cabling Installation (Back Side, From Devices to Patch Panel): When connecting cables from outside devices to the backside of the patch panel, the cables should be routed through the patch panel’s backside punch-out holes.
DATA CENTER BEST PRACTICES GUIDE The following items are required to implement this LC cable management solution for a 256 port LC patch panel solution utilizing the Brocade DCX with four FC8-64 port blades: • Four XBR-000306 1RU 72 port LC-LC patch panels • 256 mSFP-LC cables of 2-meter length • Roll of Velcro & scissors • Four Cord Management Sleeves SETUP AND CONFIGURATION - 512 PORT SOLUTION This section describes how to cable up a 512 port DCX using an MPO/MTP solution with the FC8-64 port bl
DATA CENTER BEST PRACTICES GUIDE Cabling Installation (Front Side, Director Ports to Patch Panel): 1. Start cabling from the top ports (e.g. port 31). 2. Work your way down to the bottom port. 3. Bundle the trunk cable in groups of six above the cable comb using Velcro. CAUTION: Do not use plastic zip ties or metal tie wraps. These types of ties can cause sheathing and overstress the patch cables, causing signal loss. 4.
DATA CENTER BEST PRACTICES GUIDE The following items are required to implement this MPO/MTP cable management solution for a 512 port solution utilizing the Brocade DCX with eight FC8-64 port blades: • Two XBR-000307 1RU 72 port MPO-MPO patch panels • 96 mSFP-MPO/MTP cables of 2 meter length • Roll of Velcro & scissors • Eight Cord Management Sleeves SERVICING HIGH DENSITY SOLUTIONS Identifying and servicing fibre cables at a port level can be a challenge when servicing cables during an anomaly d
DATA CENTER BEST PRACTICES GUIDE √ For backbone and horizontal runs, install additional cables as spares. √ Install higher cabling categories that will meet application requirements for the foreseeable future. √ Cabling installations and components should be compliant with industry standards.
DATA CENTER BEST PRACTICES GUIDE √ Use horizontal and vertical cable guides to route cables within and between racks. Use “cable spool” devices in cable managers to avoid kinks and sharp bends in the cable. Do not wrap patch cords around these spools like a hose on a hose reel. √ Document all cabling components and their linkage between components and make sure that this information is updated on a regular basis. The installation, labeling, and documentation should always match.
DATA CENTER BEST PRACTICES GUIDE APPENDIX A: CABLE TO PORT MAPPING LC Cable to Port Mapping NOTE: Print and past the table on the rack door or a log book located near the rack for easy identification devices.
DATA CENTER BEST PRACTICES GUIDE MPO/MTP Cable to Port Mapping NOTE: Print and past the table on the rack door or a log book located near the rack for easy identification devices.
DATA CENTER BEST PRACTICES GUIDE APPENDIX B: EQUIPMENT LIST Chassis Chassis Description Brocade DCX Built for large enterprise networks, the 14U Brocade DCX has eight vertical blade slots to provide up to 512 Fibre Channel ports. Brocade DCX-4S Built for midsize networks, the 8U Brocade DCX-4S has four horizontal blade slots to provide up to 256 Fibre Channel ports. Patch Cables for mSFP Connection The mSFP patch cables listed below are for use in the FC8-64 FC port blade.
DATA CENTER BEST PRACTICES GUIDE Trunk Cables for mSFP Connection Type Description Length Corning Part Number Molex Part Number Amphenol Part Number mSFP to MTP mSFP LC - MTP-female, 12 fiber, 12" breakout, OM3, 50/125 Need to specify length when ordering PN varies based on length H93S5TE9-BMU-XXXM (XXX = length) N/A PN varies based on length 943-99867-1XXXX (XXXX = length) mSFP to MTP mSFP LC - MTP-female, 2m N/A 106272-0327 N/A N/A 106272-0328 N/A 12 fiber, 6" breakout, OM3, 50/125
DATA CENTER BEST PRACTICES GUIDE APPENDIX C: THIRD-PARTY VENDORS Cable Management Vendors Corning Phone: 1-800-743-2675 Molex Phone: 1-800-833-3557 Email: onlinesales@arrow.com Email for quotes outside the U.S.: iccsales@arrow.com www.arrow.com (contact your local branch if you are already an Arrow customer) Amphenol Phone: 1-510-209-6831 www.amphenol.com www.cablesondemand.com Patch Panel Vendors CommScope Phone: 1-800-344-0223 Email: support@systimax.
