www.adc.com • +1-952-938-8080 • 1-800-366-3891 285 Data-Center Connectivity Ethernet Distribution Frame Introduction 286 Glide Cable Manager 291 Patch Panel Introduction and Selection Tutorial 293 Patch Panels 297 High Performance Patch Cords 305 Accessories 306 286 6/04 • 1247379 MSO Market Solutions www.adc.com • +1-952-938-8080 • 1-800-366-3891 286 Ethernet Distribution Frame Introduction Centralized Cross-Connect System for Managing Ethernet Data Services Situation Ethernet-based data services offer the opportunity to create differentiation, command premium pricing, and earn higher margins for such value-added data services as transparent LANs, storage area networks, and virtual private networks. Extending native 10/100Base-T and Gigabit Ethernet services across the LAN, WAN, and MAN means data services are less expensive to deploy, provision quickly, and offer exceptional reliability and security. Yet as the Ethernet distribution system grows with more routers and switches, all of these advantages can be quickly erased by a poorly designed cabling and connectivity architecture. An effective ethernet data services business model includes the following goals: • Create a flexible, carrier-class Ethernet delivery system, and • Decrease operating costs of Ethernet delivery. Reaching these goals is contingent largely upon building the correct architecture to support Ethernet data services. Solution Achieving the dual requirements of lower costs and carrier-class services is possible by creating a centralized cross-connect patching system with an Ethernet Distribution Frame (EDF). An EDF provides a cross-connect field that ties together all Ethernet network elements, providing a common craft interface for performing adds, upgrades, and rearrangements on Ethernet services. In this simplified architecture, all network elements have permanent equipment cable connections that are, once terminated, never handled again. Technicians isolate elements, connect new elements, route around problems, and perform maintenance and other functions using semi- permanent patch cord connections on the front of the EDF cross-connect bay. This craft-friendly design supports cost-effective growth and change in the Ethernet distribution system. Figure 1 Active Network Element Bays Ethernet Distribution Frame Active Network Element Bays 287 6/04 • 1247379 MSO Market Solutions www.adc.com • +1-952-938-8080 • 1-800-366-3891 287 Ethernet Distribution Frame Introduction Benefits • Lower operating costs. As compared to direct connect or interconnect designs, the EDF cross- connect reduces the time it takes for adding cards, moving circuits, upgrading software, and performing maintenance. Factory assembled cable assemblies and patch panels reduce installation time and ensure consistent quality. In addition, this high-density interface for Ethernet distribution not only maximizes active ports but also conserves valuable floor space. • Improved reliability and availability. Permanent connections protect equipment cables from daily activity that can damage cables. Moves, adds, and changes are effected on the patching field instead of on the backplanes of sensitive routing and switching equipment, enabling changes in the network without disrupting service. With the ability to isolate network segments for troubleshooting and reroute circuits through simple patching, Operations gains time for making proper repairs during regular hours instead of during night or weekend shifts. • Competitive advantage. The EDF enables rapid changes to the network. Turning-up new service is accomplished by plugging in a patch cord instead of the labor-intensive task of making multiple hard-wired cable connections. As a result, cards are added to the network in minutes instead of hours, decreasing time to revenue and providing a competitive edge—faster service availability—in the marketplace. • Investment protection. Unlike direct connection of Ethernet elements, the logical EDF cross-connect scales easily. As elements are added, transport methods changed, and new technologies implemented, the EDF remains constant, providing the common craft interface for managing Ethernet distribution without service disruption. Implementation Creating a craft-friendly, low-cost Ethernet distribution system fully rated for Gigabit Ethernet consists of the following: Ethernet Distribution Frame, providing the central location for cross-connecting all Ethernet network elements in a data center with semi-permanent connections. Each EDF consists of the following ADC equipment: • 19" or 23" UEF zone 4 rack • Glide Cable Management system, consisting of vertical cable managers installed on the sides of each rack as well as upper and lower crossover troughs • Category 5e patch panels, RJ45/RJ21x, providing up to 864 available Ethernet ports per 7' rack • Category 5e patch cords for creating semi-permanent cross-connections Active Network Element Frame houses both active equipment and one or two distribution panels. It provides permanent connections from active Ethernet equipment to distribution panels and from distribution panels to the EDF. • 19" or 23" UEF zone 4 rack • Glide Cable Management system, consisting of vertical cable managers installed on the sides of each rack as well as an upper crossover trough • One or two Category 5e patch panels, RJ45/RJ21x, mounted at the top of each bay with active network elements mounted below • Category 5e patch cords for making permanent RJ45 connections between Ethernet equipment and distribution patch panels at the top of the bay Cross- Connect Patch Cord Permanent Equipment Cable Vertical Cable Manager Permanent Equipment Patch Cord Ethernet Distribution Frame Active Network Element Frame Active Ethernet Equipment Patch Panels Vertical Cable Manager Figure 2 www.adc.com • +1-952-938-8080 • 1-800-366-3891 288 Ethernet Distribution Frame Introduction Permanent Equipment Cables, providing permanent connections between the EDF and distribution panels in each Active Network Element Frame. • Factory terminated and tested RJ21x 24-pair Category 5e cable assemblies, up to 90 meters in length Optical Extension Platforms, providing E/O and O/E conversion for distances greater than 100 meters between active equipment. May also be used for interoffice transport, for transport to customer premises, and for interface with Ethernet network elements that require fiber optic interfaces. • Rack mount, high-density design, mounted in or adjacent to EDF and active equipment bays Fiber Cable Management, for termination, splice, and storage of fibers where media conversion occurs. • Rack mount FL2000 panels, wall mount FL2000 boxes, or high-density Fiber Management Trays, all with integrated cable management that connect and protect fibers Power Distribution, for protection of critical active equipment such as routers and switches in the Ethernet distribution system. • PowerWorx ® power distribution products include options for suppression of power line noise, uninterrupted power, and fusing for multiple amperage equipment from a single rack unit design— all with NEBS Level 3 certification and a 15 year warranty Design Issues • All cable assemblies, patch cords, and patch panels should be rated Category 5, 5e, or 6 to ensure Gigabit Ethernet performance, per EIA/TIA 568-B.1 standards for LAN cabling. While Gigabit Ethernet is designed to run on Category 5 or higher cabling, Category 5e and Category 6 cables and components are preferred for new build-outs. • Cabling distance between active network elements should be no more than 100 meters, which includes both permanent cables and semi-permanent patch cords. Patch cord length should be less than 10 meters due to attenuation from stranded cable. Distances greater than 100 meters require optical transport and media conversion at both the EDF and active bays. • Due to TIA standards that limit the proximity of connection points, limit the number of passive connection points between active equipment to four with length between EDF and active equipment of at least 15 meters to minimize electrical interaction between patch panels. • Proper routing, management, and protection of cables and patch cords in both the EDF and active element bays is essential for carrier-class reliability and availability. A system of vertical cable managers with integrated slack managers not only offers proper management of cables, but also provides increased bay density as compared to systems using horizontal cable managers. Vertical cable managers should be sized 8 inches wide, except for inter-rack applications that require 10- or 12-inch widths. • Select a standard patch cord length of less than 10 meters for the EDF and use slack managers in vertical cable managers for routing and storage of extra cable lengths (see Figures 3 and 4). This ensures that the cross-connect is easy to administer while providing protection for patch cords. • Choose preconnectorized patch panels with RJ45 interfaces on the front and RJ21x interfaces on the rear. Punchdown connectors (110) are reliable, but take more time to install and are prone to installation errors such as cross wiring that disable ports. Gold-on-gold contacts between modular interfaces on patch panels are pre-assembled cable assemblies ensure reliable and consistent performance. 6/04 • 1247379 MSO Market Solutions 289 6/04 • 1247379 MSO Market Solutions www.adc.com • +1-952-938-8080 • 1-800-366-3891 289 Ethernet Distribution Frame Introduction Figure 3. Connect ports to the same side of the same EDF cross-connect bay using vertical cable managers with slack managers for handling extra cable lengths. Figure 4. Upper and lower crossover managers with vertical cable managers enable connection of ports on opposite sides of the EDF cross-connect bay. • Where E/O conversion is required, media converters should feature clear separation of optical, electrical, and power supply cables to ensure system reliability. Distributed power architecture is also preferred for improved performance, reliability, and system availability. Built-in intelligence enables time saving in installation and troubleshooting with full view of UTP and optical link integrity from one end of the circuit. • System reliability depends upon proper management of fiber cables. Fiber panels and boxes should include removable angled retainers as well as integrated splicing and slack storage. In addition, single circuit access to fibers provides improved system reliability and availability by reducing the chance for damage to adjacent fibers during routine maintenance of individual fibers. Conclusion Earning customers for value-added data services requires innovative offerings, a competitive price, and superior reliability and availability. Extending native Ethernet across the LAN, WAN, and MAN opens the door for new data services. However, building an infrastructure that keeps operating costs low while providing exceptional reliability and 99.999% availability requires a centralized cross-connect EDF designed to manage growth and change without disrupting service. 1 1 2 2 1 1 2 2 290 6/04 • 1247379 MSO Market Solutions www.adc.com • +1-952-938-8080 • 1-800-366-3891 290 Ethernet Distribution Frame Ethernet Distribution Frame 7' EIA 19" UEF Zone 4 Rack Glide Cable Management Adapter PowerWorx ® Power Distribution Panel 2RU Horizontal Cable Manager Media Converter Fiber Management Tray 48-Port Category 5e Panel 8" Glide Cable Management Bottom Crossover Trough ADC’s Ethernet Distribution Frame (EDF) forms a central patching location between active Ethernet network elements. By creating a centralized craft interface for adds, upgrades, and rearrangements on Ethernet equipment, the EDF enables change without service disruptions. This central patching location provides a logical and easy-to-manage infrastructure due to two design characteristics: • All network elements have permanent equipment cable connections that are, once terminated, never handled again. • All changes, circuit rerouting, upgrades, maintenance and other activities are accomplished using semi-permanent patch cords on the front of the EDF cross-connect bay. 291 6/04 • 1247379 MSO Market Solutions www.adc.com • +1-952-938-8080 • 1-800-366-3891 291 Ethernet Distribution Frame Glide Cable Manager Features • Integrated front, rear, horizontal, and vertical cable management • Patented rib cage design eliminates horizontal support trays and bars • Supports up to 912 ports on a single rack • Built-in bend radius protection ensures network integrity • Designed for quick and easy moves, adds, and changes • Optional slack managers available for 8-, 10-, and 12-inch widths • Fits standard EIA rack with three-inch channel • Used for single rack or as inter-rack unit • Optional crossover troughs and horizontal cable managers available • Optional EIA-standard horizontal support bars available Description Glide cable manager, vertical mount – to equip both sides of a 7-foot rack, order two Glide Cable Manager units 6", front only, without slack manager 6", front only, with slack manager 6", without slack manager 8", without slack manager 10", without slack manager 12", without slack manager 8", with slack manager 10", with slack manager 12", with slack manager Crossover trough, 2 RU Crossover trough, 4 RU Black metal covers 41" x 6", four per pack 41" x 8", four per pack 41" x 10", four per pack 41" x 12", four per pack Black metal cover, hinged 41" x 6", two per pack Ordering Information Ordering Number ADCCMVIB06F-2 ADCCMVIBS06F-2 ADCCM-06 ADCCM-08 ADCCM-10 ADCCM-12 ADCCMS-08 ADCCMS-10 ADCCMS-12 ADCCMTG02 ADCCMTG04 ADCCMVIBC06B4 ADCCMVIBC08B4 ADCCMVIBC10B4 ADCCMVIBC12B4 ADCC06-2 Glide Cable Manager with Slack Managers Cover in Black Metal Glide Cable Manager Shown in Cabinet 292 6/04 • 1247379 MSO Market Solutions www.adc.com • +1-952-938-8080 • 1-800-366-3891 292 2 RU Crossover Trough 4 RU Crossover Trough Horizontal Cable Manager Installation Drawing for Glide Cable Manager, Cabinet Mount Glide Cable Manager, Cabinet Mount Slack Manager Stabilizer Ethernet Distribution Frame Glide Cable Manager Description Glide cable manager, cabinet mount – ships 4 per pack 6" x 10 RU 6" x 20 RU Glide cable manager, cabinet mount, with cable retention – ships 4 per pack 3" x 20 RU 6" x 20 RU Ordering Information Ordering Number ADCCMVIB-CB10-4 ADCCMVIB-CB-4 ADCCMVIB-3CB20-4 ADCCMVIB-6CB20-4 Notes: Equips standard 7' cabinet with front or rear cable management. Order two 4-packs to equip front and rear of cabinet. Description Crossover troughs 2 RU, black 4 RU, black, 23" rack 4 RU, black Horizontal cable managers 2 RU 3 RU 4 RU With slack managers, 3 RU With slack managers, 4 RU Rear cable management bar, 19" 1" extension Rear cable management bar, 19" 4" extension Slack manager Stabilizers 6.18" 8.38" 10.18" 12.18" Extender brackets, 19" to 23" 1 RU 2 RU 4 RU Ordering Information Ordering Number ADCCMTG02 ADCCMTG04-23 ADCCMTG04 ADCCMHIB-2U ADCCMHIB-3U ADCCMHIB-4U ADCCMHIBS-3U ADCCMHIBS-4U ADCCMRSB ADCCMRSB-4 ADCCMVIBSP ADCCMVESB06 ADCCMVESB08 ADCCMVESB10 ADCCMVESB12 EB-17B EB-35B EB-70B Note: Stabilizer used at end of line-up for each Vertical Integrator section. Description 7' equipment racks Self-assembly aluminum relay rack, 3" channel Black Brushed aluminum Welded steel relay rack, 3" channel, black Welded steel relay rack, Zone 4 rated, black Unequal flange Network unequal flange Ordering Information Ordering Number ADCRACKBLK73 ADCRACKMF73 ADCRACKBLK73WS ADCRACKBLK73UE PWUEF-7ERN-BLK Spacing 19" EIA 19" EIA 19" EIA 19" EIA 23" EIA 293 6/04 • 1247379 MSO Market Solutions www.adc.com • +1-952-938-8080 • 1-800-366-3891 293 Patch Panels Introduction Ethernet Connectivity Selection Tutorial Category 5, 5e or 6? 110 punchdown, or RJ to RJ? T568A or T568B? Shielded or unshielded? Will I choose the right Ethernet patch panel for my application? Will this choice work with future applications? Am I getting the best overall value? With all the choices you face as you design your network and select equipment, including available Ethernet patch panels, it’s easy to become confused and frustrated. Ultimately your choice of Ethernet panels should fit the applications you plan to run. ADC wrote this short tutorial to guide you through these decisions, to make them as painless as possible and offer you the best solution for your network. First, let’s ask a few key questions. Your answers will help guide you in the decision process. Next, we will briefly discuss each of the most popular options available so you can draw conclusions based on your network needs. Discovery Questions • What applications are you or do you plan to run on this network? 10/100Base-T? 1000Base-T? • What type of network are you designing? Data center? Data backbone? LAN? • Is the project a new network installation or addition to existing network? • Is the installation being built to expand existing capacity with current data capabilities or is it for new, faster data applications? Answers to these questions will guide you to a particular cable type, a particular data patch panel, and the means to terminate the cable into the patch panel — whether the terminations into the patch panel involve “punchdown” cable terminations, pre-made telco-type multipair cable ends, or standard RJ45 cable ends. The general guidelines for network transmission capabilities segment the data network; data center and data network backbone system applications require the highest level of transmission capabilities, while feeds to work areas generally require a bit less. However, all network connectivity should be designed with only the highest network engineering standards available. Category 5, 5e, and 6 Cabling The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) standards forming group consists of a variety of industry experts including connectivity and cable manufacturers, distributors, installers, and end customers. The TIA determines certain transmission characteristics that must be met to qualify a cable for certain network applications. Category 5 cabling is currently the most prevalent wiring in existing buildings. Electrical characteristics defined by the TIA specify near end cross-talk (NEXT), attenuation, and return loss to 100 MHz. The TIA Technical Services Bulletin (TSB) 95 recommends additional criteria for far end cross-talk (FEXT). 294 6/04 • 1247379 MSO Market Solutions www.adc.com • +1-952-938-8080 • 1-800-366-3891 294 Patch Panels Introduction Category 5e is currently the minimum TIA recommended category of wiring for new installations. Electrical characteristics for NEXT, FEXT, attenuation, and return loss are specified to 100 MHz. NEXT performance is slightly better than category 5. Category 6 is gaining popularity for new installations. Electrical characteristics for NEXT, FEXT, attenuation, and return loss are specified to 250 MHz. Improvements in all electrical parameters are part of the higher TIA Category 6 standard. Category 7 cabling is a developing standard. The International Standards Organization (ISO) is leading the standardization efforts for this new individually-shielded, overall-shielded, 4-pair cable with transmission specifications referenced to 600 MHz. The cable end interface will probably be something other than the familiar RJ45 connector, mainly to differentiate the Category 7 installation from existing lower-bandwidth infrastructure. So, which should you use? There is quite a bit of misleading information in the industry on this subject, the biggest myth being that Category 6 is required to run Gigabit Ethernet over copper (1000Base-T). Actually 1000Base-T was designed by the IEEE to run on Category 5. As long as the Category 5 is installed according to TIA-568-B standards and meets the testing criteria in TIA TSB 95, 1000Base-T will perform satisfactorily on Category 5. However, as of this writing, the TIA recommends Category 5e over Category 5 as the minimum cabling for new network infrastructure installations. When do I use Category 6? Does the application standard (i.e., Gigabit Ethernet, 10G, etc.) specify Category 6 as a minimal requirement? The TIA is making recommendations to the IEEE 802.3ae and the 10 Gigabit Ethernet Alliance, who are currently working on 10 Gigabit cabling systems, that any 10 Gigabit Ethernet designed to run on copper cabling use Category 6 because of its improvement in signal to noise. The good news is that Category 6 is backward compatible and will have no trouble running existing applications such as 10/100Base-T and 1000Base-T. Cable Type Summary The chart below summarizes the industry standard UTP cable types used in current networking installations. In addition to the UTP cabling described above, you should understand the issues of cable shielding, and stranded versus solid cable. Shielded vs. Unshielded Twisted Pair Unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cabling provides immunity to electromagnetic interference (EMI) with the properties of the two conductors that make up a transmission pair being twisted together. When UTP cabling encounters electrical interference, the noise crossing the twisted pairs is cancelled by the twists in the cable (called “Common Mode Rejection”, a subject outside the scope of this introduction). Standard Category 5, 5e and 6 cables contain four unshielded twisted pairs of conductors. For 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX applications, only two pairs are used, one for the transmit circuit and one for receive circuit. For 1000BASE-T (Gigabit Ethernet) all four pairs are required. The term “shielded twisted pair” cabling can be misleading. There are actually two methods of shielding a twisted pair cable. Screened twisted pair cable (ScTP) provides an overall screen or metal foil around the four pairs of conductors, but each individual twisted pair is unshielded. Shielded Category Test Frequency 10/100BaseT 1000BaseT Future Applications Relative Cost Cat 5 100 MHz Yes Yes No $ Cat 5e 100 MHz Yes Yes Maybe $ Cat 6 250 MHz Yes Yes Yes $$ Cat 7 600 MHz Yes Yes Yes $$$$ [...]... ADCPP32KSRJRJ RJ45 Coupler Panel (Front View) • 1247379 MSO Market Solutions ADC’s RJ45 coupler panel provides feed-through data and voice connectivity on the front and rear for Category 5e and 6 applications Connectivity on the front of the panel accommodates standard RJ45 patch cords Connectivity for hubs, routers and other active equipment on the back of the panel is also designed for RJ45 patch cords – creating... punchdown panels For patch-panel-to-patch-panel connections in a data center or telecommunications room, preterminated cable assemblies and connectorized patch panels can improve installation time and connectivity success A preconnectorized solution dramatically decreases the assembly time and increases the quality of the termination, as the contact points are typically gold-on-gold with high contact... twelve numbered RJ45 plugs • Exceeds Category 5 PowerSum requirements • Supports 10Base-T and 100Base-T Ethernet The 25-pair cable assemblies are Category 5 PowerSum telco cables that provide precise connectivity between Fast Ethernet switches and 5100 or 5800 Patch Panels With the convenience and precision of RJ21x connectors, 25-pair cable assemblies easily handle even high density Fast Ethernet . www.adc.com • +1-952-938-8080 • 1-800-366-3891 285 Data-Center Connectivity Ethernet Distribution Frame Introduction 286 Glide Cable. panel provides feed-through data and voice connectivity on the front and rear for Category 5e and 6 applications. Connectivity on the front of the panel accommodates