Fiber Optic Cabling Company Atlanta GA Pittsburgh PA

Five New Approaches for Data Center Cabling – Part 1

4 Nov 2018

Fiber Optic Cabling Company Atlanta GA Pittsburgh PAOrganizations and data centers have concluded that structured cabling provides a durable foundation for a sound and efficient network infrastructure. As a result, management teams are reconsidering their existing data cabling configurations. For example, organizations are thinking of transferring some or all of their IT systems to cloud-based data centers that utilize virtualization.


A properly designed network infrastructure is a prerequisite for being able to adapt emerging technology and support crucial systems cost effectively. Conventional cabling met network requirements in the past, but the growth of data and demand for speed are rapidly transforming what a business will need in the future.


New companies are planning their data center cabling structure well ahead of their first day of business to attain high efficiency, maximum utilization, and optimal provisioning. During the conception stage, data center architecture needs to address issues revolving around space, power, cooling, security, and costs.


Data transmission and storage, communications, power, and video should also be prioritized. However, monitoring, network security, system updates, backups, software support, and maintenance are also of great importance.


As you may be considering improving your company’s network, it may be helpful to keep in mind four new approaches for data center cabling discussed below.



Convergence


The concept of convergence has been applied to networking and data cabling. Functions for data, phone, and video are being offered on a single network by service providers. Introduced several years ago, the convergence approach is gaining in strength via structured cabling for data centers.


Applying this approach allows for greater cable density or minimizing cable usage, resulting in providing the proper network capacity for a particular architecture and delivering the advantages below:




  • High density server racks and storage arrays reduce cable pathways for improved air flow.

  • Input and output convergence offers simplified data cabling and greater design flexibility.

  • Higher-density connectivity and higher-capacity cables provide improved performance.


Part 2 will discuss Modular Design, Optimized Network Infrastructure, and Virtualization.



Progressive Office Cabling


Founded in 1986, Progressive Office’s success has been a direct result of years of commitment to seeking solutions on behalf of our clients in the Washington, D.C. and New York City areas. Efficiently working together, Progressive teams get cabling installed and operating as fast as possible while minimizing disruption and downtime. Call our toll free number (800) 614-4560 today.

Structured Cabling Network Design Installation NYC NY

How Structured Cabling Can Improve Your Business

4 Oct 2018

structured cabling, network design, installation,wiringCorporations that have subsidiaries located in many countries worldwide, as well as a smaller company with a handful of departments and employees, need a well-designed network that connects all their computers, printers, servers, and more.


An improperly installed network can result in chaos for an entire organization as it expands. In contrast, a well-designed structured cabling system allows a network to function smoothly even when it is growing rapidly.


During this period of increasingly sophisticated technology, structured cabling is the right answer for building an efficient and cost-effective network. There are numerous companies around the world that specialize in installing structured cabling, but finding the right team for your company will require due diligence.


Many companies undergoing growth focus on revamping existing structured cabling to ensure an uninterrupted flow of an increasing volume of communications and data. They hire a team of specialists who provide guidance on the cabling that will be ideal for their new infrastructure.


Designing and planning a new network revolves around implementing structured cabling solutions that will help a company meet its business needs. There are a handful of basic guidelines for the installation as summarized below:




  • Ethernet cable for office buildings, data centers, call centers, small offices, and warehouses

  • Fiber cable, multi-mode and single mode, for long distance calls and interactions that are free of interference

  • Telco-level network wiring, patch panels, and jacks


In the case of a small office, a brand new space yet to be wired, an existing site undergoing remodeling, or a skyscraper filled with office suites, installing well-designed structured cabling that ensures an efficient and expandable network, is the key to success for the great majority of businesses. Properly installed structured cabling helps ensure the rapid and continuous flow of data, the most valuable asset of a modern company.



Progressive Office Cabling


Founded in 1986, Progressive Office’s success has been a direct result of years of commitment to seeking solutions on behalf of our clients in the Washington, D.C. and New York City areas. Efficiently working together, Progressive teams get cabling installed and operating as fast as possible while minimizing disruption and downtime. Call our toll free number (800) 614-4560 today.

Office Cabling ,Network Cabling

Planning – Network Design Requirements

5 Aug 2018

Office Cabling ,Network CablingAfter receiving the requirements for a network, it is common for designers to prioritize their implementation and integrate them into the format of the design. Occasionally, they initially rely on best practices, instead of focusing on planning. This is unfortunate because the planning process often leads to discovering multiple viable design solutions.


Designers should first make business-centric decisions determining either the solution or design that supports the company’s objectives or strategy. Although it is advisable to follow best practices for network design, reliance on them is more typical on occasions when a network is being designed from the ground up, which is usually not the case for large service providers and enterprises.


Let’s consider optimizing office buildings as a comparison. The standard procedure for civil engineers and architects is to perform an evaluation of a building by identifying existing problems, understanding the organization’s goals, and gathering business requirements. Afterwards, they begin optimizing the office building’s existing features. As examples, this may involve replacing the elevators or expanding the lobby.


The above is similar to the procedure for revamping network design. There will always be faulty designs that were poorly planned. Sometimes they are unable to scale, or adopt emerging technologies, or adapt to changing business conditions. Thus, designers must first make a comprehensive study of the existing business problems, IT requirements, and network design. Next, they should develop solutions that will optimize the present architecture. This may entail redesigning several components of the network. It can also require the addition of a new data center.


In order to choose the correct design choices and technologies, network designers must gather the necessary information that will allow them to make a sound analysis during the planning stage. This also lets them correctly determine the new requirements that will support the company’s business goals. At this point, network designers typically utilize the decision tree and the decision matrix for easing and simplifying the process.



Progressive Office Cabling


Founded in 1986, Progressive Office’s success has been a direct result of years of commitment to seeking solutions on behalf of our clients in the Washington, D.C. and New York City areas. Efficiently working together, Progressive teams get cabling installed and operating as fast as possible while minimizing disruption and downtime. Call our toll free number (800) 614-4560 today.

Structured Cabling,Network Cabling ,Data Cabling Washington DC

The Benefits of Structured Cabling for IT Infrastructure

28 Apr 2018

Structured Cabling,Network Cabling ,Data CablingUtilizing best practices developed over time, structured cabling determines the design and construction of an organization’s IT infrastructure. Standardized practices ease modifications and additions and promote compatibility and reliability. The following will discuss the benefits of structured cabling for your organization’s IT infrastructure.



Efficiency


There will be times when it will be necessary to move forward with changes to your IT infrastructure. When this involves dealing with improperly placed cables without a labeling system, each project will take longer than what would be necessary for a well-organized system. Structured cabling’s best practices decrease downtime and minimize mistakes.



Flexibility


Structured cabling allows flexibility, meaning repairs and changes to the infrastructure become easier and faster to perform. This means data center managers will not hesitate to implement needed changes because they don’t have to deal with disorganized cabling that make their jobs much harder.



Future Proofing


The perpetual improvements of telecommunications technology make it crucial to have an IT infrastructure that can adapt to future technical advances. Structured cabling makes this possible by ensuring upgrades are not difficult to integrate with the existing system. Structured cabling enables future proofing, and so it can be considered a sound investment for companies anticipating expansion.



Redundancy


Structured cabling allows the creation of an IT infrastructure that features redundancy, which helps ensure reliability and accessibility, particularly during maintenance or repair. If a cable is somehow compromised, data communications can keep functioning over redundant cabling as repairs are being performed.

ROI


Business owners should consider structured cabling as an investment that will improve their IT infrastructures. As it will significantly increase the efficiency of its data operations, the ROI (return on investment) could far exceed the initial outlay for implementation over time.



Progressive Office Cabling


Founded in 1986, Progressive Office’s success has been a direct result of years of commitment to seeking solutions on behalf of our clients in the Washington, D.C. and New York City areas. Efficiently working together, Progressive teams get cabling installed and operating as fast as possible while minimizing disruption and downtime. Call our toll free number (800) 614-4560 today.

Data Cabling Network Office Cabling NYC

Improving Data Availability in Your Data Center

22 Apr 2018

Data & Network Cabling InstallationsIn the current business environment, your customers demand that their questions are addressed immediately and solutions for their problems are promptly applied. Business owners cannot permit remote locations and network interruptions from impacting their ability to provide services. This article will discuss four methods for improving data availability in your company’s data center. Consult with an expert and experienced managed IT services firm for the best results.



Disaster Recovery


Disasters that can affect a company’s data availability are not necessarily only from natural causes such as an earthquake or flood. They can be caused by something as common as a power outage due to a technical problem at the electrical utility. Fortunately, you can prepare your company in the event that access to your critical and sensitive business is interrupted by having a disaster recovery plan in place, which may feature solutions such as co-location and cloud storage.



Single Point of Failure Elimination


Your IT infrastructure will be able to eliminate single points of failure by backing up and having alternatives ready. Work with a managed services provider (MSP) to evaluate your company’s network architecture and consider solutions such as clustering, load balancing, redundancy, and virtualization.



Proactive Monitoring


Having a sound recovery plan that is regularly modified and tested is essential for the prevention of data loss. However, proactive monitoring of your company’s IT infrastructure may even be important because it may stop a disaster from occurring in the first place.



Virtualization and Cloud Computing


Your company’s data availability can be bolstered through the application of virtualization and cloud computing. Securely storing critical IT resources at a service provider’s data center ensures that critical business data is both backed up and available in the event of a disaster.



Progressive Office Cabling


Founded in 1986, Progressive Office’s success has been a direct result of years of commitment to seeking solutions on behalf of our clients in the Washington, D.C. and New York City areas. Efficiently working together, Progressive teams get cabling installed and operating as fast as possible while minimizing disruption and downtime. Call our toll free number (800) 614-4560 today.

Network Cabling,Washington DC New York City Atlanta GA

Data Center Cabling’s Emerging Trends for 2018 – Part 2

15 Mar 2018

Network Cabling,Washington DC New York City Atlanta GAAs discussed in Part 1, structured cabling is now considered the foundation of network infrastructure, and organizations and their data centers are seeking ways to improve its efficiency and functionality through several trends. Part 2 will discuss Modularization, Optimization, and Virtualization.



Modularization


New data centers are now being built to support ever-increasing networking demands. Companies are participating by determining which modular data center cabling solutions to implement in order to be future-proofed as this technology grows more sophisticated.


They are also seeking the ability to better scale data and network resources, which will decrease capital expenditure for infrastructure and thus increase the potential for profits.


These organizations are also rapidly implementing virtual data center solutions.


Featuring modules and components that are specially designed, modular data centers are portable, scalable, and containerized. Capable of supporting converged infrastructures, a modular data center requires sound data cabling infrastructure to be effective.



Optimization


An organization that may not be able to build a new data center can still upgrade its existing data cabling. In addition, data center providers are rapidly being chosen as a cost-effective method for optimizing network infrastructure.


Although copper and fiber cabling are considered adequate, there is a growing demand for connectivity that is speedier and more efficient for apps, computers, servers, and storage systems. Optimizing data cabling is the most direct way to obtain this by standardizing components such as cabling, racks, cabinets, etc.



Virtualization


Research has found that more than half of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are now running workloads on virtual machines. In comparison, data center providers are utilizing virtualization at a rate of at least 95%.


Virtualization technology is establishing itself as a proven, scalable, and cost-effective option for networking. Virtualization most commonly functions on computers, networks, servers, and storage systems. The most essential feature of network virtualization is well-designed structured data cabling.



Progressive Office Cabling


Founded in 1986, Progressive Office’s success has been a direct result of years of commitment to seeking solutions on behalf of our clients in the Washington, D.C. and New York City areas. Efficiently working together, Progressive teams get cabling installed and operating as fast as possible while minimizing disruption and downtime. Call our toll free number (800) 614-4560 today.

Cabling, Data Cabling

Data Center Cabling’s Emerging Trends for 2018 – Part 1

5 Mar 2018

Structured Cabling,Data CablingOrganizations and their data centers have come to recognize that structured cabling is the foundation of network infrastructure. As time passes, they will look for methods to make their structured cabling designs work with more efficiency and functionality. This article will discuss the emerging trends for data center cabling in 2018.



Cloud Integration


The industry is seeking ways to further integrate cloud technology with structured cabling. Data centers are gravitating to affordable and effective cloud products that improve performance, enable expansion, ensure security, and handle big data. In addition, business owners are upgrading their data cabling with copper and fiber technologies. 

Read More

structured cabling,Network Cabling

Advantages of Upgrading to Structured Cabling – Part 2

15 Jan 2018

structured cabling,Network CablingAs discussed in Part 1, point-to-point cabling systems are outdated and companies should strongly consider making the transition to structured cabling to remain competitive. Part 2 will discuss the advantages of upgrading to structured cabling.



The Advantages


Cost Effectiveness – Flexible and scalable, structured cabling can transmit data reliably and more easily handle increasingly large loads. This allows an organization to raise the productivity of its employees, helping to achieve its business goals. Its bottom line is further aided because structured cabling decreases the costs of maintenance and energy consumption.


Decreased Downtime – There is a greater chance of human error when there are several disorganized cabling networks, which result in disruptions and downtime. In contrast, a sound structured cabling system provides greater reliability; in addition, troubleshooting expenses are reduced because problems are easier to identify, find, and repair.  Downtime is decreased, business losses are minimized, and a company  will be more reliable and profitable.


Future Proofing –Structured cabling provides greater bandwidth and this allows a company to easily expand when its business grows. Having adaptable and scalable IT systems makes a company more competitive when it needs to evolve with its industry. Structured cabling ensures that an organization’s network infrastructure will remain capable of supporting new applications and technologies.


Greater Flexibility – Structured cabling can improve performance levels allowing a business to expand with greater ease. Move, add and change requests can be handled faster and more efficiently. Companies with structured cabling can develop and deploy services much faster because its data center can accommodate network infrastructure modifications more readily.


Maintenance Easier – Structured cabling provides a organizational approach that makes maintaining data centers and networks much more straightforward. In normal business environments, a variety of IT equipment and devices are being used simultaneously. When they are functioning on only one system, this removes the need for several wiring systems to be installed.



Progressive Office Cabling


Founded in 1986, Progressive Office’s success has been a direct result of years of commitment to seeking solutions on behalf of our clients in the Washington, D.C. and New York City areas. Efficiently working together, Progressive Office teams get cabling installed and operating as fast as possible while minimizing disruption and downtime. Call our toll free number (800) 614-4560 today.

Structured Cabling, Cabling, Washington DC

Improve Data Center Reliability with Structured Cabling – Part 2

29 Nov 2017

Structured Cabling, Cabling, Washington DCAs mentioned in Part 1, data center efficiency can be improved by properly planning and implementing structured cabling principles. In addition, structured cabling best practices should be the foundation of every data center. Part 2 will discuss Cabling Infrastructure and Improved Network Function.



Cabling Infrastructure


It would be wise to constantly keep the future in mind while you are installing your cabling infrastructure. Setting aside space will allow for expansion. The goal is to make your structured cabling both sound and dependable.


Testing Policy – After the addition or removal of equipment, testing every connection makes sure that a data center will be reliable over time. Performing these tests as a standard practice will help prevent issues that result in downtime. Inconsistent testing practices will result in an unreliable data center.


Standardization – The standardization of cable and rack usage will significantly facilitate maintenance. When there is a meltdown, the managers and engineers of a data center won’t have any doubts as to the types of cables and configuration of racks that are being utilized.


Documentation – When proper documentation is neglected, the training of new staff members will be much more difficult and take longer. The addition of equipment and related components will also result in more errors. Good documentation is integral for every sound structured cable system.


Spare Cables – The stocking of spare cables to prepare for contingencies will help prepare a data center for crises that may strike a structured cabling system.



Improved Network Function


A data center will have losses of up to $10,000 for each minute of unplanned outage. Implementing the best practices of TIA/ISO standards will raise the performance of a structured cabling system and make a data center more reliable. Its computer network will have the following benefits:




  • Greater responsiveness

  • Increased reliability and overall performance

  • More secure data backup, storage, and retrieval

  • Flexibility for accommodating additional computer terminals and components

  • Capable of supporting telephony and other network-dependent systems


Progressive Office Cabling


Founded in 1986, Progressive Office’s success has been a direct result of years of commitment to seeking solutions on behalf of our clients in the Washington, D.C. and New York City areas. Efficiently working together, Progressive teams get cabling installed and operating as fast as possible while minimizing disruption and downtime. Call our toll free number (800) 614-4560 today.

Data Cabling,Structured Cabling, Cabling Design-Washington DC

Improve Data Center Reliability with Structured Cabling – Part 1

22 Nov 2017

Data Cabling,Structured Cabling, Cabling Design-Washington DCCabling systems were once proprietary prior to the 1990s, which was a major problem for data centers. Each modification required vendor-specific knowledge of each component of the cabling system. In 1991, the TIA/EIA-568 standard was introduced to bring about structured cabling systems.


Although 5% percent of a network budget is currently spent on structured cabling, 59% of downtime can be attributed to it. Most downtime results from not adhering to standards. Data center efficiency can be increased by proper planning and implementing structured cabling principles. Structured cabling best practices should be the foundation of every data center.



Proper Planning


Designing proper cable runs, identification of cable types, the process of network verification, planning for future expansion, and accurate documentation are all part of the proper planning for structured cabling. Lacking these, a data center would be disorganized and chaotic.


A data centers begin at the MDA (Main Distribution Area), single or multiple HDA(s) (Horizontal Distribution Area), as well as the required equipment and spacing to allow cable access. The Main Distribution Area is the location of core networking equipment. The cross-connects of HDAs are utilized for the distribution of cables to the EDA (Equipment Distribution Area). A well-organized data center is the product of a structure that is well-planned.



Best Practices


Proper Standards –To attain high levels of proficiency, cabling standards, which are revised every five to ten years, must be followed. Remaining up-to-date will allow a data center to be more adaptable to changes of technology. American data centers now comply with the TIA/EIA-568 standard developed by the TIA (Telecommunications Industry Association), while business and companies located overseas comply with the ISO/IEC IS 11801.


Cable Identification System – In addition to standards, implementing an identification system utilizing colors and labels will assist managers in data center organization. A sound system will conserve both time and money over the long term. Addressing problems or even maintaining aging equipment is eased by a well-defined and easily understandable cable identification system.


Part 2 will discuss Cabling Infrastructure and Improved Network Function.



Progressive Office Cabling


Founded in 1986, Progressive Office’s success has been a direct result of years of commitment to seeking solutions on behalf of our clients in the Washington, D.C. and New York City areas. Efficiently working together, Progressive teams get cabling installed and operating as fast as possible while minimizing disruption and downtime. Call our toll free number (800) 614-4560 today.