Networks Europe Jan-Feb 2018 | Page 6

06 NEWS IN BRIEF Networks Europe helps you to understand the art of the possible as the news desk highlights some of the stories currently catching their attention. R&M on board with fibre optics R&M is extending its range for high-speed data networks on ships and offshore platforms. R&M is now including FO systems and the products from the Cat. 6A RJ45 line in its maritime range. The line enables data transmission up to 10 Gigabit Ethernet. Because just like networks in office blocks and administrative buildings, in data centres and factories, in-ship data networks have to be able to handle an ever-increasing amount of data traffic. Today, numerous applications, such as telecommunication, infotainment and TV, Internet, wireless LAN, video surveillance, warning systems, sensors and ship automation, are included. The R&M copper cabling for ships is not only used for data transport but also for supplying power to end devices. The products are designed for an electrical output of 90/100 Watt. In shipbuilding, the Power over Ethernet (PoE) technology is gaining significance to supply antennas, cameras, displays and security systems without additional electrical cabling. This reduces weight, the space required and installation time. “Particularly when using PoE, the contacting of the wires has to be particularly sturdy and stable. And our IDC technology (IDC = Insulation Displacement Connector) is perfect for that. Inadequate connections could result in dangerous sparks or arcs,” explains Hermann Christen, Market Development Manager at R&M. “IDC has been shown to be the most robust and reliable way of contacting for copper cabling on board,” he added. . n Rittal Improves Cooling Communications in the Cloud Industry 4.0 scenarios, such as predictive maintenance, are based on the provision of data, as well as integrated, networked communication. But for this to happen, IoT-compatible devices obviously have to be equipped with the necessary technology interfaces. Rittal is driving this capability forward for its cooling units and chillers in Industry 4.0 applications. The company’s new IoT interface now means there can be continuous communication from the sensor to the cloud, plus the interface also supports connections to super- ordinate monitoring or energy management systems. A great deal of information is generated by modern enclosure climate control solutions. But up to now, it has only been practical to record operating hours and the current temperature inside the enclosure. However, modern devices like the new cooling units and chillers in the Rittal Blue e+ range, mean a multitude of values and other information can be measured and recorded. This includes the temperatures inside and outside the enclosure, the evaporator and condenser temperatures and, where appropriate, measurements from additional sensors located inside the enclosure. In addition, instead of a simple operating hours meter, the run-times of the compressor and internal and external fan can be recorded separately. It also provides system messages, data for capacity utilisation and the current parametrisation information. In order to realise the value from access to all this data, the information must be made available to superordinate systems. So, to this end, Rittal has developed a new IoT interface, which turns the cooling units and chillers in the Blue e+ range into IoT-compatible devices. The data from the cooling units and chillers can then be accessed within these systems at all times, and it’s also possible to set parameters and configure settings via the IoT interface. n NETWORKS EUROPE If you have any news please email James Abbott, [email protected] The magazine for network and data centre professionals www.networkseuropemagazine.com