CABLING
panels stacked on top of each other, it’s definitely worth
introducing ultra-high-density patch panels. It is, however,
essential to make sure that the choice of panel, cables and
connectors allows easy (rear) access and moves, adds and
changes can be easily and quickly carried out.
In server racks, however, fewer connections are required,
and high-density doesn’t really bring any significant
benefits. There’s usually just one single panel at the top of
the rack. Here, standard solutions offer more than enough
connection capacity, although you need to ensure there’s
always some extra capacity to accommodate future
expansions. Even if you only need 24 ports, we’d recommend
putting in 48. Make sure you can reach the patch cords and
cables from above or below.
Previously, there would always be a trade-off between
introducing high densities and making operational aspects
and procedures more difficult, but today’s solutions balance
these aspects better. For instance, for ultra-high-density
fibre patch panels the introduction of sliding trays greatly
enhances the accessibility to the patch cords and ease the
operational hurdle of patching in such dense zones. New
generations of patch cords for copper and fibre, with a
significantly smaller diameter and greater flexibility, also
support higher density, space savings, they introduce better
airflow and less congestion, they don’t cause problems with
sharp bends and they ensure a tidy look and feel.
Striving for efficiency
The most efficient approach is to introduce ultra-high-
density solutions wherever space is restricted and large
volume connections are absolutely necessary – which
isn’t always the case. In many areas in the data centre,
where space is less of an issue, cost-effective lower density
solutions are perfectly adequate. This approach can cover
both fibre and copper requirements.
There are two main factors that determine density
requirements: the size of the facility and the specific
area in the data centre that needs to be connected. In
a medium-sized data centre, for example, ultra-high-
density isn’t always necessary. In large data centres, the
number of connections required is significantly larger, and
it might seem logical that there would be more space to
accommodate these. However, the space in a large data
centre is used up by servers and the amount of room
available for patching isn’t necessarily larger than in a mid-
sized data centre.
In central patching zones, where hundreds of connections
come together and rack space is at a premium, with
Forward-thinking
It’s also important to realise that the number of connections
required today in a given area of the data centre should
remain similar for the next five to ten years. Although data
requirements will continue to increase, this will be offset
by higher bandwidth. Therefore, introducing high-density
connectivity for future expansions in areas where you don’t
need those connections today might not be the right choice.
You could be introducing a great deal of extra cost with a
very uncertain future benefit.
When specifying a solution, the key questions are: can I
get the right density at every location in my data centre?
Can I support the needs for the core and access networks? Is
patching still convenient? Finding the right density for each
part of the data centre can be challenging, but definitely
pays off, in the short and long term.
Considerations for choosing the right density
• The cost of the real estate
• Size of the data centre
• Number of connections to be managed at the specific
location
• Location in the data centre: patching zone or server racks
• Connectivity cost for various density solutions n
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