Global supplier of structured cabling systems solves cable management headaches with innovations that transform cabinet installation layouts, onsite deployment and on-going system management in data centres and server rooms. At the Data Centre World Conference & Expo, being held 24-25 February 2009 (Barbican, London), Gold sponsor Brand-Rex (Stand No. 82) will be exhibiting its latest cabling management system for use in high fibre density cross-connect environments. Comprising frame, cabinet, cable/patchcord management and fibre cassettes, the system has been designed with features that benefit both the end user/operator and the installer/maintainer.
By clearly and logically organising the patching fields, the system reduces the floor space required for managing a high volume of optical connectivity. In addition, the front of rack incorporates a manifold arrangement allowing fibre cables to be simply guided into management panels through a series of protective tubes, avoiding the need to access the rear of the cabinet. This installer-friendly, scalable system is further complemented by the design of the fibre panels that utilise cleverly designed swivel and tilt management trays.
The new Brand-Rex HDFC Cabinet accommodates up to 1,824 fibre ports in standard configuration and provides the space required for effective patchcord and cable management. Measuring 900mm x 500mm (45U), the cabinet can be deployed as a standalone unit, or bayed back-to-back, or side-to-side directly against walls, to save on valuable floor space. When bayed back-to-back, the HDFC Cabinet’s footprint is the same as that of conventional server racks (1000mm deep).
The HDFC also features a number of removable panels and doors at the front, side and rear, which can be closed and locked to secure the equipment. With integrated front and rear vertical finger management, the cabinet can support up to 912 Duplex LC connector ports when used in conjunction with the new fibre management panel with dual fibre cassettes.
Measuring just ½ U in height, the new fibre cassettes are compatible with both 17” and 19″ frames, support both LC or SC adaptors, and feature a unique and patent-pending mechanism allowing it to pivot, slide and hinge within the HDFC Cabinet. This means that technicians can dress and work on spliced fibres without removing the cassette, and without compromising live lines on adjacent cassettes. What’s more, with all fibre and splice management features fully integrated into a robust, moulded single-piece base, the cassette not only offers the control and reliability of the fixed part, but also the modularity and accessibility of a conventional removable panel.
Lightweight and stylish, the fibre management cassettes are unique in their use of angled adaptors. This design ensures that patchcords are naturally trained towards the fibre management features within the right-hand side of the cabinet – removing the need for additional components that typically increase the overall depth of traditional units. With a 35mm minimum bend radii observed throughout the fibre management design, the potential for signal loss or degradation is obviated with any fibre type, whilst the clear, hinging cassette lid also allows technicians simply to slide the tray out and look in to ensure that fibre is managed or spliced correctly.
“The Brand-Rex High Density HDFC Cabinet and management panels have been developed as part of our ultimate system for management of high-density fibre in the main distribution areas of data centres and telecoms rooms,” said Ken Hodge, R&D Manager, Brand-Rex. “With an open construction for effortless cross patching, the HDFC Cabinet can be easily installed and maintained, while our unique fibre management cassettes guarantee simple, clear and repeatable access.”
Ken will be speaking at the Data Centre World Conference on the topic of managing higher densities, and the higher speeds required to support tomorrow’s applications. Looking past 10G – to 40G, 100G and beyond – he will discuss the types of cabling that can be installed to provide a foundation for the future, and how the cabling network should be almost invisible to the system, linking components seamlessly whilst ensuring the flexibility to support change and growth.
A Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Institute of Engineering Technology, Ken has been involved in the industry since 1982, researching, designing and developing optical fibre and high frequency cabling for LAN and Telecom networking. He is actively involved in BSI, IEC and CENELEC activities in International Standardisation in the cabling sector.
