Building out a Data Center is a time consuming and tricky process.
Ask any IT professional who has been tasked with building one and they will tell you that it does not come easy. There is a great deal of planning involved, and rightfully so. The Data Center is quite literally the core of any company. If the network has issues, the company has issues. Many times, one of the major issues that occurs in a network has to do with improper cable management or quite frankly a lack there of.
Planning and executing proper cable management practices is just as important as selecting and installing the correct switches and servers into your network. If done correctly, proper cabling can not only save you from major issues like network cable spaghetti, when you have so many cords that they tangle up and look like spaghetti, but it can also ensure that your network runs as efficiently as possible.
In order to help you to avoid a bad case of cable spaghetti and to create the best possible cable management system possible; here is a list of DNI’s best tips for better cable management
Plan, Plan, Plan – First things first, you need to have a plan. And not just a plan for your current system, but a plan for the future of your data center. In planning ahead, you will ensure that adding to your network will be easier in the future. Be sure to map out how much cabling you will need along with the best layout to allow for the expansion of your network.
Go Bigger – This goes hand in hand with planning. You need to upsize everything to allow for maximum growth. The first thing you need to go bigger on is your conduit. If you buy a conduit that has the capacity to handle the needs of the network right now, you can be sure that you will be upgrading in the future. Instead, save yourself the time and go bigger now. That way you will have full capability to add on whenever you have the need.
Do not Cheap out – With a tight budget in mind, it is easy to see why IT professionals are drawn to cheaper cables. The problem is, cheaper cables mean lesser quality cables, which are physically weaker than the standard cables. What does buying a weaker/cheaper mean for you? Basically these weaker cables will not only need to be replaced more often, causing disruptions in the network, but they will most likely not function as well as a cable of higher quality. The bottom line? Buying top quality cables is just as important as buying top quality equipment for you network.
Color Code -Color coding your cables is a small but very important step. I can promise you that choosing not to will guarantee a headache in your near future. While it may seem a little silly, color coding your cables will ensure that you can always find the connection that you are looking for. It is also important to be consistent with your color codes to avoid confusion and to make managing your network easier.
Label the cables – Now that you have purchased good quality cables in a beautiful array of colors, to comply with your color coordination plan, of course, it is time to label them. Labeling may seem like a waste of time, but it is a crucial step. Labeling your cables will ensure that everyone working within the data center will be able to properly access any cable in the system.
Shorter is better – At least when it comes to cables. It is important to make sure that all of your cables are the appropriate length. Connecting two switches that are 3 feet apart with a 25 foot cable will not only look horrible but it will start you on the road to a big heaping pile of cable spaghetti. A better option is to determine what length is needed, measure the cable, then measure it again and finally take the plunge and cut it. Shorter cables will keep your data center efficient and looking clean.
Essentially the name of the game here is to have the most efficient and organized data center possible. The most important thing that you can do to ensure that your network is running as smoothly as possible is to plan ahead. Other wise you will end up with a bad case of cable spaghetti!
If you are looking for more tips to help you to achieve better data center management?
