CABLING & CABLE MANAGEMENT FEATURE
MAINTAINING EFFICIENCY T
As Robert Luijten, EMEA marketing manager, Fluke Networks explains, the complexity of today’s modern IT infrastructure means cabling is becoming increasingly critical
oday’s IT infrastructure is based on technologies such as virtualisation,
cloud, BYOD, VoIP and UC. The classic data centre is collapsing into a single hop network fabric to deliver better performance. As we move to 10Gbps copper and to 40Gbps and even 100Gbps fibre, more data will travel over each connection, making each cable vital. If network complexity continues to
increase and testing and certification resources do not increase, then there will be a steady increase in either the time or the cost per install. Figure 1 (right) shows the number of
network problems reported per region. What is needed is better efficiency and
agility. This requires testing tools that can assume a larger role in the installation process and hence have a greater impact on the business, supported by an effective certification process.
WHERE PROBLEMS ARISE The increasing complexity is resulting in problems at almost all stages of testing and certification. According to research carried out by Fluke Networks, 61% of large installers lack sufficient project management expertise, while 41% of project managers lack the tools to test to new standards. Not surprisingly, 54% of network managers think that the installation process is too slow. At the project level, most organisations use a six step installation and certification process (Figure 2 - below). At which stage these problems can arise? Planning - this initial stage of the process is typically left to the project manager. Most installers are simultaneously managing the testing and certification of multiple jobs, each with its own requirements, team and testing tools. This is time consuming and the increased complexity leads to costly errors. An expert testing tool incorporates
project management capabilities to enable the user to seamlessly plan and manage multiple jobs, different cable types or testing regimes, multiple teams etc. It would be adept at handling all the complexity of a typical cable infrastructure installation, thus improving efficiency and eliminating costly errors.
Right: network problems reported by region
Set-up - this phase ensures that the
requirements are known and the tool is correctly configured to test those parameters. Complexity is growing in this area - there are multiple media types, different categories and varying standards. Frontline technicians often need to wait
for a particular expert to set-up the tool, or carry out the work themselves and run the risk of making costly errors that require rework. Test set-up wizards deliver guided referencing and link budget configuration, as well as incorporating built-in standards to ensure the right tests are carried out. This approach eliminates the ‘wait for an expert’ delay as well as further reducing errors. Testing - testing can always be faster, but the speed of current testers is such that there are limited opportunities to gain advantage in this part of the process. Tools continue to improve the speed of the testing process. Importantly, built-in wizards and a graphical interface in an expert tool will quickly get the user to the right test configuration. Troubleshooting - the varying skill
Below: the six step installation and certification process
levels of technicians typically means that projects are delayed at this stage until the required expertise to troubleshoot the problem arrives. The ability to drill down to identify the root cause of a problem is critical to effective troubleshooting. This drill-
down, along with precision graphical wire maps, allows technicians of any skill level to pinpoint and correct problems quickly. Reporting - as well as being increasingly complex and time consuming, reporting is the point at which errors and oversights from earlier in the certification process become apparent, resulting in delays. To improve reporting, test tools can
incorporate a project system that manages results across multiple teams, media and testers to control and integrate results into a single report across an entire project. System acceptance - this is a growing
challenge for customers. Multiple complex reports, varying test regimes etc, can all impact on system acceptance. If complexity tends to complicate system acceptance, then the solution is a clear system that uses concise statistics, event maps and ISO Level V accuracy certification to deliver instant insight into job quality. Keeping the cable infrastructure healthy
and up to speed with the rest of the IT industry means focusing on the entire certification process. Contractors and technicians that do not successfully evolve to address these complexities will simply be replaced by those that do.
Fluke Networks
www.flukenetworks.com T: 0207 942 0708
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