The Internet of the Future – What Happens Behind the Scenes?

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The Internet of Things (IoT) is at the beginning of its golden age. Forecasts note that the number of connected devices could exceed the 20-billion mark by next year and could reach 50 billion by 2022. For all this, we are basically using just one network protocol. The still-dominant IPv4 standard uses 32-bit addresses, only making around 232, or 4.3 billion different addresses possible. Luckily, a new 128-bit format has existed in principle since 1998. This IPv6 standard offers an address space of 2128, or around 340 sextillions, eliminating any concerns. However, DE-CIX measurements show that currently, only around 5 percent of traffic corresponds to the new standard.

How fiber optics can future-proof a data center on an uncertain budget

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The more data center managers know about extending the life of their equipment and infrastructure, the better prepared they’ll be to influence the procurement process and take advantage of funds that do become available. Two tactics to consider are: Dark fiber. Many ISPs installed more fiber than was initially needed and dark fiber can be activated and leased; and extend the life of existing fiber optic connections by upgrading termination equipment.

Fluke Networks issues DSX CableAnalyzer adapter for ix Industrial Ethernet connector

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Fluke Networks, Hirose and Harting have released an adapter supporting the ix Industrial connector for Fluke’s DSX CableAnalyzer family of network cabling certification tools. The ix Industrial is a rugged Ethernet connector for harsh environments, based on IEC 61076-3-124 standard with a 70% smaller size than the traditional 8-pin modular (“RJ-45”) connector. The new adapter allows the DSX Series to connect to cabling systems employing the ix Industrial connector for the purposes of pre-startup verification and troubleshooting.

TIA-942 data center conformance: Table stakes

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The TIA-942 standard for data centers is the world’s most popular data center standard. It’s used by well over 70% of facilities around the world. Data center stakeholders have been very concerned about ensuring that their data center was designed, built, and approved as having met that criteria.The new TIA program ensures consistency and conformity across the audits of data centers, which will result in better performance.
 

Best Practices in Cleaning Future Proofs Installations

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To provide the kind of faultless multi-gigabyte service promised by 5G, the fibre used in networks must be properly installed and maintained correctly. Therefore, it is important to address the need for the effective training of technicians. The deployment of 5G networks will only be successful if a skilled workforce is created who understand the correct way in which to carry out all of the processes. Contamination is a threat to optical networks and cleaning fibre is an important task to help a network achieves its performance goals. Therefore, engineers should be trained in ‘best practice’ cleaning procedures to future-proof each installation.

Clean as a whistle

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Fibre optic cleaning techniques are based on the removal of types of dust or oily matter. Single soils are relatively easy to remove compared with ‘combination soils’ that might be dust, combined with human body oil or hand lotion. Understanding the inter-dynamic of location of debris and its physical type is critical to removal. As speeds and capacities increase, and as deployments proliferate, there is a need to consider not only future, but also, heritage installations. Designers, installers and trainers face updates and backdates.

Cabling future-ready commercial office buildings

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The concept of networking in office buildings evolving from a competitive selling feature to a necessary fourth utility alongside electricity, gas, and water has developed in the last 10 years. The need to enable more instrumentation and control points inside buildings requires wired and wireless networks to connect them back to the services that orchestrate their overall operations. The fourth utility has to span from basement to roof, and from carpeted floors to the parking garage. Cabling infrastructure that is not future-ready will require replacement or augmentation to accommodate the inevitable changes to the attached active electronics over the cabling’s 20-year useful life.

Should LAN installers hit the 5G panic button? Questions for IDEAL Networks

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Very recently on its website, IDEAL Networks posed the salient premise and question, 5G is coming – should LAN installers panic? Interest around 5G has built significantly over the past year. But should this promise of improved mobile performance be a cause for concern for LAN cable providers and installers? Read the  answers to the six questions posed by IDEAL.

Cybersecurity’s Path in the Future of BACnet

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No system out there is impenetrable. But BACnet, an ANSI/ASHRAE and global ISO standard that covers a rage of IoT, IP and operational technology devices, is exploitable. The more than 25 million BACnet devices — which include HVAC, lighting controls, ACS, mart meters, elevator controls, UPS and other building automation systems — are easy points of entry even for a novice hacker.

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