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 FOR PROFESSIONALS MANAGING THE CABLE AND WIRELESS
MARCH 2017 SYSTEMS THAT ENABLE CRITICAL COMMUNICATIONS

WHAT CAN A GLASS CORE DO IN

A DATA CENTER? PAGE 16

TECHNOLOGY PAGE 5

The hazards of
endface contamination
INSTALLATION PAGE 13

New labeling, AIM

standards arriving
together
INFRASTRUCTURE INSIGHTS PAGE 32

Dont let the students

touch the cables

w w w.c a b li n g i n s t a ll .c o m

1703CIM_C1 1 2/23/17 10:34 AM

Is your data center on the right path
to 40, 100, or even 400G?

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optical cabling system to feature a Base-8 design to maximize per-rack-unit
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EDGE8 solution fits into your technology road map.

2016 Corning Optical Communications. LAN-2112-AEN / December 2016

1703CIM_C2 2 2/23/17 10:34 AM

 CONTENTS M A R C H 2 017
vol. 25, no. 3

ABOUT THE COVER

Fiber Mountains Glass Core
technology, now available through
Legrand, promises to simplify data
center connections. Cover image
credits: Eraxion/Bigstock.com
SEE ARTICLE ON PAGE 16.

Group Publisher Alan Bergstein

(603)-891-9447; alanb@pennwell.com
Chief Editor Patrick McLaughlin
(603) 891-9222; patrick@pennwell.com
Senior Editor Matt Vincent
(603) 891-9262; mattv@pennwell.com
Art Director Cindy Chamberlin
Production Director Mari Rodriguez
Senior Illustrator Dan Rodd
Marketing Manager Joni Montemagno

FEATURES
Audience Development Manager Stephanie OShea
Ad Traffic Manager Glenda van Duyne

5 TECHNOLOGY
Endface contamination will
degrade your fiber network
BRIAN TEAGUE
16 DESIGN
Partnership brings dyamic fiber
connections to data centers
PATRICK MCLAUGHLIN
www.pennwell.com
EDITORIAL OFFICES
Cabling Installation & Maintenance
61 Spit Brook Road, Suite 401, Nashua, NH 03060
Tel: (603) 891-0123, Fax: (603) 891-9245
www.cablinginstall.com
CORPORATE OFFICERS

9 DATA CENTER 19 INDUSTRIAL

The emergence of SDN: Critical
infrastructure challenges
JEREMY CLUTE
Test tools save time for
Industrial Ethernet users
TIM WIDDERSHOVEN
Chairman Robert F. Biolchini
Vice Chairman Frank T. Lauinger
President and Chief Executive Officer
Mark C. Wilmoth
Executive Vice President, Corporate Development
and Strategy Jayne A. Gilsinger
Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial
Officer Brian Conway

13 INSTALLATION TECHNOLOGY GROUP

Senior Vice President & Publishing Director
TIA publishing administration, Christine A. Shaw

AIM standards concurrently FOR SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES:

Tel: (847) 559-7330; Fax: (847) 763-9607
PATRICK MCLAUGHLIN www.cim-subscribe.com; e-mail: cim@halldata.com

DEPARTMENTS Cabling Installation & Maintenance (ISSN 1073-3108), Volume 24,

No. 3. Cabling Installation & Maintenance is published 12 times a year,

3 23
monthly by PennWell Corporation, 1421 S. Sheridan, Tulsa, OK 74112.
EDITORIAL EDITORS PICKS Periodicals postage paid at Tulsa, OK 74112 and at additional mailing
offices. SUBSCRIPTION PRICES: USA $84 1yr., $120 2 yr.; Canada/Mexico
$96 1 yr., $140 2 yr.; International $118 1 yr., $170 2 yr. POSTMASTER:
Man buns wanted Send address corrections to Cabling Installation & Maintenance, P.O. Box

32 INFRASTRUCTURE INSIGHTS
3425, Northbrook, IL 60065-3425. Cabling Installation & Maintenance
is a registered trademark. PennWell Corporation 2017. All rights
reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

22 PRODUCT FOCUS Repeat after me

Permission, however, is granted for employees of corporations licensed under
the Annual Authorization Service offered by the Copyright Clearance Center
Inc. (CCC), 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, Mass. 01923, or by calling CCCs
Customer Relations Department at 978-750-8400 prior to copying. We make
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offer products and services that may be important for your work. If you do
not want to receive those offers and/or information via direct mail, please let
us know by contacting us at List Services Cabling Installation & Maintenance,
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1703CIM_Rev_1 1 2/27/17 10:08 AM

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 EDITORIAL

W H AT 'S N E W AT
www.cablinginstall.com
Man buns wanted
Among the gifts I received this past Christmas
was a wedding portrait of my nephew and his
bride. While admiring the photo, I couldn't resist
asking the 25-year-old newlywed, "Where's the
COMBATING COUNTERFEITS
man bun?" Whether it was through cropping or
Cable badly fails burn test
strategic placement of the photo in the frame, the
image belies reality because in it, the groom ap-
DATA CENTER pears to be a little more groomed than he really is.
Project estimator aids PATRICK McLAUGHLIN The collection of hair that sits kind-of-on-top and
whitespace planning patrick@pennwell.com kind-of-at-the-back-of his head is nowhere to be
seen in the photo. He wanted to look his best on
his wedding day, and apparently nothing looks better than a man bun. But for
whatever reason he opted to omit that element of his preening from the photos
he gave as gifts to his 40- and 50- and 60-something-year-old parents, in-laws,
aunts, uncles, etc. It's a beautiful portrait nonetheless.
Like every year, it felt as if no sooner did the holidays end than I was packing
my bags for the BICSI Winter Conference, which was held the week of January
PROFESSIONALISM 23. Throughout the week it was clear to me that BICSI is actively promoting it-
Pfister Award self to, and recruiting into its ranks, the age demographic that sports man buns.
winner: It's people The association, of course, is spreading its outreach to both genders within that
that matter age demographic. In 2016 BICSI added a student membership option. Among
other benefits, student members can attend region meetings for free. The asso-
ciation also created the Emerging Professional Award; the first-ever recipient,
NETWORK DESIGN Ashley Haak Wills, holds the RCDD and OSP credentials.
Atlanta Marriott Marquis These outreach efforts are happening not a moment too soon. The design
installs passive optical LAN and installation of information and communications technology (ICT) infra-
structure are becoming more complex, not simpler. The totality of what needs
to be understood in order to properly design or install this infrastructure is a
steadily expanding universe. In many ways, this reality stands in contrast to
the popular view of millennials. For example, when they need to learn how to do
something they watch a six-minute YouTube video. Meanwhile, the 13th edition
of the Telecommunications Distribution Methods Manual is 2,100 pages long.
Just as the millennial generation will produce doctors, teachers and lawyers,
AV CABLING it also will produce professionals in ICT design and installation. However, you've
UL launches probably never heard a kid say, "When I grow up I'm going to build ICT systems."
PoH cable So it is incumbent upon the industry as a whole to do what we can to produce a
certification
next generation of professionals. BICSI's efforts should be applauded, and they
program
exemplify the start of a necessary effort in this industry.
The next time I'm at a large gathering of ICT professionals, I'm going to count
the man buns in the crowd. I hope A) there will be plenty, and B) the number
will be matched by women in the same age group. I'll keep you posted.

www.cablinginstall.com Cabling Installation & Maintenance MARCH 2017 3

1703CIM_3 3 2/23/17 10:31 AM

 Distribution

1703CIM_4 4 2/23/17 10:31 AM

 technology

Endface contamination will

degrade your fiber network
Though there are many wrong ways to This huge proportion of people expe-
approach fiber cleaning, proper preventive riencing fiber failure is, in my mind,
greatly due to a lack of understand-
and remedial steps can be taken.
ing about fiber contamination. With a
few simple steps and proper tools, dirty
BY BRIAN TEAGUE, Sticklers Fiber Optic Cleaners connectors and slow networks can be a
thing of the past.

Since the first commercial installa-
tions in the 1970s, the deployment of
fiber-optic communication technolo-
gies has risen at an astounding rate.
Fiber-optic capabilities have become
so pervasive and so enabling that
this technology truly has become the
heart of our modern digital age. Just
like a human heart, reliability is not
just a nice to haveit is essential.
Networks are expected to work seam-
lessly the first time, every time, all the
time. This will rarely be the case with-
out proper cleaning. Dirty fiber will
Dust contamination
80 percent of network owners and 98 As a general category, contamination
percent of network contractors have is a removable defect on the connector
experienced fiber failures during the endface; lint, fingerprint oils, moisture
installation process. and simple dust. Most commonly dust is
82 percent of network owners and the main bad actor. Dust is omnipres-
92 percent of network contractors ent, easily migrates and usually is not
use isopropyl alcohol (IPA) as the visible to the naked eye. Dust particles
cleaning agent. are opaque and cannot transmit light.
12 percent of network owners and 30 Even as small as 5-6 microns (about one-
percent of network contractors use tenth the size of a human hair), these
compressed air for cleaning. microscopic particles will obstruct the
Chromatic aberration

impact and degrade the performance

of the network.
For the optical signal to transmit and
be received with minimal signal loss,
ferrule endfaces must be completely
clean of contaminants. One of the most
basic procedures for the maintenance
of fiber-optic systems is to clean the fi-
ber-optic connector endface. The clean-
ing processes widely used in the field
have not kept pace with the demands of
the technology. A study by HTI Martin
Technical Research Survey of 89 network Translucent contamination on an endfaces causes chromatic aberration. These
owners and contractors looked at net- aberrations change the signal path unpredictably, and change it differently for
work failures and found the following. different frequencies of light.

www.cablinginstall.com Cabling Installation & Maintenance MARCH 2017 5

1703CIM_5 5 2/23/17 10:31 AM

 Endface contamination will degrade your fiber network continued

have documented this phenomenon

in as little as 45 seconds after an at-
tempted cleaning.
Electrostatic charges can come from
any of the following activities.
Dry wiping connectors with wipes
that do not have static-dissipa-
tive properties
Using certain types of foam clean-
ing sticks to clean and dry an end-
face (friction from non-conductive
cleaning tools)
Opaque contamination such as dust blocks the light path, which everyone knows Cleaning only with compressed
causes insertion loss. But the damage caused by translucent contamination air (the rapidly moving air creates
is more subtle because some of the light signal gets throughbut in an friction that can impart an elec-
unpredictable manner. In these two microphotographs, translucent fingerprint trostatic charge onto nonconduc-
oils look very different from opaque dust on endfaces. tive materials)
Inserting or removing a connec-
signal transmitted along the fiber, just signal degradation as the dust absorbs tor into the adapter during mating
as the moon blocks the sun during a or reflects back into itself. Another is- (more friction)
solar eclipse. sue is the creation of permanent defects Removing the protective end-
Dust can come from a variety of on the ferrule surfaces in the form of cap from the connector or adapter
sources, many of which are not obvious. scratches or pits. (friction, again)
They include the following. The risk of network impairment from Connecting to test equipment (a real
Dead skin and hair contamination means the use of a fer- friction addiction)
Clothing rule scope is a good investment. It is im-
Foam swabs and paper wipes, even portant to select a ferrule scope that has But because the components of a fiber
lint-free wipes good resolution with 200/400x magni- connector are made of nonconductive ma-
Zinc whiskers from electro- fication. The better-performing ferrule terialsusually plastic, ceramics, glass
plated surfaces scopes come with automated inspection and epoxiesthe electrostatic charge
Opening cardboard boxes and and analysis software that is set to the does not have a dissipate; there is no path
reams of paper pass/fail standards in IEC 61300-3-35. to ground. The charge will remain on the
Connector wear debris connector endface indefinitely and the
Dirty test assemblies and tools Electrostatic charge: particulate will remain locked in place un-
Protective end caps for connectors Fibers worst enemy til the endface is cleaned thoroughly and
and adapters Electrostatic charge is the invisible en- properly. Even if the central contact zone
Electrical-generation pollution and emy. Any time there is contact friction initially is clean, an electrostatic charge
vehicle emissions such as wiping an endface with a dry can cause dust to migrate from the outer
Plant pollen and molds wipean electrostatic charge is gener- regions of the ferrule toward the ferrule
ated. That electrostatic charge draws apex in the contact zone.
Because dust particles are so small, dust oppositely charged microscopic dust
can be locked into place on and end- particles onto connector endfaces just Refractive index issues
face by an electrostatic charge. This like a magnet. Oppositely charged dust The most common effect of contamina-
can have a huge and deleterious effect particles will electrically bond to the tion on an endface is insertion loss; the
on performance of the fiber. The elec- ferrule surface. These microscopic par- light is blocked and the signal is lost. But
trostatic charge causes dust particles ticles obstruct the signal path trans- the complete story is more complex.
to migrate into the contact zone of the mitted along the fiber, and is called in- The burst of light that comprises
mated ferrule pair. The dust will cause sertion loss. In the MicroCare lab, we the fiber-optic signal is made up of

6 MARCH 2017 Cabling Installation & Maintenance www.cablinginstall.com

1703CIM_6 6 2/23/17 10:31 AM


different wavelengths of light. If index
of refraction within the fiber changes,
that change will peel some of the wave-
lengths off and weaken the signal, which
is called chromatic aberration. In the
worst cases, it can change the refractive
angle enough that the signal is lost com-
pletely. The higher the frequency of the
light signal the greater the sensitivity
to changes of the refractive angle. What
can change the refractive index? The
most common culprit is residue-based
contamination on the connector end-
face. All of these microscopic trouble-
makers change the index of refraction.
There is still another problem with
dust as well as liquid contamination.
One dirty endface can contaminate an-
other when they are mated together.
If a dirty jumperor power meter, or
light source, or some other popular
toolis inserted into a clean connec-
tor both of them will become contami-
nated instantly. Network performance
will suffer.
Wet or dry?
Traditional cleaning methods sim-
ply are not ideal to achieve contami-
nation-free endfaces on modern, high-
speed networks. Dry cleaning with a
wipe or swab, as previously explained,
will generate static and attract debris
to the endface. It may also not be strong
enough to lift some oils and grease from
the endface.
Alcohol is sub-optimal as well. Many
engineers use IPA to clean their fiber but
all alcohol molecules are hygroscopic.
IPA has a strong affinity for water, so it
is always trying to pull water molecules
out of the air and into the solution, espe-
cially with the pump bottles that many
people use. That moisture can cause
cross-contamination. It also will slow
the drying process and it requires more
air to evaporate the liquid off the end-
face. The extra air brings with it more
www.cablinginstall.com
1703CIM_7 7
Endface contamination will degrade your fiber network continued
dust and the risk of additional residues
on the endface. (Although they are won-
derfully convenient, presaturated wipes
can contribute to contamination as the
packaging over time degrades and resi-
dues leach into the wipes. So even when
every effort is made to clean thoroughly,
alcohol presaturated into cheap pa-
per wipes could be the source of your
dirty-fiber problem.)
The use of canned air may seem ef-
fective, but this method actually pushes
dust around the ports and onto the
endface, rather than removing it. Dry
cleaning tools work, but they need to
be used in combination with a wet-
clean method.
Difficult-to-remove contamination
like grease only can be eliminated with
the use of a solvent.
In short, the most effective method of
completely eliminating endface debris is
wet-dry cleaning with the use of specially
developed fiber cleaning fluids. Those flu-
ids should be fast-drying, non-flammable,
have a low surface tension and dissipate
static. The fast-drying feature is especially
important when cleaning fiber as there is
not enough time for moisture to attract
to the fluid, therefore stopping contami-
nation. By using a specially designed fiber
cleaning fluid and a lint-free wipe, the op-
timum results will be achieved.
Residue left on the endface will
cause signal loss and degrade the
performance of your network.
Cabling Installation & Maintenance
Best practices for speedy networks
In conclusion, following are 11 simple
steps to ensure contamination does not
occur. If followed carefully, these steps
will eliminate problems related to con-
taminated fiber.
1. Wet-dry cleaning is most effective for
removing all forms of contamination
and eliminates electrostatic charge.
2. Use optical-grade cleaning flu-
ids that leave no residue and are
fast-evaporating.
3. Use cleaning fluids in hermeti-
cally sealed packaging to prevent
cross-contamination. Refillable pump
bottles are simply not up to the task.
4. Use high-absorbency optical-grade
fabric wipes (not paper).
5. Always clean both ends of a connec-
tor pair, and do it just before mating.
6. Clean new jumpers and patch cords,
even right out of the bag, even if they
have protective dust covers on them.
You can be sure those jumpers werent
properly cleaned in the factory, and
the dust covers were not cleaned at all.
7. When using stick cleaners, use
one stick per endface to avoid
cross-contamination.
8. When using cleaning sticks, only ro-
tate them in one direction; usually
four to eight rotations is sufficient.
9. Mechanical push-to-clean clean-
ers and cassette cleaners are
good for light to medium levels of
contamination.
10. Boxes and tubs of optical-grade
wipes plus a cleaning fluid are the
best practices when splicing pigtails
onto bulk cable.
11. Clean tools give you the best results.
Always clean test assemblies, power
meters, light sources and all the other
equipment and test gear. u
Brian Teague is product manager for Sticklers
Fiber Optic Cleaner products with MicroCare
(www.sticklerscleaners.com).
MARCH 2017 7
2/23/17 10:31 AM
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 data center

The emergence of SDN:

Understanding the critical
infrastructure challenge of
next-generation networks
As we move closer to widescale adoption of intelligence presents tremendous op-
software-defined networking, organizations portunity for more-efficient, more-re-
liable network operation, but realizing
must prepare for the evolution. those opportunities can be a challenge.
Monitoring and management of these
BY JEREMY CLUTE, Vertiv diversified networks is key, but it can
be difficult and it only scratches the
surface of whats possible with these
technologies.
For decades, information Software-defined network-
technology (IT) and tele- ing (SDN) has the capability
communications networks to fundamentally change our
were decidedly different approach to todays emerg-
things, but times are chang- ing next-generation networks.
ing. Todays communica- SDN separates network ser-
tions networks increasingly vices and loads from dedicated
rely on IT systems, with data hardware and servers, enabling
centers replacing traditional a dynamic, virtualized net-
central offices. And many work that runs on commercial-
of todays data centers are off-the-shelf hardware. These
serving as hubs of vast com- software-centric virtualized
puting networks, not un- networks are becoming more
like the traditional telco common around the world, in-
core/access architecture. creasing network agility, reduc-
The lines arent just blurred; ing costs and time to market,
theyre shared. and even generating new rev-
In both cases, these are The Liebert iCOM-S is a thermal control and monitoring enue streams.
sprawling, multi-layered net- system that enables higher cooling efficiency, improved The first step is automating
works of computing and protection and greater productivity, says its provider manual processes to more-ef-
communications technolo- Vertiv. The offerings capabilities are particularly fectively collect and analyze
gies supported by increas- beneficial in software-defined networks, where the data from devices across the
ingly intelligent critical in- ability to analyze data from across the network is key. networkincluding critical in-
frastructure systems. The frastructure systemsand

www.cablinginstall.com Cabling Installation & Maintenance MARCH 2017 9

1703CIM_9 9 2/23/17 10:31 AM

 The emergence of SDN: Understanding the critical infrastructure challenge of next-generation networks continued

scaling accordingly to meet demand.
Ultimately, thats the key to SDN.
When activated, a truly software-de-
fined network can shift loads seam-
lessly, in real time, across devices and
locations. Distinctions like core and
access mean little, and downtime is
virtually eliminated as equipment fail-
ures are mitigated by simply mov-
ing the load and managing capacity
across the network. This is a seismic
shift in network design and operation,
transforming traditional, static net-
works into dynamic organizational as-
sets that navigate load fluctuations by
elegantly leveraging distributed, but
no longer isolated, resources.
Of course, its not quite that sim-
ple. A software-defined network re-
quires a critical infrastructure thats
just as agile, just as flexible and just
as dynamic as the technologies and
software underpinning the network.
SDN is only possible if the power and
cooling infrastructure is capable of
supporting that load. Just because
specified servers have the capacity to
handle the incoming load doesnt nec-
essarily mean the power and cooling
infrastructure supporting those serv-
ers can handle it. The servers, infra-
structure, switches and storage must
work in concert. Otherwise, auto-
mated load management can have un-
intended and severe consequences.
Executed properly, its easy to see ap-
plications of SDN that not only react
to load fluctuations, but also variables
like current energy costs and exter-
nal environmental conditions, which
could potentially influence decisions
on when and where to shift loads.
All of this requires real-time visi-
bility into servers, switches, storage
systems and power-and-cooling infra-
structure and the capability to man-
age those systems while collecting and
analyzing data from across the net-
work. The key word there is analyz-
ing. This goes far beyond data col-
lection. Todays equipment supplies a
wealth of dataarguably too much
but the problem is converting the data
into something informative and ac-
tionable. That can be handled through
a data collection layermade up of
management gateways and intelligent
system controllers that funnel data
from multiple devicesthat can con-
solidate and analyze data and deliver
it to a management system in a for-
mat it can use.
Those gateways and controllers
provide intelligent system-level man-
agementoptimizing the perfor-
mance of those systemswhile also

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 continued

enabling SDN. Think about data center thermal manage-

ment, which can leverage a system of sensors and controls
to more-accurately cool certain racks or rows as necessary.
RENT
Effective thermal management can reduce cooling costs
by as much as 30 percenta significant savings when you
consider data center thermal management can account for
NETWORK
anywhere from 15 to 40 percent of data center energy costs.
That sort of network intelligence enables increased auto-
mation and even predictive capabilities, ensuring optimized
TEST EQUIPMENT
performanceincluding reduced energy consumption and
improved overall operating efficiency. Fully realized SDN can
significantly reduce operational expenses. The increased in-
telligence inherent in a software-defined network makes
maintenance calls more efficient and triggers timely proac-
tive service calls.
We are moving closer to widescale adoption of SDN, and or-
ganizations must prepare for the evolution. u

Jeremy Clute is director of product management, software for Vertiv

(www.vertivco.com). Formerly known as Emerson Network Power, Vertiv
designs, builds and services critical infrastructure that enables vital applica-
tions for data centers, communication network and commercial and indus-
trial facilities.

SDN ramp-up slower Select from an extensive inventory:

than anticipated
Cat 6 Cable Certifiers
In this article Jeremy Clute emphasizes the importance and
benefits of preparing for the software-defined network (SDN)
Fiber Optic Cable Certifiers
by building a critical infrastructure thats just as agile, just as Fusion Splicers
flexible and just as dynamic as the technologies and software OTDRs
underpinning the network.
Active Network Testers
According to a research note published in January by Clifford
Grossner, IHS Markits senior research director for data center, Wireless Testers
cloud and SDN, many data center operators still have the oppor- And More...
tunity to build that type of critical infrastructure. Thats because,
according to the firms 2016 survey of service providers, within
data centers lab trials for SDN are still dominant over production
Advanced Test
trials and live deployments. Two-thirds of the service provid- Equipment Rentals
ers participating in our 2016 survey are still conducting lab trials The Knowledge. The Equipment. The Solution.
of data center SDN, Grossner said. Getting to live production
is taking more time than expected, he continued. This means
that the most innovation-driven part of the market critical for Test your network today!
new revenue, SDN controllers, data center orchestration and
SDN applications, is still wide open. Patrick McLaughlin
888-485-ATEC (2832)
rentals@atecorp.com
www.cablinginstall.com
www.atecorp.com

1703CIM_11 11 2/23/17 10:31 AM

 T RYS F
US I

RS
I ND

T
IS

E
L

L
TED
CAB

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1703CIM_12 12 2/23/17 10:31 AM

 installation

TIA to publish updated

administration standard and
new AIM standard concurrently
The C version of the TIA-606 administration Automated Infrastructure Management
(AIM) Systems Requirements, Data
standard will be published simultaneously with TIA- Exchange and Applications.
5048, an adaption of the ISO/IEC 18598 standard To say the TIA will adapt ISO/IEC
18598 means that the standards body
specifying automated infrastructure management.
will publish the existing standard nearly
verbatim as ANSI/TIA-5048. Nearly ver-
BY PATRICK MCLAUGHLIN batim. The one alteration TR-42.6 will
make to the ISO/IEC standard is the re-
quirement that an AIM system will ac-
commodate an identification scheme
The Telecommunications Industry resolved all outstanding comments on that complies with the forthcoming
Associations (TIA) Subcommittee the C revision of the ANSI/TIA-606 ANSI/TIA-606-C.
TR-42.6, Telecommunications Telecommunications Infrastructure and
Infrastructure and Equipment Equipment Administration standard. Taking AIM
Administration, is poised to publish two At the same meeting, the subcommittee In May 2016, once the ISO/IEC 18598
standards simultaneously in the com- made significant strides toward publish- standard had become a stable docu-
ing months. At the groups most re- ing ANSI/TIA-5048, which is an adap- ment, CommScopes (www.commscope.
cent meeting held in early February, it tion of the ISO/IEC 18598 standard titled com) European building solution ar-
chitect, Dr. T.C. Tan, wrote that with
that milestone achieved, network in-
frastructure managers should seriously
consider deploying an AIM system in
their data centers and offices.
The standard, he explained, is tech-
nology-agnostic and covers an inte-
grated hardware and software system
that accomplishes the following: au-
tomatically detects the insertion or re-
moval of cords; documents the cabling
infrastructure including connected
equipment; and enables management of
the infrastructure and data exchange
with other systems.
imVision is CommScopes automated infrastructure management (AIM) Further, Dr. Tan noted, the stan-
technology offering. The imVision controller is shown here. dard includes a clause that describes

www.cablinginstall.com Cabling Installation & Maintenance MARCH 2017 13

1703CIM_13 13 2/23/17 10:31 AM

 TIA to publish updated administration standard and new AIM standard concurrently continued
intrinsic and extrinsic business bene-
fits of deploying an AIM system. The
intrinsic benefits include accurate doc-
umentation (auto-documentation of
physical layer connectivity), change/in-
cident/capacity management (monitor-
ing and management of connectivity
changes), and asset management (dis-
covery of devices connected to the net-
work and location information for con-
nected devices).
The extrinsic benefits cover either
application program interfaces (APIs)
or data exchange between an AIM sys-
tem and other business information or
network management systems that can
provide enhanced functionality to both
systems, he noted. It addresses data
exchange format, protocols and com-
mands, and defines a common data
model describing elements and assets
contained within an AIM system. These
include data exchange format and proto-
cols according to Simple Object Access
Protocol (SOAP) or RESTful-based web
services, and a basic set of commands.
Tan emphasized that an AIM sys-
tems extrinsic benefits will be of par-
ticular interest to the construction in-
dustry and building owners, as building
information modeling (BIM) is being
mandated by some governments, in-
cluding the United Kingdom, Finland,
Norway, the Netherlands and Singapore.
The AIM system will enhance the func-
tionality of BIM in the areas of asset
information management, space uti-
lization and location-based energy man-
agement policies, he explained. This is
definitely food for thought, as the physi-
cal network infrastructure (for informa-
tion) can be considered as a fourth util-
ity in the office environment, along with
piping (for water), mains cabling (for
power) and ducting (for HVAC).
Annexes and how-to
The ANSI/TIA-5048 standard includes
14 MARCH 2017 Cabling Installation & Maintenance
1703CIM_14 14
four annexes, three of which are infor-
mative and one of which is normative.
Informative information is included in
Annex A, Hierarchy and Containment
Rules; Annex B, Field Descriptions, and
Annex D, Optional Lower Level Data
Exchange Framework.
Annex C, titled Implementation
Requirements and Recommendations,
is normative. That annex states, There
are four phases in the successful imple-
mentation of information technology
cabling that are also applicable to AIM
systems: design, specification, installa-
tion, operation. The rest of the annex
prescribes those four phases. For exam-
ple, it reads, Design of the AIM system
should be undertaken in consultation
with a) the cabling system designer, b)
the customer to determine required fea-
tures, c) other business systems that are
intended to exchange data, d) network
administrators.
TIA-606-C
The update of the ANSI/TIA-606 stan-
dard from its B to its C revision has communications grounding and bond-
been a quick process by standards-de-
velopment perspectives. In its June 2016
meeting, TR-42.6 approved a project re-
quest to initiate work on 606-C. At the
same meeting, the committee approved
a 45-day committee ballot for the stan-
dard. At its October 2016 meeting, the
committee resolved a round of com-
ments on the document and approved
an industry ballot for it.
Then at its meeting in February, TR-
42.6 resolved comments arising from
the most recent ballot and approved a
default ballot. The committee also ap-
proved the standards publication, pro-
vided there are not technical com-
ments or negative votes resulting from
the default ballot, with the contin-
gency that it must publish concurrently
with TIA-5048.
The changes from the B version to
the C version are relatively few, but are
worth noting.
Commonly, when a TIA standard is
revised, addenda that had been made to
the previous revision get incorporated
into the current revision. A different ap-
proach was taken here. The lone adden-
dum to ANSI/TIA-606-B, published in
2015, addressed AIM and harmonized
with the ISO/IEC 14763-2-1 standard. As
has been detailed in this article, ISO/IEC
more recently addressed AIM with its
18598 standard, which the TIA is adapt-
ing as ANSI/TIA-5048. Therefore, TIA-
606-C, rather than incorporating the
content of 606-B Addendum 1, will refer-
ence ANSI/TIA-5048.
Also new in the 606-C standard
will be an Annex D, which will be in-
formative and will provide guidelines
for administering cabling that sup-
ports remote powering. That annex
will include guidelines for cable bundle
identification.
Other modifications in 606-C include
changes to the identifier scheme for tele-
ing system elements. These changes will
specify the use of terms compatible with
ISO/IEC 30129. Legacy terms used in
versions of the TIA-607 standard earlier
than revision C also will be allowed.
Specifically, these changes include
use of the term TBC (telecommuni-
cations bonding conductor) instead of
BCT (bonding conductor for telecom-
munications), RBB (rack bonding bus-
bar) instead of RGB (rack grounding
busbar), BBC (backbone bonding con-
ductor) instead of GE (grouding equal-
izer), SBB (secondary bonding busbar)
instead of TGB (telecommunications
grounding busbar), and PBB (primary
bonding busbar) instead of TMGB
(telecommunications main ground-
ing busbar). u
Patrick McLaughlin is our chief editor.
www.cablinginstall.com
2/23/17 10:31 AM
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 design

Partnership between Legrand

and Fiber Mountain brings
dynamic fiber connections
to data centers
Legrand is incorporating Fiber Mountains Glass Core Legrands data communications team
system into its portfolio of physical-layer offerings, to deliver on our mission to simplify
network infrastructure, said M.H.
providing opex benefits of error-free management. Raza, Fiber Mountains chief execu-
tive officer, at the time. Our
BY PATRICK MCLAUGHLIN Glass Core technology
is a virtual connectiv-
ity fabric that enables
a dynamic soft-
The partnership between Legrand ware-managed
(www.legrand.us) and Fiber Mountain layer one net-
Inc. (www.fibermountain.com) was an- work, which
nounced in December 2016, when rep- Among the Fiber Mountain when used in
resentatives of the two companies technology available through conjunction with switch and router
jointly presented at the Gartner Data Legrand is this optical path exchange networks, provide the highest level of
Center, Infrastructure and Operations (OPX), which provides any-port-to- network control.
Management Conference. The circum- any-port connectivity in a form factor Rudy Montgelas, Legrands senior
stances of the announcement were not of 1 rack unit. technologist, added, We are excited to
a coincidence, as the companies see the partner with such a forward-thinking
potential for significant penetration these racks and change the connec- and innovative company, and to be able
of the technology within data centers, tivity as required by the data center to offer our customers a software-man-
and describe several ways that data managers, all without a human being aged fiber-based solution coupled with
centers can benefit from adopting it. present on the data center equipment Legrands extensive range of cabling
Fiber Mountain describes itself as floor. (See For cabling, SDN can hit and connectivity solutions. Raza and
The Glass Core Company and on its close to home, August 2015 issue, for a Montgelas jointly presented to the con-
website explains, Glass Core refers to more-detailed description of the Glass ference assembly in December.
an optical fabric that is able to connect Core concept.)
racks to each other or to connect ports Fiber Mountain said at the time Driving down errors
from servers, storage devices and rout- of the partnership announcement in The integration of Glass Core into
ers directly to each other Consider December that the agreement will al- Legrands physical-layer systems en-
a number of racks that are organized low it to expand into new markets for ables software-based management of
in a row. The Fiber Mountain Glass its Glass Core products and technolo- this connectivity, which Legrand noted
Core can provide connectivity between gies. We are excited to partner with delivers the ultimate in scalability,

16 MARCH 2017 Cabling Installation & Maintenance www.cablinginstall.com

1703CIM_16 16 2/23/17 10:31 AM

 error-proofing, remote real-time visibil-
ity and monitoring, automated network
re-configurability, remote network
management combined with opti-
mized power and cooling for switch-
ing equipment.
Legrands director of connectivity
product management, Yann Morvan,
said the partnership between the two
organizations supports Legrands
five key principles of solution-provi-
sion in data centers: 1) delivering bet-
ter performance, 2) saving time, 3)
optimizing space, 4) providing a fa-
vorable customer experience, 5) de-
livering on the promise of sustain-
ability. When we looked at the Fiber
Mountain solution and incorporating it
into our portfolio, it allowed us to take
those five elements of value to the next
level, he said.
Morvan cited the popular data
center architecturesthe three-tier
switching architecture as well as the
spine-and-leaf architectureand
pointed out that both scenarios come
with operational challenges includ-
ing large numbers of switches and
cabinets to manage, power and cool-
ing costs, and moves/adds/changes
(MACs). MACs, he pointed out, are a
particularly costly operating expense.
Moves, adds and changes are la-
bor-intensive maintenance, Morvan
said. A technician must be on-site to
take care of them. With Glass Core,
the MAC process can be automated
through software.
Another characteristic that at-
tracted us [to the Fiber Mountain part-
nership] was the elimination of human
errors, Morvan continued. Having
technicians making changes on-site
opens up the network to human error.
In addition to the automation
of actual port reassignment, Fiber
Mountains Raza emphasized the sys-
tems ability to automate connectivity
management. Some large data centers
have massive buildings, with four-inch
www.cablinginstall.com
1703CIM_17 17
conduit between them. Within the
building, fibers are spliced and taken
into separate rooms in batches of vary-
ing numbers. From there they split out
to patch panels. In many cases these
connections are administered through
human-managed Excel spreadsheets.
Often the result is an untraceable fi-
ber infrastructure residing in unreli-
able databases.
Legrands Montgelas added that
through Fiber Mountains offering, All
connections are documented through
software. The Orchestration System is
sophisticated and powerful. We believe
Fiber Mountain is the only provider
that offers orchestration system soft-
ware and the ability to reconfigure the
optical layer, together.
Morvan noted that in addition to
providing the ability to obtain an audit
trail, the software package delivers ac-
curate topology drawings as well as the
ability to provide labeling via software.
On the connectivity side, theres a con-
stant struggle to provide proper label-
ing, especially in high-density environ-
ments, he said.
Large-scale deployment
The organizations believe the technol-
ogy can be particularly beneficial to hy-
perscale and colocation data center fa-
cilities. Colos are trying to drive easier
setup, faster deployments, and reduce
potential missteps, said Legrands
Yann. This systems software-based
management capabilities can be im-
plemented across the globe, he noted.
Both pointed to Glass Cores ability
to monitor traffic and replicate ports
as a significant asset, in hyperscale
and colocation facilities as well as oth-
ers. Network monitoring is an area of
value, Yann said. Typically monitor-
ing is done with expensive cassettes.
But that function is built in to the Fiber
Mountain solution. If you want to do
monitoring today, your only option is
the tap cassette, which in addition to
Cabling Installation & Maintenance
capex cost, also draws from your opti-
cal power budget. Setting up a network
this way also requires additional pow-
er-consuming devices.
Montgelas added that the monitor-
ing capability is another value propo-
sition for colocation data centers. Tap
monitoring allows a company to moni-
tor bandwidth, and scale their services
accordingly. It may choose to aggre-
gate certain portions of the data cen-
ter, in order to be monitored for cer-
tain purposes.
Fiber Mountains Raza explained,
If you use tap modules, you put them
in all your racks. When you tap in,
the original connection was going to
a switch in the data center. A tapped
port has to go to a switch also. So
that requires the installation of an-
other switch. A network administra-
tor ends up putting a lot of switch ports
where the tap ports terminate. You es-
sentially have a parallel network of
tapped traffic.
Within that context, Legrand
sees this automated monitoring and
port-replication capability as a bene-
fit to users of the Fiber Mountain sys-
tem. Among those users are some ex-
isting Legrand customers that will add
the Fiber Mountain hardware and soft-
ware to their networks. The implemen-
tation does not have to be a wholesale
changeout either, both organizations
point out. In a large data center envi-
ronment, the Glass Core system can be
implemented in one row of racks, and
its benefits assessed.
Yann concluded the Glass Core sys-
tem provides an intelligent building
block for the data center. It could shape
the world of data center and network
designs, and is going to be different
from what people are accustomed to.
The Glass Core offerings are avail-
able through Legrands sales and distri-
bution channels. u
Patrick McLaughlin is our chief editor.
MARCH 2017 17
2/23/17 10:31 AM
1703CIM_18 18 2/23/17 10:31 AM
 industrial

Forense-Industrial saves
time for industrial Ethernet
customers with new
troubleshooting tools
Industrial Ethernet specialist Forense-Industrial such as the Gdansk tunnel in Poland.
transformed its troubleshooting and network Working with large international
companies and on such sizable proj-
testing processes, saving several hours on ects, fixing communications problems
each job and reducing equipment costs. quickly is critical. Forense-Industrial
is always under pressure to minimize
BY TIM WIDDERSHOVEN, Ideal Networks

Founded six years ago in Vilanova I la Fiberpachs-Iveco,

Geltru, Spain, Forense-Industrial spe-
cializes in industrial Ethernet. The
company provides consultation, trou-
bleshooting services and the supply
of hardware to some of Europes larg-
est manufacturers including Bayer-Elix
Polymers, TetraPak, Casa Tarradellas,
Tavil, Freixenet and
Damm. The company
also provides network
design, supply and on-
going support services
for large-scale infra-
structure projects,

In an industrial networking setting

like this one, Forense-Industrial can
take a snapshot of the network using
LanXplorer Pros NetMap feature. This
snapshot provides a reference point for
future troubleshooting.
Providing industrial Ethernet
servicesincluding troubleshootingto
some of Europes largest manufacturing
companies, Forense-Industrial uses
the LanXplorer Pro rather than a PC
to locate and diagnose network and
cabling problems.

www.cablinginstall.com Cabling Installation & Maintenance MARCH 2017 19

1703CIM_19 19 2/23/17 10:32 AM

 Forense-Industrial saves time for industrial Ethernet customers with new troubleshooting tools continued
troubleshooting processes,
explains Comas. This orig-
inal NetMap provides a ref-
erence point, so when trou-
bleshooting is required at
a later date, we can simply
take a new snapshot, and
then compare the two.
The new process ensures
that Forense-Industrial can
easily identify faulty or miss-
ing devices. Compared to
Prior to installing 72 IP cameras inside the traditional troubleshooting
Gdansk tunnel, Forense-Industrial assembled and methods using PCs and soft-
configured the network in their workshop, using ware, this simple process
the SignalTEK NT to simulate the IP camera traffic. also saves time, and can be
done in a few minutes, rather
downtime for customers, even during than taking one or two hours.
what is often complex testing, config- Testing of the physical layer can also
uration and troubleshooting on indus- be carried out quickly with LanXplorer
trial networks. Pro. Forense-Industrial uses features
The usual method of network trou- such as wiremap for miswires, split
bleshooting, by isolating devices one- pairs, opens and shorts, and Power over
by-one using a PC and software, is sim- Ethernet (PoE) detection and load test-
ply far too time-consuming, especially ing. This makes it easy to understand
for customers with a large number of what has caused devices to malfunction
devices on their network, says Jorge and exactly where those problems are
Comas, founder of Forense-Industrial. within the network.
In my experience, carrying a lap- A further issue when working with
top to jobs can also be inconvenient and industrial Ethernet is avoiding dupli-
cumbersome, he continues. Plus, set- cate IP addresses, as industrial Ethernet
ting up and using a laptop to conduct requires any device on the network to
testing and troubleshooting in a small or have a static IP address. To overcome
busy area, is often very difficult. this, Forense-Industrial use the Top 10
To address these issues and trans- bandwidth talkers and listeners feature
form the companys troubleshoot- of the LanXplorer Pro.
ing capabilities, Comas opted to use This function provides us with a
LanXplorer Pro from Ideal Networks. simply way to scan and review the range
Compact and handheld, LanXplorer Pro of IP addresses so that we can select a
quickly finds and diagnoses problems in free IP address to connect to the net-
networks, cabling and Ethernet devices work, says Comas This helps avoid
using copper, fiber and WiFi interfaces lost production time and can be done
and has helped Forense-Industrial save quickly and easily using just one hand-
hours on every troubleshooting job. held device.
With LanXplorer Pro we can take Another challenge faced by Forense-
a snapshot of the entire network once Industrial is the sheer scale of some
commissioned using the NetMap fea- large infrastructure jobs. For example,
ture; this has transformed our network the company was recently tasked with
20 MARCH 2017 Cabling Installation & Maintenance
1703CIM_20 20
the planned installation of 72 IP cam-
eras on a network in the Gdansk tun-
nel. With the tunnel stretching over 1 ki-
lometer and incorporating 40 switches
connected by more than 3 kilometers
of singlemode fiber, network testing
on-site would be both challenging and
time-consuming.
To overcome this, Forense-Industrial
used the SignalTEK NT network trans-
mission tester from Ideal Networks.
Prior to installation in the Gdansk
Tunnel, the IP camera network was as-
sembled and configured in their work-
shop. The SignalTEK NT tester was then
used to simulate the traffic of the IP
cameras. This ensured that all the hard-
ware was functioning correctly and to
the customers specification.
Problem-solving over such a large
area as the Gdansk tunnel would have
been both difficult and time-consum-
ing, says Comas. This way we were able
to find and correct any issues prior to
installation on site.
SignalTEK NT also enabled Forense-
Industrial to confirm that the level of
network traffic was as intended and that
the system was not overloaded by faulty
devices or incorrect configuration.
In addition, the company was able to
Forense-Industrials founder Jorge
Comas says that using the SignalTEK
NT eased problem-solving across the
expansive Gdansk tunnel. We were
able to find and correct any issues prior
to installation on site, he recalls.
www.cablinginstall.com
2/23/17 10:32 AM
 Forense-Industrial saves time for industrial Ethernet customers with new troubleshooting tools continued

The tool also enabled Forense-
Industrial to confirm the level of
network traffic was as intended
and the system was not overloaded
by faulty devices or incorrect
configuration.
provide a report to the customer, which
proved that the system could support
the required bandwidth.
After jobs, such as the Gdansk tunnel
rollout, have been completed, Forense-
Industrial also uses SignalTEK NT to en-
sure network performance is the same
as when the network was assembled and
tested in the workshop. The compact
device is also used to test the installed
fiber links.
Optical testing is easy with the
SignalTEK NT because it uses standard
SFP modules and does not need calibra-
tion, Comas adds.
A cost-effective option, SignalTEK
NT costs up to 30 percent less than com-
parable equipment. As it tests both
copper and fiber cable, only one com-
pact device is needed. This has helped
Forense-Industrial to keep costs un-
der control and reduce the amount of
equipment that technicians and install-
ers need to transport to the work site.
With a range of testing and trouble-
shooting features that allow networks
to be configured and tested quickly to
client specifications, LanXplorer Pro
and SignalTEK NT are an essential part
of the operations at Forense-Industrial.
In their workshop, the company is able
to use the devices for a wide range of
tests, whether as a traffic simulator,
to verify copper or fiber bandwidth,
or for testing QoS and VLAN in indus-
trial switches.
Comas concludes, We are using
SignalTEK NT and LanXplorer Pro more
every day as companies make the mi-
gration from serial protocols to using
Ethernet as standard. u
Tim Widdershoven is global marketing man-
ager for Ideal Networks (www.idealnetworks.net).

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1703CIM_21 21 2/23/17 10:32 AM

 PR

S
CU
OD

FO
UC
T
FIBER CLEAVERS

1-step optical fiber cleaver

blends ease, sophistication
The FC-8R is Sumitomo Electric Lightwaves newest 1-step optical
fiber cleaver. With automatic blade rotation and a digital cleave
counter, it is billed as the ideal tool for use in fusion splicing, field
termination, or any application that requires
precision in a confined space. The FC-8R
has a simple cleaving operation that can be
Angled fiber
performed in the palm of the hand, allowing cleaver reduces
the user to take the cleaver to fiber in limited- backreflection
slack or cramped applications. A built-in
Oxford Fiber recently
extra-large fiber scrap collector handles
introduced its Ox-FAC-08
scrap fibers resulting from the cleaving
precision angled fiber cleaver.
process. With each cleave, the blade is
The company says the
automatically rotated to a new scoring position on the cleaver blade.
cleavers 8-degree end angle
The automatic blade rotation feature ensures that the user receives
is highly repeatable and
the maximum number of precision cleaves from each cleaver blade.
gives reduced backreflection,
Sumitomo Electric Lightwave, www.sumitomoelectric.com e.g. for fiber-attachment to
preterminated connectors or
mechanical splices. Designed
for use in outside plant and lab
Siemons LightBow High Precision
and production applications,
Cleaver now available separate from kit the Ox-FAC-08 uses a
Included in Siemons LightBow Fiber Termination Kit is a high-precision 10-position diamond blade
fiber cleaver that provides consistent, precise and high-quality cleaves. for longer life. The cleaver is
The cleavers innovative oil dampening system allows the blade to rugged with a stapler action
cleave at a uniform speed, eliminating user for easy use. Fiber clamping
variance. While other, lower-quality cleaves is onto rubberized surfaces,
are only good for up to about 10,000 giving a high-strength cleave.
cleaves, Siemons high-precision cleaver The cleaver is designed to
features a long-lasting blade that allows for interface with customer-
48,000 cleaves. The cleaver can now also supplied fiber organizers, or is
be purchased separately from the kit. In offered with an integrated fiber
addition to the cleaver, the Siemon LightBow holder. Cleave lengths as short
Fiber Termination System kit also features a patent-pending termination as 0.3 in/8 mm are possible.
tool and prepolished mechanical splice connectors that significantly The cleavers dimensions are
reduce termination time, prevent fiber endface contamination, eliminate 3x 2x 3 in, with a unit weight
air gaps, enable easy verification of terminations via the connectors of 0.4lbs/200g.
built-in VFL window, and offer the ability to reterminate connectors. Oxford Fiber,
Siemon, www.siemon.com/lightbow www.oxfordfiber.com

22 MARCH 2017 Cabling Installation & Maintenance www.cablinginstall.com

1703CIM_22 22 2/23/17 10:32 AM


EDITORS PICKS
News, products and trends for the communications systems industry
PROJEC T MANAGEMENT
Viavi Solutions introduces
CERTiFi cloud-based test
and certification project
management platform
Viavi Solutions announced CERTiFi, which it
described as a cloud-based system enabling
enterprise cabling contractors to manage test
and certification projects across increasingly
distributed workforces with complex specifica-
tions. CERTiFi, powered by Viavis StrataSync
cloud management platform for network ser-
vice providers, delivers a solution proven in
large carrier networks that has been adapted
for enterprise cabling contractors, the
company said.
Describing the industry dynamics that gave
rise to CERTiFis introduction, Viavi Solutions
said, Enterprises are installing, expanding and
upgrading data centers and networks to address
www.cablinginstall.com
1703CIM_23 23
PROTEC TING
ACCESS POINTS
ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE
ADVANCES
FIBER-OPTIC
INSTALL ATION
MANUAL
COMPILED BY
Matt Vincent
ci m pick s @ pen n well . com
a continuing acceleration in bandwidth
use. According to Viavis State of the
Network study, 48 percent of respon-
dents expect bandwidth to double
between 2016 and 2017. This trend is
driving growth in the breadth and com-
plexity of networks, technician workloads,
and outsourcing to contractors. Contractors
need an efficient way to manage projects
across their technician base to improve accu-
racy and speed of certification.
CERTiFi enhances overall project workflows by
syncing test and certification instrumentssuch as
the popular and proven Certifier40G and SmartClass
Fiber OLTS-85Pand managing them via a centralized
cloud-based system, Viavi stated. From that vantage
point, an administrator can create and distribute proj-
ect designs, assign projects to team members, pre-
load test instruments with tasks and required test crite-
ria, and assimilate, analyze and share test results in real
time. With CERTiFi, team members establish alignment
at every stage of their projectsfrom creating design
requirements and assigning tasks, to performing tests
and analyzing project metrics, which can significantly
reduce the time, cost and errors associated with offline
communications.
The company added that a major benefit and differ-
entiator of CERTiFi is the breadth of options for user
interfaces: from web-based, to mobile app, to on-instru-
ment UI. These interfaces are part of Viavis workflow
design to maximize efficiency. Field managers are con-
stantly on the go, managing multiple technicians in dif-
ferent locations with limited time. Management responsi-
bilities like gathering results from instruments and send-
ing them back to the main office or preparing tasks for
the next day typically end up happening in the off-hours,
when everyone else has clocked out. u
Cabling Installation & Maintenance MARCH 2017 23
2/23/17 10:32 AM
 EDITORS PICKS
CABLE MANAGEMENT
Hand-bendable
Universal Snake
Tray features built-in
mounting rings
As demoed at Snake Trays exhibitor booth at
the annual BICSI Winter exhibition, the company
says its Universal
Snake Tray is the
latest advancement
in cable manage-
ment that is hand-
bendable and can be
mounted overhead or
on walls with built-in
mounting rings.
Made in the USA, the Universal Snake Tray pro-
tects and secures both fiber and copper cables
with its 360-degree design. The patented hand-
bendable system installs with no onsite fabrication
required, adds the company.
The tray maintains the proper cabling bend radius
for optimal system performance via built-in mount-
ing rings and can be attached either overhead or on
a wall. Technicians can load cables easily from the
side of the trays, which nest together for low-cost
shipping and material handling.
FIBER TERMINATION
SEL launches new fusion splicer, plus high-density data
center module
Sumitomo Electric Lightwave (SEL) launched
a pair of new products at the 2017 BICSI
Winter exhibition.
Firstly, as the latest addition to the
companys Quantum Fusion Splicer line,
the Q102-CA core alignment fusion
splicer features a five-second splice
time. Patented dual independent ovens
and a new smartphone-like user inter-
face are key features of the new splicer.
24 MARCH 2017 Cabling Installation & Maintenance
1703CIM_24 24
WORKFLOW EFFICIENCY
D-Tools showcases latest System
Integrator software platform
D-Tools demonstrated
the latest version of its
data-driven system inte-
gration software platform
at the 2017 BICSI Winter
exhibition. Emphasizing
greater productivity and
workflow efficiency for the ICT industry professional, the newest ver-
sion of D-Tools award-winning System Integrator software platform,
SI 2016, was showcased at the companys BICSI exhibitor booth.
The company says SI 2016 primarily features third-party integra-
tions that improve and enhance workflow operations. Available now,
as stated by a product press release, SI 2016 adds valuable pro-
ductivity features and enhancements that enable commercial and
residential AV system integrators to both maximize the efficiency of
their business processes and increase profitability, while simultane-
ously reducing overhead.
For nearly 20 years, the D-Tools System Integrator (SI) software
platform has helped to increase ICT productivity and efficiency by
bringing together estimation, system design, and project manage-
ment into a single data-driven process, notes the release.
D-Tools adds that the software upgrade aims to more com-
pletely deliver an end-to-end solution that enables data to flow
seamlessly throughout the project lifecyclefrom initial client con-
tact through the ongoing service relationship [which includes] a
u comprehensive library of manufacturer products. u
The Q102-CA was demonstrated during BICSI exhi-
bition hours.
Also at the show, as a complement to
its PrecisionFlex Patch Panel portfolio, SEL
released its 864F Field Transition Module
for high density data center applications.
The company claims the new transition
module achieves the highest density
of LC connections per rack in the indus-
try288 LC connections per 2 rack unit. u
www.cablinginstall.com
2/23/17 10:32 AM
 EDITORS PICKS
AV CABLING SYSTEMS

FSR brings large-format wall boxes, office-

space cable management to BICSI
FSR exhibited select products at the
2017 BICSI Winter exhibition. The fol-
lowing products were highlighted by
FSR in the BICSI exhibit hall.
FSRs PWB-FR-450, a larger format
wall box, provides multiple infrastruc-
ture mounting solutions for larger
interfaces or equipment behind a dis-
play, or in other custom applications.
Fire resistive material is integrated
within the door assembly providing 1
hour of protection. The 14-gauge steel
back box easily installs between wood
or steel studs, leaving proper spac-
ing for the door to mount flush with
the walls surface. Connections and
cables are hidden behind the cover for
a neat, elegant look. Three pre-wired
integrated AC outlets aid ease-
of-installation. Internal compart-
ments have a three-fourths-inch
knockout and concentric knock-
out that goes up to 1.5 inches in the
top and bottom for cable/conduit
entry. A two-part vented cover pro-
vides convection cooling for internal
components. One or all of the internal
brackets can be removed for custom
configurations. This box has also been
designed to accommodate Crestrons
larger DM-RMC-4K-SCALER-C 4K
scaler/room receiver. Hardware
is included.
FSRs WS-1 wiring solution makes
quick, neat work of storing extra cable
length under tables, behind desks, in
podiums and cre-
denzas. With its
concentric dual
coil design and
variety of attachment points, multiple
cables can be wrapped neatly in their
own cable path, reducing cross cable
interference. The unit helps prevent
cables from being damaged and pro-
vides tangle-free cable management. It
comes with pre-drilled mounting holes
and includes mounting screws and tie
wraps. Slots and emboss areas are
provided to easily secure cabling. u

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1703CIM_25 25 2/23/17 10:32 AM

 EDITORS PICKS
CONNEC TIVIT Y

Belden ups ante on digital building, data center connectivity

Belden offered a hands-on, up- Beldens FiberExpress digital ceiling was
close look at connectivity solutions Enterprise Closet X also featured.
that can be used across the enter- patch panel solution, Separately,
prise at the 2017 BICSI Winter exhi- plus its HD WiFi patch- the booths data
bition. To give information and com- ing products, as well as
munication technology (ICT) profes- a passive optical LAN
sionals a better understanding of how setup and an HDBaseT
cable solution.
The digital build-
ing area also housed
field-termination
demonstrations of
Beldens REVConnect, its new con-
nectivity system used for all center area gave
Category 5e, 6 and 6A visitors a close-
UTP and STP up look at the
cables; and its following prod-
connectivity can be applied FiberExpress ucts: three cab-
throughout an organization, Beldens fusion con - nectors, which inets representing the Belden XHM
booth featured two different areas combine the benefits of fusion splicing and XHS series; a core router cabi-
that showcased enterprise solutions. with the simplicity of field-installable net, server cabinet and the companys
The digital building area of the connectors. A mock drop-down ceil- Open Bridge Rack; and a wall-mount
booth gave visitors a close-up look ing with a ceiling zone box and a wire- box and in-wall box for multi-dwelling
at an open 2-post rack utilizing less access point for the emerging unit (MDU) applications. u

ACCESS POINT ENCLOSURE

Oberons latest low-profile ceiling mounts for WiFi access

points are vendor-neutral
Among its new products for 2017, transparent to wireless signals,
Oberon, a manufacturer of WiFi infra- and blends in with most ceil-
structure solutions, highlighted at the ings. The 1042-FL is UL listed.
annual BICSI Winter exhibition a new Oberon notes that its 1042
recessed mount designed to offer an series mounts are a simple
aesthetic enclosure for most vendors way to install wireless access
wireless access points. Oberons model points into hard ceilings, provid-
1042-FL is an ultra-low-profile recess ceil- ing for an aesthetic, professional
ing mount that recesses into hard-lid ceil- installation.
ings much like a recessed lighting fixture. The series features models
The units low-profile, white, non- with a variety of trims, includ-
metallic cover snaps into place without ing many access-point-specific
any tools required. The cover is virtually options, adds the company. u

26 MARCH 2017 Cabling Installation & Maintenance www.cablinginstall.com

1703CIM_26 26 2/23/17 10:32 AM

 EDITORS PICKS
COPPER CABLE TERMINATION

Platinum Tools launches ezEX-RJ45 termination system, modular crimper

Platinum Tools, a specialist in products for the preparation,
installation, hand termination and testing of wire and cable,
announced the launch of its ezEX-RJ45 termination system
at the 2017 BICSI Winter exhibition.
In todays networks, twisted pair cables are demand-
ing more speed and bandwidth, observes John Phillips,
Platinum Tools, Inc. product manager. To help meet
these requirements, Cat5e/6/6A cables have increased
in size. Both the outer diameter of the cable and the insu-
lation diameter of the conductors are larger and vary by
manufacturer, making cable and connector compatibil-
ity a challenge. Platinum Tools' new patented ezEX-RJ45
termination system is the solution, providing greater
cable-to-connector compatibility to meet higher perfor-
mance demands. connectors. The tool design allows for future upgrades by
The patented EXO Crimp Frame is a RJ45 crimp tool purchasing a new die. The new ezEX-RJ45 feed-through
that can terminate multiple sizes of cables and conduc- connectors with staggered channels matched with the
tors. The crimp frame highlights two interchangeable dies EXO crimp frame + EXO-EX die are specifically designed
that work with the companys EZ-RJ45 and ezEX-RJ45 to crimp and continued on page 30.

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1703CIM_27 27 2/23/17 10:32 AM

 EDITORS PICKS
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Neural network
software enables
AI for smart
consumer products
including drones,
self-driving cars
Boston-based Neurala, the software
company known for inventing The
Neurala Brain, a deep learning neural
networks platform that the company
says makes smart products like toys,
cameras and self-driving cars more
autonomous, interactive and useful,
recently announced the closing of a
$14 million series A funding round led
by Pelion Venture Partners.
Neurala pioneered the develop-
ment of deep learning neural network
software for NASA to use in plane-
tary exploration, where processing
power, battery life and communica-
tions are limited, expressed a com-
pany statement. Instead of design-
ing deep learning neural networks for
super computers, as other companies
do, The Neurala Brain was designed
to work where the decisions need to
be made. Today, Neurala has custom-
ers deploying a broad range of appli-
cations, including autonomous drones
and cars. Customers include Teal
Drones, Parrot and multiple members
of the Fortune Global 500. Neurala
is currently working with Motorola
Solutions on new applications of
28 MARCH 2017 Cabling Installation & Maintenance
1703CIM_28 28
FIBER-OPTIC EDUCATION
Pearson Technologies releases
Volume 10 of Professional Fiber Optic
Installation manual
Pearson Technologies Inc. recently published Professional Fiber Optic
Installation, v10. The book is available via Amazon. Author Eric Pearson
explains: Depending on ones goals, v10 is a guidebook for becoming a profes-
sional installer, a training and reference manual for trainers and field supervi-
sors, a manual for field installers, a study guide for passing basic and advanced
certification examinations from the Fiber Optic Association [FOA], and an educa-
tional book for those interested in fiber-optic communications.
The information in Volume 10 of Professional Fiber Optic Installation applies to
data networks, data centers, telephone networks, fiber-to-the-home networks, opti-
cal LANs, fiber-to-the-antenna, distributed antenna systems, and CATV systems.
The 35-chapter, 496-page manual presents the concepts, numbers, product
advantages, and installation and testing procedures required to achieve and verify
the five goals of installation, which are: 1) low cost, 2) lowest possible optical power
loss, 3) low reflectance, 4) short installation time, and 5) high reliability.
Chapters 1 through 9 detail essential information on available products, their
most-important performance parameters, and advantages of product types.
This information sensitizes the installer to the capabilities and limitations of
the product he installs, Eric Pearson notes. With this sensitivity, the installer
video, image and audio analytics for capability when built into toys that rec-
public safety. ognize their young owners by sight
Neurala says it will use the new capi- and give them a smile without commu-
tal investment to accelerate servicing of nicating with a server.
its rapidly increasing customer demand, Neurala says its neural network soft-
as well as to revolutionize additional ware uses a bio-inspired approach to
application areas by adding built-in intelli- mimic the way the human brain learns
gence and autonomous behavior. and analyzes its environment. This soft-
The Neurala Brain was designed ware enables a variety of smart prod-
from the beginning to transform uctsfrom self-driving cars and indus-
industries, commented Massimiliano trial drones to toys, consumer elec-
Max Versace, co-founder and CEO of tronics and smart camerasto learn,
Neurala. Bio-inspired brainpower can adapt and interact in real time. With The
be built right into drones, cars, toys, Neurala Brain, toys can learn to iden-
cameras, and other devices found in tify their owners, security cameras can
the home so that they can learn, see identify specific threats, drones can
and act. This is essential for applica- learn how to diagnose problems at the
tions like drones and self-driving cars, tops of cell towers, saving humans con-
where reaction time is critical and siderable danger and drudgery, and self-
where you cant always get fast net- driving cars can be safer and learn to
work access. Its also an endearing avoid obstacles. u
www.cablinginstall.com
2/23/17 10:32 AM
 EDITORS PICKS SHOWCASE
understands how his actions influence power loss, reflec-
tance, and reliability.
Chapters 10 through 13 present the principles and meth-
ods of installation, through which the installer achieves the
five aforementioned goals. Chapters 14 through 20 detail test-
ing and inspection principles and methods, which enable the
installer to verify proper and reliable installation. Chapters
21 through 28 provide detailed, cookbook-like instructions
for performing installation, inspection, and testing activities.
Pearson adds, By following the instructions in these chapters,
the installer develops 38 critical skills and abilities essential
to achieving the five goals of the professional installer.
Chapters 29 through 35 focus information in previ-
ous chapters on seven applications: outside plant, fiber-
to-the-antenna, distributed antenna systems, fiber-to-
the-home (PON), data centers, optical LANs, and fiber
characterization.
Chapters 1 through 20 enable installers to pass the FOA
CFOT basic certification examination, Eric Pearson says.
Chapters 10 through 17 and 29 through 35 enable install-
ers to pass 10 of the FOA advanced certification [CFOS]
examinations. u

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1703CIM_29 29 2/23/17 10:32 AM

 EDITORS PICKS
INTELLIGENT CABINET
Raritan, Legrand unveil intelligent cabinet
concept at Gartner data center conference
At the Gartner Data Center,
Infrastructure, and Operations
Management Conference held in
December, Raritan, in collaboration with
Legrands Data Communications divi-
sion, unveiled a working model of the
Legrand Intelligent Cabinet Concept.
Raritan is a Legrand brand. The focus
of the Intelligent Cabinet Concept model
is to gather input from customers on
their IT infrastructure needs for remote
and distributed locations. According to
a press release, The working model
of the Intelligent Cabinet is designed
to monitor and manage, from any-
where, all the IT and integrated infra-
structure elements secured in the cabi-
net, thereby streamlining work, cutting
costs, and shifting the focus from man-
aging many elements to managing only
one elementthe cabinet.
The companies expect that the par-
adigm shift to the cabinet or rack as the
standard IT unit to manage is expected
to make it easier for those centrally
located IT and data center professionals
responsible for rollouts and uptime in
remote locations. It also will help reduce
OPEX and CAPEX costs, added the
press release. The unique architecture
of the modular cabinet eliminates redun-
dancyand related costsso that the
cabinet providing intelligence and more
capabilities is expected to cost no more
than the cabinet components purchased
separately. Deployment and installation
time is expected to be in weeks instead
of months because all the cabinet com-
ponents are pre-integrated and -tested.
Raritan and Legrand contend that
recently renewed interest in remote IT
sites, and in containerized cabinets and
micro data centers, is being driven by
the Internet of Things (IoT) and other
30 MARCH 2017 Cabling Installation & Maintenance
1703CIM_30 30
trends requiring real-time sensor data
gathering and analytics crunching to
take place at the network edge and in
remote offices and branch offices.
The challenge is to deploy and
manage compute resourcesserv-
ers, storage, switches, and converged
equipmentand all the supporting infra-
structure elements for power, net-
working, security, and monitoring at
these remote locations where IT sup-
port professionals are not typically
located, says Henry Hsu, vice presi-
dent of product management and mar-
keting at Raritan. Legrand is creat-
ing the Intelligent Cabinet for an easier,
more responsive and cost-effective way
to support remote sites, and to enable
new compute models at the edge. We
are looking forward to sharing the work-
ing Intelligent Cabinet concept and gath-
ering feedback from customers ranging
from branch offices to edge data cen-
ters to colos.
Legrands Intelligent Cabinet lever-
ages the companys data center exper-
tise in cabinet housing of all sizes, intel-
ligent power distribution, power and
environmental monitoring, DCIM (data
center infrastructure management),
cabling, networking, and remote lights-
out data center management. A patent-
pending embedded controller provides
the intelligence to the Legrand Cabinet.
The cabinet has its own IP address, and
both a remote and cabinet-door touch-
screen user interface to manage all
tasksincluding security authentica-
tion and door-lock release to access
the inside of the cabinet, tracking IT
and infrastructure assets in the cabinet,
and providing updates on the environ-
ments health, energy usage and poten-
tial issues.
continued from page 27
flush-trim the protruding conduc-
tors in a single operation. This
patented new termination system
couples two concurrently devel-
oped and matched solutions for
terminating larger cables, notes
the company.
Further, the EXO crimp frame
features tool-less replacement
of dies to minimize downtime
due to damaged or worn dies.
Interchangeable and ambidextrous
dies for left- and right-handed oper-
ation ensure clean and precise
flush-cut connectors. The connec-
tor tab locks into the die port for
one-handed operation and ensures
that the connector is locked in
place for proper crimping. The
tools patented push-button gun-
style lock makes for easy storage,
and the precisely aligned contact
drivers provide reliable and repeat-
able crimping.
The EZ-RJ45 die gives you the
ability to terminate EZ-RJ45 con-
nectors, and the EXO-EX die termi-
nates the new and improved ezEX-
RJ45 connectors, Phillips contin-
ued. The ezEX-RJ45 connectors
are designed for larger cables
and conductors with a Hi-Lo stag-
ger of conductors, one piece/
pass through, and no bars or liners
resulting in high performance ter-
mination. Current modular con-
nectors for larger diameter cables
require multiple pieces that can
get lost, are difficult to prep, and
are very difficult to verify wiring
sequence which leads to improper
terminations and scrap. The ezEX-
RJ45 connector and EXO crimp
frame and EXO-EX die system min-
imize the cost of operation for the
installer by eliminating mistakes in
u crimping and downtime. u
www.cablinginstall.com
2/23/17 10:32 AM
 EDITORS PICKS
MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS

Corning acquires harsh-environment connectivity

provider Stran Technologies
Corning Incorporated recently exceptional engineering, installa- new integrated solutions to network
acquired Stran Technologies, a tion, and maintenance services, and operators worldwide.
United States-based manufacturer of also brings design and manufacturing Jim Stranberg, founder and
harsh-environment and tactical inter- expertise that will allow Corning to chief executive officer of Stran
connect products and services. Stran reach new customers. Technologies, added, We are
serves the military/aerospace and Clark S. Kinlin, executive pleased to join forces with Corning, a
oil/gas industries. Corning did not vice president, Corning Optical true industry leader who shares our
disclose terms of the deal, but said it Communications, commented, The commitment to providing the highest-
acquired full ownership of Stran. acquisition of Stran Technologies quality, most-innovative, and best-in-
As an OEM designer and manu- enhances Cornings market access class connectivity solutions to our
facturer of rugged fiber-optic and to military and aerospace, and oil customers. The combined resources
hybrid fiber/copper connectivity solu- and gas segments through the addi- that Corning and Stran can together
tions, Stran Technologies products tion of harsh environment optical and provide will greatly strengthen our
are qualified and specified for use power connectors and cable assem- ability to support customers techni-
on mission-critical infrastructure, blies. It also augments our innovation cal and business requirements, and
Corning said when announcing the product and technology portfolios, provide excellent opportunities for
acquisition. The Stran team provides strengthening our ability to deliver our people. u

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS
Advanced Test Equipment Rentals .............. 11

AFL.................................................................2 ADVERTISING SALES OFFICES

MAIN OFFICE INTERNATIONAL
Cablesys ..................................................... 29
61 Spit Brook Road AUSTRIA, EUROPE, GERMANY,
Suite 401, Nashua, NH 03060 NORTHERN SWITZERLAND
Corning Optical Communications LLC..... CV2 (603) 891-0123 Holger Gerisch
fax: (603) 891-9245 +49-(0)8801-9153791
Diamond Ground Products Inc................... 29 Fax: +49-(0)8801-9153792
GROUP PUBLISHER
holgerg@pennwell.com
Alan Bergstein
General Cable Company .............................12 (603)-891-9447 ISRAEL
alanb@pennwell.com Dan Aronovic
+972 9 899 5813
ICC Premise Wiring ....................................15 ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER/
NATIONAL SALES MANAGER aronovic@actcom.co.il
Ed Murphy ASIA
Ilsintech Co. Ltd. .........................................18
(603) 891-9260 Adonis Mak
fax: (603) 891-9245 +852 2 838 6298; Fax: +852 2 838 2766
Jameson Corp. ............................................10 edm@pennwell.com adonism@actintl.com.hk
REPRINTS JAPAN
Senko Advanced Components Inc.................4 Ed Murphy Masaki Mori
(603) 891-9260 +81 3 3219 3561
Siemon Company.........................................21 fax: (603) 891-9245 mori-masaki@ics-inc.co.jp
edm@pennwell.com
TAIWAN
T3 Innovation LLC ...................................... 29 DIRECTOR, LIST RENTAL Ms. Rebecca Tsao
Kelli Berry +886 2 23965128 ext.203
Universal Electric Corp.................................8 (918) 831-9782 Fax: 886 2 23967816
kellib@pennwell.com rebecca@arco.com.tw
Velcro USA Inc.......................................... CV4
SHOULD YOU NEED ASSISTANCE CREATING YOUR AD, PLEASE CONTACT MARKETING SOLUTIONS
VICE PRESIDENT Paul Andrews
The index of advertisers is published as a service, and the 240.595.2352; pandrews@pennwell.com
publisher does not assume any liability for errors or omissions.

www.cablinginstall.com Cabling Installation & Maintenance MARCH 2017 31

1703CIM_31 31 2/23/17 10:32 AM

 INFRASTRUCTURE
INSIGHTS
Repeat
After Me
Clients should never be
allowed to install their
own patch cords. -- P.L.,
BICSI RCDD, RTPM, OSP
associate project engineer
This reader-submitted
photo shows what condition
gradually befell one of the
intermediate distribution
frames (IDF) of a large U.S.
university system located,
ironically enough, in a closet
inside the campuses engi-
neering school building.
For years, the [engineer-
ing dept.] was allowed to
enter our closets and run
their own patch cords to
their department switches,
writes P.L., the universitys
resident BICSI RCDD, RTPM,
OSP associate project engi-
neer. This photo shows the
results of this decision. In
addition to his maxim as
quoted above, the techni-
cian clarifies, We recently
took back all of our closets
in this building, replaced
all of the voice/data cable
with Category 6A cable,
and changed the locks
on our doors.

Matt Vincent, Senior Editor

m at t v @ pe n n w el l . co m

32 MARCH 2017 Cabling Installation & Maintenance www.cablinginstall.com

1703CIM_32 32 2/23/17 10:32 AM

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