By HARSHANG PANDYA, AEM Test & Measurement -- Enterprise cabling systems are going through a big paradigm shift. In the past, one of the main functions of a cabling system was to connect the computer and IP phone in workstations to the enterprise network backbone. This is rapidly changing. A large portion of cabling infrastructure now caters to security cameras, Wi-Fi access points, and other PoE-enabled networked (IoT) devices.
We are also witnessing rapid adoption of 5G wireless systems.
Due to its high bandwidth, low latency, and wide coverage, indoor implementation of 5G systems will typically comprise a large number of remote radio units (RRUs) with indoor antennas. These RRUs will connect to baseband units (BBUs) largely through PoE-enabled CAT6A copper cabling, or fiber-optic cabling.
When fiber-optic cables are used owing to their bandwidth and range advantages, implementation will increasingly be done as a hybrid fiber cable, with copper conductor providing electrical power, sharing the same sheath with fiber-optic data cabling.
With the large number of devices connected for varying applications on premise networks, cabling infrastructure planning will see a dramatic change. Pre-installing cables for envisaged future requirements will in many cases be prohibitively expensive and impractical.
Scrapping the existing cabling and re-installing is not an attractive alternative either, given the rapid change in the networked devices and networking technologies. Network planners will therefore look for infrastructure options that enable scaling as requirements change, adapting to different networking technologies, and re-using existing cabling.
In this new paradigm, performing certification testing on the cables at installation time, although still mandatory, will not be adequate. The ability to perform validation testing will become crucial to ensure smooth functioning of the networks.
AEM's TestPro multifunction cable tester is designed with that trend in mind. The multi-gig validation test on the TestPro performs SNR measurements at all supported network speeds. This provides a clear idea about possible upgrade options.
For instance, a cable might have positive SNR margin at 5 Gbps speed, but might fail at 10 Gbps. With this clear outcome, the network planner can either choose to restrict the network speed to 5 Gbps, or to use another, higher quality link. It is much better of course to make this decision up front rather than finding out after network turn-on.
Similar to network speed upgrades, the TestPro also helps with PoE upgrades. With ability to measure PoE type, voltage, and active pairs, with the TestPro it is easy to confirm whether the PoE source is adequate for the intended powered device. Additionally, TestPro provides a feature to actually load the PoE source and measure the actual current drawn and voltage available at the device. These features are helpful in ensuring successful PoE operation.
The changing needs of network infrastructure makes it impractical to install the ‘perfect cabling system’ from the beginning. A tool such as AEM's TestPro that enables evolution of cabling infrastructure with changing technologies and device categories therefore is essential for efficient network maintenance.
HARSHANG PANDYA is GM for AEM Test & Measurement.
