Meet the Challenges of Mobility and Scalability in Data Operation with Innovative Cable Management

In a previous post, we shared lessons learned from the Cisco Live event in terms of the improved optical performance, increased scalability and mobility enabled by the Legrand Infinium acclAIM fiber cabling solution. This event truly is a microcosm of what we see in the real world when it comes to data and mobility needs. Data gravity continues shifting to the edge, and the edge requires moving IT infrastructure to where users need it - it’s the customers’ edge and those locations can often change. The Cisco Live event was a great example of that. The event IT team needed to decouple infrastructure from the network and move it to various locations throughout the Las Vegas event venue without disruption. Infinium acclAIM provided the seamless mobility and optimal performance they required to meet the needs of their attendees.

The broader takeaway is that the trend in mobile data requirements is only set to increase, inextricably linked with the growth in modular data centers.

Growth in Modular Data Centers

The global modular data center market is expected to grow by more than 300 percent by 2026 to a value of $89.9 billion - all driven by the mobility and scalability that allows for relocating data centers rather than demolishing them and building in a new location. Additionally, 5G (and 6G in the not-too distant future) necessitates high-speed and ultra-low latency connections for end-users. The solution for this need is, of course, the edge. Telecommunications companies are increasingly deploying micro edge data centers alongside towers in order to provide end-users with the vast performance benefits 5G promises. Similarly, data center providers are also investing in edge data centers that can facilitate the development and adoption of groundbreaking applications that depend on 5G service. The trend towards modular-friendly data centers is all driven by a growing need to deploy and relocate mission-critical infrastructure quickly and seamlessly in order to keep up with the capacity and speed requirements of new, emerging technologies.

Nowadays, modular data centers have come a long way since the first container data center was introduced in 2006, when the ability to simply plug and play was not what the industry had hoped for or needed for these applications. Driving the industry’s resurgence of interest in modularity are groundbreaking innovations that make setting up, taking down and resetting critical infrastructure simple.

The trend to modular deployments makes scaling for any type of data application easier. For 40 percent of organizations in the data center market, scalability is a top challenge. As the amount of data produced and the pull of data gravity towards the edge grows, the ability to upgrade and increase density for these mission-critical spaces is key to scaling with the pace of the industry. Even with new builds, these centers have to be able to accommodate future innovation in an effective and agile manner, which means designing mission-critical spaces now for future change.

Fiber Solutions

Modularity for data center structures requires mobile and scalable networks that operations teams can adjust easily, all while maintaining ultra-low optical loss and minimal disruption. Just as Infinium acclAIM's fiber connection solutions empowered Cisco Live’s event IT and network managers to transport and reconnect racks efficiently, acclAIM’s configuration capabilities make it possible for an ever-growing number of mobile data centers to be moved and brought back up in edge locations on tight timelines. Additionally, plug-and-play cable management makes scaling up in modular applications headache-free. But how?

Infinium acclAIM is the lowest optical loss pre-terminated cabling solution for any mission-critical space, this product solution simplifies and redefines fiber cable connectivity. It replaces pre-terminated cassette-based solutions with direct connections, overcoming common cable performance issues and eliminating costly components. The inspired simplicity of its design maximizes optical headroom and improves density by enabling acclAIM connectors to mate directly to an array of 2-fiber duplex MDC patch cords through the acclAIM Conversion Adapter Panel. This simple, yet robust, design makes acclAIM a sustainable building asset for moving or scaling data operations.

Infinium acclAIM is also a natural fit to speed cable installation processes significantly. With it, cable installations are up to 40 percent faster and take 60 percent less time to undo, making it easy to evolve cabling configurations with the needs of the application. The single connection point of its Direct-Mating Breakout design means that post-connection testing time is cut in half with no concerns about genders or pins. As well, acclAIM’s application-defined polarity means that polarity swaps now take less than six seconds. Eliminating the cassette means near-lossless performance, more room for teams to work and money saved on costly components. When it comes to innovation, everything starts with inspired simplicity: A simple design that’s simple to stock, install and use, yielding better performance than other solutions on the market.

Download our e-book on redefining plug and play mobility to learn more about how the changeover from cassette-based cabling solutions can improve optical performance, increase scalability and lower costs.

Contact a Legrand team member to discuss how Infinium acclAIM can benefit your application.