oops...

Splicers are unique. They are like a BULLDOZER and a BRAIN

SURGEON all in one. They have to perform precision splices over and over
and also have to withstand a lot of ABUSE. Wind, rain, dirt and the occasional,
$*&!@, I just dropped the splicer! It happens. Rest assured,
if you are using a Fujikura splicer, you can pick up your splicer and get back
to work. Theres a reason why Fujikura splicers have been the leading splicers
in the industry for over 25 years. Learn more or schedule a demo at
Schedule a demo of a Fujikura splicer and well let you drop it, splice www.AFLglobal.com/Truth
with it and then test the splice! Let us show you how we connect. or call 864.433.0333
 FOR PROFESSIONALS MANAGING THE CABLE AND WIRELESS
MARCH 2016 SYSTEMS THAT ENABLE CRITICAL COMMUNICATIONS

OPTICAL OPTIONS

for high speeds PAGE 5

SECURITY PAGE 13

Planning resource
for IP video
INDUSTRY AWARDS PAGE 24

Cabling installer
champ repeats
DATA CENTER PAGE 15

The popularity
of top-of-rack
INSTALLATION PAGE 19

Connectivity options
for multi-dwelling units
DESIGN PAGE 21

POLs poised to take off

w w w.c a b li n g i n s t a ll .c o m
What Will Corning do to Competing Data Center
Product Offerings?

DOMIN

Corning, makers of EDGE Solutions, the industry-leading Base-12 preterminated optical

cabling system for your data center, now offers EDGE8 Solutions. Combining the
best-in-class density, speed of installation, and modular components of Pretium EDGE
Solutions with the superior network scalability, improved link performance, and 100 percent
fiber utilization of the first true Base-8 optical solution.

With EDGE8 solutions, less really is more.

www.corning.com/edge8/cim

2016 Corning Optical Communications. LAN-2052-AEN / February 2016

 CONTENTS M A R C H 2 016
vol. 25, no. 3

ABOUT THE COVER

Understanding the growing array of
multimode and single mode fiber-
optic cabling technology options
need not be an arduous task. Photo
credit: grybaz/Bigstockphoto.com.
SEE ARTICLE ON PAGE 5.

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
Editorial Creative Director Meg Fuschetti
Production Director Mari Rodriguez
Senior Illustrator Dan Rodd

FEATURES
Marketing Manager Joni Montemagno
Audience Development Manager Debbie Bouley
Ad Traffic Manager Glenda van Duyne

5 TECHNOLOGY 15 DATA CENTER www.pennwell.com

Sorting out fiber-optic ToR architecture remains popular EDITORIAL OFFICES

cable options
PATRICK McLAUGHLIN
11 CABLE MANAGEMENT
3 questions to consider when
choosing an enclosure
CARRIE RUBIN, NICOLA KAY
PATRICK McLAUGHLIN
19 INSTALLATION
Connectivity in focus for MDUs
PATRICK McLAUGHLIN
21 DESIGN
POL market poised to take off
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
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 SECURITY PATRICK McLAUGHLIN TECHNOLOGY GROUP

Senior Vice President & Publishing Director
Online tool assists camera planning Christine A. Shaw
PATRICK McLAUGHLIN FOR SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES:
Tel: (847) 763-9540; Fax: (847) 763-9607
www.cim-subscribe.com; e-mail: cim@halldata.com

DEPARTMENTS
3 EDITORIAL 24 EDITORS PICKS Cabling Installation & Maintenance (ISSN 1073-3108), Volume 25,
No. 3. Cabling Installation & Maintenance is published 12 times a year,
monthly by PennWell Corporation, 1421 S. Sheridan, Tulsa, OK 74112.
In-building mobile Periodicals postage paid at Tulsa, OK 74112 and at additional mailing

32
landscape changing INFRASTRUCTURE INSIGHTS
Ethernet switches and routers
offices. SUBSCRIPTION PRICES: USA $74 1yr., $110 2 yr.; Canada/Mexico
$86 1 yr., $130 2 yr.; International $108 1 yr., $160 2 yr. POSTMASTER:
Send address corrections to Cabling Installation & Maintenance, P.O. Box
3425, Northbrook, IL 60065-3425. Cabling Installation & Maintenance
is a registered trademark. PennWell Corporation 2016. All rights
reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

23 PRODUCT FOCUS
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
Toners and probes portions of our subscriber list available to carefully screened companies that
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,
61 Spit Brook Rd, Suite 401, Nashua, NH 03060. Printed in the USA. GST No.
126813153. Publications Mail Agreement no. 1421727.
 Siemon Jacks
Crowned King of PoE
Unmating a jack-plug connection under a PoE load produces an arc that erodes the gold plated jack-plug contact
surfaces at the arcing location. When this erosion occurs in the area of the fully mated position, the result is an
unreliable connection. Siemons patented curved or crowned jack contact geometry for its Z-MAX and MAX
jacks places arcing damage to both the plug and jack contacts away from the final mated positionallowing you
to connect and disconnect to the latest PoE applications with zero risk.

Other Jacks... Damaged Fully Mated Position

Plug Contact

Arc location during

unmating under PoE load

Other manufacturer's jack contact

Erosion and pitting on both Damaged plug contact in mated
jack and plug contacts position results in unreliable,
unstable connection

Siemon... Undamaged Fully Mated Position

Plug Contact

Arc location during

unmating under PoE load

Siemons patented crowned jack contact Erosion and pitting on both Undamaged mated position
jack and plug contacts provides reliable, stable
connection

As the IoT continues to place more PoE-enabled devices on the network and PoE standards advance to deliver higher
power over all four pairs, it's time to pull the plug on inferior connections and choose Siemon's patented crowned
contact geometry it's what makes our jacks King of PoE.

To learn more about Siemons ConvergeIT Cabling Solutions for Intelligent Buildings and to obtain our third-party
test report showing compliance to IEC 60512-99-001, visit www.siemon.com/Convergeit

www.siemon.com/convergeit
 EDITORIAL

W H AT 'S N E W AT
www.cablinginstall.com
In-building mobile
landscape changing
One of the sessions I enjoyed during the BICSI
CONNECTIVITY Winter Conference held in early February was
R&M enters U.S. with titled "New funding trends for bringing mobile
Realm deal broadband inside." The panel discussion featured
vendors that serve the on-premises distributed
antenna system (DAS) marketplace, and DAS
INTELLIGENT BUILDINGS
dominated the conversation.
Metal-clad cable for When the session ended, discussions of fund-
healthcare lighting PATRICK McLAUGHLIN ing kept many audience members hanging
patrick@pennwell.com around for a while. The conference venue's staff
was removing the chairs from the ballroom and
carrying away the podium while DAS stakeholders remained in lively con-
versation about who is likely to pay for what, under which circumstances. If I
INSTALLATION heard one conversation correctly, a few years ago one wireless carrier funded
Cabling lineman's pliers the DAS installation inside the stadium of a college football perennial pow-
erhouse. Today a different carrier expects the university to fund what will
be a very similar project. Scenarios like this one appear to be playing out all
over the place.
Shortly before the BICSI Conference took place, the United States' First
Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) issued its request for proposal for the
deployment of a nationwide public safety broadband network. Established by
Congress via the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act in 2012, FirstNet
was created "to take all actions necessary to ensure the building, deployment
NETWORK CABLE
Category cable for and operation of the nationwide public safety broadband network for local,
office, home state, regional, tribal and federal first responders and other public safety per-
sonnel," the authority says.
EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS
The RFP issued on January 13 seeks to create a public-private partnership
Flat data cable survives to create the network, and the U.S.'s four largest wireless carriers are the most
sub-zero temps likely to bid. The financial terms of the project are complicated. As Damon
Verial commented on Seeking Alpha, "The monetary exchange is a $6.5 billion
deal from the government to the winning bidder, then $5.6 billion back to the
government afterward. ... There must be other revenue streams at play here,
but the RFP does not mention them ... The wireless companies are bidding for
an uncertain deal." Verial's column is aimed at investors and sizes up whether
it will be a good or bad idea to invest in whichever carrier wins the bid. To
oversimplify his message: It's complicated.
In a way the FirstNet initiative faces the same question as many DAS proj-
ects: Who is likely to pay whom, for what, under what circumstances?

www.cablinginstall.com Cabling Installation & Maintenance MARCH 2016 3

Distribution
 Technology

Sorting out fiber-optic

cable options
The choice is far more than simply Because of its larger core size,
multimode or singlemode. 62.5-micron fiber offered a greater nu-
merical aperture (NA), an optical char-
BY PATRICK McLAUGHLIN acteristic that determines the fibers
ability to accept and carry light. At
that time, light sources within optical
transceivers were light-emitting diodes
For a cabling system end-user organi- were available, one with a 62.5-mi- (LEDs). Compared to the laser-based
zation that is getting ready to imple- cron core and another with a 50-mi- light sources used today, LED sources
ment a fiber-optic infrastructure for cron core. Outside of telecommunica- emitted broad light beams; some of
the first timeor for the first time in a tions providers, the 50-micron version the emitted light entered the fiber core
long whilethe considerations that go gained popularity among some govern- and some did not. A 62.5-micron fibers
into choosing the most appropriate op- ment and specifically military applica- higher NA, enabled by its larger core, al-
tical medium are more plentiful than tions. But in commercial and enterprise lowed it to capture and transmit more
ever. This article will focus on tech- environments, 62.5-micron fiber was the light than a 50-micron fiber, with a
nologies and applications surround- more-popular option. lower NA, could.
ing multimode fi-
ber. The merits of Ethernet link distance/application mapping
singlemode fiber in Link speed
data center, cam-
100Mb/s
pus and enterprise 100BASE-FX
networks should OM3
1Gb/s
not be slighted multimode fiber
1000BASE-SX
and will be ad- OM4
10 Gb/s OM4
dressed separately MM fiber
10BASE-SR MM fiber (Engr. soln.)
in other articles. OM3 OM4 OM4
MM fiber MM fiber
Up until the 40 Gb/s multimode fiber (Engr. soln.)
(Engr. soln.) (Engr. soln.)
40BASE-SR4
mid-1990s the op-
OM4
tions were fairly 100 Gb/s multimode
fiber
OS1/OS2
straightforward. 100BASE-SR10 Single-mode
Singlemode fi- fiber
100 Gb/s OM4
multimode
ber provided prac- 100GBASE-SR4 fiber
tically unlimited Link distance 70m 100m 150m 300m 400m 550m 1000m >1000m
bandwidth and ex-
tremely long dis- Presented by OFSs John Kamino during the BICSI Winter Conference in February, this chart focuses on
tance. For multi- Ethernet link distances and the optical fiber types that support those distances. Note the absence of
mode fiber, two OM1 and OM2 fiber from the chart. The ANSI/TIA-568.3-D standard, recently approved for publication,
primary versions relegated OM1 and OM2 to the standards annex and no longer recommends them for new installations.

www.cablinginstall.com Cabling Installation & Maintenance MARCH 2016 5

Sorting out fiber-optic cable options continued
Gigabit game-changer
The advent of gigabit-speed optical
transmission, and Gigabit Ethernet
in particular, changed the landscape
of multimode fiber specification. Gig
speeds require the use of vertical cavity
surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs), which
generate narrow light beams, in contrast
to LEDs broad beams. As such, an opti-
cal fibers numerical aperture no longer
played an important role in determin-
ing a fibers information-carrying ca-
pacity. Furthermore, VCSELs that gen-
erate Gigabit Ethernet signals operate in
the 850-nanometer operating window.
Much of the 62.5-micron fiber deployed
through the mid-1990s was FDDI-grade
(Fiber Distributed Data Interface) fi-
ber, best equipped to support LEDs that
operated in the 1300-nm window be-
cause the fiber has a higher bandwidth
at 1300 nm than it does at 850 nm. That
FDDI-grade fiber could, and still can,
support 850-nm VCSEL-based Gigabit
Ethernet, but to a shorter distance than
other grades of fiber.
For its part, 50-micron fibers band-
width at 850 is higher than 62.5-micron
fibers (500 MHz.km to 200 MHz.km),
enabling it to support 850-nm-based
Gigabit Ethernet for longer distances
than 62.5-micron fiber550 meters
to 275 meters.
The tenfold leap in speed from Gigabit
Ethernet to 10-Gigabit Ethernet gave rise
to the development of OM3 fiber. As the
entire fiber-based 10-Gigabit Ethernet
ecosystem was coming to life, it became
apparent that a need existed for a bet-
ter-performing multimode fiber that
could provide long-distance 10-GbE
transmission in the 850-nm window. To
meet the industrys need, manufactur-
ers of optical fiber developed a 50-micron
multimode fiber that was produced in
such a way that it was optimized to sup-
port 850-nm-generated signals to long
distances. This type of fiber is commonly
referred to as laser-optimized 50-micron
multimode, although it is optimized spe-
cifically for the 850-nm window, as op-
posed to being optimized for any laser
source in any operating window.
OM nomenclature
With the emergence of this new multi-
mode fiber type, and the practical need
to distinguish each type from the oth-
ers, eventually the industry adopted
the OM nomenclature defined in the
ISO/IEC 11801 specification. The three
types described to this point are desig-
nated OM1, OM2 and OM3. While mul-
tiple criteria determine a fibers grade,
its minimum bandwidth at 850 nm,
measured in MHz.km, is a significant
 Sorting out fiber-optic cable options continued

criterion. Specifically, OM1s 850-nm
bandwidth is 200 MHz.km; OM2s is 500;
OM3s is 1,500.
The aforementioned bandwidth
performance levels are measured us-
ing what is known as the overfilled
launch (OFL) method. Another band-
width-measurement method, called ef-
fective modal bandwidth (EMB), is a cal-
culated measurement. EMB bandwidth
exists for OM3 fiber, but not for OM1
History repeats
To some extent the technological devel-
opment that led to OM3s development
repeated itself and resulted in the in-
troduction of OM4 fiber. After OM3 fi-
ber was established and its guaranteed
10GBase-SR distance was specified, fi-
ber manufacturers developed better-per-
forming fibers with higher bandwidth,
better loss performance, and therefore
the ability to support longer-distance
10G. With OM3 being the highest-per-
forming standardized multimode fiber,
vendors, users and others in the indus-
try frequently used the term OM3+ to
refer to fibers with bandwidth and per-
formance levels that exceed those speci-
fied for OM3.

STRESS-FREE
or OM2. OM3 fibers minimum EMB is
2,000 MHz.km.

FIBER
As a practical matter for user or-
ganizations, OM1 fiber can support
1000Base-SXthe 850-nm variant of
Gigabit Ethernetto 275 meters. OM2
provides 550 meters of support. When
speeds go up to 10 Gbits/sec in the form
of 10GBase-SR, OM1 supports 33 meters,
OM2 supports 82 meters and OM3 sup-
ports 300 meters.
Notably, however, the ANSI/
TIA-568.3-D Optical Fiber Cabling
Components Standard was approved
and released for publication in February.
Table 1 in that standard no longer in-
cludes OM1 or OM2 fiber performance
grades. They have been moved to the
standards annex and are no longer rec-
ommended for use in fiber-optic instal-
lations. OM3 is now the minimum rec-
ommended performance grade.
That relegation to the standards an-
nex is unlikely to prevent users from
continuing to purchase and use OM1 NEW CABLOFIL ACCESSORIES FOR
or OM2 fiber-optic cable. OM3 is back- FIBER OPTIC INSTALLATIONS.
ward-compatible with OM2 and could
Poly accessories speed installation times and protects ber
be placed into an existing OM2 cabling
optic cables better. Cable exits, crossovers, corner shields,
plant without sacrificing performance. exible inserts and more, make for smooth transitions to protect
However, OM1 fiber, with its 62.5-mi- sensitive cable sheathings. Installation is easy most parts just
cron core, cannot be combined with snap in place. For more information on our products,
a higher grade of multimode fiber be- visit: www.legrand.us/cablol.
cause that higher grades 50-micron
core means high losses will be induced
when a signal crosses from the 62.5-mi- designed to be better.
cron to the 50-micron portion of the
cabling plant.

www.cablinginstall.com Cabling Installation & Maintenance MARCH 2016 7

 Sorting out fiber-optic cable options continued

Meanwhile the development of 40- and 100-Gbit Ethernet was

shaping up to shorten the distances OM3 could achieve, akin to
but not quite as dramatic as the shorter distances to which OM1
and OM2 can support 10G. The need for a higher-performance,
longer-reaching multimode fiber ultimately resulted in the spec-
ification of OM4.
When the TIA approved its OM4 fiber specification in 2009,
CommScopes Paul Kolesar explained in an article we published,
Not everyone could wait for the new OM4 standard to emerge.
Early adopters have been enjoying OM4 capability for more than
five years. By the time the TIA committees were voting on the
new OM4 specifications, hundreds of data centers around the
world were already running smoothly with next-generation, OM3-
exceeding fiber cabling that would later meet OM4 standards
most of which had been installed years ahead of time Some of
the same laser-optimized fiber cables that exceeded OM3 stan-
dards now meet TIAs OM4 standard. The OM4 standard adopted
VISIT US ONLINE! the most-stringent of the proposals that were submitted for con-
sideration, so cables that adhere only to less-stringent specifica-
GREENLEECOMMUNICATIONS.COM tions cannot claim compliance. (OM4 fiber cabling standard for
next-generation data centers, October 2009)
OM4s minimum EMB at 850 nm is 4,700 MHz.km, and its mini-
mum OFL bandwidth at 850 nm is 3,500 MHz.km. Like OM1, OM2,
and OM3, it has a minimum OFL bandwidth of 500 MHz.km at 1300
nm. OM4 supports 40GBase-SR4 and 100GBase-SR10 to 150 meters;
OM3 supports both to 100 meters.
While this article addresses optical fiber, the importance of
connectivity in high-speed links cannot be ignored. In an opti-
cal link of any distance, the fiber will contribute some signal loss;
points of connectivity in those links are more-significant con-
tributors of loss. The ability to extend transmission distance at a
given speed (e.g. 10 Gbits/sec) is enabled by decreasing connection
losses. Nonetheless, the optical fiber plays a significant role in ac-
cepting and carrying optical communications light pulses, and
the information in this article details them.

Multiple wavelength capability

Over the past approximately 18 months another multimode fiber
type has emerged and advanced significantly toward official stan-
dard specification. Dubbed wideband multimode fiber (WBMMF),
the medium is being referred to by some as OM4+ reminiscent
of the decade-earlier OM3+. However, the differences between
WBMMF and OM4 are more significant than those between OM4
and OM3. Specifically, WBMMF is being developed to support op-
tical transmission at multiple operating windows through what is
known as wave-division multiplexing (WDM). Whereas the 850-
nm window has been primary, and OM3 as well as OM4 fibers
are bandwidth-optimized to support transmission within that

www.cablinginstall.com
specific window, WBMMF will support transmission in four
separate operating windows.
The essential value proposition of WBMMF is that rather
than needing four separate fibers to transmit four distinct opti-
cal signals, the signals can be sent down a single fiber over four Visit us at
orld
separate operating windows. OM3 and OM4 fiber have been op-
Data Center W 6
, 201
14 - 18 March
timized to transmit signals in the 850-nm operating window
exclusively, and those fibers bandwidth performance at other s Vegas
operating windows is less than its bandwidth performance at booth 139, La
850 nm. As a practical matter, OM3 and OM4 fibers can support
high-speed transmission at 850 nm only. WBMMF will support
high-speed transmission at four wavelengths. One application
of WBMMF could be for each optimized wavelength to provide
a 10-Gbit/sec traffic lane, enabling a duplex WBMMF connec-
tion to accommodate 40-Gbit/sec transmission. Another appli-
cation could be for each lane to support 25 Gbits/sec, enabling
a duplex WBMMF connection to accommodate 100-Gbit/sec
transmission. Scaling that 25-Gbit/sec/lane model would allow
400-Gbit/sec transmission over 8 wideband multimode fibers.
Accomplishing objectives like these requires development
of transceivers to perform WDM. While standards efforts are
ongoing and the exact wavelengths have not been finalized,
standards makers efforts have been to specify a WBMMF that
is optimized at four wavelengths roughly between 850 and 950
nm. In general, the wider the spacing between the optimized
wavelengths, the more readily transceiver manufacturers can
produce WDM equipment economically.
WBMMFs optimization at 850 nm will make it back-
ward-compatible with OM4. WBMMF is in production and
available for purchase today. Its promise of OM4 backward com-
patibility means users can specify WBMMF and use it for OM4- Building-up next
based applications today, and in doing so provide themselves
with the capability to support WDM applications in the future. generation data centers
At the BICSI Winter Conference held in early February,
OFS multimode optical fiber product manager John Kamino Discover the building blocks for next generation
delivered a presentation titled Next Generation Multimode data centers. Keeping data centers up to date is a cons-
Fiber. In that presentation he described the drivers behind tant challenge. It requires agile adaption to data growth,
the need for more-capable multimode fiber, the current stan- as well as seamless combination of connection
dards scene within the TIA as well as the IEEE (Ethernet) and types. Our fiber management system offers you excellent
INCITS (Fibre Channel), and other detail on the latest develop- future-proof qualities: versatile modules, quick and safe
ments in multimode fiber production and use. handling, smart labeling, efficient use of floor space. For
The color-coded illustration in this article showing perfect harmony of today and tomorrow.
Ethernet link distances and the most appropriate fiber types
for them comes from Kaminos presentation. That presenta- datacenter.hubersuhner.com
tion can be accessed and downloaded at bicsi.org.
We will continue to track the standards and technological
HUBER+SUHNER Inc. Charlotte NC 28273 (USA),
developments of multimode optical fiber, and will report our hubersuhner.com
findings periodically. u

www.cablinginstall.com Cabling Installation & Maintenance MARCH 2016 9

NON-METALLIC Made in USA LOW COST HANGER Made in USA

D RINGS THE LOOP

FOR EASY WIRE MANAGEMENT FOR COM M U N ICATIONS CAB LE
5"
Flexible, non-metallic, 2" 2.5" TL50
The LOOP holds a 2" TL20 TL25
D35 to 5" diameter bundle
D33 3.25 x 5
3.25 x 3.25 of CAT 5 or fiber optic
cable without sagging,
bending or damaging
the cable!

The 2.5" TL25 holds

the same amount of TL50
cable as a J-hook at for a
1/2 the COST! 5" diameter Patented
D22 bundle
2.25 x 2
Listed for
T
COS
Air Handling
ER R
THE

2001-2011 Arlington Industries, Inc.

Spaces
LOW EEL & O Arlingtons non-conductive D Rings give View Video
S
N ST ING 2002 REV2009 Arlington Industries, Inc.
THA STIC R
installers a smooth, non-conductive surface
PLA for easy pulling of communications cable.
Three sizes accommodate multiple runs
Two mounting holes on each side offer a
variety of mounting options
Non-damaging to conductor insulation

Arlington 800/233-4717 www.arlingtonlowvoltage.com Arlington 800/233-4717 www.arlingtonlowvoltage.com

NON-METALLIC

MOUNTING BRACKETS
FOR CL ASS 2 LOW VOLTAGE WI R I NG

LV1
for Existing Arlingtons non-metallic mounting brackets offer the best way
Walls to install Class 2 wiring! They seat wall plates flush with the
Nail-on
LVN1 mounting surface install faster and cost less than metal!

New In existing construction, centered View Video

Construction mounting wing screws pull the bracket for LV1
securely against the wall. The LV series
(LV1 and multiple gang brackets) adjust
to fit 1/4" to 1" wall thicknesses.
For new construction, the nail or screw-on
LVN series brackets attach to a wood stud. They cost less than
extension rings and install faster than mud rings. For screw-on,
steel stud installations, try the LVS or LVMB series.
LVMB2
We also offer a variety of low voltage brackets
for specialty
applications.

LVS1 LVMB1 LVS2 LV2

Arlington 800/233-4717 www.arlingtonlowvoltage.com Patented

2008-2011 Arlington Industries, Inc. Made in USA
 Cable Management
3 questions to consider
when choosing an enclosure
An enclosure affects an applications appearance
and functionality. Three key questions can help
engineers choose one that maximizes both.
BY CARRIE RUBIN, Newark element14
and NICOLA KAY, CamdenBoss
Demand for aesthetically appealing and
cost-effective enclosures often requires
engineers to straddle the line between
form and function. Striking a balance
between the two, however, this is no
easy task. Following are three questions
engineers should consider when search-
ing for an enclosure that blends style
and substance.
The questions and answers relate to
product-design engineers and to sys-
tem engineers and planners. The mate-
rial in this article can be beneficial to
engineers who design products that are
housed in enclosures, and to profession-
als who are responsible for the installed
systems containing enclosures and
the electronics equipment contained
within them.
How will the enclosure be designed,
installed and maintained?
There are a wide variety of enclosures to
choose from, each with its own unique
set of advantages and disadvantages.
The best enclosure, however, is one that
meets the needs of your specific prod-
uct. Design is one factor that plays a big
www.cablinginstall.com
down the road. A wall-mounted prod-
uct, for example, needs to be eas-
ily removable or include a detachable
front panel that allows for any quick
fixes to be made.
Is the molding material
flame retardant?
Although design may be what
catches the eyes of most consum-
role in determin- ers, the enclosures resistance to
ing whether an en- extreme temperatures is vital
closure is right in predicting whether an en-
for your applica- gineers application sinks or
tion. While ventila- swims. Most enclosures
tion slots help cope In addition to the aesthetic on the market today are
with the heat created appeal of their colorful molded from acrylonitrile
by circuitry within presentation, these butadiene styrene (ABS)
the enclosure, they electronics enclosures or similar materials. Even
also weaken the over- serve the functional though the materials are
all strength of it. Other purpose of allowing access, often UL94-V0 flame re-
options such as a fully via their detachable front tardant, many users fail
sealed base boost panels, for wall-mount to realize moldings made
strength and reduce installations. from such materials may
assembly cost for us- not be flame retardant,
ers, but can fall short due to thinner side walls
when it comes to lowering the tempera- that cannot handle excessive heat.
ture within the enclosure. It is import- Avoid leaving your product suscepti-
ant to have a good understanding of ble to failure from high temperatures by
which elements are crucial to the suc- using polycarbonate, an alternative that
cess and efficiency of your product. improves the robustness of the mold-
Before making any decisions, con- ing. The added durability is especially
sider how the components fit within important for areas in which heavier
the enclosure to be sure youre not sac- components, such as relays and trans-
rificing valuable functionality in favor formers, are fitted. Adding a matte fin-
of a sleek design. It is also important to ish to the material will help cover up the
take into account how you plan on in- polycarbonates potentially unappeal-
stalling and maintaining the enclosure ing exterior.
Cabling Installation & Maintenance MARCH 2016 11
3 questions to consider when choosing an enclosure continued
What Ingress Protection
marking is required?
The ultimate goal of any enclosure is to
keep the application inside safe at all
times. But until its put to the test, it can
be difficult to tell just how much protec-
tion an enclosure provides. The Ingress
Protection (IP) marking classifies and
rates the degree of protection offered
against intrusion from body parts, dust,
accidental contact and water. Published
by the International Electrotechnical
Commission, the IP marking aims to
provide users with a level of detail that
extends beyond vague terms such as
waterproof.
The rating consists of two digits,
the first of which indicates the enclo-
sures success in keeping out solids. This
is followed by a second digit that high-
lights the level of protection against liq-
uids. The higher the number, the better
A Brand
You CanTrust
www.hyperline.com
of your enclosure, making it important
cation will be set up for success thanks
Ideally an enclosure meets the needs
of a specific product. Design plays a
significant role in determining whether
or not an enclosure is right for your
application.
United States (888) 497-3748
an enclosure protects against solids and
liquids. You should also note that any
computer numerical control (CNC) mill-
ing or drilling will affect the IP marking
to double check the rating as often as
possible. Enjoy peace of mind by specify-
ing an enclosure that ensures the safety
of the product inside.
An enclosure affects both the appear-
ance and functionality of an applica-
tion. Choosing one that maximizes both
attributes takes a lot of time and re-
search. After answering the three ques-
tions raised in this article, your appli-
to an enclosure that balances form
and function. u
Carrie Rubin is senior product manager at
Newark element14 (www.newark.com). Nicola
Kay is managing director at CamdenBoss
Limited (www.camdenboss.com).
Canada (866) 634-9737
 Design
Researcher says passive
optical LAN market
poised to take off
BSRIA suggests POL could threaten copper
networks in enterprise environments.
BY PATRICK McLAUGHLIN
Market research firm BSRIA (www.
bsria.co.uk) recently published a mar-
ket briefing covering passive optical lo-
cal area networks (POLs), and the re-
searcher who authored the briefing said
POL technology could potentially be-
come a threat to copper cabling in LAN
applications over the coming years.
BSRIA senior researcher for IT ca-
bling and related technologies, Martin
Chiesa, commented, POL is here to
stay, but the speed at which it pene-
trates the market will depend on more
vendors entering the market (medium
to large size corporations, particu-
larly in the active component side); in-
creased bandwidth without boosting
costs; compatibility of systems as op-
posed to proprietary solutions; and that
IT network professionals, consultants,
architects, developers and end users
are made aware of POL and its advan-
tages, as well as increasing the solu-
tions for powering remotely located op-
tical network terminals [ONTs].
He explained that currently, the
ITU-T G.984 standard, Gigabit-Capable
Passive Optical Networks (GPON), offers
www.cablinginstall.com
2.4-Gbit/sec downstream and 1.2-Gbit/
sec upstream bandwidth, but the next
generation, ITU-T G.987 10-Gigabit-
Capable Passive Optical Network (GX-
PON) Systems, will offer symmetrical
10-Gbit/sec bandwidth and is expected
to be released in 2016. BSRIA was also
informed that 25-Gbit and 100-Gbit/sec
standards are imminent.
Chiesa described POL networks
adapted to LAN environments as dis-
ruptive technologies. He continued,
They bring a number of advantages
that mainly benefit the end users, as
they greatly reduce capital expendi-
ture, operational expenditure and with
them the total cost of ownership of
the IT infrastructure. Due to the mar-
ket opportunity this creates, BSRIA has
seen smaller networking manufactur-
ers making great efforts to inform rele-
vant parties about the technology and
its advantages.
BSRIA sizes up that in the short term,
POL will continue to be a market driven
by smaller players. The researcher ex-
pects the market to grow at double-digit
rates annually, but will only really take
Cabling Installation & Maintenance
off when a big player or several medium
sized players enter the market with a
clear go-to-market strategyas opposed
to a me-too approachor there is a
greater awareness among specifiers and
the relevant parties.
The research organization noted that
programs such as LEED (Leadership
in Energy and Environmental Design)
and BREEAM (Building Research
Establishment Environmental
Assessment Methodology) can help
boost the market penetration of POLs
because they can increase awareness
among consultants, architects and
real estate developers if credits are
awarded as a result of installing POL on
the premises.
While potential users await stan-
dardized 10-Gbit/sec POL technology,
POL provider Tellabs (www.tellabs.com)
gave the cabling industry a sneak pre-
view of such equipment a year ago. At
the BICSI Winter Conference held in
February 2015, Tellabs showcased 10-
Gbit optical LAN capability. At that
time, the company explained that its 10-
Gbit optical LAN technology will pro-
vide symmetrical capacity of 10 Gbits/
sec in both upstream and downstream
directions. Tellabs will also enable a
graceful migration path to 10-GbE that
minimizes impact to existing users and
leverages the existing architecture. u
Patrick McLaughlin is our chief editor.
MARCH 2016 13
P-touch EDGE labeling solutions

Easy to use. Powerful features.

The fast, easy way to make labels that last.

See us at:
Data Center World,
Las Vegas, March 16-17
Booth # 816
Designed by industry pros.
A simpler way to professionally mark your work. ISC West,
Las Vegas, April 6-8
With tapes for practically every application. Booth # 6045

Data Communication Security Electrical Audio Visual

BROTHER MOBILE SOLUTIONS, INC.

For more information, call 1-800-543-6144,
or visit www.edgelabeling.com
Brother is a trademark or registered trademark of Brother Industries, Ltd. in the United States.
All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the properties of their respective companies.
2016 Brother Mobile Solutions, Inc., 100 Technology Drive, Suite 250A, Broomeld, CO 80021
 Data Center
Top-of-rack architecture
remains popular in data centers
Multiple switching architectures, connection speeds and
connection types appeal to different computing needs.
BY PATRICK McLAUGHLIN
In data center architectures, switch-to-
server connections traditionally are the
lowest-speed connections. But that fact
should not be interpreted to mean they
are the least important. From the stand-
point of speed, switch-to-switch connec-
tions serve as the backhaul or backbone,
and as such typically are multiple times
the speed of switch-to-server connec-
tions. Yet those switch-to-server connec-
tions are commonly referred to as edge
connections, and are vital because serv-
ers are, for practical purposes, clients
interface with the data center.
The speeds and architectures of
switch-to-server connections are sev-
eral, and common setups include top-
of-rack, end-of-row, and middle-of-row.
Siemons Valerie Maguire and Betsy
Conroy recently authored a paper ti-
tled The copper vs. fiber war is over and
everybody won. Where do we go from
here? The paper covers a number of top-
ics on cabling media and applications.
Among the topics are data center en-
vironments and architectures. The au-
thors state, The ability of twisted-pair
copper cabling to support speeds of 10
Gbits/sec makes it the preferred choice
for todays data center switch-to-server
connections. With cabling channel
www.cablinginstall.com
lengths supported up to 100 meters and
transceiver costs well below that of op-
tical fiber, Category 6A and higher cop-
per cabling is currently well suited to
support a variety of architectures for
switch-to-server connections, includ-
ing top of rack, middle of row, and end of
row scenarios.
The paper explains that in todays
most-demanding environments, switch-
to-server connections are pushing be-
yond 10-Gbit/sec speeds; it details the
Switching architectures in
enterprise data centers
Other
Centralised 5% Top-of-rack
switching switching
33% 42%
Middle-of-row End-of-row
switching switching
5% 15%
When BSRIA surveyed enterprise data
center operators, it found that 42
percent use a top-of-rack switching
architecture. End-of-row and middle-
of-row switching combined account for
20 percent.
Cabling Installation & Maintenance
25-Gbit/sec and 40-Gbit/sec Base-T
specification efforts taking place within
the IEEE and refers to Category 8 as the
twisted-pair medium ideally suited to
support these speeds.
While 10G-plus speeds are elbow-
ing their way into the switch-to-server
environment, top-of-rack appears to
be firmly cemented as the architecture
by which many of these connections
are made. A little more than a year ago
BSRIA (www.bsria.co.uk) published re-
sults of a global data center survey, in
which it inquired about network-con-
nectivity speeds and architectures
along with other areasin different
data center environments.
Among the high-level conclusions
drawn from the survey is that the top-
of-rack (ToR) architecture is more pop-
ular in colocation facilities than it is in
enterprise data centers. The uptake of
ToR is higher for the colocation segment,
at 61 percent, than for the enterprise
segment, with 42 percent opting for
ToR, BSRIA reported. A third of enter-
prise data center connections are made
using centralized switching, while 15
percent are made using end-of-row and
another 5 percent using middle-of-row
switching architectures.
Often discussed hand-in-hand with
top-of-rack/end-of-row is the use of
point-to-point and structured cabling.
BSRIAs survey illustrated a correlation
between the two. The use of non-struc-
tured cabling point-to-point links was
significantly higher for the colocation
MARCH 2016 15
 Top-of-rack architecture remains popular in data centers continued

Other data in BSRIAs survey back up

Switch-to-server speeds the assertion by Siemons Maguire and
Conroy that switch-to-server links are
outgrowing 10G. The study highlighted
100G quite significant levels of 1G and 10G
40G
Switch both in switch-to-switch and switch-
to 10G
server 1G to-server links and expected progres-
100 sion to 40G and 100G planned for 2016,
MBPS
BSRIA noted. In switch-to-server links,
speeds up to 10G combined to account
2014 92% 1% 2%
for 92 percent of connections, but BSRIA
2016 25% 48% 14% 10% expected the number to drop to 73 per-
cent by 2016.
Data infrastructure speeds: Current 2014 vs. expected 2016
Source: BSRIA
In other recent analysis, BSRIA dis-
cussed trends in network and cabling
The data on top, from 2014, shows 3 percent of switch-to-server connections using for large data centers (which it
exceeded 10-Gbit/sec speeds. BSRIA projected that by 2016 that number would defines as having more than 500 serv-
grow to 24 percent. ers and more than 20,000 square feet of
floor space), medium data centers (100
segment, which also has a higher use of the correlation is strong. ToR switching to 500 servers and 2,000 to 19,999 square
ToR architecture, BSRIA pointed out. is in place for 42 percent of enterprise feet), and small data centers (25 to 100
In total the survey yielded even results, data center connections, and point-to- servers and 500 to 1,999 square feet).
with 50 percent using point-to-point point cabling is in use for 46 percent. Of Large data centers have a high uptake
and the other 50 percent using struc- note, BSRIAs inquiry about point-to- of ToR architecture, but also implement
tured cabling. But looking at the enter- point versus structured cabling specifi- EoR, MoR and centralized switching,
prise data center segment in particular, cally pertained to 10G links. BSRIA said. It added that in these en-
vironments, Category 8 cabling has the
potential to replace point-to-point di-
rect attachments.
Point-to-point versus structured cabling, installed 10G links Medium data centers also have a
Total high uptake of ToR, and their fiber use
is increasing. And small data centers/
PP SC
50% 50% computer rooms mainly use copper ca-
bling. Many small and medium data
centers use singlemode fiber from the
Enterprise Colocation entrance to the main distribution area
to support telecommunications services,
PP SC PP SC BSRIA added.
46% 54% 57% 43%
The dynamics of connection speeds,
architectures and cabling media are
some of the factors that make data cen-
ter administration a continual challenge
Source: BSRIA Data center survey
and balancing act. Faster speeds often
drive change, but efficient administra-
Point-to-point connections and structured cabling were in a dead heat when tion and the ease of anticipated future
BSRIA examined 10G links in enterprise and colocation data centers. Further upgrades also play a role. u
detail shows that point-to-point is more prevalent in colocation facilities than in
enterprise data centers. Patrick McLaughlin is our chief editor.

16 MARCH 2016 Cabling Installation & Maintenance www.cablinginstall.com

 Its Not Complicated
Higher Performance is Better!
+ + Patch Panels = 40% Savings
1

Outlets Cables

15 Year
P e r f o r m a n c e

Warranty
No Certication

Lifetime
P e r f o r m a n c e

Warranty
with Certication

Big brands would like you to believe that since our pricing is so unbelievably low, our products must be
lacking in performance. Well, thousands of ICC Elite Installers will state the contrary! Since 1986, installers
TM

have been pulling millions of drops every year using ICC products; including schools, universities, hospitals,
banks, hotels, data centers, enterprises, tract homes, and our footprint continues to expand.

In fact, we are so condent of our quality, we challenge you to try it. We will give you two jacks to test and
3
if they fail the TIA standard2, we will pay you $100 ! Give us a call to accept our challenge; once you do you
will be kicking yourself for paying too much, too long.

Available at these Premise Cable Stocking Distributors:

800-422-6191 800-847-5629 888-792-7463 800-238-0787 801-484-5238 800-223-4534

Avon, OH Austin, TX Germantown, MD Aurora, NE Salt Lake City, UT Brooklyn, NY

888-ASK-4ICC icc.com/better csr@icc.com

Copyright 2016, ICC. 1. Compared to big brands. 2. Typical, your results may vary. 3. Test environment shall be done as specied in TIA-568. Call for complete terms and conditions. 3. $100 e-gift card.
 Accessorize your Busway.

Data Channel Multi-Use Data Cable Hinged Wire Way

Cover Mounting Bracket Strap

One of the main goals of STARLINE Track Busway is to supply a safe,

reliable connection to power while also making your life a little easier.
Thats why now, in addition to our customizable plug-in units and
multiple feed options, we offer a variety of accessories that allow you to
conveniently route cabling while still leaving it accessible and
 
 
 
   
  

we are the industry standard for power distribution in mission critical
environments. To learn more about the simple and versatile STARLINE
Track Busway, visit StarlinePower.com or call us at 724-597-7800.

*Accessories are only compatible with new systems of 250, 400 & 800 amp STARLINE Track Busway.
 Installation
Connectivity in focus for
multi-dwelling units
Recent documents emphasize the important role
of fiber-optic connectors in service-provider MDU
installations, touting one approach in particular.
BY PATRICK McLAUGHLIN
Two documents recently published by
CommScope drive the point home for
service providers that their choice of
connectivity can significantly impact
their ability to efficiently turn up ser-
vices at multi-dwelling units (MDUs).
The documents, titled The flexible ar-
chitecture series: Connectorization in
the MDU, and New techniques for re-
ducing time and cost of MDU installa-
tion, were published in late 2015 and
emphasize the benefits of preconnected
systems over splicing in the field.
MDUs represent an enormous op-
portunity for service providers, one pa-
per states. However, with their conduits
and wide variety of layouts, they also
present some unique challenges, requir-
ing service providers to spend a great
deal of time in planning and installing
the fiber infrastructure.
The document compares different ap-
proaches to connecting the same hy-
pothetical MDUa high-rise building
with 23 floors and 15 units per floor. In a
stub-pull configuration, Fiber distribu-
tion terminals (FDTs) reside on each floor
of the building that route 12 or 24 fibers
down to the indoor fiber distribution hub
www.cablinginstall.com
(FDH) where they are typically spliced
in. In this example, 432 fibers would be
spliced between the FDH and the FDTs.
Three hundred forty-five individual drop
cables would then be run from the FDTs
to the optical network terminals (ONTs),
creating another splice point.
In a loop-through configuration, A
432-fiber indoor FDH is located on the
lower level, the document explains.
Several 72-fiber or larger distribution
cables are pulled between the FDH and
FDTs on higher floors. On each floor,
one of the cables is routed through the
FDT, opened, two of the 12-fiber rib-
bons are opened and 15 individual fi-
bers routed to the splice tray in the FDT.
In this example, 345 fibers would be
spliced between the FDH and the FDTs.
As in the stub-pull configuration, 345
individual drop cables would run from
the FDTs to the ONTs, creating a splice
point because it is not possible to pre-
dict the exact length of each drop,
CommScope notes.
The document then describes what it
calls the rapid fiber configuration, and
makes the case for it being the most-eco-
nomical, most-efficient approach. In this
Cabling Installation & Maintenance
case, an FDT again resides on each floor,
but an MT connector is mounted on the
stub of each. The fiber is deployed from
each FDT to the indoor FDH, also with
built-in 12-fiber MT connectors. Each
connection is easily plugged into the FDH
from every floor. Installing fiber into an
MDU is a simple matter of mounting the
enclosures and making rapid fiber con-
nections with the cables.
This rapid fiber configuration is
based on the companys Rapid Fiber prod-
uct line, which includes spooled preter-
minated fiber. When describing the sys-
tems use in this hypothetical MDU, the
document explains, Since distances vary
from each FDT to the FDH, a built-in fi-
ber spool is designed on the FDT. The
spool holds up to 500 feet of fiber cable.
Therefore, the cable is easily spooled out
to the FDH and plugged in, while any ex-
tra cable remains on the spool.
In conclusion, CommScope acknowl-
edges, The MDU market segment, with
its broad range of architectures and the
time and cost pressures of installing
next-generation fiber networks, pres-
ents service providers with some diffi-
cult challenges. It maintains that when
service providers adopt a specific strat-
egy related to connectivity versus splic-
ing, they can reduce planning and in-
stallation time, minimize the number of
splices and technicians required, deploy
a smaller installation team, and reduce
overall installation costs. u
Patrick McLaughlin is our chief editor.
MARCH 2016 19
 Security
Online tool assists
surveillance-camera system
planning and implementation
Version 2.0 of IPVMs Camera Calculator addresses
both outdoor and indoor camera networks.
BY PATRICK McLAUGHLIN
Video-surveillance consulting and anal-
ysis firm IPVM describes itself as the
worlds leading resource on video sur-
veillance. On its website, ipvm.com, it
provides news, reviews and test results
on Internet Protocol (IP) cameras as
well as video-surveillance equipment.
In our November issue we mentioned
that IPVM offers an online tool call
Camera Calculator (Resources avail-
able for planning IP video systems,
November 2015).
At the time that article was be-
ing written, IPVM had just introduced
Version 2.0 of the Camera Calculator.
We asked IPVM founder John Honovich
about the calculator tool, including its
origins as well as the development of 2.0.
When asked if the calculator originated
out of a specific unmet need within the
video-surveillance industry, Honovich
explained, The original inspiration was
our courses, where we were teaching
about the tradeoffs between FoV [field
of view], distance and pixel density. At
that point, we werent trying to do any-
thing big, just help our students. It
evolved from that.
www.cablinginstall.com
IPVM offers courses in IP network-
ing, access control, and cameras. The
6-week, 12-sesson online camera course
covers: basic lenses, advance lenses,
image quality, streaming, WDR/FPS/
AGC (wide dynamic range/frames per
second/automatic gain control), low
light, bandwidth, PPF (pixel per foot),
form factors, panoramic vs. pan/tilt/
zoom, ONVIF/API and SKs, and cam-
era selection.
The calculator launched in April 2015
and is based on Google Maps. IPVM ex-
plains that the calculator provides the
ability to address and map out cam-
eras completely online, and allows us-
ers to see a surveillance cameras field
of view before installation. In doing so,
system integrators who use the calcu-
lator save on costly site visits. As cam-
eras are moved around a selected scene,
the street view automatically updates
as well. Users and integrators can ex-
periment with different angles and loca-
tions, from their computer, quickly find-
ing the ones that work best.
Honovich told us that in the original
version, The Google Maps integration
Cabling Installation & Maintenance
was very well received, but that is best
for outdoor cameras. In 2.0 we made
it easy to do outdoor and indoor com-
bined, by adding in floorplan sup-
port and markups to do complete sys-
tem designs.
Version 2.0 also includes a locking
capability, through which once a cam-
eras positioning and specifications are
optimized, the user can lock the cam-
era to prevent inadvertent changes
from being made.
The calculator now also includes
a camera list. IPVM points out, Our
new camera list feature helps you nav-
igate and edit cameras by providing a
single scrollable list of every camera in
your project. Honovich added, We have
made it free to calculate specific models
from more than 3,500 cameras and more
than 40 manufacturers.
A mobile app is being built now, with
an expected rollout date of April. IPVM
says the app will be another simple tool
to make camera-system setup more
straightforward. You add cameras [and]
the IPVM app automatically places
them on the map, it explains. You take
pictures of each cameras FoV, the IPVM
app automatically associates them with
the camera. You experiment with differ-
ent FoV, distances and resolutions to im-
mediately find the right combination for
your needs. u
Patrick McLaughlin is our chief editor.
MARCH 2016 21
INNOVATION
WANTED
Looking for submissions
in product or system design
and implementation 2016

This September Cabling Installation & Maintenance will

celebrate the most-innovative applications of cabling
and communications technology products and systems
at BICSIs 2016 Fall Conference (San Antonio, TX).

Help inspire others by your innovative applications

of cabling technologies
Great publicity for your company
Great attention for your project
Great limelight for your customers
Great exposure for your career
You are invited to submit projects that exemplify
industry innovationin product or system design
and implementation.

SUBMIT by APRIL 29 and SAVE $100

For more details and to submit your entry visit

cablinginstall.com/innovation-awards.html
In cooperation with:

cablinginstall.com
PR

S
CU
OD

FO
UC
T
TONE AND PROBE TESTERS

Greenlee Communications highlights

tone and probe capabilities
Greenlee Communications notes that its GDLS355 laser source, GRP450 Optical Power
Meter, or FI-100 Fiber Identifier instruments can be used in tandem to accurately tone
and probe live fibers so that a technician can quickly identify fiber-optic
cables. For live fibers, the technician connects the GDLS355 to the desired
fiber and turns the 2-kHz modulation on. This process adds a tone to that
specific fiber. After moving to the other end of the fiber installation, the
technician will use the FI-100 fiber identifier to probe each fiber in the
enclosure. The FI-100 will indicate the presence of the 2-kHz tone on the
test fiber by illuminating the 2-kHz tone LED, and by sounding an audible
alarm. The process of clamping onto the other fibers in the enclosure will
not affect signal transmission in those fibers and will not cause network
equipment to go into an alarm condition. If it is not necessary to work on
live fibers, the GRP450 Optical Power Meter can be used to sense the
presence of the 2-kHz tone. The aforementioned process is altered only in
the fact that each fiber in the enclosure would be connected to the GRP450.
When the GRP450 is connected to the fiber carrying the 2-kHz tone it will
sound an audible alarm and the LCD will indicate the 2-kHz tone is present.
Greenlee Communications, www.greenleecommunications.com

Cable tone generator and probe

From Psiber Data Systems, the Ultra High Power CableTracker 12 Tone Generator and CableTracker
15 Probe (CTK1215) enables signal detection on cables miles away and makes hearing a tone through
walls, ceilings and enclosures easier, with a power level up to 10 times more powerful than other tone
generators. The tools 190 mWatts of output power reduces maintenance times by making it easier to
trace and identify cables used in network, CATV, audio/
video, security and telephone applications. The CTK1215
allows users to quickly and accurately solve the most difficult
cabling installation and maintenance jobs, says Psiber. Higher-
speed data cables require low EMI leakage, which is used for
detection by tone and probe testers. These low leakage levels
have made standard testers ineffective. The powerful signal
transmitted by the CableTracker 12 and the unique method
of applying the tone allow detection and tracing of advanced
twisted-pair cable systems, including many shielded types.
Psiber Data Systems, www.psiber.com

www.cablinginstall.com Cabling Installation & Maintenance MARCH 2016 23

 EDITORS PICKS
News, products and trends for the communications systems industry

40 MILES OF
CABLE TR AY

802.11AC
TROUBLESHOOTING

UPDATED DATA
CENTER STANDARD

COMPILED BY
Matt Vincent
ci m @ pen n well . com

The other awards given to individuals during the cere-

mony were as follows.
The Harry J. Pfister Award for Excellence in the
Telecommunications Industry, awarded by the University
of South Florida College of Engineering, was given to

INDUSTRY HONORS

Andre Jimenez, vice president of technology at Anixter

Luna repeats as (www.anixter.com). Jimenez received the award for his
BICSIs Installer work throughout his 20-plus-year career in the fields of

of the Year telecommunications testing and product certification.

The Presidential Eagle Award, selected by BICSIs
For the ninth consecutive year BICSIs Winter president, is given to an individual who has exhibited
Conference hosted the Cabling Skills Challenge, leadership, sacrifice and faith in BICSI and the indus-
in which cabling installers and technicians com- try as a whole, having shown dedication to a greater
pete for the title Installer of the Year. And for the cause over a period of time. The 2016 award was pre-
second consecutive year, Alberto Luna, a BICSI- sented to Bob Erickson for his work on numerous BICSI
certified Technician and project manager with
Total Network Consulting (www.totalnetworkcon-
sultingllc.com), took home the Installer of the
Year title and its accompanying $5,000 prize.
He was one of 14 competitors in the 2016 event.
Lunas receipt of a trophy and cash award for
his repeat performance as Installer of the Year
was one of several awards bestowed upon BICSI
members during the associations annual awards
banquet, which was held Wednesday, February 3.

24 MARCH 2016 Cabling Installation & Maintenance www.cablinginstall.com

committees and task forces, as well
as for his contributions during his
tenure on BICSIs board of directors.
The David K. Blythe University
of Kentucky Award for Outstanding
Member of the Year recognizes the
volunteer spirit of BICSI members and
spotlights an individual for outstanding
efforts promoting BICSIs education
programs as well as a commitment to
professional development within the
industry. Bob Hertling received the
2016 award for his amazing dedica-
tion and pride in BICSI, including taking
on multiple volunteer tasks, the asso-
ciation said.
The Global Outstanding Member
of the Year Award is given in honor
of work done to grow BICSI globally
and recognizes an individual who has
gone above and beyond to promote
the association and encourage mem-
bership around the world. This years
recipient, Rick Ciordia, was recognized
for his work throughout the Central
and Latin America district.
The Larry G. Romig Committee
Member of the Year award honors an
individual for exemplary efforts and
dedication within a BICSI committee.
It was presented to Peter Levoy, chair
of the BICSI Cares Committee, for his
tireless efforts and commitment to the
charity arm of BICSI.
The Ray Gendron BICSI Cares
Scholarship was awarded to Nick
Plueger, who attends Bellevue
University in Bellevue, NE. He majors
in computer informa-
tion systems and net-
working and holds
BICSIs Installer 2,
Copper designation.
All of the award win-
ners are truly deserv-
ing, said BICSI pres-
ident Brian Ensign. I
have had the pleasure
of working with many
of them, and they display a deep love
and passion for BICSI, the ICT industry
and the work they do. Congratulations
to the winners, and I look forward to
seeing more of their amazing contribu-
tions in the years to come. t

SMART-HOME WIFI

Awarded at CES 2016, Netgear

says new AC WiFi line is
optimized for smart homes
At the 2016 International Consumer Electronics Show
(CES 2016) in Las Vegas, Netgear was lauded with
4 CES Innovation Awards for products that make it
easier for mobile and smart home devices to connect
anywhere in the home at the fastest AC WiFi speeds, the These honorees have been evaluated by the Consumer
company says. At the show, the company also unveiled its Electronics Association (CEA) for their exceptional engineer-
Nighthawk WiFi routers and extenders, as well as its Arlo ing, aesthetic design, and innovative qualities, said CES
Smart Home security products, new PowerLINE WiFi adapt- of the awarded products. The winners included Netgears
ers, cable modem products, and the companys ReadyNAS Nighthawk X8 AC5300 Smart WiFi Router (R8500), Nighthawk
storage platform. X4S AC2600 Smart WiFi Router (R7800), Nighthawk AC1900
Four Netgear products were on display in the CES 2016 WiFi Cable Modem Router (C7000), and CM600 High Speed
Innovation Awards Showcase at the Sands Expo center. Cable Modem. t

www.cablinginstall.com Cabling Installation & Maintenance MARCH 2016 25

 EDITORS PICKS

IN MEMORIAM

Larry Romig, first

BICSI executive
director, passes away
BICSI announced that Larry Romig,
the associations first executive direc-
tor/CEO, passed away on November
15. In a statement posted on the bicsi.
org homepage, then-BICSI President
Michael Collins said Larry was a warm
individual and a professional in every
way. Larry was a mentor to many, and
in no small way, a major contributor to
their successes and to the initial suc-
cess of our fine association. Larry
Romig will be sorely missed.
Each year at BICSIs annual awards
banquet, held in conjunction with its
winter conference, the association
bestows the Larry W. Romig Committee
Member of the Year Award upon a
deserving individual.
David Cranmer, a BICSI Past President
who also served as the associations
executive director/CEO, wrote a memo-
rial to Romig on the website of Cranmers
training company Ventoux Learning
Network. Cranmer reflected, For those
of you who never met Larry, BICSI owes
much of its success to his forward think-
ing. Larry was a very conservative money
manager and over the years, built BICSIs
reserves substantially Thanks to his
money management, BICSI was able to
purchase land and build the first phase of
its headquarters debt-free.
There are too many stories to post
here, Cranmer added. But I remem-
ber that every year for many years,
Larry would give the invocation during
the banquet at the winter conference in
Orlando. They were always thought-pro-
voking and given with much passion. t
MASS CABLE MANAGEMENT
Solar PV power plant requires
40 miles of cable tray
Fluor Corporation announced that its Centinela Solar Energy project has been
named 2015 Best Project Safety Award of Merit winner by Engineering News-
Record (ENR) for the California region. Fluor performed engineering, procure-
ment and construction services and is now providing operations and main-
tenance services for the new, 170-megawatt solar photovoltaic (PV) facility
located on approximately 1,600 acres in Imperial County, CA. The awards judg-
ing noted Fluor completed the project safely by working more than 700,000
construction hours with no lost-time accidents and no recordable incidents.
For the project, Fluors construction team successfully installed a total of
more than 875,000 solar PV panels, 15,000 tons of steel, 40 miles of cable
tray and 425 miles of AC and DC cabling, working in conjunction with LS Power,
an independent power company that develops, owns, operates and invests in
power generation and electric transmission infrastructure throughout the United
States. The Centinela Solar Energy project is LS Powers largest solar project
to date. It is one of the first major projects to tie into the newly constructed
Sunrise Power Transmission Line. Centinela Solar Energy has 20-year power pur-
chase agreements with San Diego Gas & Electric for the entire output from the
facility, enough to power more than 60,000 homes.
Fluor was recognized at ENRs Best Projects Awards breakfast banquet held
recently in Los Angeles. Award recipients were selected by a jury of industry
professionals. It is an honor to have Fluor recognized for the safe execution of
this project, said Chris Tye, president of Fluors power business line. We con-
tinue to maintain our safety culture as we perform operations and maintenance
for this facility, helping to meet the regional need for renewable energy. t

26 MARCH 2016 Cabling Installation & Maintenance www.cablinginstall.com

 EDITORS PICKS
HIGH-SPEED NET WORKING

IEEE 802.3 forms study groups for 25,

50 and 100/200 Gbit/sec Ethernet
The Ethernet Alliance recently commended the decision to
form three study groups within IEEE 802.3. The groups are
exploring the development of standards for 25-Gbit/sec
Ethernet over singlemode fiber, 50-Gibt/sec Ethernet over
a single lane, and next-generation 100- and 200-Gbit/sec
Ethernet. The Ethernet Alliance commented that by form-
ing these groups, IEEE 802.3 is demonstrating Ethernets
capacity for dynamically addressing the changing needs of
its rapidly expanding marketplace.
Scott Kipp, Ethernet Alliance president and principal tech-
nologist for Brocade, stated, Ethernet is beginning the
standardization of a new era of speeds based on 50-Gbit/
sec signaling technology. The 50-Gbit/sec lanes will enable
50 Gigabit Ethernet SFP56 modules, and 200GbE QSFP56
modules and other corresponding technologies as we have
shown in the 2015 Ethernet Roadmap. The launch of these
new study groups will help deliver the next generation of
cost-optimized, higher-speed solutions demanded by hyper-
scale data centers, enterprises, cloud service providers, and
more. Its proof that Ethernet will continue to be optimized
for new markets.
The Ethernet Alliance explained each study groups objec-
tives as follows: The IEEE 802.3 25-Gbit/sec Ethernet
PMD(s) for Single Mode Fiber Study Group is tasked with
exploring the development of new 25-Gbit/sec singlemode
fiber links, as well as evaluating market requirements sup-
porting longer-reach 25-Gbit/sec interfaces up to 10 kilome-
ters or more.
Focusing on two related areas of study, the IEEE 802.3
50-Gbit/sec Ethernet Over a Single Lane Study Group and
the IEEE 802.3 Next Generation 100-Gbit/sec Ethernet Study
Group will jointly investigate the market requirements for 50-,
100- and 200-GbE, which include server-to-switch and switch-
to-switch applications. t

Cut Strip Terminate Test

See us
us at
ISC WEST
WEST
booth #5036
#50
036

10Gig Termination Kit! Patch Panels EZ-DataLockk

Meets 10-Gig
New! Manage High Density Prevents Cable
le
performance for Networks Disconnects
streaming high Many solutions for The Snag-Proof New!
bandwidth data, terminating cable runs to Locking strain relief
li f
audio or video across
ross the server room or wiring New! protects and secures a data network 24/7.
Cat6E/A/7 Cable. Includes closet and making it easier Prevents inadvertent and malicious cable
TeleTitanXg Crimp
mp Tool
Tool, 10-Gig Cat6A to identify, re-configure & troubleshoot networks. disconnects, downtime, and tampering. The
connectors, Cable Jacket Stripper and External 12/24 Port, Cat5e/6/6A, Shielded & cable remains locked until the Key-Holder
Ground Crimper in a handy Kit. P/N 90170 Non-Shielded unlocks it.

Since 1997, we have provided the finest wire and cable connectors and accessories. Today, we are the first
installation tools, connectors and testers. Including choice for low-voltage network installers that cut, strip,
cutters, strippers, crimpers, EZ RJ45 CAT5&6 & coax terminate and test. 805.384.2777 www.platinumtools.com

Custom Electronics Security Datacom Telecom Electrical

 EDITORS PICKS
PASSIVE OPTICAL L AN
APOLAN adds 5 cabling contractor firms as new members
The Association for Passive Optical
LAN (APOLAN), a non-profit organi-
zation devoted to furthering adop-
tion of passive optical local area net-
work (LAN) technologies, announced
the addition of A.J. Labourdette, AWS
Communications, Henkels & McCoy,
Infiniti Technologies, and Netcom to
its membership base.
Through our work, enterprises
are realizing that passive optical LAN
can improve their network reliabil-
ity, bandwidth and security in addi-
tion to delivering cost savings, com-
mented Thomas Ruvarac, chairman of
the APOLAN. Our growing member-
ship base is further proof of that suc-
cess, and the clear direction the indus-
try is taking in turning to passive opti-
cal LAN for the near and long-term
network solutions.
A.J. Labourdette, Inc. is a full-ser-
vice telecommunications, security and
electrical contracting company who
has been in business for over 31 years
serving the commercial, military, and
marine sectors, offering its customers
a wide range of services.
Founded in Austin Texas in 2002,
AWS Inc. dba AWS Communications, is
a communications technology provider
offering a full suite of communications
infrastructure products for data, voice,
video, DAS and wireless solutions, as
well as network engineering and net-
work installation services.
Henkels & McCoy (H&M) has served
communications clients evolving infra-
structure needs since 1923. As stated
on the firms website, H&M Networks
provides key services to design and
install critical infrastructure for public
and private, wireless and wireline net-
works. Our experience and ability to
scale allows us to tackle projects of
28 MARCH 2016 Cabling Installation & Maintenance
all sizes, delivering solutions which
incorporate safety, quality, on-time
performance, and effective program
management.
Infiniti Technologies, Inc. is a
Maryland-based corporation whose
core management team has more than
100 years of combined experience in
the design, installation and support
of gigabit passive optical networking
(GPON), video surveillance systems,
access control systems, audio/visual
networks, and structured cabling
installations.
PERSONNEL APPOINTMENT
Data center connectivity specialist
Mellanox appoints new VP of software
Mellanox Technologies, a sup-
plier of high-performance, end-to-
end interconnect solutions for data
center servers and storage systems,
announced the promotion of Freddy
Gabbay to vice president of software.
Gabbay was
Mellanoxs senior direc-
tor of engineering from
October 2013 until
this promotion. He
also was the compa-
nys director of engi-
neering from October
2012 to October 2013.
Prior to that, Gabbay
was a design manager at Freescale
Semiconductor and took a major
role in leading baseband SoC prod-
uct development. Prior to Freescale,
Gabbay was a senior architect at
Mellanox Technologies responsible for
Network Communications SA
(Netcom) is a corporate group with
headquarters in Panama and offices in
Costa Rica, dedicated to the commer-
cialization of infrastructure solutions
for voice, data, video, contact center,
and carrier-class solutions.
APOLAN notes that its member-
ship has more than doubled over the
last year, reinforcing the industry
groups mission to drive education
regarding the technical and economic
advantages of passive optical LAN
technology. t
its switch products.
Prior to Mellanox, Gabbay was also
a senior architect at Intel Corporation.
He graduated Summa Cum Laude with
a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering
and Master of Science and PhD from
the Technion Israel
Institute of Technology.
With his high techni-
cal networking knowl-
edge and strong leader-
ship skills, Freddy has
been instrumental in our
100-Gbit Ethernet and
InfiniBand switch soft-
ware technology, said
Eyal Waldman, president and CEO of
Mellanox Technologies. I look forward
to Freddys continued contribution
and leadership under his new exec-
utive role. I wish him success in his
new role. t
www.cablinginstall.com

TESTING
Fluke Networks adds
802.11ac functionality
to network
troubleshooting tools
Fluke Networks recently added
802.11ac functionality to two of its
tools used by network engineers
and techniciansthe OptiView XG
Network Analysis Tablet and the
OneTouch AT Generation 2 Network
Assistant. Both tools are now avail-
able with new 802.11ac functionality.
When announcing these new capa-
bilities, Fluke Networks explained
that the OptiView XG is the first
tablet specifically designed for the
network engineer. It automates root-
cause analysis of both wired and
wireless network and application
problems, saving the engineer sig-
nificant time and effort. The new ver-
sion of OptiView XG comes with the
full suite of AirMagnet Mobile tools
already built in.
It added that the OneTouch AT is
an automated handheld tester that
network technicians use to trouble-
shoot both Ethernet and WiFi network
performance in real time by validating
connectivity, service availability and
path performance.
Daryle DeBalski, vice presi-
dent and general manager of Fluke
www.cablinginstall.com
Networks enterprise solutions, com-
mented, People increasingly judge
the quality of a network by wireless
access performance. If users expe-
rience a slow WiFi network, or they
cant connect to it, or they keep
losing the connection, their frustra-
tion mounts and the entire network
becomes
suspect. A
faster wire-
less tech-
nology stan-
dard like
802.11ac
offers signif-
icant upside,
but only if IT
teams can
keep the
network run-
ning at optimal levels. Our expanded
support for 802.11ac gives IT leaders
peace of mind, knowing their teams
can quickly find and fix any wired or
wireless performance issue to maxi-
mize end-user experience.
The company added, The
802.11ac wireless standard prom-
ises to triple the speed of WiFi net-
work connections, but unless the
entire network infrastructureboth
wired and wirelesscan handle those
speeds, end users arent likely to expe-
rience the full benefit of 802.11ac.
Organizations upgrading to the faster
standard need a holistic way to plan,
analyze and troubleshoot the entire
network infrastructure, rather than
relying on multiple-point solutions to
test separate components of the net-
work. Fluke Networks enterprise solu-
tions puts organizations back in con-
trol of the performance of their entire
IT landscape and the user experience
it providesregardless of whether
services are running on wired or wire-
less networks. t
Cabling Installation & Maintenance MARCH 2016 29
 SHOWCASE EDITORS PICKS
PROJEC T MANAGEMENT

BICSI updates RTPM

exam requirements
BICSI announced that, effective October 1, all Registered
Telecommunications Project Manager (RTPM) exam appli-
cants are being tested on material from the associations
recently updated Telecommunications Project Management
(TPM) reference manual, 2nd edition.
The TPM 2nd edition contains relevant telecommunica-
tions project management resource material gleaned from
the pages of BICSIs TDMM 13th edition, ITSIMM 6th edition,
and OSPDRM 5th edition reference guides. This material is
to be used in conjunction with BICSIs A Guide to the Project
Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide), 5th edition,
and Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning,
Scheduling, and Controlling, 11th edition publications, as
previously specified in the RTPM exams requirements.
The new 2nd edition RTPM study reference material con-
tains key technical information that prospective candidates
for BICSIs RTPM designation will need to successfully know
to sit for the RTPM exam. t

NEW

MFP8 IE

One Plug.
MFP8
Three Types.
More Flexibility.
MFP8-4x90 500
Cat.6A 10 GBE
MHz PoE+

DataVoice
MFP8
Field-Assembly RJ45 Plugs Cat.6A / CAT6A
Straight type (MFP8), angled type (MFP8-4x90),
type with innovative cable gland (MFP8 IE)
Saving time and cost with installation,
repairs and maintenance
For solid or stranded conductor cables
diameter 5 10 mm (0.2 0.4 in.)
Transfer rates up to 10 Gigabit Ethernet

www.telegaertner.com/mfp8
Telegrtner Inc. Tel: (630) 616-7600 Email: sales@telegaertner.com

30 MARCH 2016 Cabling Installation & Maintenance www.cablinginstall.com

 STANDARDS requirements for new data centers.
These include cabling, facility and net-
Work begins on TIA-942-B, the revision work design elements.

of the TIA-942-A data center standard Henry Franc, chair of the TIA
TR-42.1 Committee, commented,
The Telecommunications Industry telecommunications infrastructure The ever-evolving Internet of Things,
Association (TIA) TR-42.1 Engineering of data centers and computer rooms, technologies and topologiescom-
Committee recently issued a call for including single-tenant enterprise data bined with a wider focus on ther-
interest for the standard titled TIA- centers and multi-tenant Internet host- mal management, energy efficiency,
942-B, whose initial working title is ing data centers. The topology spec- speed and powerwill be accommo-
Telecommunications Infrastructure ified in standards is intended to be dated in the upcoming revision of the
Standard for Data Centers. As an scalable to any size data center. Telecommunications Infrastructure
ANSI-accredited standard-develop- The association further explained Standard for Data Centers, which will
ment organization, TIA revises its that this particular revision effort be updated in conjunction with the
standards on a five-year cycle. In that which ultimately will result in the pub- changing landscape.
five-year time frame, standards can lication of TIA-942-Bkeeps pace TIA noted that stakeholders may
be reaffirmed, revised, or withdrawn. with technology changes, including include data center operators/owners
The TIA-942-A standard was pub- continued improvements in energy and designers, project managers, cer-
lished in 2012. efficiency, higher bandwidth and sys- tified internal and external auditors,
In its call for interest, the TIA said tems. The standard serves as a crit- certified design consultants, archi-
that the 942 set of standards spec- ical tool to evaluate existing data tects, engineering firms, end users
ifies the minimum requirements for centers and communicate design and manufacturers. t

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS
AFL............................................................ CV4
Arlington Industries.....................................10
ADVERTISING SALES OFFICES
Brother Mobile Solutions Inc. .....................14
MAIN OFFICE INTERNATIONAL
Cablofil Inc. ...................................................7 61 Spit Brook Road AUSTRIA, EUROPE, GERMANY,
Suite 401, Nashua, NH 03060 NORTHERN SWITZERLAND
Charles Industries Ltd. .............................. 29 Holger Gerisch
(603) 891-0123
Corning Optical Communications LLC..... CV2 fax: (603) 891-9245 +49-(0)8801-9153791
Fax: +49-(0)8801-9153792
GROUP PUBLISHER
Diamond Ground Products Inc................... 30 holgerg@pennwell.com
Alan Bergstein
Dymo Corp.................................................. 20 (603)-891-9447 ISRAEL
alanb@pennwell.com Dan Aronovic
Greenlee Textron...........................................8 ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER/
+972 9 899 5813
NATIONAL SALES MANAGER aronovic@actcom.co.il
Hsing Chau Industrial Co. Ltd. ......................6
Ed Murphy ASIA
Huber & Suhner.............................................9 (603) 891-9260 Adonis Mak
fax: (603) 891-9245 +852 2 838 6298; Fax: +852 2 838 2766
Hyperline Systems Canada Ltd. ..................12 edm@pennwell.com adonism@actintl.com.hk
ICC Premise Wiring ....................................17 REPRINTS JAPAN
Ed Murphy Masaki Mori
Oberon Inc.................................................. 30 (603) 891-9260 +81 3 3219 3561
Platinum Tools ............................................27 fax: (603) 891-9245 mori-masaki@ics-inc.co.jp
edm@pennwell.com
TAIWAN
Senko Advanced Components Inc.................4 DIRECTOR, LIST RENTAL Ms. Rebecca Tsao
Siemon Company...........................................2 Kelli Berry +886 2 23965128 ext.203
(918) 831-9782 Fax: 886 2 23967816
Telegartner Karl Gartner GmbH ................ 30 kellib@pennwell.com rebecca@arco.com.tw
Universal Electric Corp...............................18
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 2016 31

 INFRASTRUCTURE
INSIGHTS
Ethernet switch
market moderately
improving; router
market stays flat
International Data Corporation (IDC) recently
reported that the worldwide Ethernet switch
market (Layer 2/3) exceeded $6.1 billion
in revenue in the third quarter of 2015
(3Q15), an increase of 2.0 percent year over
year and a healthy increase of 6.1 percent
quarter over quarter, in terms of growth
rate. However, the researcher also noted
the worldwide total enterprise and service
provider (SP) router market could not repeat
its exceptionally strong growth from the
previous quarter, and ended 3Q15 flat on
an annual basis, and down -7.2 percent
quarter-over-quarter.
Significantly, IDC found that the worldwide
enterprise and SP router market was flat on
a year-over-year basis in 3Q15, as the 1.1-per-
cent annual increase in the SP segment was
offset by a -3.5-percent decline in enterprise
routing. The researcher stated that this will
be a market to watch closely over the com-
ing quarters, as software-defined architec-
tures start to take hold across the WAN,
enabling enterprise network managers and
service providers alike to benefit from these
emerging capabilities.
IDC added that 10-Gbit Ethernet switch
(Layer 2/3) revenue decreased -1.6 percent
year over year, coming in at $2.2 billion,
while 10-Gbit Ethernet switch port shipments
grew a robust 27.4 percent year over year,
with nearly 8.5 million ports shipped in 3Q15,
as average selling prices continued to fall.
32 MARCH 2016 Cabling Installation & Maintenance
Meanwhile, IDC found that 40-Gbit Ethernet revenue reached a record
$644 million in 3Q15, growing 41.4 percent year over year.
Overall revenue and port shipment growth rebounded somewhat
in 3Q15, even though the usually strong 10G segment continued to
see weakness in year-over-year revenues, explains Rohit Mehra, vice
president, network infrastructure, at IDC. At any rate, shipments
of 10-Gbit Ethernet and higher speeds is a testament to the strong
demand to support a diverse array of enterprise and data center
workloads and service provider infrastructure. Given this, we expect
the market to remain relatively healthy, but intensively competitive.
In terms of specific vendor highlights, IDC reported that Cisco fin-
ished the quarter with 0.8-percent year-over-year growth in the Eth-
ernet switching market and market share of 61.6 percent, up slightly
from its 60.1 percent share in 2Q15. In the hotly contested 10-GbE
segment, Cisco held 59.1 percent of the market in 1Q15, up from 57.6
percent in the previous quarter, but down from the 63.4 percent it
held in 3Q14. IDC noted that Ciscos SP and enterprise router revenue
decreased -2.3 percent year-over-year.
Top five Ethernet switch vendors
Revenue market size ($M), 3Q14 to 3Q15
7,000
6,000
5,000
4,000 Others
Arista
3,000
Juniper
2,000 Huawei
HP
1,000
Cisco
0
2014Q3 2014Q4 2015Q1 2015Q2 2015Q3
Source: IDC
Elsewhere, the analyst said HPs Ethernet switch revenue came in
essentially flat on both an annual and sequential basis in 3Q15. How-
ever, Juniper posted a record quarter in Ethernet switching, with a
year-over-year increase of 39.4 percent and sequential growth of
6.5 percent in 3Q15. Its router revenue was flat sequentially but
increased 11.0 percent year over year in 3Q15, reportedly due to a
robust 20-percent year-over-year increase in sales of core SP routers.
While demand for higher speeds such as 10-Gbit and 40-Gbit Eth-
ernet increases, declining average switch port selling prices have had
a flattening effect on overall market growth, concludes Petr Jirovsky,
research manager in IDCs networking trackers group. The emer-
gence of speeds such as 2.5-, 5-, 25-, and 50-Gbit Ethernet, along
with 100-Gbit Ethernet reaching critical mass over the next few years,
will make this an interesting market to watch. u
www.cablinginstall.com
Subscribe now
at www.cablinginstall.com/subscribe
Request a FREE subscription to Cabling Installation & Maintenance
magazine and e-Newsletters and visit our comprehensive website
to see for yourself why structured cabling professionals rely on
Cabling Installation & Maintenance.

For professionals managing the cable and

wireless systems that enable critical communications

FOR PROFESSIONALS MANAGING THE CABLE AND WIRELESS

OC TOBER 2015 SYSTEMS THAT ENABLE CRITICAL COMMUNICATIONS

INNOVATIVE CABLING AT

Stony Brook
University PAGE 12

SPECIAL REPORT PAGE 5

Honoring the
industrys innovators
DATA CENTER PAGE 23

Category 8 Q&A
MARKET INSIGHTS PAGE 40

Vertical-specific
colo data centers

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

MAGAZINE E-NEWSLETTERS WEBSITE

Visit cablinginstall.com/subscribe today

For advertising and sponsorship information, contact Ed Murphy at edm@pennwell.com.

w w w.ca bli ng i n s ta l l .c om
oops...

Splicers are unique. They are like a BULLDOZER and a BRAIN

SURGEON all in one. They have to perform precision splices over and over
and also have to withstand a lot of ABUSE. Wind, rain, dirt and the occasional,
$*&!@, I just dropped the splicer! It happens. Rest assured,
if you are using a Fujikura splicer, you can pick up your splicer and get back
to work. Theres a reason why Fujikura splicers have been the leading splicers
in the industry for over 25 years. Learn more or schedule a demo at
Schedule a demo of a Fujikura splicer and well let you drop it, splice www.AFLglobal.com/Truth
with it and then test the splice! Let us show you how we connect. or call 864.433.0333