Best Practices for Data Center Cable Management

Colo+ Fully Managed Colocation
Colo+ Fully Managed Colocation

Great data center cable management can make a huge difference to the overall performance of a business. But all too often this complicated task is overlooked, with IT professionals instead turning their attention to other responsibilities. With the complexity of systems increasing, and the demands on IT facilities growing, it’s time for companies to prioritize their data center cable management.

If you’d prefer to let the professionals handle it, here at TRG Datacenters we offer fully managed colocation options which include rack and stack and best-in-class cable management with our Colo+ service. Rid your systems of spaghetti cabinets and convoluted excel spreadsheets by practicing better cable management, and you might be surprised by the benefits.

Design your infrastructure with cable management in mind

If you’re in the process of designing your network, make data center cable management one of your top priorities. While you put your plans for structured cabling infrastructure together, ask yourself whether or not you’ll be using top or middle of the rack switching, and whether you’ll be opting for fiber or copper cables. You’ll also want to think about the particular equipment that you’ll be using, considering the port density and bandwidth of your servers as you design your infrastructure. By putting questions like these at the forefront of your mind as you plan, you’ll immediately be practicing better data center cable management.

Record new cabling installations

This may seem like an obvious point to make, but all too often companies fail to make proper records of their new patch cabling installations – and this can come at a huge detriment to the organization of cables in the future. So, we always recommend that IT professionals document everything about new patch cabling installations, from cable types and connections to cabinet elevations and the specific requirements of these installations, to ensure that any risks of downtime are minimized. Diagrams can be a huge help here, enabling all those working on the system to visualize connections easily.

Think about new cable installation requirements

Loose cables can significantly hamper the potential of a system, making it difficult for those working on the system to make improvements and avoid hazards as they do so. And that’s why it’s always worth thinking about the exact lengths of cables needed before any installation plans go ahead. By doing so, you’ll avoid having unnecessarily long cables which can quickly make a setup messy. Not only that, you’ll save money by avoiding the element of waste that’s involved in cables that are too long for their intended purposes. There are even environmental benefits to making sure that you use the exact right length of cables because less copper will be wasted.

Make a plan and stick to it

When it comes to installation, make sure you’ve got a plan in mind and you’ve recorded instructions for anyone who may need to access them in the future. Bear in mind that tasks may not always be done by the same individuals, so it pays to have a clear record of how the installation has been done, and how your connections have been organized. Consider using data center management software to help here, and make sure you also have printed records of the information anyone who will be working with your system might need.

Think about compatibility

When it comes to installing your cables, it’s easy to become centered around the physical distances of connections. But this shouldn’t be your only consideration. Compatibility is also important, and by thinking about these two factors together you’ll be able to create a more organized, capable system. The software will help you narrow down options according to compatibility, and avoid common pitfalls like accidentally using cabinets that don’t have the number of available connectors you need.

Future-proofing your environments

Demands on IT systems are growing at a rapid pace, as businesses introduce increasingly complex digital processes to facilitate growth. As a result, IT teams are having to think carefully about how to future-proof their systems, to ensure that current setups do not put a dampener on the company’s potential to grow over time. When you think about your data center cable management, plan for both current requirements and the requirements you think your business might need in the future to avoid costly and time-consuming alterations in the months and years to come. That way, your systems will always be available to meet the company’s growing demands.

Great data center cable management can make all the difference to a company’s ability to grow. As you make plans for your data center, prioritize cable management to make sure your systems aren’t held back by disorganized cables, or a lack of clear instructions for those who need them. Here at TRG Datacenters, we offer fully managed Houston-based colocation which includes rack and stack and cable management. We use best-in-class cable management hardware so your rack stays neat and organized from day 1 to 1,000. If you’d like to learn more about our Fully Managed Colocation offering, don’t hesitate to contact our team.