Most data center managers have more assets and deployment venues to manage these days, but an improving range of tools as well. As footprints evolve to include cloud, colo, edge computing and on-premise capacity in a COVID-altered landscape, both managers and customers are relying on remote management capabilities. Meanwhile, the rising rack densities of AI-centric IT hardware place a premium on precision management of cooling. This session will look at the latest trends and best practices in data center management and the software to support it.

BICSI CEC recognized*

Are you printing and labeling patch panels, wire/cable, faceplates, safety labels, barcodes, etc…?

Stay ahead of the game with the Brother Pro Label Tool (PLT). This app makes labeling products in an industrial setting a breeze! With its variety of templates and virtual assistance, the PLT has got you covered whether you need a standard or personalized label. With an easy way to print from a database, no more typing out each label! Do everything from the app. It's specifically designed to meet all your information technology, data communications and low-voltage labeling needs with an extra added benefit of adding barcodes where needed. Also, you can customize the many preloaded templates or make your own on the fly. Follow Todd as he takes the Pro Label Tool for a spin and sees just how easy and efficient labeling can be.

In this session, we will discuss on how to avoid pitfalls when carrying out key measurements for validating optical and electrical interfaces running at 112Gbps per lane.  We will also review the challenges in terms of tests of measurements for upcoming 224Gbps and linear drive interfaces.

A data center on any scale, from modular to hyperscale, can only perform as much compute function as its power supply will allow. In that sense, power is the ultimate enabler of data center operation. And power delivery is a top priority at every level of data center administration, from the macro level of utility supply, to the granular level of measuring consumption at each device. This discussion takes a wide-ranging look not just at the importance of power in a data center, but also at trends and innovations shaping the future of power supply for these facilities. It will examine how hyperscalers are generating their own power through renewable sources, the importance of reliable power supply as a site-selection criterion, methods and technologies for distributing power throughout a facility, the ability to measure power consumption at different points, and more.

BICSI CEC recognized*

Not every network is built the same.  Some require something to be modified or maybe even something totally new.  Data Centers and network owners do not want a one size fits all approach.  One size fits all does not check all the boxes for capacity, future proof, fit, efficiency and cost.  Sumitomo Electric has a history of taking in customer feedback, understanding the pain points and requirements and then delivering a solution that fit those unique requirements.  This presentation review some of the examples and products that have been derived from this process.

Today's manufacturing landscape is more complex than ever before. Manufacturers are looking for the most efficient, cost-effective and secure ways to operate within nuanced compliance and cybersecurity challenges.

In this discussion, industry experts will share best practices for balancing multi-cloud optimization and integration efforts with a multitude of ERP and automation requirements. Experts will also discuss facilitating a strategy to reduce tech debt and consolidate the IT footprint.

Sophisticated cybersecurity measures are the hallmark of most data center risk mitigation strategies. But protecting the data and customer information doesn’t mean physical hardware and software are safe from physical breaches as well. Facebook notoriously went down for hours in October 2021, costing nearly $100 million in revenue. The cause was a data maintenance error and a physical security problem.​

Like cyber and network vulnerabilities, physical security can also present some huge challenges. Bad actors with the right access anyone can use or harm servers, even when in a locked facility. Data centers need to be protected from intruders and potential physical attacks that can result in disasters such as water leaks, fires, power outages and cooling system failures. ​

Experts will discuss:​

• Physical security is an important issue for data centers​
• How to avoid complacency with your data center’s physical access control​
• Stepping up your game beyond simple access control cards and electronic locks​
• Understanding how to ensure your servers stay online ​
• The dangers of unvetted vendors and lax visitor controls​
• Planning a strategic video surveillance systems and real-time accountability​
• How to train your staff to recognize and defend against social engineering attacks.

More service providers are moving beyond “power, pipes and ping” and offer products and services to enable colo assets to be deployed through cloud-style online interfaces. This includes new bare metal server offerings, but also pre-configured racks with quicker provisioning. A number of providers are mixing in consulting options to support hybrid IT rollouts. This session will examine the rise of cloudification of colo, and the benefits its provides for providers and customers.

BICSI CEC recognized*

With a minimum of five thousand servers on a ten thousand square foot or larger footprint, hyperscale data centers are continually challenged by increasing bandwidth, storage, computing power, and speed requirements. The rapid scalability that defines hyperscale computing can only be accomplished through a combination of new hardware (horizontal scaling) and improved performance of existing data centers (vertical scaling).

Finding the talent and resources to build or expand hyperscale data centers is a pain point that only grows stronger as the scale increases, especially with aggressive installation timelines. This can lead to reduced or omitted fiber and system verification testing, exposing data centers to downstream failures and rework.

Given the massive scale and energy requirements, Internet content providers (ICPs), big data storage, and public cloud operators face growing pressure to improve efficiency and reduce emissions. With data centers already consuming approximately 3% of the world’s electricity and emitting a volume of CO2 comparable to the airline industry, clean energy conversion and net-zero carbon footprint commitments are on the rise.

This TechTalk will review how these challenges are addressed, where 5G fits in, and some of the use cases bringing to life the promise of hyperscale ecosystems.

Speaker Kevin Brown SVP of EcoStruxure Solutions at Schneider Electric shares how Schneider Electric is modernizing the EcoStruxure IT software portfolio for monitoring and management of sprawling, hybrid IT infrastructure, which has become increasingly complex in the last few years.

As lithium-ion batteries become more frequently used in UPS systems of all sizes, legitimate questions arise among end users, engineers, contractors, and authorities having jurisdiction (AHJ).  This session covers latest IFC fire codes and NFPA standards, and their requirements for large format lithium-ion installations, both indoor and outdoor. Items addressed are site selection, maximum and minimum lithium quantities, and fire detection and suppression requirements and techniques. Applications where lithium-ion batteries will be deployed in areas formerly occupied by lead-acid batteries, may result in significant changes to the room where the battery is located. Proactive planning is a must, to ensure successful installations.

BICSI CEC recognized*

The shift towards higher data rates in networks, with a transition from duplex to parallel - be it via 8 or 16 fiber-based systems, has made applications more susceptible to loss. However, opting for 4-way or 8-way breakouts presents advantages that go beyond merely employing patch cords. Organizing architectures that align with trunk configurations can result in energy efficiency, lower latency, and sustainability benefits. These benefits cater to current and future requirements. Choosing the right building blocks to install behind the wall can simplify the entire process while offering continuous benefits.

Whether recabling an existing data center or building a brand new facility, several decisions must be made to ensure that the data center network infrastructure will meet both immediate and projected requirements. Considerations around density, the number and types of fibers required, and how the installation process will proceed smoothly and economically will drive such decisions. The panelists in this session will describe current options and offer suggestions to help you develop a winning strategy.

BICSI CEC recognized*