Testing improved network bandwidth capability without re-cabling

Many applications are faced with the challenge that old cabling is becoming a bottleneck as new high bandwidth applications become available, writes Dan Barrera, Global Product Manager for TREND Networks. So how can you test what bandwidth the cable can support? And whether switch upgrades will increase the bandwidth enough for your customer?

Historically, when faced with the dilemma of old cabling and high bandwidth, network owners had to decide whether the cost and disruption of removing the old cable and replacing it was worth the benefit of deploying a new high-speed network. However, a new alternative is available today that allows network owners to obtain an increase in bandwidth of five times, or more, without having to re-cable using Multigig switches.

What is Multigig?

There are 111 billion metres of Cat5e/Cat6 cabling installed globally that is limited to 1Gb/s bandwidth speeds due to the current switches deployed. You can increase network speeds without re-cabling by upgrading to Multi-Gigabit switches delivering 2.5, 5 or 10Gb/s speeds, if the existing cable can support it. This technology goes by two names, NBASE-T and Multigig. Both started as competing standards which eventually merged into a cross-compatible specification (Multigig will be used from here on).

Multigig takes advantage of the headroom in Category 5e and 6 cabling to squeeze additional bandwidth out of the system by creating two new data rates that fall between the existing 1Gb and 10Gb rates. The new 2.5GBASE-T and 5GBASE-T data rates are achieved by replacing existing switches and devices with Multigig compatible equipment.

Upgrading to Multigig switches can provide a simple and cost-effective way to significantly upgrade network bandwidth in existing networks without re-cabling. And while most users in a typical office environment may be satisfied with a gigabit connection to the network, applications like wireless access points are prime targets for such an upgrade.

But before spending the time and money to upgrade a network, how is one supposed to know whether migrating to Multigig will be a success or a failure?

Use a tester before you migrate

There are two supported methods of testing existing cabling’s ability to support Multigig.

First, you can use a traditional cable certifier with specific test settings for 2.5Gb or 5Gb. If the test passes, the cable should support the new applications. The only downside to the certifier solution is that many integration, installation, and IT contractors do not own cable certifiers. A certifier is a significant investment for businesses which may only get limited use from the tester.

The second option is to use an Ethernet Bandwidth Tester. This is a device that sends Ethernet frames through cabling or the network to determine the maximum data rate that can be achieved without dropping frames.

Some of these testers are only capable of testing cabling, whereas others can test active network links (through switches) in addition to cabling. When deploying Multigig it’s important to use a tester that operates on both to provide the most flexibility. Testing only the cabling is helpful in determining whether installed cabling will support Multigig. Then, the ability to test on active networks allows for stress-testing the complete network and troubleshooting a wide variety of problems.

For instance, certain Ethernet Bandwidth Testers can also determine how much data a cable or network link can support using a Maximum Throughput function. This identifies a sustainable data rate using a binary chop process that allows for automated testing in less time than other methods. This is the same process used by the internet speed-test apps. Notice on those apps that in the first second the speed meter fluctuates wildly as the system oscillates between very fast and very slow until it stabilises on a speed that can be sustained with a tolerable error-rate. A Maximum Throughput test is doing this same thing on the network or cabling. It’s a fast and effective method of demonstrating network performance.

The end result is that the Maximum Throughput test tells the user definitively whether the link will support Multigig, and with how much margin. Businesses can then make an informed decision on whether to upgrade to Multigig switches, or if another solution is needed. And that’s all down to the right tests, conducted with the right test equipment.

Simple and cost-effective

It is truly difficult to plan cabling installations that are ‘future proof’. The best one can do is choose the highest rated cabling available. But where bandwidth is increasing and re-cabling is not feasible, Multigig is often a viable option.

So, whether you use cable certification or Ethernet bandwidth testing, a seamless migration from 1Gb to 2.5Gb or 5Gb can be assured for your customers if the existing infrastructure is tested for compliance before beginning the path to an upgrade.

A seamless migration can be assured for your customers if the existing infrastructure is tested for compliance

‘EVERYTHING AS A GRID’: THE FUTURE OF LOW CARBON ENERGY

The energy transition is in full swing. By 2035, over 50% of power generation will be renewable, steering away from the long-established centralised electricity supply model says Giuseppe Sgrò, Energy Storage and Emerging Technologies Executive, Eaton.

With more households, businesses and communities able to generate and sell energy as we use it, we are seeing – and will continue to see – a rise in distributed energy resources. The way in which electricity is regulated and optimised for residences, commercial buildings and industrial environments is evolving as a result of this energy transition.

The need for an ‘Everything as a Grid’ environment is driven by two fundamental factors challenging the energy status quo: growing demand for electricity and the realisation that a centralised supply is no longer the only option. The way in which buildings, transportation and the data economy are powered is causing a significant surge in electricity demand. In fact, analysts predict a 50% rise in the share of energy supplied to buildings by 2050, while electrification of the transport sector is projected to raise global electricity demand by 27% over the next decade. Meanwhile, data and computing demand is expected to increase fourfold.

Applying an ‘Everything as a Grid’ approach to the energy transition will pave the way for a low carbon future. When renewable resources, behind-the-meter assets and smart electric vehicle infrastructure are combined, we can build a more sustainable and durable infrastructure while ensuring overall energy costs are reduced.

Decentralisation is the route to decarbonisation

In addition to large-scale renewable energy assets, various small-scale installations are being added to the energy mix. We’re moving away from the old model of centralised electrical supply: the grid is no longer separated into power generation and consumption points. Instead, some entities that consume energy are increasingly able to produce energy of their own, and the grid is responding to this by encouraging small scale producers to sell electricity back to the grid when they have excess.

From the grid’s point of view, whether the electricity derives from a solar panel or comes from a battery system isn’t of great importance – and this is the real opportunity we are beginning to see. According to BloombergNEF’s 2019 New Energy Outlook, with the introduction of behind-the-meter assets such as electric vehicle charging stations and on-site static battery systems, the installed base of storage worldwide will rise 13 times over the next decade. Some of it may be deployed to provide backup power with reserve energy produced during off-peak hours for later use, while some might be used to charge electric vehicles. However, a large portion of the energy stored is likely to remain unused. This demonstrates the opportunity at hand for decentralisation to provide a framework for distributed storage to support the grid on a national scale.

‘Everything as a Grid’ in the spotlight

The energy transition is transforming the electrical power value chain. As a result, the newly developing decentralised and bidirectional grid is creating more flexibility – enabling market participants to act as both a consumer and producer. This is creating an ‘Everything as a Grid’ environment.

For instance, in households, behind-the-meter assets can be used as a means to store solar energy generated during the day in order to charge electric cars at night, whereas in commercial buildings, they can ensure crucial up-time by supplying energy if the grid were to fail. The creation of this flexible infrastructure is about technologies that allow for the incorporation of renewables and allow current and new electrical loads such as data centres, buildings, factories and electric vehicles to support local and national grids.

The transition to a renewable energy-powered grid is no longer a far-off future. In fact, it’s close on the horizon but if we are to achieve a net zero future, we need to reconsider and reform our infrastructure. The only way the UK can meet rising electricity demand, guarantee a stable but sustainable power supply and simultaneously reduce its dependence on fossil fuels is to relieve pressure on the grid by decentralising our energy supply.

The path to a low carbon future is far from simple but one key step will be taking a more collaborative approach to energy consumption and production. Everyone and every building has a role to play. By moving away from the old model of centralised electrical supply and creating a more dynamic grid with the potential for many different entities to produce, consume and sell energy, we can create the flexibility needed for a resilient, sustainable low carbon system.

Applying an ‘Everything as a Grid’ approach to the energy transition will pave the way for a low carbon future