Network Communications News (NCN) November 2016 | Page 20

PROJECT FOCUS

Cisco Systems

while controlling most IP related
utilities on each of the four floors.
Another important goal for Cisco was
to apply an expansive PoE system to
deliver power to various devices in the
space, including climate control and
lighting. This would allow for simplified
installation, flexibility and improved
reliability for powered devices.
The PoE implementation would
include the following PoE components
to enable new IP devices: IP lighting,
variable air volume (VaV) controllers,
security cameras, environmental
sensors, VoIP phones and door access
controls. Cisco also wanted to deploy
high speed wired and wireless access.
Finally, an aesthetically appealing
location was important for Cisco to
enhance its employees’ user experience
in the workplace while showcasing
its ability to help implement such
technologies with customers.

Panduit solution
The converged
IP network
provides a flexible
migration path for
future growth.

The entire
base building
infrastructure
was equipped
with a converged
backbone network.

Strategic objectives
It was important for Cisco to enhance
communication for its employees
by delivering more data rapidly and
efficiently. To achieve this goal, Cisco
wanted to leverage the base building
converged network, provided by Oxford
Properties and the state-of-the-art
telecommunications room and data
centres designed by Cisco IT.
A secure, converged IP
i nfrastructure would enable Cisco
to use real time information across
converged building systems to centrally
manage resources more effectively,
enabling greater risk management and
increasing overall performance. It would
also replace siloed networks, achieving
savings in both capital expenses and
operational expenses.
In addition, Cisco needed to gain
more visibility to its operations to
streamline in-building and IT processes

Along with Panduit’s solution, selected
partners for this project were EllisDon,
who served as the smart building
integrator and Guild Electric, who served
as the prime electrical and structured
cabling contractor.
Cisco deployed the Panduit
copper and fibre cabling system to
address its need for improved flexibility
and consistent network reliability to
support its growing and changing
network requirements. The company
implemented several thousand OM4
and OS1/OS2 singlemode fibre
(connections) for the converged
backbone, including support for 40Gb
applications. There are 2,500+ PoE
ports running on Category 6 cabling
with some Category 6A copper cabling
connecting several of Cisco’s higher
band switches internally.
William MacGowan, director of
smart building digitisation at Cisco,
comments, ‘Panduit was influential in
helping us decide which technology
components should be a part of our
converged backbone.’
The deployment also includes
the Opti-Com QuickNet rack mount
fibre cassette enclosures and preterminated cable trunks to protect fibre
optic cables and connectors, ensuring
end-to-end signal integrity. Cabling
is routed through the FiberRunner
cable routing system to improve cable
management for copper data cables,
fibre optic cables, and power cables,
while minimising installation time within
Cisco’s data centre.

Panduit’s PatchRunner high capacity
vertical cable management system is
in the main distribution and horizontal
areas of the data centre to help manage
Cisco’s networking equipment. The
system allows for visually pleasing,
efficient organisation and protection of
the high performance cables, enhancing
network reliability and reducing
operational expenses.
Panduit’s Mini-Com modules provide
flexibility for Cisco across the installation,
simplifying moves, adds and changes,
and reducing operational expenses.
The PanMPO Connector attaches the
connecting switch gear with fibre optic
transceivers to the server equipment.
It easily converts between male and
female gender and polarity of the
fibre connector in the field, improving
operational efficiency, and saving time
and costs. The small interconnect
cables minimise waste, optimise cable
management, speed deployment and
improve flexibility and manageability.

Business benefits
‘Panduit sees first hand the value
in investing time and research and
development in the smart and
connected real estate business and how
it benefits our customers,’ comments
Bob Hickey, strategic account manager,
Panduit. ‘To enhance user experience,
specifically in Canada, Panduit is
collaborating with alliance partners
and the consultant community to help
promote converged technologies in the
commercial space.’
The new, converged IP network
provides a flexible migration path
for future growth and allows Cisco to
respond to customer demands easier and
faster. The secure converged IP network
also allows real time monitoring of
external daylight levels, temperature and
occupancy. All equipment operates on
one network, allowing building tenants
to easily connect devices such as lighting
to access control to heating, which
provides personal comfort control. This
empowers tenants to be more innovative
and achieve next generation experiences
within a comfortable setting.
According to MacGowan, ‘Through
its converged network infrastructure
system, Panduit is helping Cisco
transform the way buildings are
designed, built, managed and
experienced. Placing all devices and
equipment onto a single IT infrastructure
increases Cisco’s business operations
while reducing capital expenses to
achieve a secure, scalable facility.’

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