Pressure on backbone networks and data centres is increasing due to growing transmission rates occurring mainly as a result of the increasing use of intelligent mobile devices.
“The bottom line is that data rates of 10 gigabits per second offered by the 10GBASE-T variant of Ethernet are in many cases simply no longer sufficient,” says Cor Bredenhann, Webb Industries’ key account manager: data cables infrastructure.
In response to this the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) has developed new variants of Ethernet such as 25GBASE-T with 25 Gbps and 40GBASE-T with 40 Gbps using copper twisted-pair-cabling. Due to the more stringent requirements on insertion loss budget, the link length becomes limited to a maximum of only 30 metres and, therefore, both new Ethernet variants are primarily designed for data centres, server rooms and connections between switches.
The correlating standards for cabling infrastructure and its components have also been developed and, according to Bredenhann, the newly formed Category 8.1, which succeeds Category 6A, sets high requirements on the performance characteristics of the passive cabling components. The connector specification according to IEC 60603-7-81 now includes specifications up to 2000 MHz for, amongst others, insertion and return loss, near-end and far-end crosstalk attenuation (NEXT, FEXT).
“It is important to note, however, Cat.8.1 still has a backwards compatibility to existing categories such as Cat.6A, Cat.6 or Cat.5.,” Bredenhann says. He adds that Category 8.1 components form a Permanent Link of maximum 24 m which, together with two patch cords of up to 3 m, sets up a Channel Class I. “The direct connection of devices (direct attach, or end-to-end link) is also supported. In this case the devices, for example a switch and a server, are connected directly with the cable with field assembly plugs at both ends,” says Bredenhann.
Solutions for Permanent Link and Channel Class I
The all new field-assembly keystone jack AMJ Module Cat.8.1 T568A/B according to IEC series 60603-7 (RJ45 8P8C) features a robust zinc diecast housing with 360° shielding for secure data transmission regardless of outside electrical interference. Its slim and short housing with keystone mounting dimensions allows easy installation in all kinds of applications. Solid conductor cables can be easily terminated in the field with its IDCs suitable for AWG23-22/1 with no special tools.
The AMJ Module Cat.8.1 comes with a multi-level strain relief and shield connection for easy adaptation to various cable outer diameters. Equipotential bonding is very simple with the use of pre-assembled bonding cables using flat connection 2,8 mm. An integrated protective cap is part of the scope of delivery too.
In addition to this module, Webb has also launched Telegärtner’s field-assembly cable plug MFP8 Cat.8.1 for building direct-attach links between electronic devices or for the assembly of patch cords. The fully shielded housing made of zinc diecast offers a cable strain relief suitable for cable outer diameter from 5,5 to 10,0 mm and can be assembled onto horizontal or patch cable of Category Cat.8.1/Cat.8.2 with solid or stranded conductors such as AWG27/7 – 22/7 or AWG26/1 – 22/1 with no need for any special tools.
“As of now, with the help of both cabling products, Webb can carry out network installations according to ISO/IEC 11801-1 Class I in order to support upcoming applications such as 25GBase-T and 40GBase-T respectively,” concludes Bredenhann.
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