case study Managing Ethernet Services for Profitability Situation A major telecommunications service provider chose to roll-out 10/100Base-T and Gigabit Ethernet services to business customers nationwide. With higher bandwidth and at a lower cost per bit than circuit-based data delivery such as T1 and T3, the new Ethernet LAN services would draw immediate interest from customers. Once the multi-service platform was selected for transport of 10/100Base-T over copper cabling and Gigabit Ethernet over fiber, attention turned to designing an infrastructure for management of a service offering that could impact operations across the country. It was the healthy forecast of demand for these data services that raised a flag for network planners. As the Ethernet services scale, installations would become more frequent and rearrangements of cables and Ethernet switches in the CO would become more common. The challenge was to build a network foundation today that would help restrain operating expenses and capital costs while maintaining service integrity. Solution Borrowing upon years of managing volume processes for voice services, network planners decided that the infrastructure for new Ethernet services should be uniform across all COs. In addition, it should offer efficiencies for adding customers, installing and upgrading Ethernet switches, and making other changes and rearrangements as required. ADC engineers proposed cabling Ethernet equipment in each CO to a centralized cross-connect called an Ethernet Distribution Frame (EDF). By creating a common craft interface for adds, upgrades, and rearrangements on Ethernet equipment, the EDF would enable change without service disruptions. The EDF provides a logical and easy-to-manage infrastructure due to two design characteristics: • All network elements have permanent equipment cable connections that are, once terminated, never handled again. • All changes, circuit rerouting, upgrades, maintenance and other activities are accomplished using semi-permanent patch cords on the front of the EDF cross-connect bay. 10/100/1000 ETHERNET 5800 SERIES Worx Power 1 1 1 1 10/100/1000 ETHERNET 5800 SERIES 10/100/1000 ETHERNET 5800 SERIES 10/100/1000 ETHERNET 5800 SERIES 10/100/1000 ETHERNET 5800 SERIES 10/100/1000 ETHERNET 5800 SERIES 10/100/1000 ETHERNET 5800 SERIES 10/100/1000 ETHERNET 5800 SERIES 10/100/1000 ETHERNET 5800 SERIES 10/100/1000 ETHERNET 5800 SERIES 10/100/1000 ETHERNET 5800 SERIES 10/100/1000 ETHERNET 5800 SERIES 10/100/1000 ETHERNET 5800 SERIES 10/100/1000 ETHERNET 5800 SERIES 10/100/1000 ETHERNET 5800 SERIES 10/100/1000 ETHERNET 5800 SERIES 10/100/1000 ETHERNET 5800 SERIES 10/100/1000 ETHERNET 5800 SERIES 10/100/1000 ETHERNET 5800 SERIES 25-pair cables The central EDF cross-connect bay consists of 5800 Series panels and Glide Cable managers mounted on the sides of each rack. Cross-connecting Ethernet equipment is accomplished with RJ45 patch cords. Active Ethernet network element bays include two 5800 Series panels with permanent connections to Ethernet equipment and the EDF. Ethernet Equipment Frame Ethernet Distribution Frame (EDF) Conserving Capital At the heart of the EDF is the Glide Cable Management system. These cable management troughs bolt onto the side of standard frames and provide integrated front, rear, horizontal and vertical cable management. This eliminates horizontal cable managers, frees valuable rack space, and effectively doubles rack density. EDFs equipped with competitive cable management systems could only manage up to 456 Ethernet terminations for this application. However, the service provider was able to accommodate 912 Ethernet terminations on EDFs using ADC’s Glide Cable Management system—saving valuable floor space and reducing the need in some COs for new construction. With the possibility that some Ethernet switches may be placed far from the EDF, one issue facing network planners was overcoming the 100-meter Ethernet distance limitation on copper. Fiber cabling and ADC's carrier-class OptEnet optical extension platform allowed Ethernet elements throughout the central office to be connected to the EDF. The 10Base-T and 100Base-T auto- negotiation feature within a single port would enable the service provider to upgrade service without replacing line cards in the transport device—again helping to conserve capital. The system, which can be accessed and monitored remotely, supports 12 Ethernet ports in a 2RU footprint. Multiple variations of line cards can be deployed in the chassis ranging from 10Base-T to Gigabit Ethernet copper interfaces with transitions to single mode or multimode fiber. Containing Operating Expenses To reduce installation time and errors, the EDF includes 5800 Series patch panels for handling permanent Ethernet cable connections and creating the patch field for managing moves, adds and changes. Each 5800 panel features RJ45 connectors on the front and 25-pair RJ21x connectors on the rear. Experience showed that RJ21x rear terminations shaved cable installation time to about 2 minutes for each 24-port panel—compared to nearly one hour for each 24-port panel with 110 punch-down terminations. As the Ethernet service offering grows, installation savings would be significant. In addition, RJ21x connectors reduced installation errors common with 110 punch-down terminations such as crossed wires and pairs untwisted too far that often disables valuable ports on Ethernet equipment. Use of pre-terminated, 100% factory tested RJ21x Category 5e cable assemblies to connect 5800 distribution panels in active Ethernet bays with 5800 panels in the EDF ensured high quality terminations and less rework in the CO. ADC Telecommunications, Inc., P.O. Box 1101, Minneapolis, Minnesota USA 55440-1101 Specifications published here are current as of the date of publication of this document. Because we are continuously improving our products, ADC reserves the right to change specifications without prior notice. At any time, you may verify product specifications by contacting our headquarters office in Minneapolis. ADC Telecommunications, Inc. views its patent portfolio as an important corporate asset and vigorously enforces its patents. Products or features contained herein may be covered by one or more U.S. or foreign patents. An Equal Opportunity Employer 1260780 5/04 Revision © 2003, 2004 ADC Telecommunications, Inc. All Rights Reserved Web Site: www.adc.com From North America, Call Toll Free: 1-800-366-3891 • Outside of North America: +1-952-938-8080 Fax: +1-952-917-3237 For a listing of ADC’s global sales office locations, please refer to our web site. Ensuring Signal Integrity and Service Availability Using a cross-connect with proper cable management is, in itself, a standard practice at the service provider. Migrating this practice from voice services to new Ethernet data services would be a natural evolution for the operations staff. The ability to make additions and changes without handling active equipment cables not only saves technician time but also protects equipment cables and sensitive ports on active equipment. The Glide Cable system actually enforces logical routing of both jumpers and equipment cables so that the frame remains organized and easy-to-manage even after many changes have occurred. Built-in bend radius protection and generous cable storage ensure that the high-density EDF frame allows easy access for moves, adds and changes without service disruptions. It was just as important to manage fiber cables used for intra-office communications between the EDF and Ethernet switches more than 100 meters distant. Fiber Management Trays were added to the design for termination and storage of fibers. Each of the rack-mount, front access trays handle up to 32 fibers in one RU of space and includes sliding adapter packs for easy access to connectors for installation and routine maintenance. Across the EDF, the details of cable management make all the difference in extending service life of cables and Ethernet ports while creating higher quality service for customers. Conclusion Spending just 1% to 2% additional capital to implement an Ethernet distribution system is a small investment that yields big returns—decreases in both capital and operating expenses. The EDF eliminates handling of active equipment cables on Ethernet switches, reducing downtime and speeding installation and troubleshooting. By implementing a cross-connect infrastructure for Ethernet services, the service provider is able to deliver Ethernet services at a lower cost while maintaining a level service integrity that engenders customer loyalty. Ethernet Distribution Frame • Glide Cable Management with Slack Management Spools – ADCCMS-12 • 5800 Series Patch Panels – ADCPP245800BTEL • OptEnet Optical Extension Platform – ADCCCE1100A (chassis), ADCCE2400A (power), ADCCE3000A (SNMP), ADCPE4200A (10/100Base-T/SM SC), ADCPE5100A (gigabit/SM SC) • Fiber Management Trays (FMT) – FMT-DST070A00-S12P • PowerWorx Power Distribution Products – PWX-002RGCSD10PWDP & PWX-002FGCSD10PWDP . www.adc.com From North America, Call Toll Free: 1-8 0 0-3 6 6-3 891 • Outside of North America: + 1-9 5 2-9 3 8-8 080 Fax: + 1-9 5 2-9 1 7-3 237 For a listing of ADC’s global sales. case study Managing Ethernet Services for Profitability Situation A major telecommunications service provider chose to roll-out 10/100Base-T and