Introduction of Pre-terminated Copper Trunks

Using pre-terminated copper trunks speeds up the deployment process and eliminates potential risks of failures associated with traditional field termination methods during network cable installation. This article will detail pre-terminated copper trunks, why you need them, and how they are used.

What Are Pre-terminated Copper Trunks?

Pre-terminated copper trunks refer to bundles of twisted-pair cables (6, 12, or 24 pairs), each terminated with connectors (plugs or jacks) at both ends and factory-tested at one or both ends. When using pre-terminated copper trunks, simply lay the cables in place and insert the connectors at both ends into the corresponding patch panels to complete the installation of the copper cable system. Overall, pre-terminated copper trunks offer a rapid and efficient 'plug-and-play' solution for linking data center switches, servers, patch panels, and zone distribution areas.

Termination Types of Copper Trunks

Generally, there are five common termination types for pre-terminated copper trunk cables, each with different installation requirements. The following will introduce these five termination types respectively:

Plug to Plug:

This type of copper trunk cable is commonly used in data centers or office spaces to directly connect network devices, such as servers and switches. By eliminating cross-connect points,

plug-to-plug copper trunks

provide direct connections between devices.

Jack to Jack:

Ideal for cabinet-to-cabinet permanent link connections,

jack-to-jack copper trunks

are installed into empty patch panels at both ends, facilitating interconnect and cross-connect architectures.

Plug to Jack

: Typically used for linking equipment within or between cabinets, one end is mounted on a patch panel, and the other is directly connected to a switch port, eliminating redundant cross-connect points.

Cassette to Cassette

: Commonly used in cabinet-to-cabinet permanent link trunks, cassette-to-cassette types are installed into patch panels on both ends using cassettes for quick installation into panels.

Cassette to Plugs

: Featuring a cassette on one end and modular plugs on the other, this type is commonly used for in-cabinet or cabinet-to-cabinet connections, allowing for swift installation and removal of modular plugs into switch ports.

Advantages of Pre-terminated Copper Trunks

With the right upfront planning and coordination, these pre-term copper trunks can offer major benefits over terminating twisted-pair cable in the field.

Reliable Quality and Performance

: Pre-terminated copper trunks undergo rigorous testing and meticulous factory termination processes, ensuring consistent reliability and optimal performance in even the most demanding network environments.

Quick Deployment and Time-Saving

: Pre-terminated copper trunks offer quick deployment and time-saving benefits for network installations. These cables streamline the process by arriving pre-assembled with connectors, eliminating the need for on-site termination. As a result, installation time is significantly reduced, allowing IT professionals to complete projects more efficiently and allocate resources effectively.

Cable Management Improvement

: Pre-terminated copper trunks contribute to better cable management practices. With neatly bundled and factory-terminated cables, organizations can achieve cleaner and more organized cabling infrastructure, reducing the risk of cable congestion and simplifying future maintenance tasks.

Downtime Reduction with Faster, More Flexible MACs

: The use of pre-terminated copper trunks enables swift implementation of network changes, reducing downtime and establishing quicker communications during disaster recovery scenarios.

Rework Elimination

: Pre-terminated cabling eliminates the need for time-consuming rework by providing precision factory-termination in a controlled environment, reducing the risks and issues associated with field terminations.

Clean-Up Efficiency

: Pre-terminated copper trunks facilitate efficient clean-up, minimizing leftover materials and scrap, and supporting green design and waste reduction goals by maintaining a cleaner data center environment.

Application of Pre-terminated Copper Trunks

Pre-terminated copper trunks are widely used in data centers, especially for point-to-point connections. They ensure reliable connectivity among switches, servers, patch panels, and zone distribution areas.

Data Center Backbone Cabling

In data center backbone cabling, copper trunks are widely used to connect different network layers, including access to aggregation and aggregation to core layers. For example, copper trunks enable quick and efficient connections between Ethernet L3 and Ethernet L2+ switches. They simplify wiring, provide reliable connections, and meet the growing bandwidth demands.

Enterprise Horizontal Cabling

In enterprise horizontal cabling, trunk cables connect terminal devices (such as computers, printers, etc.) in work areas to the telecommunications room (TR) or floor distribution areas. Specifically, jack-to-jack copper trunks connect different patch panels, while plug-to-plug cables link patch panels to switches. The plug-and-play nature of copper trunks enhances wiring flexibility while ensuring stable connections between devices.

Cross Connects and Interconnects in the Data Center

Pre-terminated copper trunks are commonly used in data centers for interconnecting and cross-connecting network devices.

For Interconnects:

Copper trunks are used to establish permanent links between patch panels in the switch/network cabinet and the server/storage cabinet, ensuring reliable connectivity across the data center.

For Cross-connects:

In cross-connect configurations, copper trunks create permanent links between patch panels in different cabinets (e.g., from the switch panel to the cross-connect panel and then to the server/storage cabinet). This setup allows efficient interconnection of active equipment while maintaining flexibility and simplifying network management.

3 Nodes Servers Architecture

In a 3 Nodes Servers Architecture, each server is connected to a network switch via copper trunk cables, ensuring smooth communication between servers. Ethernet trunk cables provide low latency and high bandwidth, supporting fast data transfer and optimizing network performance.

Conclusion

In summary, pre-terminated copper trunks provide a cost-effective solution with a plug-and-play design for swift deployment. They feature factory-terminated connectors that ensure reliability, minimizing downtime and maintenance costs. Additionally, their bundled design enhances cable management, making them ideal for robust network infrastructures.