ICT TODAY

THE OFFICIAL TRADE JOURNAL OF BICSI

July/August 2017 Volume 38, Number 4

PLUS: + Addressing Cybersecurity Concerns in Building Automation

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 July/August 2017 I Volume 38, Issue 4 contents
FROM THE PRESIDENT
36
05
Building Smarter Emergency
It’s Summer Time, but There’s No Rest for Communications Systems—Distributed
BICSI! By Brian Ensign, RCDD, NTS, OSP, RTPM, CSI Architecture Brings Intelligence to Life Safety:
Today’s ECS solutions offer intelligent and
COVER STORY
06 Monitoring Networks with Passive
automated functions to achieve the latest
standards in emergency communications.
Optical TAPs Creates Traffic Visibility without By L. William Nattress III, CTS-D, CTS-I

42
Disruption: Learn why passive optical TAPs
have become a popular choice for enhancing Smart Cities and the Internet of Things:
network visibility and security. By Dave Mullen The internet of things is creating smart cities.

16
Who is driving the design decisions to support
Addressing Cybersecurity Concerns the required networked systems? It should be
in Building Automation System Installations: ICT designers and installers. By Aaron Hesse,
Proper cybersecurity methods are a necessity in PE, RCDD

48
addressing the threat posed by network hacking
to today’s smart devices. By Pook-Ping Yao New Perspectives in Testing—400 Gb

22
and the New Test Revolution: As 400 Gb
TSB-184-A—Guidelines for Supporting components and modules are developed,
Power Delivery and Data Over Twisted-Pair a new approach is needed to successfully
Cabling: As data consumption explodes, new validate and test optics. By Paul Brooks, Ph.D.

54
standards are defining the supply of power
and data over the same cable. By Cindy The Interaction Between Precision
Montstream, RCDD, NTS, EE, CPLP Inspection and Precision Cleaning of Optical

30
Fiber Connections: A call to upgrade the
Cabling Designs for Hyperconvergence: industry’s understanding of inspection and
With data center topologies evolving to hyper- cleaning to maximize the effectiveness of
convergence, cabling is being compacted. these critical links. By Edward J. Forrest, Jr.
Planning ahead can help identify the best cable
for the connection. By Dave Fredricks, DCDC

SUBMISSION POLICY
ICT TODAY is published bimonthly in January/February, March/April, May/June, July/August, September/October, and November/December by BICSI, Inc., and is mailed Standard A to BICSI members, RCDDs,
RITPs, RTPMs, DCDCs, BICSI Installers and Technicians and ESS, NTS, OSP and WD credential holders. ICT TODAY subscription is included in BICSI members’ annual dues and is available to othersthrough a
purchased yearly subscription.
ICT TODAY welcomes and encourages submissions and suggestions from its readers. Articles of a technical, vendor-neutral nature are gladly accepted for publication with approval from the Editorial
Review Board. However, BICSI, Inc., reserves the right to edit and alter such material for space or other considerations and to publish or otherwise use such material. The articles, opinions and ideas expressed
herein are the sole responsibility of the contributing authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of BICSI, its members or its staff. BICSI is not liable in any way, manner or form for the articles, opinions
and ideas, and readers are urged to exercise professional caution in undertaking any of the recommendations or suggestions made by authors. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, without permission from BICSI, Inc.
ADVERTISING: Advertising rates and information are provided upon request. Contact the BICSI Sales Department for information at +1 813.979.1991 or 800.242.7405 (U.S. and Canada toll-free) or
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POSTMASTER: Send change of address notices to BICSI, Customer Care, 8610 Hidden River Pkwy, Tampa, FL 33637-1000; Phone: +1 813.979.1991 or 800.242.7405 (U.S. and Canada toll-free)
© Copyright BICSI, 2017. All rights reserved. BICSI and RCDD are registered trademarks of BICSI, Inc.

July/August 2017 I 3
 ICT TODAY
THE OFFICIAL TRADE JOURNAL OF BICSI

2017 BICSI BOARD OF DIRECTORS ADVERTISER’S INDEX

President Brian Ensign, RCDD, NTS, OSP, RTPM, CSI
President-Elect Jeffrey Beavers, RCDD, OSP, CFHP
Secretary Carol Everett Oliver, RCDD, ESS
Treasurer Christy A. Miller, RCDD, DCDC, RTPM, CT
Canadian Region Director Greg Porter, RCDD
Global Region Director Honorico “Rick” Ciordia, RCDD, DCDC, RTPM, CT, PE
AFL .............................................. Back Cover
Cablesys ......................................................41
Corning............................ Inside Front Cover
Hitachi .........................................................29
ICC .................................................................9

U.S. North-Central Region Director Chris Scharrer, RCDD, NTS, OSP
U.S. Northeast Region Director Matthew Odell, RCDD
U.S. South-Central Region Director Todd W. Taylor, RCDD, NTS, OSP
U.S. Southeast Region Director Mel Lesperance, RCDD
U.S. Western Region Director Pat McMurray, RCDD, DCDC, NTS, OSP, PMP
BICSI INFORMATION
Writers Needed...........................................13
BICSI Learning Academy............................ 15
DC101: Introduction to Data Center Design
......................................................................19

Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer John D. Clark Jr., CAE Student Membership .................................35

BICSI 007: Rise of the Intelligent Building

EDITORIAL REVIEW BOARD ......................................................................39

Chris Scharrer, RCDD, NTS, OSP, WD Exhibitor Pavillion ........................................45

Jonathan L. Jew Fall Conferenece & Exhibition ............ 46-47

F. Patrick Mahoney, RCDD, CDT BICSI CONNECT Online Training................51

ICT Cabling Installation Program ..............59

PUBLISHER
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Phone: +1 813.979.1991 Web: bicsi.org ICT TODAY
ICT Today is BICSI’s premier publication
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Steve Cardone, icttoday@bicsi.org generation and emerging technologies,
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4 I ICT TODAY
From the President, Brian Ensign, RCDD, NTS, OSP, RTPM, CSI
It’s Summer Time, but
There’s No Rest for BICSI!
I hope you are enjoying your summer and
My focus, along all the fun activities related to this time of
year. Like me, I’m sure many of you will
with the rest of the
take some time with family and friends to
Board of Directors,
recharge your batteries, giving you the
is to maintain a
energy you need to make a real impact in
healthy financial
your work. In the midst of a very busy travel
position where schedule, I was able to plan for some
smart operational great family time in Disney World and
spending supports at the beach this summer. (What would
future growth and we do without cell phones and wireless
investment. networks?)
As you read this, we are more than
halfway through the second year of my
term as BICSI President, and there are
many important projects and activities in
progress. I want to give you an update
on a couple of key activities that are
happening now and are critical to the
future of our association.
1. Budget
At this time of year, the Finance and
Audit Committee develops the budget
for the current fiscal year, which runs from
July 1 to June 30, 2018. I am happy to
report the budget has been developed
and approved by the BICSI Board of
Directors. This is critical as we consider
operating and strategic investment
costs and opportunities. When the BICSI
Annual Report is released later this year,
you will see the BICSI financial report
on the previous fiscal year, and in the
coming months you will see updates on
our strategic investments going forward.
Key projects include our continuing
investment in Credentialing 2020
(credentialing programs) and Education
2020 (modularization of manuals). My
focus, along with the rest of the Board of
Directors, is to maintain a healthy financial
position where smart operational spending
supports future growth and investment.
We must not be afraid of investing now to
ensure future member benefits and the
relevance of our great association.
2. Board Officer Nominations and
Election Cycle
This is also the time when the slate of
candidates for the BICSI Board of Directors
is set through self-nominations, leading to
the election process in September. I am
excited to see the names of those running
for the open positons of President-Elect,
Treasurer, U.S. Northeast Region Director,
and U.S. North-Central Region Director.
This is something the BICSI Nominating
Committee takes very seriously when
reviewing candidates, as Duty of Care and
Loyalty are front-and-center among the
committee’s responsibilities. I’m very proud
of the Nominating Committee members—
they show such dedication as they help
shape the leadership of BICSI!
While these are just two of the key activities
going on at BICSI this time of year, they
are critical to our future. I thank everyone
involved in these programs for all of your
time and effort. And, as always, thanks for
showing your member pride!
July/August 2017 I 5
COVER ARTICLE

6 I ICT TODAY
 By Dave Mullen

Network visibility is a top priority for many IT

managers. When networks become larger and
more complex, monitoring for performance
and security becomes critical. Industries such
as financial, medical and telecommunications
markets need visibility tools to manage their
networks and handle troubleshooting quickly
and efficiently, without adding any disruptions
to the network. For these reasons, more
directors are using optical fiber traffic analysis
points (TAPs) to monitor network links.

What Is a Traffic Analysis Point (TAP)?

A TAP is designed to allow for monitoring of traffic
sent over an optical fiber path for security or network
performance. The TAP is positioned in the passive
cabling system between a host and recipient device.
TAPs create greater visibility into a network. They
provide a window into data for security or surveillance.
But they also make it possible to look at data packets
and advise the network administrator on how the
network is performing in real time.
Analyzing data in real time can be as simple as
viewing a bank transaction or seeing if a health care
record was placed in the correct file. And when there are
millions of transactions happening constantly, TAPs will
help identify any bottlenecks in the network.

TAP Versus Switch Port Analyzer (SPAN)

Monitoring
A SPAN is another common way to monitor traffic.
It is a software function in a switch that is offered
by most network switch manufacturers. A SPAN
provides mirror port functionality, duplicating traffic
of incoming and outgoing ports. Since it is a software
function within the switch, SPANs do not require
placing an additional device into the network link.

July/August 2017 I 7

FIGURE 1: An optical TAP divides light into two or more outputs while combining two or more inputs into a single output.
However, there are limitations when using SPAN
ports. First, they can negatively impact the functionality
of the network by slowing down traffic and creating
potential bottlenecks. Also, SPAN ports can become
oversubscribed so they end up becoming the lowest
priority on the network, resulting in dropped packets
and less accurate visibility. As a software function within
the switch itself, SPAN traffic can be reconfigured daily,
which may result in inconsistent reporting.
While SPAN solutions have their limitations, TAPs
are not necessarily ideal for every scenario either. For
example, in a network or link where traffic is not under
a manager’s direct control, the introduction of a TAP can
create a potential security risk. It can also be difficult
to schedule maintenance to deploy TAPs in an existing
network, as it may create interruptions. And there
are cases where TAPs provide more monitoring than
is required; a SPAN might be a better solution when
monitoring is only an occasional requirement.
Some active equipment manufacturers are beginning
to offer switches that combine both SPAN and TAP ports.
For example, Arista’s data analyzer switch uses both
mirrored ports and TAP ports, which then communicates
with monitoring tools from other vendors.
Two Types of TAPs
There are two primary TAP types available: active
solutions and passive solutions. Active optical TAPs are
primarily used for applications that require manipulation
of the signal sent to the monitoring port. This is required
An optical TAP is essentially a splitter that divides the light into two or more outputs. It can
also combine two or more inputs into a single output.
8 I ICT TODAY
CHANNEL 1 (HOST TRANSMIT)
COM 1 (INPUT FROM HOST)
REFLECT 1 (OUTPUT HOST Tx TO MONITOR)
PASS 1 (OUTPUT TO RECIPIENT)
CHANNEL 2 (RECIPIENT TRANSMIT)
COM 2 (INPUT FROM RECIPIENT)
REFLECT 2 (OUTPUT RECIPIENT Tx TO MONITOR)
PASS 2 (OUTPUT TO HOST)
only for highly specialized applications, such as switch-
ing TAPs or aggregation TAPs. Active TAPs require power
to generate the signals, and any power disruptions can
impact the functionality of the active solutions in the
network.
Passive optical TAPs are much more common in
enterprise data centers, as they offer a number of distinct
advantages:
n Passive TAPs pass all link traffic for monitoring. Even
corrupt data will not be rejected, so users are able to
see everything in real time.
n Unlike SPAN ports, there is no programming or
switch configuring required with a passive TAP.
n They are invisible to the network; they place no
burden on the network, nor do they create any
changes to packets or data transmitted through
the link.
n They offer full duplex port monitoring with a
transmit and receive path that is scalable at data
rates, eliminating the possibility of oversubscription.
n TAPs that are built into the existing patching
environment reduce the number of connections
required in the structured cabling, taking at least
two connections out of the link.
How a Passive TAP Works
An optical TAP is essentially a splitter that divides
the light into two or more outputs. It can also combine
two or more inputs into a single output. In one example
(Figure 1), the input in a channel (C1) from the host
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FIGURE 2: TAP splitter types.
is passed through the TAP to the recipient (P1). The
transmit not only pushes through the live traffic to
the recipient, it also transmits through the TAP to the
monitoring tool (R1).
There are two primary technology options for
creating a TAP splitter: a fused biconical taper or thin film
filters (Figure 2). The fused biconical taper is the older of
the two technologies, and while it is easier to produce
than thin film filters, it creates a higher insertion loss.
The thin film filter—which is made up of a stack of layers
of refraction that both reflect and transmit light—is
the preferred method. It provides the lower loss that is
critical for a TAP solution, since that loss can impact the
power budget in the link.
The construction of a splitter makes the flow of data
directionally specific. The monitoring outputs (reflect
fibers) only receive traffic. In each TAP, one monitoring/
reflect output receives transmitted traffic from the
original host device and the other receives response
transmission from the recipient device.
Each TAP cassette has multiple tap splitters based on
the number of designed outputs. Each signal (per TAP
splitter) is split to “live” and “monitoring” output signals
at a pre-determined ratio—typically 50/50 or 70/30 (70
Split Ratio
Multimode
Max Insertion Loss (Network)
Optical Taps
Max Insertion Loss (Monitor)
Split Ratio
Singlemode
Max Insertion Loss (Network)
Optical Taps
Max Insertion Loss (Monitor)
TABLE 1: Maximum insertion loss for TAPs.
10 I ICT TODAY
live and 30 monitoring). A 70/30 split ratio is generally
the preferred method, as it dedicates a higher percentage
for network traffic, avoiding any dropped packets. The
70/30 split is most commonly used in 1 gigabit per
second (Gb/s) and 10 Gb/s networks. However, at higher
speeds such as 40 and 100 Gb/s, the 50/50 ratio is more
commonly used in order to meet power budgets.
Table 1 lists the maximum insertion loss for TAP
cassettes in both 50/50 and 70/30 split ratios. The
numbers listed include the loss from the splitter inside,
as well as the connections on the rear and front. TAP
cassettes on the monitoring side can become much
“lossier” (in terms of decibels [dB]) than conventional
network cassettes, so it is important to consider low-loss
solutions for these connections.
Addressing Network Speeds and Fiber Types
To select the appropriate model of passive TAP, it is
important to know what network speed, wavelength or
link distance will be used, as these factors will affect the
power budgets in the network.
Singlemode: Typically, singlemode optical fiber is used in
longer distance links, but it is gaining popularity in data
center links as short as ≈150 meters (m [492 feet (ft)]).
These singlemode installations are typically for higher
data rates, such as 40 and 100 Gb/s. There are singlemode
TAP solutions designed specifically for these applications.
Multimode: Most multimode optical fiber is used
for short-reach and data center applications, and the
transceivers used for multimode are usually short
reach products that use 850 nanometer vertical cavity
surface emitting lasers (VCSELs), such as QSFP+ 40G-
MPO-LC MPO-MPO
50/50 70/30 50/50 70/30
4.3 dB 2.3 dB 4.3 dB 2.3 dB
4.3 dB 6.3 dB 4.5 dB 6.5 dB
50/50 70/30 50/50 70/30
4.3 dB 2.3 dB 4.3 dB 2.3 dB
4.3 dB 6.3 dB 4.5 dB 6.5 dB
 FIGURE 3: MPO-LC TAP cassette.
SR4 and SFP+ 10G-SR4. However, newer transceivers
on the market can operate at wider spectral ranges or
use multiple wavelengths. These different options will
function differently inside a passive optical TAP.
For example, a CISCO 40G BiDi transceiver carries
both transmit and receive traffic on the same fiber. This
requires a special TAP splitter to support this distinctly
different technology. One would not be able to use the
exact splitter technology shown in Figure 1 on page 8,
as it does not consider dual wavelengths and transmit
and receive paths on a single fiber.
Optical fiber connectors and the passive splitter
can both impact the optical power budget available for
the link and monitoring equipment. In addition, the
optical fiber type can also impact the budget. While
both optical multimode 3 (OM3) and OM4 multimode
fiber are the most common data center fibers deployed,
OM4 offers higher bandwidth and improved distances.
For this reason, an OM4 solution is recommended when
deploying passive TAPs into a network.
Deploying Passive TAPs in the Network
Traditionally, when installing a passive TAP, one
would add a dedicated TAP panel and extend a patch
cord from the TAP panel to the network patching
environment. Today, however, TAPs are available that are
built into an existing cassette footprint so it can be part
of the patching environment instead of an additional
element added to the network. This integration elimi-
nates the need for a dedicated TAP panel and therefore
removes two additional connections from the channel.
This integrated design also conserves rack space, since
no additional TAP panel is required. With TAP ports on
the rear of the cassette instead of the front, no patching
density is lost. Figure 3 shows a 1 rack unit (RU) panel
with the TAP cassette removed and the rear multi-fiber
push on (MPO) TAP port in blue. This design allows for
monitoring of all 72 ports in the panel.
Placing TAPs in the Network
When TAPs are integrated into patching cassettes as
described above, they can then be located anywhere that
normal patching is installed. This includes the main dist-
ribution area, top-of-rack, end-of-row or middle-of-row.
Figure 4 shows a typical example of a common leaf-
spine architecture. The green icons represent potential
locations where a TAP could be placed. There are scenarios
where it would be necessary to monitor traffic in every
direction and at every level of the leaf-spine architecture.
This is especially true in networks that require as much
perimeter security as possible. When a port is compro-
mised due to hacking, the threat will try to move laterally
to avoid leaving any fingerprints in the network. By
tapping every location in the perimeter, the TAP can
find the threat before it jumps around in the network.
FIGURE 4: TAP locations in a spine-leaf architecture.
July/August 2017 I 11
 Component Link Loss
MPO-LC cassette 0.5 dB
This topology has a total link loss of 2.89 dB, as
100-foot MPO trunk cable 0.09 dB
seen in Table 2. Whenever a TAP is used, the link loss
MPO-LC TAP cassette (70/30 ratio) 2.3 dB
immediately exceeds the IEEE® recommendation of
Total link loss 2.89 dB
two connectors and a maximum distance. For a 10
Gb/s channel, these are 2.9 dB and ≈550 m (1804 ft),
TABLE 2: Link loss in a 10 Gb/s channel.
respectively. However, because this is a short link over
OM4 multimode fiber, the channel can use loss allocated
to the transmitter and dispersion penalty (TDP). For
TAPs in a 10 Gigabit per Second (Gb/s) longer links, a 50/50 splitter at the edge is recommended.
Channel
In a traditional two-rack system, typical construction
TAPs in a 40 Gb/s Channel
of a 10 Gb/s solution uses a passive TAP. An MPO-LC
Figure 5 shows a 40 Gb/s channel over a ≈30 m (98
TAP cassette includes the TAP solution, with the optical
ft) link, which will require MPO connectivity for the 40
splitter device built into the cassette. The TAP uses a
Gb/s ports. As in the previous example, the TAP is located
70/30 split ratio. A harness used to plug into the port of
in the cassette on the right. The cassette monitors three
the TAP cassette then breaks out into LCs to connect to
40 Gb/s ports, and a 24-fiber harness breaks out into
the monitoring tool.
three 8-fiber connections at the monitoring tool.
The monitoring tool can be located in the same rack,
In this channel, it may become more critical to
which is often the case for applications with higher data
install the monitoring tool in the same rack, as there
rates and less power budget to spare. The monitoring tool
will be less power budget in a 40 Gb/s channel. A 50/50
can also be aggregated with other monitoring tools in a
splitter may be required to have sufficient power to reach
single location and connected over a longer harness, as
the monitoring device. The IEEE maximum insertion loss
long as channel link distances are compatible with the
for a 40 Gb/s channel is 1.5 dB and maximum distance
transceiver power budget.
is ≈150 m (492 ft). Again, because this is a short link over
OM4 fiber, the channel can use loss allocated to the TDP.

TAP Output to
Monitoring Devices
24F MPO to MPO MPO Harness
Cassettes MPO to LC TAP Cassette
0.7 dB 50/50 4.3 dB

Patch from
Core Switches Patch to Servers
MPO 8F Array Cords
MPO 8F Array Cords
24F Method B MPO
100 ft Trunk
Switch cabinet
with 400 ports 0.09 dB Server Cassettes

FIGURE 5: TAPs in a 40 Gb/s channel over a ≈30 m (98 ft) link.

12 I ICT TODAY

FUTURE OF THE INDUSTRY
Visit bicsi.org/volunteer to apply to sit on these committees and help shape the future of ICT.
WRITING OPPORTUNITIES
MANUALS:The Technical
Information and Methods (TI&M)
Committee is responsible for
writing and updating the BICSI
design and installation technical
manuals. The committee is
composed of SME members
and other non-committee
SMEs, from all over the world,
who assist in writing, performing
reviews, making suggestions
for applicable revisions and
updates, and agreeing
on changes through a
consensus-based process.
HELP GUIDE THE
Experts (SMEs) Needed
Manuals and Standards.
STANDARDS:The Standards
Committee participates
in the development of
telecommunications-related
standards, as well as notifies
BICSI’s membership of
changes within applicable
standards that may affect
them. Several different
subcommittees make up the
Standards Committee.
Subject Matter
to Contribute to BICSI
OTHER:Write articles
for BICSI’s premier trade
publication, ICT Today. Writers
share vendor-neutral, relevant
and authoritative insight on
ICT design and installation
practices and solutions to
help our readers expand their
scope of work and enhance
their professional stature. It’s
an excellent opportunity to
share your knowledge and
expertise with your industry
peers. Send your article
ideas to icttoday@bicsi.org!
 Component Link Loss
MPO-LC cassette 0.7 dB
100-foot MPO trunk cable 0.09 dB
MPO-LC TAP cassette (70/30 ratio) 2.3 dB
Total link loss 3.09 dB

TABLE 3: Link loss in a 40 Gb/s channel.

Connect to Link and Test

Side A
Port 2

Even Legs M1 (LIVE)

M1

TAP Cassette
MPO to LC Cassette
Main Remote

FIGURE 6: Test 1 — Verify the TAP port from Side A.

M1 (LIVE)
Testing through the "Live Traffic"
side of TAP Cassette
Side B

Even Legs

M2 (TAP)
Even Legs M1
TAP Cassette

MPO to LC Cassette

Main Remote

FIGURE 7: Test 2 — Verify the TAP port from Side B.

14 I ICT TODAY
Testing
Don’t Stop Learning.
When installing TAPs, testing requires some
additional considerations compared to traditional
cassettes. Primarily, testing needs to be done in two
We Won’t Stop Teaching.
different directions. Also, tests should be done with
an encircled flux compliant light source. This is critical
for ensuring that the results will be most compatible
with the data from factory test results.
Figure 6 shows testing from side A of the 10 Gb/s
channel, with the TAP on the right side. The blue
port designates the TAP port. Figure 7 shows testing
in the opposite direction, and the tester plugging into
the front side or “live side” of the TAP cassette. It is
important for this testing to be done on both sides in
order to ensure performance.

Conclusion
Passive optical TAPs have become a popular choice
for creating network visibility and enhancing network
security. They place no burden on the network, and
do not contribute to dropped packets. The popularity
of passive TAP adoption will continue to grow, with
products now available that can be built into the
existing patching environment, reducing the number
of connections required in the structured cabling
infrastructure, and in turn lowering channel insertion
loss. When considering passive TAPs, it is important to
choose low-loss components that will contribute to the
best channel performance for the network. n

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY: Dave Mullen is the Senior Product

Manager, Fiber & Data Center for Leviton Network Solutions. As part
of the Leviton Data Center team, Mullen works closely with Leviton
customers to understand their applications. As a result, he’s had a
hand in bringing many of Leviton’s recent fiber optic solutions to the
market, such as the Opt-X® Unity 40/100G Fiber System, OM4+
Violet System, and e2XHD Patching System. He brings a wealth of
experience to the role, with nearly 20 years working in fiber optics
and more than 10 years in electronics. He currently sits on two TIA
fiber optic committees: TR-42.11 Optical System (568) and TR-42.12
Optical Fibers and Cables. He can be reached at dmullen@leviton.com.
With BICSI Learning
Academy, access to high-quality ICT
training is at your fingertips. Made up of three
distinct facets designed to work in harmony,
the Academy gives you the ability to choose where
and how you learn. Whether it’s online, at BICSI World
Headquarters or in your area, BICSI courses are available
to suit your needs. We offer introductory, intermediate
and advanced-level training so you can continue to
advance throughout your professional career.

Data Centers. Cable Infrastructure Design.

Project Management.
Cabling Installation. Outside Plant.

Learn more at bicsi.org/academy.

July/August 2017 I 15
By Pook-Ping Yao
Addressing Cybersecurity Concerns in
Building Automation System Installations
FORGET THE COMMON WISDOM ABOUT CYBERSECURITY.
Security is not about making the
network 100 percent impenetrable. In fact,
it is unlikely that any system in the world is
completely secure. Hacking is an attack of
opportunity, and if criminals see a way into
a building, they will take advantage. But
if sufficient obstacles are in place to deter
them, they will likely look elsewhere for an
easier mark.
16 I ICT TODAY
A variety of encryption, firewall and anti-
virus protections can be used as deterrents,
but it only takes a single slip to let a hacker
past these safeguards. That does not mean
firewall and encryption best practices should
be disregarded. Instead, it encourages a
holistic approach that looks at staff, policies
and procedures. All these factors work in
concert to keep networks secure.

GROWTH OF BUILDING
AUTOMATION
As a growing number of
connected devices are installed,
concerns about cyberattacks are
increasing. Even with these risks, the
benefits of smart building technology
are simply too immense to ignore.
Regular brick-and-mortar
buildings consume roughly one-third
of all energy in the United States
and Canada. This includes lighting,
heating, ventilation, air conditioning
and the rest of the building’s
operations. While it is easy to forget
about all these operational devices
whirring away in the background,
they consume a massive amount
of energy. Over the lifetime of a
building, construction accounts for
only about 20 percent of total costs,
while the rest is consumed by energy
and maintenance. Technology like
LED lighting and smart thermostats
can easily reduce this energy
consumption by 50 percent.
In addition to the financial
and energy savings, smart building
technology appeals to tenants.
People notice when a building is
clearly a product of the 20th century,
with archaic technology and clunky,
slow processes. They also notice
when buildings are adaptive and
reactive, fast-paced and flexible. The
lights, windows and cooling systems
all contribute to sleek modern spaces
that provide seamless experiences.
More and more, people are
recognizing the benefits of smart
buildings. By the end of 2017,
there will be more than eight
billion connected devices installed
worldwide. Plenty of hackers will
hunt through this wealth of targets
for their next cash grab. Building
managers must make smart buildings
smarter while remaining aware of
the latest threats.
IT VERSUS OT: MANAGEMENT
AND SECURITY
All this technology might look,
feel and smell like information
technology (IT), but it is smart,
connected, shiny and new.
Operational technology (OT) is
very different, and it is not so easily
managed with conventional IT
methods.
In IT, for example, firewalls
are put in place to protect internet
access. In the OT world, too often
multiple service providers will
put in their own DSL connections
for things like HVAC systems or
solar panels. These often do not
go through the IT firewall. But
imagine that connectivity could be
enforced through proper firewalls to
the internet. Is protecting internet
access enough? What about the
thermostat in the bathroom, the
security cameras in the parking
garage, or the sprinkler on the front
lawn? If someone gained physical
access to these devices, there may be
connections that they could leverage.
End-point protection is another
strategy, and it can work well in
IT. With computers, for example,
operating systems (OS) can typically
be kept up to date, patched and
controlled. The world of OT is
another story: devices can run on an
old OS and are not kept up to date.
Authentication and encryption on
these devices are often not offered.
The concept of convergence is
widely discussed and debated. It is
a beautiful idea in theory, but can
be a nightmare in real life. Many
different vendors with different
requirements do not work the same
way. Consequently, managing them
on the same network can be tricky,
if not seriously ill-advised. That does
not mean that systems should not
be converged at all, but merely that
a new approach is required. Assets
on the IT side can be very sensitive;
should the building system be
July/August 2017 I 17
 PEOPLE
PROCESS
HNOLOGY
TEC
ASS E T S
FIGURE 1: The CIA Triad highlights the importance of confidentiality, availability and integrity.
put on the IT network just to save
money on a few switches?
Securing a building is not the
same as securing computers and
servers. The people are different,
the flow of information is different
and the devices are fundamentally
different. Attempting to manage
them in the same ways does not
make sense and can make both
networks less secure.
BASICS OF CYBERSECURITY
There are many different kinds
of attacks: malware, ransomware,
pharming, spoofing and spyware are
just a few examples. Malware can
infiltrate IT systems with viruses and
worms; ransomware takes over and
limits access to computer files,
demanding a ransom for the safe
return of files or documents; pharm-
ing redirects users from a legitimate
website to a fraudulent one; spoofing
uses what appears to be a legitimate
email address to send spam, and
may direct the user to a fraudulent
18 I ICT TODAY
ITY
L
TIA
EN
FID
ASSETS
N
CO
INTEGRITY
website; and spyware infects the
computer and gathers information,
including usernames, passwords and
other sensitive information, without
the user’s knowledge.
The strategies are different,
but the core approach is to evaluate
the vulnerability of a system and
attack the surface. A hacker’s
lifecycle is research, infiltration,
discovery, capture, exfiltration and
bringing assets to market. If there
are vulnerabilities in a system, they
will likely find them—even if it
requires sheer trial and error.
VULNERABILITY
MANAGEMENT
Vulnerability management is
the practice of identifying, classify-
ing, remediating and mitigating
weaknesses. This should be a cyclical
process, not a one-time evaluation
that is quickly forgotten. There are
three key places to review in order
to understand a building network’s
AVA
ILA
BIL
ITY
vulnerabilities: technology, people
and policies.
Technologies like firewalls,
authentication, encryption and
visualization software are standard
best practices for a reason. Sufficient
protection makes it harder for a
hacker to ram through firewalls.
Do not forget about the
possibility for human error in the
organization. Properly and regularly
training staff on security is critical.
Everyone must understand that the
threats of cyberattacks are very real
and serious. Ideally, this message
should come from the top down: get
the executives and board of directors
involved in championing the
organization’s cybersecurity efforts.
In addition to training staff,
the organization should have
policies and procedures in place to
respond to cyberattacks swiftly and
appropriately. The system will likely
never be 100 percent impenetrable,
so establish policies to deal with the
worst-case scenario.
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 FIGURE 2: MAC address filtering can be set so that ports will not work with unrecognized devices and MAC addresses.
RESPONDING TO HACKS:
THE CIA TRIAD
There is no one-size-fits-all
response to cyberattacks, as each
hack is different. However, there
are some core principles to refer
to. The CIA Triad (which is in
no way connected to the Central
Intelligence Agency) is at the heart
of information security, and it
functions as a sort of checklist. The
triad highlights the importance
of confidentiality, availability and
integrity (Figure 1).
Confidentiality means that only
those who are authorized can get
access to information. Ensuring
confidentiality could entail
encryption to keep communications
secure from end-to-end.
20 I ICT TODAY
Availability means that data is
accessible whenever it is needed.
This is especially powerful in a
ransomware situation, where
important documents are taken
hostage. Backing up important files
helps safeguard against this sort of
data loss.
Integrity means that information
is not altered between sending
and receiving. For example,
encryption of files to protect against
cyberattacks should not change the
integrity of the data.
Cybersecurity is tough because
it is, by nature, uneasy. It forces
compromises such as privacy
versus convenience and security
versus cost. Maintaining a balance
between these three core tenets
will keep networks more secure and
will provide a basis for cyberattack
responses.
SECURING THE NETWORK
There are a few different
methods of protecting a smart
building network, all of which
should be a part of the system:
n Physical security, with locks
and protected wiring.
n End-point protection through
authentication and encryption.
n Network security with WAN
and LAN.
One of the most underutilized
methods is to use the network itself
to provide a solid layer of protection
with a LAN. The network is scalable
and covers almost everything, so it
can be a useful shield.
These different methods have
many layers. Each one is important
and has its own advantages and
disadvantages. All of them should
be a part of the system, though they
might be implemented into the
network differently.
THREE KEY PRINCIPLES TO
SECURE BUILDING NETWORKS
When securing the building
network, there are three key
principles to keep in mind: isolation,
observability and controllability.
To isolate sensitive data and
keep it secure, create trusted islands,
whether physical or logical. Air gaps,
where two networks are completely
separated—for example, keeping
a secure network totally separate
from an unsecured one—can help
protect confidential assets. Another
approach is to create completely
physically dedicated networks.
There may be cost trade-offs to these
security strategies, but isolating
is one way to ensure a vulnerable
network won’t open the door to
sensitive assets.
Observability means knowing
about anomalies on the network.
Be aware of what is happening
in the network, and when it has
been compromised. One example
of observability is in Gmail: set up
notifications for unrecognized logins
from unknown IP addresses. There
are many ways to get reports on
link status and user logins in your
building network. Put these systems
in place to identify malicious activity
on the network.
Controllability entails managing
access to the network. Set proper
passwords, refresh them, and use
authentication. Be sure to renew or
delete accounts, as necessary, so it
is clear exactly who has access to
network systems. No one should be
able to get into the network without
the manager’s knowledge.
TAKE BASIC ACTION TODAY
Cybersecurity does not need to
be overwhelming or difficult. For
the most part, cybersecurity is about
thinking logically and strategically.
A few alterations can be made to
the network immediately. Above all,
implement policies and procedures
that are based on the CIA Triad of
confidentiality, availability and
integrity. The Internet of Things
(IoT) is very predictable and
well-behaved, so use this to your
advantage. Develop policies and
procedures that will keep sensitive
assets secure in the case of a
cyberattack or threat.
Look at realistic ways to isolate
networks. Consider isolating
building systems from IT, for
example. Use a dedicated building
network, with separate virtual local
area network (VLAN) for each service
provider and vendor. Isolation
is a straightforward way to limit
connections between vulnerable
networks and confidential data.
Observe what is happening
on the networks. It is important
to understand how the network
normally behaves and to recognize
anomalies. Ask for regular reports
on the number of connected devices
and number of disconnected ports,
for example. Review network
management log files for user logins.
Keep track of and manage who
has access to your building network.
Control the flow of information.
Disable unused ports so no one can
plug their laptop into an available
port and communicate on your
network. In addition, set MAC
address filtering so that ports will
not work with unrecognized devices
and MAC addresses (Figure 2).
CONCLUSION
Network hacking is a serious,
growing threat that needs to be
addressed by proper cybersecurity.
Smart devices bring immense
benefits to our daily lives, but we
have to understand how to properly
secure them. No one wants to
see their building in the news for
some catastrophic hack and leak of
information. Implementing some of
these best practices is the first step in
safeguarding against cyberattacks.
Protect the network, protect the
system. Start today. n
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY: Pook-Ping Yao
is CEO and Director of Optigo Networks.
A proven business leader with an excellent
understanding of world-wide networking
markets and extensive international business
experience, he is a recognized expert in smart
buildings, networking and cybersecurity
technologies combined with first-class
communications skills, drive and management
skills. Prior to co-founding Optigo, he spent
12 years at PMC-Sierra (now Microsemi) in
network design and applications. He can be
reached at ping@optigo.net.
July/August 2017 I 21
By Cindy Montstream, RCDD, NTS, EE, CPLP
TSB-184-A:
Guidelines for Supporting Power Delivery
and Data Over Twisted-Pair Cabling
Balanced twisted-pair copper cable
is not just for data communications
anymore. The number of devices capable
of being powered through their network
connection is growing. Trends like the
Internet of Things (IoT) and internet
protocol (IP)-enabled devices are driving up
the number of connections to the network.
The growing deployments of wireless
access points (WAPs) needed to support
increasing data consumption are making
22 I ICT TODAY
the ability to have power and data over the
same cable very appealing.
New standards are defining the supply
of up to 100 watts (W) of power with
1000 milliamps (mA) of current per pair.
Power can cause heat, and heat can cause
reduced data transmission performance in
a balanced twisted-pair copper cable. Cable
life is usually expected to be at least 10
years on average. Therefore, it is important
to understand the impact on performance
 Watts Up to 15.4 Up to 30 Up to 60 Up to 100
Power PoE PoE+ PoE++ PoE++
(Type 1) (Type 2) (Type 3) (Type 4)
UPoE PoH

Applications Thin client RFID readers Access controls Desktop computers

Biometric access controls Video IP phones Point-of-sale Televisions
802.11n AP Pan-tilt-zoom cameras Nurse call Videoconferencing
Occupancy sensors Alarm systems 802.11ac LED lighting
Laptops High-power Wi-Fi
Cameras
Information kiosks

TABLE 1: Examples of power requirements for a variety of devices.

and installation considerations for
twisted-pair cabling today because
the same cable might also deliver
power in the future. TSB-184
provides guidelines for supporting
power delivery over twisted-pair
cabling simultaneously with data.
What Is TSB-184?
TSB-184 is a technical service
bulletin that provides guidelines for
twisted-pair cabling to support the
remote delivery of power in parallel
with data transmission. There are
many factors that can impact the
ability of a cable to support both
data and power, including how the
cable is installed, whether the cable
is bundled or unbundled, the type of
pathway, and the gauge of the cable.
The purpose of the guidelines is to
help limit and manage temperature
rise of the cable so it does not
increase by more than 15 degrees
Celsius (°C [27 degrees Fahrenheit
(°F)]). Managing the temperature rise
of the cable can reduce long-term
cable degradation. The negative
effect of higher temperatures on
transmission performance will also
be minimized and the amount
of heat added to the surrounding
environment will be reduced.
TSB-184 was originally published
by the Telecommunications Industry
Association (TIA) in 2009. This is the
same year that IEEE published the
802.3at standard for Type 2 power
over Ethernet (PoE), commonly
referred to as PoE+. This standard
doubled the power delivered by the
sourcing device to 30 W and almost
doubled the current per pair to 600
mA over the original PoE standard
(Type 1).
IEEE has been working on a
new PoE standard (IEEE802.3bt)
for Type 3 PoE (PoE++) and Type 4
PoE (4PPoE), elevating the potential
power delivered by the sourcing
device to 100 W, with about 1
ampere (A) per pair. (Note: 1 A is
equal to 1000 mA). This standard is
expected to be completed in early
2018. In response to this standard,
TIA updated TSB-184 and published
the A revision (TIA TSB-184-A) in
March 2017.
THE NEED FOR TSB-184
The need to develop TSB-184
was motivated by applications
like the IEEE Standard 802.3 Data
Terminal Equipment (DTE) Power to
support LAN devices with remote
power. There have been apparatuses
in the market for a while that can
be supported by remote powering,
such as WAPs, along with building
automation and security devices
like remote cameras, IP telephones,
biometric access controls and
multimedia devices.
As the number and types of
apparatus have increased, so has the

July/August 2017 I 23
 Standard
Type
Status
Maximum number of energized pairs
Maximum dc current per pair
Maximum power delivered by the
power sourcing equipment (PSE)
Minimum required power at
the powered device (PD)
Maximum data rate
required power to operate them.
Devices like thin clients, 802.11n
WAPs and sensors typically require
up to 15 W to operate. However,
radio-frequency identification (RFID)
readers, video IP phones and pan-
tilt-zoom IP cameras may require up
to 30 W. The support of point-of-
sale devices, laptops, larger cameras
and information kiosks can require
as much as 60 W; and TVs, desktop
computers, video conferencing and
LED lighting can require as much as
100 W of power to operate. These
latter devices are the type driving
the new IEEE standard for Type 3
and Type 4 PoE. Table 1 provides
examples of power requirements for
different devices.
Table 2 summarizes the IEEE PoE
standards that have been published
or are in development. There are two
other remote powering options listed
that are not IEEE standards: Power
over HDBaseT (PoH) and Cisco’s
Universal Power over Ethernet
(UPoE).
24 I ICT TODAY
IEEE 802.3af IEEE 802.3at
PoE PoE+ PoE++
1 2 3 4
2003 2009
2 2 4 4
350 mA 600 mA 600 mA
15.4 W 30.0 W 60.0 W
12.95 W 25.5 W 51.0 W
1000 BASE-T 1000 BASE-T
TABLE 2: IEEE & non-IEEE remote powering standards.
The table shows that PoE and
PoE+ (Type 1 and Type 2) both use
two pairs for power delivery. PoE+
doubled the PoE power from the
sourcing device from 30 W to 60 W
and almost doubled the current from
350 mA to 600 mA. Both of these
standards have been available for
some time.
Type 3 PoE and Type 4 PoE
extend the power level supplied
from the source device to 60 W
and 100 W, respectively. Type 3
PoE doubles the maximum power
delivered by the sourcing equipment
over Type 2; however, the maximum
current per pair remains the same
at 600 mA. Type 3 PoE is able to
double the power (to 60 W) without
doubling the current (600 mA) by
using all four pairs to supply the
power. Type 3 provides the option
of using just two pairs; however, all
four pairs are required to provide
60 W. Type 4 requires the use of all
four pairs for 100 W from the power
sourcing device at almost 1 A (1000
IEEE 802.3bt Not an IEEE Standard
4PPoE Cisco UPoE HDBaseT PoH
N/A
Draft (2017) Exists today
4 4
960 mA 600 mA >1000 mA
99.9 W 60 W >100 W
71.0 W 51 W >100 W
10 GBASE-T Varies
mA) per pair. Also notice that Type 1
and Type 2 PoE are capable of being
supported with up to 1000BASE-T
(1 Gigabit Ethernet). Type 3 and
Type 4 can be supported with up to
10GBASE-T (10 Gigabit Ethernet).
This standard is expected to be
completed in early 2018.
UPOE is similar to IEEE Type
3 PoE in that it can provide up
to 60 W at the source with 600
mA per pair using all four pairs. It
was developed to extend network
power to a broad range of devices,
including virtual desktop terminals,
compact switches, building man-
agement gateways, LED lights,
WAPs and IP phones. UPOE is not
standards based; if any PoE-enabled
device is connected to equipment
supporting UPOE, it cannot be
guaranteed that it will work. It must
be confirmed that the device is
capable of being powered by UPOE
before it is connected.
The other non-IEEE power
delivery option is PoH. HDBase-T
is a connectivity standard for
AWG cable Ohms per 100 m solid Ohms per 100 m stranded
transmission of uncompressed high-
definition (HD) video, audio, 23 7.32 6.92
power, Ethernet, USB and some 24 9.38 8.76
control signals over a balanced
twisted-pair cable (category 5e or 26 14.8 14
above) using RJ45 (8P8C modular)
TABLE 3: AWG DC resistance at 20 °C (68 °F).
connectors. PoH uses all four pairs to
deliver up to 100 W of power with 1
A of current on each pair. The data
rate supported will be dependent on
the category performance rating of
the cable; however, cable supporting
HDBase-T audio and video is not
intended to support a data network FIGURE 1: Placing and securing thermocouple.
simultaneously.
TSB-184 was driven by IEEE’s
PoE and PoE+ standards and the
concern for temperature rise in
bundled cable that could lead
to long-term cable degradation
and have a negative impact on
transmission performance. Type 3 s
3 meter
and Type 4 PoE, along with non-IEEE
standards for power delivery like
UPoE and PoH, with much higher
power delivery and current per pair,
drove the significant changes in the
A revision of TSB-184.

What’s New in Revision A?

There are a number of
significant changes in TSB-184-A.
One key change is that the highest
current considered has been
increased from 720 mA to 1000 mA
(1 A) per pair. Category 8 cable has
been added along with 26 AWG
cable. 26 AWG was added because it
is a common gauge for cordage. TIA-
568-C.2 recognizes 22-24 AWG for
horizontal cable and 22-26 AWG for
cordage such as equipment cords,
patch cables and work area cables.
Additional bundling and install-
ation recommendations have been
FIGURE 2: Test set-up for bundles in air and in conduit.
included, along with additional
specifications for pair-to-pair direct
current (dc) resistance unbalance. A
table was also added that summarizes
the dc resistance per 100 meters (m)
for three common gauges of cable:
23, 24 and 26 AWG (solid and
stranded) as shown in Table 3. For
the purposes of this table, category 5e
horizontal cable is assumed to be 24
AWG solid conductor cable; category
6, 6A and 8 horizontal cables
are assumed to be 23 AWG solid
conductor cable; and all categories of
cord cable are represented by the 26
AWG stranded value.
Dc loop resistance is important
because it is related to energy
consumption; however, the heating
in cabling is directly related to the
dc resistance per length of the cable.
Therefore, small conductor size cable
(such as 26 AWG) will heat up faster
than larger conductor cable (23 or 24
AWG) and should not be bundled in
large bundles.

July/August 2017 I 25
 26 AWG Category 5e Category 6 Category 6A Category 8
Number
of Cables Air Conduit Air Conduit Air Conduit Air Conduit Air Conduit

1 0.69 1.12 0.04 0.61 0.29 0.47 0.26 0.39 0.18 0.29

7 2.06 3.28 1.27 1.86 0.94 1.43 0.81 1.18 0.51 0.84

19 3.78 5.94 2.43 3.48 1.83 2.67 1.57 2.20 0.91 1.49

24 4.39 6.87 2.85 4.07 2.16 3.12 1.85 2.56 1.05 1.71

37 5.82 9.04 3.86 5.46 2.96 4.19 2.51 3.42 1.36 2.22

48 6.94 10.72 4.67 6.55 3.59 5.02 3.04 4.09 1.61 2.62

52 7.33 11.30 4.95 6.94 3.81 5.32 3.23 4.32 1.69 2.75

61 8.18 12.57 5.58 7.78 4.31 5.96 3.64 4.84 1.88 3.05

64 8.46 12.99 5.78 8.06 4.47 6.17 3.78 5.00 1.94 3.14

74 9.36 14.33 6.45 8.96 5.01 6.86 4.22 5.55 2.13 3.45

91 10.85 16.53 7.56 10.44 5.89 8.00 4.96 6.46 2.44 3.96

97 11.36 17.29 7.95 10.95 6.20 8.39 5.21 6.77 2.55 4.13

100 11.61 17.66 8.14 11.21 6.35 8.58 5.34 6.92 2.60 4.21

127 13.83 20.92 9.82 13.44 7.70 10.29 6.46 8.28 3.07 4.95

169 17.12 25.74 12.36 16.79 9.74 12.85 8.15 10.3 3.74 6.03

Note: Installation conditions and current values that result in temperature rise above 15 degrees (shown in gray) are not recommended.
TABLE 3: Temperature rise for a category of cable vs. number of cables in bundle (600 mA per pair).

TSB-184-A also expands on
installation guidelines related to
bundling of cables to minimize
temperature rise within the bundle.
The equations used to model the
temperature rise vs. cable bundle
are reviewed in a new Annex B.
This model was based on refined
measurement procedures that were
used to develop the models. The
setup was done to attain worst-
case temperature rise results. The
measurement procedure began with
securing a thermocouple in the
center of a cable (Figure 1, page 25)
and then placing this cable in the
center of a bundle.
An example of the test setup is
shown in Figure 2 (page 25). A single
length of cable was wrapped around
two anchored PVC pipes that were
3 m apart. The conductors exposed
on each end were soldered together
in a way that allows current to flow
through each pair of the cable. In
both pictures, the bundle on the left
contains 61 cables and the bundle
on the right contains 37 cables.
The picture on the left in Figure
2 shows the testing for temperature
rise in open air. The picture on the
right shows testing for temperature
rise in a closed conduit. For the
testing in conduit, the conduit was
split down the center and assembled
around the bundles so as not to
disturb them. This was done so that
the same bundles used for testing
in air could be used in the conduit
testing without introducing other
variables that might alter the results.
The ends of the conduit were stuffed
with insulating material to prevent
convection air from entering the
conduit. The size of the conduit was
selected for a conduit fill ratio at or
below 40 percent.
Temperature Rise vs. Category
and Number of Cables
As a result of the improved
measurement procedures and
additional modeling, TSB-184-A
provides tables that summarize

26 I ICT TODAY
 26 AWG
Air Conduit
600 mA 141 79
720 mA 86 45
1000 mA 33 16
TABLE 4: Maximum bundle size for 15 °C (27 °F) temperature rise at 20 °C (68 °F) ambient.
Center Temp q 25%
91-cable bundle Three 37-cable bundles
FIGURE 3: Impact of reducing bundle size and adding separation.
temperature rise for the different
cable categories vs. the number of
cables in a bundle. Categories 5e, 6,
6A and 8 are included in the table. 26
AWG is also included for cord cable.
The TSB assumes that the results
for 26 AWG apply to all balanced
twisted-pair cables of that gauge size
for all categories of performance.
Three separate tables are provided
based on the current used to energize
all pairs of every cable.
Table 3 shows the temperature
rise for category cable versus the
number of cables in a bundle in air
and conduit when every cable pair
is energized with 600 mA. There are
similar tables showing results when
energizing all pairs with 720 mA and
1000 mA in TSB-184-A.
As noted in the table, installa-
tion conditions and current values
that result in a temperature rise
greater than 15 °C (27 °F), shown
Category 5e 24 AWG Category 6 23 AWG
Air Conduit Air
214 146 281
136 90 183
58 36 81
Max Temp q 30%
Three 37-cable bundles
in gray, are not recommended.
Using the modeling, a table
was created to summarize recom-
mendations for the maximum
bundle size for a 15 °C (27 °F)
temperature rise. Table 4 summar-
izes the maximum bundle size
when the ambient temperature is
20 °C (68 °F). An additional table
summarizes the maximum bundle
size when the ambient temperature
is 45 °C (113 °F) in TSB-184-A.
Testing showed that separating
a larger cable bundle into several
smaller cable bundles can help
reduce the temperature rise (Figure
3). Comparing the measured
temperature rise in the center of a
large 91-cable bundle to the worst
case maximum temperature rise in
the center of three smaller 37-cable
bundles, the center temperature of
the three smaller bundles was about
25 percent lower even though there
Category 6A 23 AWG Category 8 23 AWG
Conduit Air Conduit Air Conduit
205 349 272 1039 580
128 227 171 660 359
53 101 71 280 144
were more total cables (111) in the
1 inch smaller bundles. Separating the
smaller cable bundles by an inch
reduced the maximum temperature
rise by another 30 percent. The
smaller bundles have more surface
area to dissipate heat and separation
allows for more airflow so both can
help mitigate temperature rise.
Considerations When
Selecting Cable
When selecting cable that
may be used for both data and
remote powering, there are several
things to keep in mind. First, cable
construction impacts temperature
rise. Larger gauge cable has less dc
resistance and heating in a cable is
directly related to dc resistance per
unit length. As a result, larger copper
gauge cables generate less heat and
are better at dissipating heat so they
are better at limiting heat rise.
Higher temperature can cause
additional insertion loss in cables.
Cables with a higher temperature
rating are better able to mitigate the
impact of temperature rise. Plenum
cables (100 percent fluorinated
ethylene propylene [FEP] insulation)
will have a higher temperature rating
than riser cables (with partial FEP
or polyolefin insulation). Shielded
July/August 2017 I 27
products dissipate heat down the
length of the cable and therefore
help abate temperature rise.
The design of the cabling system
should take into consideration the
temperature along the whole cable
pathway. Higher temperature may
result in insertion loss and could
require de-rating the maximum
channel length. Also consider the
manufacturer’s headroom warranties
to estimate performance.
Related Standards Work
Additional work is being done in
the TIA Engineering Subcommittee
TR-42.3, which is responsible for the
pathways and spaces standard ANSI/
TIA-569-D. The work will become a
second addendum to the standard
(ANSI/TIA-569-D-2) when complete.
The addendum provides
additional guidelines for pathway
systems supporting copper cabling
used for remote power delivery. It
identifies key considerations when
designing pathway systems for new
installations and for optimizing the
use of existing pathway systems for
better thermal performance. This
addendum refers to TIA TSB-184-A
for guidelines on limiting bundle
sizes of different cable categories.
The TIA TR-42.7 Subcommittee for
copper cabling and components is
currently reviewing a suggestion to
include 28 AWG cable for cordage.
Work is still in the early stages;
technically, however, 28 AWG will
support remote power. Refer to the
manufacturer for guidelines for the
support of PoE over 28 AWG cords.
28 I ICT TODAY
Conclusion
The next generation of PoE is
coming and it will make it possible
to connect significantly more devices
because of the higher power. The
adverse side to higher power is the
generation of additional heat, which
can impact the cable’s performance.
Temperature rise can cause signal
degradation and long-term damage
to the cable if the temperature
exceeds the cable rating.
TSB-184-A recommendations
are based on minimizing the
temperature rise of cables to 15 °C
(27 °F). The TSB recommends
category 6A or higher performance,
balanced four-pair cabling as
specified in ANSI/TIA-568-C.2.
This is because category 6A has the
best thermal performance, can be
bundled in the largest bundle sizes
without exceeding a temperature
increase of 15 °C (27 °F) and
supports 10 GBASE-T (10 gigabit
Ethernet). The TSB recognizes
category 5e or higher for existing
installations.
TSB-184-A also recommends
leaving cables unbundled in
pathways. If bundling is necessary,
then the guidelines for maximum
bundle sizes provided by the tables
in Annex A of the TSB, like that
shown in Table 3 for 600 mA per
pair, should be followed. As a
general rule, TSB-184-A recommends
limiting the bundle size to 24 cables
in typical pathway conditions like
conduit or tray without insulation.
This takes into consideration
installation practices, possible high
ambient temperature, the use of 26
AWG cords, and higher current (1
A per pair; 500 mA per conductor)
with all four pairs energized. The
administration system, as defined
in ANSI/TIA-606-B, may be used to
distribute channels supplying power
in different bundles to help mitigate
temperature rise.
Some argue that in 2017
remote power delivery is primarily
accomplished over two pairs and
IEEE 802.3bt standard for Type 3 and
4 PoE will not be published until
2018, whereas the modeling done in
the TSB was based on all pairs being
energized in all cables. Standards will
always be based on the worst case
because they are providing guidance
that can be used no matter what
manufacturer’s product is used for
an extended amount of time. Cable
plant life can be anything from
three to five years for some or, more
commonly, 10 to 15 years or more
for others.
It is important to remember the
following key concepts related to
supporting the delivery of remote
power to find the best solution:
n All categories can support
remote powering. Higher
category cable is larger gauge
resulting in lower dc resistance
and therefore less heat
generated.
n Limit bundle size of smaller
gauge cable where heat may be a
problem. Separation of bundles
can also help reduce temperature
rise significantly.
n When designing the cabling
system, consider the bundle
size recommendations for
planning the location and
grouping of horizontal
 cables, consolidation points
and work area outlets.
If larger bundles are needed
because of the number of
cables in a particular
pathway, use smaller
adjacent bundles instead.
n Make certain that the
ambient temperature
plus cable temperature
rise (maximum increase
of 15°C [(27 °F)]) does not
exceed the temperature
rating of the cable. This
must be considered for
the whole path of the cable.
Consider cables with higher
temperature ratings if
needed.
n Channels can be de-rated
to compensate for insertion
loss.
n Cables can be unbundled
or put into smaller bundles,
or bundles can be separated
to mitigate temperature rise.
All cable sizes and TIA
performance categories can
support PoE; however, they
may require smaller bundles
or no bundling, or even de-
rating the channel length.
Consider the manufacturer’s
headroom warranty when
evaluating performance. Some
manufacturers have developed
cables for accommodating
various specific needs (e.g., low
data rates supporting higher
power delivery vs. high data
rates supporting high power
delivery). Keeping TSB-184-A
guidelines in mind, along with
identifying the fastest data
application and highest level
of remote power expected to
be delivered over the life of the
cable, will help in the selection,
design and installation of the
right cabling system solution for
the life of the cable plant. n
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY: Cindy
Montstream, RCDD, NTS, EE, CPLP,
is the Director of eLearning and Standards
at the Data Communications Division of
Legrand, North America, headquartered
in New London, CT. She received
her Bachelor of Science in Electrical
Engineering from Northeastern University
and her Masters of Technology Education
from Central Connecticut State University.
Montstream also received her Certified
Professional in Learning and Performance
certification from the American Society
for Training & Development in 2010.
She has 26 years of experience teaching
technical subjects and working in the
telecommunications industry. She
currently participates on the TR-42
subcommittees, holding a Vice Chair
position on the TR42.6 and TR-42.16
committees and the Chair position on the
TR-42.3 committee, and participates on
the TIA FOTC committee as a Vice Chair
of Standards. She is a frequent presenter
and author for industry-related events and
publications. She can be reached at cindy.
montstream@legrand.us.
July/August 2017 I 29
By Dave Fredricks, DCDC

30 I ICT TODAY
The leaf-spine topology is easily scalable. The links between the leaf and spine layer can be either
routed or switched. All links are forwarding—which means that none of the links are blocked in a path.
Core
Aggregation
Access
FIGURE 1: In three-layer design, the bottom
(or access) layer connects hosts to the network.
When considering the impact
converged infrastructure and
hyperconvergence are having
on cabling, it is important to
first understand how data center
topologies are evolving. Over the
past several years, the emergence of
software-defined networking (SDN)
has pushed data center designs from
three-layer topologies to leaf-spine
topologies.
In three-layer design (Figure
1), the bottom (or access) layer
connects hosts to the network. The
middle layer is the distribution or
aggregation layer. The core layer
provides routing services to other
parts of the data center, as well as
services outside of the data center
space, such as internet access and
connectivity to other data center
locations.
FIGURE 2: In leaf-spine topology, leaf switches form the access layer.
While this design is simple, it
places limitations on scalability.
It can be subject to bottlenecks
if uplinks between layers are
oversubscribed. This can result from
latency incurred as traffic flows
through each layer and from the
blocking of redundant links using
protocols like spanning tree.
Leaf-spine topology (Figure 2)
is an alternative design in which
leaf switches form the access
layer. These leaf switches are fully
mesh connected to all the spine
switches. The mesh ensures that
each leaf switch is no more than one
connection away from any other
leaf switch.
This topology is easily scalable.
The links between the leaf and
spine layers can be routed or
switched, using technology such as
Spine
Leaf
Transparent Interconnection of Lots
of Links (TRILL) or Shortest Path
Bridging (SPB) software. All links are
forwarding, which means that none
of the links are blocked in a path.
Converged Infrastructure and
Apache Hadoop
Converged infrastructure works
by grouping multiple technology
components into a single compu-
ting package. Components of
a converged infrastructure may
include servers, data storage devices,
network hardware, and software for
IT management.
Many customers are using
converged infrastructure to build
Apache™ Hadoop® clusters. Apache
Hadoop is an open-source software
framework written in Java for
distributed storage and distributed
July/August 2017 I 31
 (1) 48 fiber MPO/24 to MPO/24 OM4 trunk
10 G or 25 G Data ports
Core #1
10 G or 25 G Data ports
Core #2
FIGURE 3: Apache Hadoop clusters use an open-source software framework written
in Java for distributed storage and distributed processing of very large data sets.
processing of very large data sets.
Figure 3 shows a typical Hadoop
cluster.
The core cabinet on the left is
a modular switch chassis with 12-
port muxponder (MXP) line cards.
Connecting out of the line cards are
24-fiber multi-fiber push on (MPO)-
to-MPO trunks going up into MPO
coupler panels. Each MXP line card
has 12 ports and each MPO coupler
panel has 12 couplers for one-to-one
line card mirroring.
32 I ICT TODAY
(1) 8 fiber/4LC OM4 cable assembly
1 G or 10 G Management ports
Core #1
1 G or 10 G Management ports
Core #2
On the backside of the MPO
coupler panels are 48-fiber MPO-
to-MPO trunks with two 24-MPO
connectors used as backbone cabling
running into the back of 24-port
MPO-LC cassette modules. Each
24-port cassette module replicates
one core switch to connect a row of
compute cabinets.
The center cabinet, or end-of-
row (EoR) or middle-of-row (MoR)
cabinet, replicates four network
core switches with two as main
data connections and two as
management ports.
The cabinet on the right is
the compute cabinet and has two
top-of-rack (ToR) switches. This
configuration uses one ToR for
data at 10 gigabit (Gb) or 25 Gb
and one for management at 1 Gb
or 10 Gb. The ToR switches are
connected back to the EoR cabinet
using 8-fiber/4-port LC-to-LC cable
assemblies. Below the ToR switches
in the compute cabinets are servers
and disk arrays.
With a data center converged
infrastructure, all the components
of a data center (servers, data
storage devices, networking
equipment and software) can be
contained in a group of cabinets or
one cabinet. As data center owners
need more computing power,
they can add infrastructure either
one cabinet at a time or multiple
cabinets at a time.
When end users install these
systems, in-cabinet connectivity
can become a challenge due to the
different media types available.
These media types include twinaxial
direct attach copper (DAC), active
optical cables (AOCs) and tradi-
tional transceivers and optics with
patch cords and jumpers. Note:
DAC can be supplied as either passive
or active.
In-Cabinet Connectivity Using
Twinaxial DAC Cables
In-cabinet connectivity uses
twinaxial DAC cabling (Figure 4).
The DAC cables plug into the
servers and software appliances
to the network switch or uplink
switch. Generally, DAC cables that

FIGURE 4: DAC cables that are shorter
than five meters generally are passive and
do not consume power. They do nothing to
the signal, acting only as a pass-through
transmission medium.
FIGURE 5: AOC are more expensive than DAC
but can run longer distances at higher speeds.
FIGURE 6: Mini CAT6 has a more flexible
copper core to better route the cable within
the cabinet than standard products.
FIGURE 7: Pre-terminated fiber can be made
to precise lengths to fit the required connection.
are shorter than five meters (m) are
passive and do not consume power.
They do nothing to the signal, acting
only as a pass-through transmission
medium.
Prior to the signal entering the
passive DAC cable, the switch will
set signal conversion, conditioning,
amplification and equalization or
skew. Properly utilizing passive
DAC cables requires switches that
have signal processing chipsets to
maintain acceptable skew.
Typically, DAC cables longer
than five m are active and draw
power from each end, but this may
vary from vendor to vendor. Active
cables cost three times more than
passive cables on average. SFP+ DAC
is a popular choice for 10 Gb. It
reaches up to ≈10 m (33 ft), has low
latency and lower cost.
One of the challenges of using
DAC comes with cable management.
DAC cables come in standard lengths
and breakouts, which can leave
long service loops and cause cable
congestion. Generally, DAC cables
can support 1 Gb to 1 Gb, 10 Gb to
10 Gb, 40 Gb to 40 Gb and 100 Gb
to 100 Gb connections. They can
also break out from 40 Gb to four 10
Gb and 100 Gb to four 25 Gb.
In-Cabinet Connectivity Using
Active Optical Cables
AOCs are made of glass optical
fiber with optics attached to each
end (Figure 5). They are more
expensive than DAC but can run
longer distances at higher speeds up
to 100 Gb per second (Gb/s).
AOCs can support 10 Gb to 10
Gb, 40 Gb to 40 Gb and 100 Gb to
100 Gb connections. They can also
break out from 40 Gb to four 10 Gb
and 100 Gb to four 25 Gb.
A limitation of using AOCs
is that they only support one
transmission speed and vendor type.
When the next equipment upgrade
occurs, the AOC cables will most
likely need to be replaced. Although
less expensive than individual optics
and jumpers, they are not scalable to
higher speeds.
In-Cabinet Connectivity
Using Jumpers, Harnesses
and Patch Cords
When using transceivers
mounted in devices, copper patch
cords can be used effectively to
run speeds from 1 Gb to 10 Gb.
Category 6 (CAT6) copper cabling is
the current industry leader for these
connections.
Recently released mini CAT6
cabling (Figure 6) has reduced the
diameter of standard CAT6 by 50
percent. Mini CAT6 also has a more
flexible copper core to better route
the cable within the cabinet. It can
be bundled to break out and stagger
on each end. One end can stagger
into a ToR switch and the other end
into any server or appliance ports
needed.
If the application uses patch
panels or a ToR switch with required
optical ports, optical fiber jumpers
and harnesses (Figure 7) can be
used effectively. One advantage of
using pre-terminated optical fiber
is that the lengths can be precisely
manufactured to make the required
connection. Each connector can
be pre-labeled to port destination
for ease of installation. This greatly
reduces the service loops in-cabinet
and helps with managing all other
connections, such as power cables
and monitoring equipment.
July/August 2017 I 33
 Another advantage is a longer
potential lifespan. Unlike DAC
cables that feature a shorter length
and lower power capabilities, optical
fiber jumpers and harnesses will 3/4" stagger
be forward-compatible as speeds
increase.
Custom optical fiber harnesses
(Figure 8) can also be made to
specific lengths and breakouts
and can be pre-labeled for ease of 8-fiber * Calculate length from breakout to breakout using
installation and repeatability. OM4 longest distance of four servers to be connected.
multimode
Hyperconvergence
Hyperconvergence uses a
software architecture to integrate
compute, storage, networking,
virtualization and other technologies
in a single hardware box. As data
3" stagger 5" stagger
centers started to use converged
infrastructure to bring compute
systems into several cabinets (or just
one cabinet), hyperconvergence has
now reduced that footprint to 1 unit
(U) or 2U of rack space.
This new technology has relied
FIGURE 8: Custom optical fiber harnesses can be made to specific lengths
on the advances of SDN. The and breakouts and pre-labeled for ease of installation and repeatability.
software can communicate with
all of the required components in
the compute cycle, not just in one SDN on their equipment and NFV has more in-cabinet connections
location but in many locations. will allow them to appear and act as than both three-layer topologies and
Along with SDN, network the same compute system to the user. converged infrastructure because of
functions virtualization (NFV) has the number of converged machines
become a predominant enterprise In-Cabinet Connectivity used per cabinet. Understanding the
data center model. The implication When deploying hyper- connections necessary by speed and
of these models is far reaching. As convergence, the devices used are optimizing media type usage will
an example, an organization may 1U and 2U in rack space and many reduce costs and best support the
have its main data center located can be installed in a single cabinet. components in the cabinet.
at its headquarters. This institution Each of these devices would typically
could have a disaster recovery site require two or four connections Cable Kitting
in another state that is housed in to an uplink switch. This uplink As data centers deploy hyper-
a colocation facility. It could also switch can be mounted at the top of convergence, proper planning
have its email and other business the cabinet or in the center of the can help prepare for in-cabinet
applications in the cloud, using a cabinet to reduce the length of the connections. For instance, determ-
large cloud vendor. Each of these in-cabinet connectivity. ining the best lengths for DAC
three locations can run the same Generally, hyperconvergence cables, breakouts, harnesses and

34 I ICT TODAY
power cords is highly recommended.
Once power cord lengths are deter-
mined, they can be color-coded for
both power strips.
In addition, selecting the
necessary optics per cabinet ahead
of time will help with quick and
efficient deployment. Optics can be
programmed to work with several
different vendors’ equipment to
reduce the amount of part numbers
to stock and manage. A single
cabling supplier box can include all
the needed connectivity and optics
for one cabinet.
Conclusion
Data center topologies continue
to migrate from three-layer to leaf-
spine. SDN is helping the evolution
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to converged infrastructure and
hyperconvergence.
As the individual components
for computing are coming in smaller
packages, such as 1U and 2U rack
unit machines, the cabling is being
compacted. The vast majority of the
connections are now being made
in-cabinet and accomplished with
twinaxial DAC cabling or AOCs.
Planning ahead and standard-
izing on cabinet equipment rack
positions can help identify the best
cable for the connection. Acquiring
the cables at proper length,
breakout, color and labeling will
ease installation, cable congestion,
cooling and repeatability. This, in
turn, will reduce downtime related
to connectivity.
.
Generally, hyperconvergence
has more in-cabinet connections
than both three-layer topologies and
converged infrastructure because of
the number of converged machines
used per cabinet. n
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY: Dave Fredricks,
DCDC, is a data center infrastructure architect
at CABLExpress with more than 20 years of
experience in fiber optic and structured cabling
solutions. He has authored a number of white
papers, including Conflicts in Data Center
Fiber Structured Cabling Standards, Meeting
40/100G Ethernet and 32GFC, and 28GFCp
Light Budgets with a Structured Cabling
Design. He has comprehensive knowledge
of the TIA and IEEE® industry standards for
network and storage connectivity. He can be
reached at dfredricks@cxtec.com.
July/August 2017 I 35
By L. William Nattress III, CTS-D, CTS-I
Building Smarter Emergency Communications Systems:
Distributed Architecture Brings
Intelligence to Life Safety
In this age of information, people expect
to receive instructions clearly and immediately
during emergency situations. Fulfilling the
need for concise and timely information is why
emergency communications systems (ECS)
continue to evolve, incorporating multiple modes
of getting messages and directions out to people.
ECS inform people about what to do and where to
go in an emergency, providing a measure of order
in a potentially chaotic and stressful situation.
36 I ICT TODAY
The guidelines defining how this is accomp-
lished come from the National Fire Protection
Association (NFPA) Part 72 in the United States and
the EN-54 within the European Union. The NFPA
is a code providing a foundation for local muni-
cipalities to set their own life safety requirements
that drive the ECS solution. EN-54 is a law stipulat-
ing that products must meet specific requirements
of certification. While this article focuses on the
NFPA, the concepts apply to EN-54, as well.
 The NFPA Part 72 is updated
every three years—with the 2016
version being the most current—
providing more comprehensive
terms, definitions and requirements
of emergency communications
systems. The NFPA 72 defines three
critical terms every ECS must address:
Audibility requires the alarm
n intelligently and automatically
tone to be 15 decibels (dB) above
any ambient noise (this applies
only the alarm tone, not voice
messaging).
Intelligible refers to the ability
n integration with other building
of the intended audience to
understand the directions.
Consider this example: If a
first-time visitor to an office
space is on the fifth floor, and
is given verbal instruction to
exit out of Stairwell 3 because
a fire has broken out, the visitor
is unlikely to know where to go.
Giving that direction, even at
an audible volume, does not
make it more intelligible. As
required by the NFPA code,
messaging must make sense to
everyone in the space, and
signage (either active or passive)
must be used to clearly indicate
the escape route or location of
refuge.
n Intelligibility is the acoustic
measurement of a space to
provide the optimal environ-
ment for hearing the system’s
voice messages. The code
requires an average sound
transmission index of 0.5 for
the entire space. This means
that, in large spaces with hard
reflective surfaces, acoustic
technologies such as steerable
arrays must be employed to
increase the speech intelligibility
of the ECS.
The Evolution of Emergency
Communications Systems
ECS solutions need to
address each of the terms within
the revised 2016 NFPA Part 72
code. Utilizing audio digital
signal processing technology and
systems, devices can apply
intelligence to the emergency
alert systems. One example is to
precede alert messages with a tone
that is picked up by an ambient
noise-sensing device that measures
how loud the space is at that given
moment. This ensures that the
ensuing alarm plays the required 15
dB louder than the ambient noise in
the area. The system automatically
adjusts to the appropriate volume
to broadcast the instructions—even
in several languages—to meet the
intelligibility requirement of the
space. Finally, a closing tone sounds
again at the prescribed 15 dB above
the ambient volume.
In the ECS marketplace,
consideration of a distributed,
decentralized architecture should
be on the list of possible solutions.
Many emergency communication
systems use a centralized processor.
If that processor fails, the entire
system fails. Decentralized
architecture utilizes networking
with system intelligence residing in
each local device. Should a device
fail, only that device is impacted,
and the remainder of the system is
still in place. Required monitoring
immediately reports any failure so
corrective measures can be taken.
Redundancies built into the system
also ensure that any failures will be
backed up by another device.
Perhaps one of the biggest
revisions in the 2016 version
of the NFPA code is that it now
allows Ethernet to be used as a
viable transport of emergency
communication systems messaging.
Referring to it as Class N, the code
classification focuses on transmission
type, pathway requirements,
redundancies, device connectivity
and end-to-end communication
verification.
Transmission types within ECS
refer to the vehicle by which the
signal can be distributed across the
network. NFPA 72-2016 does not
specify a cable type in networking
infrastructure, but the conveyance
of that signal is explicitly defined.
This will depend upon the type of
building, occupancy, construction
methods and whether there are fire
suppression systems included within
the building. Cross referencing other
NFPA documents, survivability of
the cabling is the focus so long as
the conveyance protection is aligned
with the type of construction. This
means that standard category cables
may be utilized along with optical
fiber infrastructure for the longer
haul as long as they are protected
correctly from the surrounding
environment. 802.11 Wi-Fi may
also be employed with appropriate
redundancies.
July/August 2017 I 37
 Decentralized architecture utilizes networking with system intelligence residing in each local device.
Should a device fail, only that device is impacted, and the remainder of the system is still in place.
Pathway redundancies are
already designed into most
modern cabling infrastructures.
Consideration for Class N
redundancies begins with the riser
and the construction type that
surrounds it. This information is
defined within the architectural
plans. If the telecommunications
room (TR) is enclosed by rated fire
walls, the redundant path may
route through the same room but
must be physically separated. In the
event that standard wall separations
are used, the redundant pathway
must be contained in a protected
conveyance and be located outside
of the room. It is also advisable to
run horizontal riser interconnect
between TRs to allow for network
cross connections in the event of a
total riser failure.
The code now looks at two
component types to define the
redundant connection requirements
for device connectivity: data
endpoint and data forwarding
equipment. Any device that only
senses or interacts with a single
point or requirement is classified
as a data endpoint. Since the
interaction is only at that device,
the code allows for that device to
be supported with a single cable.
Redundancy is built into the design
by having another device nearby
handle the requirement. Devices
that communicate with many other
devices or systems are classified
as data forwarding equipment.
38 I ICT TODAY
These devices must be supported
by redundant network connectivity
so that they are always able to
communicate.
Prior to the 2016 code revisions,
all ECS connectivity required line
status monitoring. This meant that
all interconnections and pathways
needed to be supervised so that
any technical problems could be
addressed immediately. The 2016
addition of Class N addressed this
differently, in that it was not feasible
to supervise the entire signal path of
an Ethernet network. For this reason,
the code focused on verification of
end-to-end communication between
the devices as the means of signal
integrity.
Mass Notification Systems
Mass notification solutions are
present within many organizations
today. These systems leverage
numerous technologies to com-
municate critical information to
occupants of an environment,
whether employees or the general
public. This means that these
communication methods must
be able to succeed without the
individual being registered on the
local network.
The NFPA 72-2016 defines four
layers for a mass notification system.
No less than two must be deployed
within any built environment so
that every occupant can receive the
notification. Understanding the
audience type within these layers is
critical to the success of the solution
deployed.
Layer 1 - in-building emergency
communication systems: Typically
centered on the fire alarm system,
the ECS are being augmented by
visual displays supporting the NFPA’s
focus on visual and audible means.
This layer is directly supported by
the building infrastructure and
requires the redundant pathways
defined by the type of construction.
Layer 2 - wide-area mass notifi-
cation systems: Environmentally
protected communication devices
that are located to provide an
audible communication to the entire
campus or metropolitan area. Alert
sirens and large voice amplification
solutions are employed in these
solutions. These deployments are
supported by the outside plant
infrastructure requiring redundant
pathways not unlike the in-building
ECS solutions.
Layer 3 - distributed recipient mass
notification system: Leveraging
devices such as computers, tablets,
telephones and smartphones, urgent
messages can be distributed to
registered devices on the campus.
Utilizing the newer location-based
services technologies, non-registered
devices can also be reached.
Layer 4 - public measures: This
layer encompasses the broadcast
 Starring Structured Cabling, BAS, Low-Voltage Lighting and
Integration with appearances by Zone Cabling and Direct Connect

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SUMMER
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Produced by BICSI’s International Standards Program

BICSI 007
AND THE RISE OF INTELLIGENT BUILDING
July/August 2017 I 39
 How Communication Types Stack Up
solutions of the area. Messages
are sent via radio and television
to all receiving devices within the
geographic region.

ECS Notification Layers and

What They Mean
The modern ECS is not just an
alarm. Instead, ECS provide a multi-
layered technology platform to
more fully inform occupants. These
technical layers consist of voice,
visual and personal notification,
and each one has more or less value
based on the environment:
n Voice refers to the voice message
and alarm notification tones
issued by the emergency
communications system that
communicates what to do in
a crisis.
n Visual refers to digital signage
and strobe lighting. A visual
such as strobe lighting only
informs people that there is
an urgent condition; used in
conjunction with a digital
signage solution or ticker
displays and the voice layer,
the system can tell everyone
what that situation is and
provide further instruction.
n Personal notification is the
layer that sends an email or
text message to occupants’
smartphones. The reliability of
cellular networks presents a
major obstacle for this layer,
particularly when coverage is
inadequate. Also challenging
is the fact that during emergency
situations, the cellular network
may be flooded, causing slow
delivery or network unavail-
FIGURE 1: A modern ECS provide a multi-layered
platform to more fully inform occupants of emergencies.
ability. Even cellular quality
between networks can vary so
greatly that while one person
can receive the message in a
matter of moments, another
person on another network may
receive it too late or not at all.
The emergency communications
plan looks at these three technical
layers and defines how they should
be used in each environment (Figure
1). For example, in an office building
where there is a good idea of who
is in the environment, these three
layers are highly effective. In public
environments such as shopping
malls or performing arts centers, it
is harder to determine who is in the
space; therefore, the voice and visual
layers would be priority.
Continued technological
advances are improving how these
layers work together for an integrated
solution. At the personal notification
layer, for example, technologies such
as app-based and location-based
services are changing how facilities
can push and receive information. In
an ECS, location-based technology
can be used to determine if a device
is in proximity to send it an alarm.
These layers are also advancing
the intelligence of emergency com-
munications. In an office building
utilizing an access control system,
information can be gathered to know
who is in the building and in what
general area they are located. Security
cameras can put eyes on an entire
campus to spot when and where
an emergency, such as a fire, has
occurred. These security analytics,
both video and access control,
provide critical data for planning
evacuations.

40 I ICT TODAY
Intelligence and Flexibility over the alarm that may be occurring AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY: L. William Nattress
at the same time. For example, in III, CTS-D, CTS-I, is the Director of Channel
The fire alarm bell is no longer
the event of a fire in a healthcare Strategy – Paging for Biamp Systems. His
the be-all-end-all for emergency
extensive experience includes specialization
notification. Previously, if the fire environment, a fire alarm tone is
in areas including project management in
alarm was going off, everything sounded, but if a medical emergency
the design, engineering, installation, and
else took a back seat. Recent occurs at the same time, the fire integration of audio, video, conferencing,
situations have made the authority alarm system can be silenced briefly and control systems. In addition, Nattress
having jurisdiction (AHJ) realize while the medical code call goes out, conceptualized the technology that led to the
and then resume when the code construction of Chicago’s Millennium Park
that numerous systems must be
Video Fountains landmark, which was awarded
employed, and employed in different is over. These are all intelligent and
first place honors by ARCHI-TECH magazine.
ways, depending on the nature of automated functions that advanced
Nattress is a Senior University Faculty member
the emergency. Alarms are never ECS solutions must address to achieve for InfoComm, and was named InfoComm’s
deactivated or ignored; instead the latest standards in emergency Educator of the Year in 2009. He can be
verbal direction is now allowed (in communications, whether deemed reached at bill.nattress@biamp.com.
predefined ways) to take precedence critical now or in the future. n

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July/August 2017 I 41
By Aaron Hesse, PE, RCDD
Smart Cities and the Internet of Things
Everything seems to be getting
smarter: phones, cars, and—with the
increasing trend of networked devices—
even kitchen appliances. The term being
used to define this trend is the Internet
of Things (IoT). In building technology,
it is no secret that the many systems
found in today’s buildings are converging
onto the network data plant. From this
convergence comes the concept of the
smart building. Such a building can react
to data collected within the building
using the IoT and make adjustments to
building systems automatically, alert staff
of abnormalities and provide building
42 I ICT TODAY
owners with the data and trends necessary
to help them make smarter decisions. If
this trend of convergence, big data and
interconnectivity is taken a step further, we
can begin to imagine smart cities.
What Is a Smart City?
A smart city can be defined in a
variety of ways. To some, the power of
the smart city is in a distributed network
of instruments that collect data about its
inhabitants. Healthcare professionals, law
enforcement and city planners can use
this data to help improve and monitor
the city and its services as it grows and
evolves. Some see the increased use
of technology as a way to narrow
the digital divide, while others see
it as increasing the disadvantage of
those without access to technology.
Regardless of the social impact
of this trend, this market should
not be underestimated. Arup, the
international engineering company,
has estimated that the smart city
industry will reach $400 billion US
by 2020. Using a somewhat broader
definition of smart cities, which
includes smart city infrastructure, a
report by Merrill Lynch and Bank
of America indicates the market
will increase to $1.6 trillion US
by 2020. Taking a similar approach
to the analysis, Frost & Sullivan
has estimated the global industry
will increase to $1.5 trillion US
by 2020.
How Smart Cities and Smart
Buildings Can Benefit from
Each Other
Imagine a city where time-
of-usage pricing could be
communicated from the utility to
the smart buildings it serves. The
building would then, based on the
owner’s preferences, automatically
reduce energy usage during peak
time-of-use metering and increase
energy use during times when
energy is less expensive. Not only
would this reduce the burden of
peak demand on energy utilities, but
it could save the owner substantial
amounts of money.
There are a number of systems
that could be integrated and
communicate with the smart meter.
FIGURE 1: Cities such as Philadelphia are planning a network infrastructure through a partnership that
will install a high-speed singlemode optical fiber network connecting more than 200 city buildings.
The building automation system
(BAS) could reduce the temperature
faster in rooms that are not in use.
Occupancy sensors used in lighting
controls could reduce the time
it takes for a light to timeout, or
dim the lighting in areas without
occupancy. Charging for electric
vehicles could slow during peak
usage and speed up during non-peak
hours. These measures would have
little or no effect on the occupancy
while saving the owner money.
This future is within reach but will
not arrive without upgrades to
infrastructure and local data centers
and an intense and deliberate focus
on collaboration.
Smart Cities Need Smart
Infrastructure
One great challenge of smart
cities is the requirement for scalable,
reliable network infrastructure
to aggregate all of this data from
a geographically expansive area.
Much of this data, such as rain and
air composition sensors, do not
necessarily require a large amount
of bandwidth. However, some
initiatives, such as using analytics
in networked security devices and
cameras, can consume an enormous
amount of bandwidth if the analytics
are performed on the backend
instead of at the network edge.
Cities such as Philadelphia
are planning their network
infrastructure in partnership
with Comcast (Figure 1). This
partnership will install a high-speed
singlemode optical fiber network
connecting more than 200 city
buildings. The fiber infrastructure
being used in this project will last
the city for a significant period of
time. This type of approach works
well for connecting areas that are
both geographically compact and
continuous. For extended reach,
something other than optical fiber
will need to be used. Other cities are
July/August 2017 I 43
 More Bandwidth
Surveillance Cameras
Optical Fiber
Traffic Cameras
Water Level
Rain Level
Traffic Sensors
Cellular
Transit Location
or Wi-Fi Air Quality
Barometer
Temperature
Bridge Safety Monitors
Seismic Monitors
Energy Metering
Radio Water Metering
Frequency Gunshot Detectors
Hydrant Status
Parking Status
Less Bandwidth
FIGURE 2: The spectrum of devices and
typical communication approaches using
a 900 megahertz (MHz) radio frequency
(RF) signal in a mesh network.
going the wireless route through
either a mesh network or the use of
cellular LTE.
Providers such as AT&T and
Verizon have already started
partnering with cities to provide
them with connectivity through
their existing wireless infrastructure.
Cities tend to choose this option
because the infrastructure is
already in place and is not owned
or maintained by the city. Unlike
optical fiber infrastructure, the
cost of using the cellular network
is ongoing but requires very little
initial capital expense.
Technology that needs to reach
an even broader area may consider
the use of a 900 megahertz (MHz)
radio frequency (RF) signal in a
mesh network. This band of RF is
unregulated and free to use. Each
node would then talk to the next
node until the information can
reach the main headend. The traffic
generated on this type of network
would need to be limited as the size
of traffic can increase exponentially
as the mesh approaches the central
head end. Figure 2 shows the full
spectrum of devices and typical
communication approaches.
A major issue for these devices
will be the resiliency of the network
used for communication. If traffic is
being adjusted in real time with the
use of traffic cameras and analytics,
the loss of that camera feed could
result in worsening traffic issues.
“Laggy” or lost data packets over
Long-Term Evolution (LTE) or RF
could result in large holes in the
data or useless data. In order to
combat this, most of this technology
will require a secondary mode of
communication. Where a cell tower
signal is an option, LTE makes a great
backup, even if the cost of using it as
a primary source is too high.
Impact on Data Centers
The amount of traffic generated
by the numerous devices in a fully
realized smart city will be staggering.
In order to handle this type of traffic,
the city-owned data centers will need
to become significantly more capable
than they currently are.
The privacy of this data will also
require some attention. Data centers
that handle smart city applications
will need to be heavily regulated. In
some cases, these data centers may
handle a small amount of private
data and may need to be regulated
by the Health Insurance Portability
and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
The biggest challenge to data
centers will be the increased need
for resiliency and redundancy.
For many city and county data
centers, the additional cost of
increasing electrical and data
pathway redundancy is not currently
justifiable. The ability to perform
routine and scheduled maintenance
without an outage is, in many cases,
omitted. This will change when
more smart devices begin to be
handled by the city data center.
BICSI’s published standard for
data center design, ANSI/BICSI
002-2014, Data Center Design
and Implementation Best Practices,
indicates five main classes of data
centers. The standard goes into
great detail to determine which
components need to be redundant
in order to achieve certain classes.
Table 1 provides a summary.
While many city data centers
may fall into the F2 or F3 category
currently, the data center will need
to be upgraded to Class F4 when
they start running critical smart city
applications.
Concerns about Security
One factor that could inhibit
the growth of smart devices is the
concern over network security
and the community’s privacy. The
addition of numerous networked
devices placed on the network
edge opens up a number of new
avenues for attack. This is especially
concerning when these networked
devices are not within a secure
building, but instead are spread out
over a city. While there are a number
of things that can be done to combat
this concern, there are a couple of

44 I ICT TODAY
 Class FO A single path data center that meets the minimum requirments of the standard
but does not meet the requirements of an F1 or higher level data center.

Class F1 The single path data center.

Introducing
Class F2 The single path data center with redundant components.
the NEW First-Time
Class F3 The concurrently maintainable and operable data center.
Exhibitor Pavilion
Class F4 The fault tolerant data center.

TABLE 1: BICSI 002-2014 summary of data center resilience classes.

approaches that the ICT designer is going to be implemented in a new

should focus on when interacting
with clients and stakeholders.
The first is the physical security
of the networked device. Many
devices, like security cameras, have
options for vandal-proof enclosures.
It may be necessary to create
similarly hardened enclosures for
devices such as networked sensors.
Come prepared with a solution, even
a custom one, to physically protect
end devices deployed in the public.
If the device cannot be physically
tampered with, the possibility of
being compromised is reduced.
The second approach is the
use of a dedicated and separate
physical layer to the network.
When a new building is in the
early stages of construction, that
is the time to include additional
infrastructure for use by the city.
This may require close collaboration
with the enterprise architect if
the client has one. The city may
request some dark fiber be installed
in parallel to the enterprise fiber
backbone. The city may wish to
house additional equipment in the
telecommunications rooms and
light the fiber up using their own
equipment. If the smart city concept
building, it would be good practice
to keep the network separated from Come see firsthand
the owner’s enterprise network.
what it's like to Exhibit at the
The Importance of Collaboration BICSI Fall Conference & Exhibition
One of the greatest challenges of in Las Vegas, September 25-27.
smart city initiatives is the intense
need for collaboration. Many of Email sales@bicsi.org for details.
these initiatives tend to spring up
within a single department and fail
to be communicated across the city
organization. For example, the water
department may have its own plan
to use networked devices to measure
water use, while law enforcement
may be more interested in mounting
gunshot detectors on street lamps.
These examples can be the gateways
into a smarter, more connected
city, but if vendors and the ICT
community are not reaching out to
these departments, they may not get
a chance to be involved.
Similarly, the potential of the
smart city will be limited if the
construction and ICT industries
do not coordinate closely with
smart city planners. Simple smart
city measures alone cannot realize
the lofty dreams promised by the
IoT. Similarly, smart cities without
smart buildings will never reach

bicsi.org/fall

July/August 2017 I 45
 Save the Date

BICSI Fall
CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION
SEPTEMBER 24-28 | LAS VEGAS, NV
2017

Make plans now to attend this exciting

event in fabulous Las Vegas!

Register now at bicsi.org/fall


the utopian future envisioned by
so many smart city advocates. The
use of smart meters and the smart
grid will cause smart buildings to be
intrinsically linked to the functions
of the overall city.
As result, the ICT designer of
new buildings should be collabo-
rating with local utilities that use
smart meters and with the local
government. The use of open and
nonproprietary protocols will be
paramount to successfully integrated
building systems with the overall
smart city. Lighting control and
HVAC protocols are notoriously
proprietary. Protocols such as xAP,
X10, Zigbee and BACnet are open
source and are being used more often.
If a more proprietary system
is required, look for ways to work
with the manufacturer to export
data from the control system. For
example, even something as archaic
as a dry contact can be suitable for
interconnecting different automated
systems together. When the different
systems within the building are
coordinated together and with
the overall smart city, substantial
changes will result.
Smart city technology should
not be driven by what technology
is available. The ICT community
should stay focused on solving
customer problems. This industry
is usually working on a regular
basis with the client or client
representative, and thus, is more
aware of their needs and problems
It All Adds Up!
than many policy makers. If an
opportunity for smart building or 5 days of education
smart city initiatives presents itself, and networking
the ICT professional should be the
one to approach policy makers and + 23 engaging technical
be an advocate for the technology
and for the client. This approach
sessions
will ensure that policy makers and
those in city government are not
+ 2 renowned keynote
creating solutions and then looking speakers
for problems. Technology should
not drive the innovation; customer + 140+ industry
needs should. exhibitors
Conclusion + 1 fantastic location
The networked future is a
bright one and dominates the
imagination of many. The benefits A conference you
to building owners, city dwellers
can’t afford to miss!
and the ICT industry are expected
to be substantial. By continuing to
build real solutions to real problems,
ICT professionals can be a part of
this rapidly expanding market.
However, the need for broader and
more deliberate collaboration is
critical to success. The organizations
and individuals who will emerge
as leaders in this field will not be
those who are masters of these new
technologies; they will be those who
excel at what may be humanity’s
oldest skill: working together. n
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY: Aaron Hesse, PE,
RCDD, is a professional electrical engineer for
Avista Utilities in Spokane, WA. He studied
Electrical Engineering at Eastern Washington
University and is licensed by the states of
Washington and California. He can be reached
at aaron.hesse@avistacorp.com.
bicsi.org/fall
July/August 2017 I 47
By Paul Brooks, Ph.D.

NEW PERSPECTIVES IN TESTING:

400 Gb and the
New Test Revolution
Until and through the introduction of 100 gigabit (Gb), validating and testing client optics
was a relatively simple task. An optical module would be operated through a test channel,
then the corresponding bit error rate (BER) was measured and used as a pass/fail limit.
In most cases, an error-free result was expected over a typical measurement period.

48 I ICT TODAY
 By comparison, 400 Gb client optics have moved
from non-return to zero (NRZ) to pulse amplitude
modulation-4 (PAM-4) and now also use forward-error
correction (FEC) for all physical medium dependents
(PMDs). This advancement significantly complicates
optical module test and validation. The relationship
between error statistics (and root causes) and the FEC
characteristics are intimately linked so a simple pass/fail
limit can no longer be used.
This article describes the challenges that arise with
400 Gb optics and how they call for a new perspective
on testing and validation. This new approach will allow
a higher probability of detecting bad optics and passing
good optics without significantly adding to the test
burden.
Current Best Practice with 100 Gb and Lower
Experience testing on 25 and 40 Gb-based NRZ
systems have shown the current links can be treated as
“very low” BER when designed and built properly. The
test methodology has been rather simple:
1. Run an unframed BER test.
2. Count errors (hopefully zero).
3. Accept optics as “known good” stressors (different
patterns, clock rates, skew and even SRS can be
added, but the ultimate threshold for a pass/fail
remains a BER).
This method is ideally suited to client optics that
run “error free” without use of a client FEC (such as the
100 Gb LR4), but is also applicable to other PMDs that
nominally require a FEC such as SR4 at 100 Gb. An FEC
is required as the physical medium (such as multimode
optical fiber) can cause errors on the transmitted data.
FEC allows a low-cost physical medium to be used as it
can correct many of the errors that occur over the link.
The reality is that these optics can run error-free or at
very low error rates (below 10-12) in a loopback, so this
gives a very simple pass/fail criterion. Indeed, there is
a current ecosystem expectation that all client optics
should run error-free for at least a “coffee break” interval
in the lab in an optical loopback.
A Short Introduction to 400 Gb Client Optics
The IEEE P802.3bs project for 400 Gb (and 200 Gb)
is making good progress, and standardization is expected
around the latter half of 2017. While the Ethernet
portion of the draft standard is very familiar, innovative
technologies (from a client-side perspective) need to be
adopted to allow 400 Gb technology to meet the cost and
size expectations of the broader market. Some of these
new technologies include:
n PAM-4 modulation, which uses four levels of signal
rather than the traditional 0 or 1 used in NRZ. This
allows twice as much information to be sent in the
same time interval. The gap between the signal levels
is much smaller so the signal is more susceptible to
noise.
n FEC coding, which allows all errors in the transmitted
signal (which can occur through mechanism
including noise, interference and reflections) to be
corrected by additional bits of information added
during the coding phase. FEC codes have found
universal applications in CDs, DVDs, radio frequency
(RF) and optical fiber communications.
n Raw error rate (the error rate occurring over the
physical medium before FEC has corrected any
errors).
n Frame loss, or the number of Ethernet frames lost
due to errors that cannot be corrected and so the
whole frame of data must be discarded.
n Mean-time-to-false-frame-acceptance (MTTFFA),
or the mean time a link runs before a data packet is
so badly corrupted that the error protection and
detection afforded by the FEC code and checksum
can no longer indicate a packet is corrupted.
July/August 2017 I 49

Why Counting Bits Is No Longer Relevant
The FEC is not a magic solution that can convert all
10-4 pre-FEC BER into zero-errored-frames post-FEC.
In fact, it is heavily impacted by the nature of the error
statistics—with the burst length being of particular impact.
It is entirely plausible to have one module which
runs at a raw error rate of 10-4 (and will operate error-
free post-FEC as its error distribution is random with
bonded burst length) and another module running at
10 . However, due to design and performance, the error
-10
characteristics of the latter lead to uncorrectable errors.
So, a simple BER test—even with a significant guard
band (106)—can still lead to failing perfectly good
modules and passing modules with fundamental
performance limitations.
Fingerprinting Error Statistics
The very nature of the errors requires fingerprinting
to determine the error statistics per key parameters such
as burst length, burst gap and whether the burst is a true
error or a pattern slip. This level of detail is required to
determine the root cause of the errors, to take corrective
design action, and to build enough margin into the
module to run error-free with the FEC.
With error burst length and nature, there is an upper
bond to the length of burst that can be corrected by the
FEC. This sets an important limit to the manageable
The FEC is not a magic solution that can convert all 10-4 pre-FEC BER into zero-errored-frames post-FEC. In fact,
it is heavily impacted by the nature of the error statistics—with the burst length being of particular impact.
50 I ICT TODAY
FIGURE 1: A detailed, unframed BER test can be run with
a range of aggressive patterns using a 400 Gb test set.
burst length, and this knowledge can be used to build out
an idea of the margin in the module. Questions on the
nature of the burst are important: Is it classic bit error, a
pattern slip, or a flooring? For example, when error bits
were only “1” or “0”, one would get valuable information
on the root cause and therefore allow the appropriate
corrective action to be taken. Optimal testing should
identify issues with clock data recovery (CDR) bandwidth
challenges, pattern sensitivity, and linearity (especially
over the demanding dynamic range required at the
photonic receiver).
Tools such as bit-capture allow complete visibility of
the events leading up to errors and bursts as well as the
ability to reconcile the bit capture in terms of the coded
PAM-4 signal at the photonic layer. Again, this allows the
root cause of errors to be explored and corrected.
A New Recipe for Module Testing and Validation
With 400 Gb test sets, a detailed, unframed BER test
can be run with a range of aggressive patterns (Figure 1).
It is important to target the right aggressors in the
photonic domain where most of the error budget is
allocated. This will require the ability to generate specific
PRBS_Q and SSPR_Q patterns via the AUI-8 and AUI-16
interface which correctly translate to the true pattern at
the photonic layer.
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Advanced error analysis can also be used to
fully understand the nature of the errors. The error
distribution and statistics are critical—especially with
respect to burst errors. The burst length and spacing are
crucial parameters for understanding how the FEC will
perform. Furthermore, having a detailed understanding
of the error statistics means that, in many cases, the root
cause (e.g., CDR performance, bandwidth, electrical or
photonic crosstalk, linearity) can be addressed, resulting
in increased module performance. Of course, it is also
important to stress the module during this phase and
classic stressors can include:
n Aggressive mix of patterns (including SSPR_Q)
n Dynamic skew variation
n Clock rate variation (both ramp and step-change
or “jump”)
n Jitter injection
n Aggressive control bus activity (high duty cycle I2C
or MDIO read/write activity)
These stressors can be used to bring out module
design issues and margin. Again, certain failure modes
52 I ICT TODAY
FIGURE 2: Graphical tracking of burst error length
indicates a high number of bursts occurring longer
than 32 bits.
can be investigated to find a root cause and hence drive
better module performance.
Graphical Tracking of Burst Error Length: An error
burst is a case where a number of bits or symbols are
corrupted due to a single event. This single event, due
to its nature and/or generation, corrupts several bits or
symbols within a definitive time window. Figure 2 shows
the burst count versus burst size. It indicates a high
number of bursts occurring longer than 32 bits, a sign of
errors which the FEC cannot correct.
Distance between Errors: The distance between errors
can give valuable insight into the error statistics. Figure
3 shows a typical roll-off with gap. This is typical of
a random Poisson process. Distinct peaks in the error
distance indicate some deterministic mechanism which
can include a pattern sensitivity, and crosstalk (from
power supply unit [PSU] and microcontroller circuitry).
For example, a 1 megahertz (MHz) repetition signal burst
would couple in at around 25,000 bits; such a peak could
be clearly recognized with this view.
 FIGURE 3: A roll-off with gap that is
typical of a random Poisson process.
Capturing and Displaying Pattern Slips: Determining
what is an error burst and what is a pattern slip is critical
in finding and rectifying the root cause. An optical
network terminal (ONT) advanced error analysis can show
that a pattern slip is occurring. Conventional tools show
errors only but do not provide full visibility of the true
issue. Bit slips typically occur with the CDR function so
this is where investigations should focus.
After the performance of the module has been
optimized via unframed deterministic patterns, the
module can now be run in a real traffic scenario. Module
characteristics are established with live Ethernet traffic
and detailed monitoring of pre-FEC and post-FEC error
rates (hopefully zero). Of course, this is how the module
will be used in the real world, so a live traffic test is a
critical step. In this step, the pre-FEC error rate should
remain relatively constant and well within the margin
of the FEC capability. The post-FEC error rate should be
zero. With this information and the raw error statistical
characters gathered earlier, the module vendor and
user will have confidence the module will operate with
sufficient margin when deployed in the field.
A New Approach
Throughout the history of Ethernet technology, the
task of validating and testing client optics was relatively
simple. Today, as 400 Gb components and modules are
developed, a new approach is required to successfully
validate and test optics. The complexity of PAM-4 coupled
with the highly non-linear behavior of the FEC means we
must finally move beyond the simple error counting of
the past. The new, more sophisticated approach outlined
in this article enables improved detection of bad optics
and passage of good optics without adding a significant
burden to the testing phase. n
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY: Paul Brooks, Ph.D., leads up the strategy for
the lab and production business unit at Viavi, with a focus on high-speed
optical transport technology. He is actively involved with IEEE standards
and the Ethernet Alliance. A veteran of the test and measurement
industry, he has been involved in multiple technologies, from copper and
xDSL to 400 gigabit Ethernet, and has served in various roles in R&D
and marketing with Wandel & Goltermann, Acterna, JDSU and Viavi. He
served as a weapons officer in the Royal Navy where he completed a Ph.D.
in optoelectronics at Southampton University. He can be reached at
paul.brooks@viavisolutions.com.
July/August 2017 I 53
By Edward J. Forrest, Jr.

The Interaction
Between Precision
Inspection

AND
Precision
Cleaning oF
Optical Fiber
Connections

54 I ICT TODAY
The most reliable means to measure
the three-dimensional (3D) nature of
contamination is with an instrument
called an interferometer.
No one in the ICT industry
would dispute that cleaning
an optical fiber connection is
important. Yet, the topic continues
to be discussed and disputed. One
reason may be that no matter how
strong the need, there are still far too
few video inspection devices being
used. The other is that the current
instructions are actually the reverse
of what should be done to properly
clean any of these surfaces.
How Do You Clean Something
That Cannot Be Seen?
Existing inspection and cleaning
techniques are standardized
by a 30-year-old International
Electrotechnical Commission
(IEC) document that was updated
in January 2016. IEC 61300-3-35
forms the basis for many training
programs and numerous products
designed to meet the standard.
The standard considers a portion
of the end face surface (Figure 1)
and suggests a cleaning technique.
The two circles seen in the image
indicate the area specified as an
inspection and cleaning dimension
within this standard. The inner
circle outlines the core of the optical
fiber and the outer circle includes
the cladding and contact surface.
More significantly, the larger circle
designates the limited visual field of
view of most video inspections, as
well as the area considered by ‘auto
detect go/no-go’ inspection devices.
The surface considered by IEC
61300-3-35 is two dimensional.
Of course, connectors are three-
dimensional structures. There is
no disagreement that there is zero
tolerance for debris of any type on
the fiber core.
The standard continues to
accept an amount of debris on
what is called the horizontal
surface within the area of the larger
circle. The debris is measured in
two-dimensional diameter and its
acceptability within the standard
is based on the distance and
juxtaposition to the fiber core.
In general, any debris within the
circle and under a certain diameter
is acceptable; however, any debris
within the circle and larger than a
certain diameter is not. Most debris
outside the outer circle is acceptable
within IEC 61300-3-35.
The most contemporary
instruction is that the cleaning
FIGURE 1: A clean fiber core and surface
area within the standard range that
has zero contamination.
process should begin with a dry
technique; if that is not successful, a
wet-to-dry process is recommended.
IEC 61300-3-35 suggests cleaning up
to five times. Figure 1 shows a clean
fiber core, as well as a surface area
within the standard range that has
zero contamination.
Understanding the Nature
of Contamination
As is the case with a connector
surface, debris is also three dimen-
sional (3D). The most reliable
means to measure the 3D nature
of contamination is an instrument
called an interferometer. The
interferometer is a dynamic device,
yet its images only portray a two-
dimensional aspect (horizontal
plane) of 3D contamination.
The 3D nature of contamination
is only one characteristic. The
others are the physical natures of
the infinite types of debris that
July/August 2017 I 55
 are present in an optical fiber
deployment. The general nature
of “dry debris” is that it tends to
remain in place either:
1. Laying on the end face surface.
5 2. As miniscule debris embedded
into miniscule imperfections of
the surface.
4 3. Through adhesion by a surface
(the tendency of dissimilar
materials to cling together).
4. Held in place by a static field.
FIGURE 2: Suggested 4th zone cleaning
Fluidic contamination is the
surface (horizontal end face ferrule)
and 5th zone vertical ferrule. opposite of dry debris. A fluid moves
and compresses. Therefore, a fluid
within the circles will tend to move
outside the circles. Likewise, a fluid
outside the circles will tend to move
within them.
There is a third debris type:
5 this is a combination of the dry
and fluidic types. All types may be
present on an optical fiber surface.
This becomes especially problematic
in two instances:
1. When there is no inspection
used at the time of cleaning.
2. When the inspection device
FIGURE 3: Adapter and alignment sleeve, cannot see surface areas that
both contaminated by dust. are outside the horizontal two-
dimensional field of view or
those areas that cannot be
viewed by existing inspection
devices.
Characterizing a Connector
The surfaces within the circles
are characterized in IEC 61300-3-35
by zones.
n Zone 1 is the optical fiber core.
n Zone 2 is the cladding area.
n Zone 3 is the contact zone.
56 I ICT TODAY
Oftentimes there is a fourth
zone—the adhesive area between
the core and cladding. The IEC
standard uses the size and location
of scratches and defects on the end
face surface to determine the extent
of cleanliness.
However, two aspects are not
considered: the first is the movement
of fluids from areas not seen or
detected by auto-detect equipment
and the other is the presence of
debris on areas not considered
or governed by this standard. As
speeds and capacities of fiber optic
transmissions increase, there is a
need for a higher standard and
understanding of the structure of
both connectors and contamination.
What is being suggested here
is a 3D standard for the connector
that increases the existing three-
zone characterization to five zones
(Figure 2). Zone 4 is the complete
horizontal end face ferrule. Zone 5 is
the vertical ferrule structure, as well
as other sectors of the connector not
characterized or considered by any
existing standard.
Figure 3 shows an aspect of
precision cleaning and inspection
heretofore not considered: the
adapter and alignment sleeve which,
in this image, are both contaminated
by dust. From time to time, even
the most skilled technicians may
inadvertently touch the side of an
adapter during the insertion of the
mating jumper.
Should the alignment sleeve
become contaminated, it must also
be cleaned so that the insertion will
not push dust toward the back-plane
connector.
 Zone 5 is all other sectors of
the connector that can create either
direct or cross contamination. It is
a major concern to clean individual
fibers on the MT connector types as
shown in Figure 3; however, there is
debris within the alignment pin and
other sectors of the connector that
can migrate. With existing video
inspection, these contamination
points are not seen.
Precision cleaning and inspection
should mean that the complete
connector surface is considered with
the intent of arriving at a first-time
cleaning process and not ineffective
multiple cleaning procedures that
often result in jumper replacement or
return of expensive components on
warranty repair.
Selecting a First-Time
Cleaning Process
IEC 61300-3-35 has established
itself and numerous other formal
and internal standards. These
include TIA 455-240, an SAE
Aerospace AS-3 Standard, and IPC-
8497-1. Additionally, virtually all
major Regional Bell Operating
Companies, cable TV multiple
system operators, and professional
trainers utilize these standards as a
foundation for training.
While there are variations, the
general instruction per IEC 61300-
3-35 limits cleaning to five times
and may instruct the technician
to clean three times using a dry
method followed by two wet-to-dry
applications.
It is suggested that there should
actually be four processes: the two
mentioned, an additional one noted
*See YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGIfFQXZmz4 or Vimeo https://vimeo.com/204423271 for details of the Telcordia process.
in Telcordia GR-2923-Core (which
is a hybrid or combination of the
wet-to-dry technique) and a fourth
process (likely the most common
of all), so-called blind cleaning
without benefit of inspection. While
there is an intense need to inspect,
experience shows that as many as
60 percent of all connections are
cleaned using the blind cleaning
procedure. This was re-confirmed
in March 2017, in a training session
with more than 30 fiber technicians
working for an important network
supplier, none of which had video
inspection.
Some were using a fiber identifier
to determine cleanliness while others
assumed that a light source/power
reading indicated “clean.” Others
used a visual fault locator. Those
skilled using an optical time domain
reflectometer can interpret insertion
loss and reflectance: the only way to
assure the connector surface is clean
is video inspection. The simplifying
introduction of pass/fail inspection
only complicates this discussion.
What’s Behind the Current
Confusion?
Cleaning an optical fiber surface
is like cleaning anything else.
Imagine that a drink is spilled:
would a wet or dry wiper be used
to absorb the fluid? The same
application-specific logic applies
to dry cleaning an optical fiber
connector. Dry cleaning an optical
fiber surface should be the preferred
method if the contamination is a
fluid since dry cleaning is a mopping
action. Conversely, when presented
with dry debris, it is unlikely that it
would be cleaned with a dry wiper.
Imagine a muddy car surface: would
a dry cloth be used? In the same way,
wet-to-dry cleaning is best when the
debris is identified as a dry soil.
From 2005 to 2006, Cisco
studied optical fiber cleaning with
a seminal study called “The Cisco
Series.” In this study, an unusual and
exceptionally wide range of debris
was systematically placed on an end
face; debris included metal shards,
graphite, dried water, dryer lint and
Simethicone (sticky medication). In
2014, this test strategy was emulated
with a series of dry debris and wet
debris and, for the first time, removal
of combination contamination of
both types.
The results of the two studies
proved that 95 percent of existing
cleaning products have first-time
enhanced cleaning when they are
used in the method described in
Telcordia GR-2923-Core.* Use of
a small amount of optical fiber-
grade cleaner in a cost-effective way
significantly decreases cleaning from
five times to one time.
While inspection is critical and
highly desirable, the implication is
that any end face can be cleaned
with almost any tool if and when
inspection is not practical. A simple
process change cleans better.
Over the last 20 years, optical
fiber cleaning has been promoted as
an application-specific procedure.
New inspection devices have been
developed to demonstrate what
should be obvious: a connector
and debris are 3D. In the same time
frame, new automatic detection
July/August 2017 I 57
instruments have begun to flood
the market. Some of these provide
images and others simply a
“green/red light.” Figure 4 shows
a device designed to encourage
those without access to video
inspection to understand the nature
of the connector, contamination
and impact of existing cleaning
procedures. The limited surface area
as typically seen thorough 200-400x
instruments does not provide an
accurate foundation to understand
the 3D nature of a connector or the
3D nature of contamination.

Conclusion
Since the inception of IEC
61300-3-35, many thousands of
technicians in all parts of the world
have been undertrained. This
important standard was conceived
for a production line and has
morphed to use in field services
which are totally different physical
and practical environments. The
production line is a controlled
physical plant with repeated actions
of inspection and cleaning; field
services are the exact opposite. The
contamination on a production line
is more easily anticipated; in field
service, many operators struggle to
clean an end face when the contam-
ination might emanate from outside
the limits of existing inspection in
Zone 4 or one of the sectors of Zone
5. Technicians may click many
times only to realize the data is not
passing. It is time to upgrade under-
standing of precision inspection
and precision cleaning as fiber optic
FIGURE 4: New automatic detection instruments are designed to encourage those
without access to video inspection to understand the nature of the connector,
contamination and impact of existing cleaning procedures.
transmissions regularly advance AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY: Edward J. Forrest,
from theoretical to practical. Jr., has nine patents, with more pending, in
The standardization process the area of precision cleaning and precision
inspection of optical fiber connections. He has
itself can also be reconsidered. A
more than 40 years of expertise in precision
10-year time frame between updates cleaning and protecting various surfaces. His
is not a realistic or desirable span work is non-commercial and designed to offer
for a rapidly evolving science such insights into various types of contamination
as fiber optics. Instead, standards and how these interact and influence fiber
could be blog-based and updated optic transmissions. He feels that the precision
inspection and cleaning process begins
in a rolling fashion. All involved
with network designers who can influence
in the industry should have open installations and trainers to look to the future
access to the procedure, instead of and understand that cleaning and inspection
a limited few. Global access via the are not optional but a critical first step to
internet can channel input from network reliability and customer satisfaction.
field service personal and trainers He is available for special projects and training
and can be reached at edforrest@live.com.
in all disciplines so that standards
meetings continue to exist, only in a
more efficient and diverse format. n

58 I ICT TODAY
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