Remote monitoring and management are also enabled via
intelligent solutions at the edge. This function is considered
by some to be the most critical because of the lack of dedicated
30 I ICT TODAY
IT and ICT personnel at most edge locations.
it comes to enclosures. Standard data center cabinets
will work in some highly protected indoor spaces, while
enclosures that are rated for harsh environments may
be mandated for industrial applications. A mining site
or refinery may seem like an application that requires
rugged enclosures, but those sites may use standard
cabinets inside a rugged container that has environmental
controls installed. Also, one healthcare clinic may require
a small enclosure that will fit under a desk in a back closet,
while another has a dedicated space that allows a more
traditional cabinet or rack.
When deciding about the type of enclosure, common
characteristics to keep in mind include basics (e.g., size
and load rating), more specialized factors such as NEMA
or UL ratings, and the presence of or ability to add
environmental controls and security features.
Selecting the right size of enclosure is especially
important. Much like Goldilocks, organizations need
to find the one that is just right. A structure that is too
large can eat up valuable real estate and would most
likely require a larger investment than necessary. Moreover,
too small may mean the enclosure will not house
all of the needed equipment today or in the near future.
Beyond space for network equipment, the enclosure will
need enough space for PDUs and network connectivity.
Right-sized for the environment means an enclosure
that fits in the available footprint and houses all of the
needed equipment.
Harsh environments will require specialized
enclosures that protect again dust, debris, moisture,
vibration, and extreme temperatures.
Cabling and Connectivity
Standards-based cabling and connectivity help provide
assurance that systems will function as designed. Whether
using optical fiber and/or copper, both the cabling and
handles that can be opened remotely by an authorized
user with a keycard or code on-site, as well as sensors that
send an alert to indicate unauthorized access.
Remote monitoring and management are also
enabled via intelligent solutions at the edge. This function
is considered by some to be the most critical because
of the lack of dedicated IT and ICT personnel at most
edge locations. When the nearest technician is several
hours away, downtime and travel become costly. This risk
pushes some organizations away from an edge decision.
When temperature, moisture or security sensors can
advise of real-time risks and intelligent solutions allow
an operator on the other side of the globe to make adjustments
in real time, those risks become manageable. Similarly,
intelligent connectivity simplifies remote management;
it can advise of a bad connection so adjustments
can be made.
Consider this example: A national sporting goods
retailer sets up kiosks in various parts of its stores during
different times of the year. As summer season begins,
kiosks are moved into the boating and fishing area of the
stores. Historically, this required a handful of technicians
to travel to each location to change the connectivity
to enable the point of sale system to switch to that new
location. With an edge solution in a back room or office,
complete with intelligent connectivity, a technician can
talk an on-site store employee through the changes
needed—by activating lights at ports that need to be disconnected
or connected. Within a day or two, every location
has been changed, resulting in zero travel expenses
and less labor cost.
Enclosures
The edge environment dictates the enclosure needed
for the deployment. It is imperative to understand the
installation space because one size does not fit all when