Introduction
Singling out one cable or server amidst hundreds became a lot easier with classic, analogue labels. In today’s data centres however, the number of cables and components has grown so exponentially, that locating the right label may have become a challenge in itself. Enter smart labels that enable professionals to home in on any physical asset.
Thousands of cables and components
Digitisation accelerates ever faster across many industries, and data centre capacity is keeping pace. Increasing needs for security, speed and capacity result in expansion, modernisation and relocation of data centre computing power. In addition, higher server and router port densities multiply the number of cables present in data centres to keep all wired and wireless online applications running.
Current data centre evolutions make fast and accurate network maintenance increasingly daunting. At the same time, most applications have become so mission critical for businesses worldwide, that there is little to no room for error and inefficiencies.
Simply finding the right cable to initiate an intervention can take time that is almost never available. As a result, already efficient data centre professionals will need more flexible identification solutions to quickly locate and service any asset.
Efficient interventions
Luckily, evolving label technology offers data centre operators increasingly powerful solutions to keep a rising tide of cables and components under control.
RFID labels for example enable professionals to home in on any item, using sound and/or visuals. These are provided by an app on an RFID reader or smartphone (with UHF RFID reading extension). Portable or fixed RFID readers can power up all battery-free RFID labels in range, and they can focus on a single labelled asset when selected on-screen.
With RFID technology, finding the right server or cable to service becomes much faster as it cancels out most, if not all searching involved. In addition, the number or density of cables and components present in a server room does not impact the time required to find the right asset.
Follow the lights
The fastest cable and component finding perhaps becomes possible when combining RFID and LED technology. Most RFID readers can send enough power to battery-free RFID labels to ignite an LED-light. Any labelled server or component will quickly appear on an RFID reader or smartphone screen, where it can easily be selected. As a result, the selected component’s RFID LED label starts to act like a blinking beacon that attracts attention and lights the way for busy data centre professionals.
Secure Data on the Spot
To further increase the accuracy and speed of interventions, smart labels enable professionals to check asset-relevant information when and where it matters. RFID, NFC, and combined dual frequency labels offer sufficient space to store both identifying asset data and a link to documentation about the labelled item.
To secure data, smart labels can be programmed to provide several layers of information accessible by specific user profiles. Other than with printed labels, RFID labels can enable in-house specialists or management to easily, and securely, access potentially sensitive information from the asset itself. By setting up user profiles for layered data access, sensitive information can also be withheld and protected.
In addition, all information stored in RFID and NFC labels can be encrypted to reserve access to identifying server data for the data centre’s own RFID readers.
Automated inventories
RFID readers are available both in portable and fixed variations. While portable readers are extremely practical to home in quickly on a single asset, fixed readers are ideal to offer complete overviews in seconds.
Fixed RFID reader gates at server room entrances can pick up any RFID labelled physical server that passes through. They can keep server room inventories up to date in real time by sharing data with centralised systems. In other words, RFID technology has the potential to turn labour intensive data centre inventories into a matter of clicks.
In addition, RFID reader gates can easily be programmed to provide a signal when a physical server, or any other labelled asset, enters the wrong server room. The same applies when the wrong asset leaves a server room.
Too Hot?
Battery-free RFID labelling technology does not enable constant monitoring. However, the labels can be pinged by RFID readers at any time, and at any frequency. They can offer a series of data shots in quick succession. In this way, RFID labels equipped with temperature sensors can detect temperature spikes.
The technology provides a cost effective alternative to detect single server overheating. By extension they can help provide temperature readings for any mission-critical asset, because RFID labels can easily be applied to almost any material.
Danger: Leaks
LED-lights and temperature sensors are not the only technology that can be combined with battery-free RFID labels. Moisture sensors can also be embedded to detect coolant leaks, condensation or any fluid the label is exposed to.
Moisture sensing battery-free RFID labels can provide wet/dry, or safe/unsafe status data for any asset they are attached to. Each time the label is powered by RFID readers, the labelled asset’s status can be shared with centralised data centre monitoring systems. The wet/dry threshold can be customised, as well as the frequency at which the sensor labels are read. Data from the labels can be processed into intervention prompts, complete with accurate leak sources, depending on where the labels were applied.
Faraday
A functional RFID, NFC, or combined dual frequency solution that adequately answers business needs is about more than applying smart labels. A well thought out RFID concept goes a long way to optimise results and minimise the cost of ownership.
Fixed reader placement and optimal label locations can be challenging, and using the right technology prevents unpleasant surprises. Because RFID technology relies on radio signals, it is important to use the right ETSI-bandwidth, and to determine early on what the maximum read range can be in specific environments.
Faraday's laws apply, and metal rich environments will influence the range at which RFID signals can be read. Through careful label and reader placement, read ranges can be maximised in any environment to support interesting business advantages.
RFID label technology also plays a role. On-metal RFID labels do exist, and will generally use a thin layer of insulating foam to increase the label’s radio signal sending and receiving capabilities.
To arrive at an optimal setup, with the right choice of labels, the right choice of readers, and their optimal placement, it is best to contact a specialised supplier. They can help determine the best label location per asset type, and can set up any fixed RFID readers needed in an optimal way.
Full Control
Once the optimal placement of readers is done, and the best label locations per asset are determined, any data centre can be in full control of its own RFID setup.
RFID print & program systems enable fast and accurate creation of additional RFID labels at your premises. New hardware can easily be labelled with RFID labels printed and programmed on-site. In most cases, the label’s unique digital identity can be sourced directly from asset lists in a database, or even from a spreadsheet.
The unique digital identity of any RFID label can also be updated with RFID readers. Most portable RFID readers enable RFID label chip writing in order to add, or change information. Just like enabling layered reading access, writing access can also be granted to specific user profiles.
Reliable For Years
Specialised identification solution suppliers can offer RFID-embedded labels that stay attached and remain legible for years to come. No matter how technologically advanced RFID labels are, their functionality is linked to how well they stay attached to your assets and equipment.
UTP, fibre optic and electrical cable labels must stay attached to extremely curved surfaces, preferably without sticking to any neighbouring cables. Just like asset labels, they can be blank, colour coded, and partially or fully preprinted and preprogrammed. Asset labels can additionally feature a raised profile to maximise the neatly organised look and efficiency of any data centre server room. All to maximise intervention speed and to find assets without searching.
If you want to take a closer look at our range of printing and labelling solutions click here.
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