Electro/Telecom Industry Trends
New TIA Working Group to Address Internet Data Centers
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Organizations are looking for new ways to satisfy their internal and external clients. Their need for secure, accessible, scalable file storage - and for sending bigger and bigger files - aren't going away. The requirement for a central repository for corporate data throughout numerous organizations is growing. Further, the ability to transfer large files without sending a slow e-mail attachment or tapes, disks or drives in the mail is becoming essential. Companies are finding that automatic back-up systems need to be in place, yet don't want to buy, house and maintain expensive hardware, or pay for extra maintenance, upgraded software or additional staff. Therefore, application spaces to host Internet connections and data storage devices, such as Internet data centers, service distribution nodes and storage area networks, have been recognized as critical to the deployment of a number of next generation standards - whether they're dedicated to a private company or institution or occupied by one or more service providers.
As of June 2001, a new Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) Engineering Committee TR-42 working group was established on Network Distribution Nodes. This addition resulted from recommendations of a study group, showing clear support for creation of a standard that addresses facilities with primary focus on information technology.
According to the study group co-chair, Chris DiMinico, "The call for interest confirmed two things: that a need exists, and that there are companies and individual experts prepared to contribute their time and expertise to this work." The study group also recognized the need for rapid development of the standard. DiMinico adds, "The study group felt that the initial project should be completed within 24 months."
The scope of the working group will include topologies and performance for copper and fiber cabling, and other aspects of the IT infrastructure that will enable these facilities to rapidly deploy new technologies, such as emerging 10 Gb/s networks. Requirements will consider the need for flexibility, scalability, reliability and space management.
According to TR-42 chair Paul Kish, "Each new standard that TR-42 has set-out to create has attracted new members whose expertise and professionalism provide a new dimension to our engineering committee and subcommittees. We expect that the same will be true of this new initiative."
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