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TIA Issues New Telecommunications Infrastructure Standard on Data Center Switch Fabrics in Order to Support Cloud Computing Growth

Addendum to TIA-942 Provides Guidelines for Implementation of Switch Fabric Architecture

ARLINGTON, VA (April 9, 2013) – The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), the leading association representing the manufacturers and suppliers of high-tech communications networks, today released ANSI/TIA-942-A-1 Cabling Guidelines for Data Center Fabrics Addendum, an addendum to TIA-942-A, that specifies telecommunications cabling guidelines for data center switch fabrics and topologies.

Driven by the economic benefits of the cloud and the emergence of Big Data, cloud computing is growing rapidly.  TIA’s 2013 ICT Market Review and Forecast predicts that spending on cloud services will increase at a combined average rate of 16.3 percent over the next four years – putting more demands on data centers.

“As more businesses turn to cloud services to increase efficiency and cut costs, data centers will face increasing demand to provide 24/7 connectivity and maintain data security,” said TIA President Grant Seiffert.  “TIA’s new industry standard is essential for data centers to support the exponential growth of cloud computing and meet the future cabling needs for data center switch fabric architectures.”

ANSI/TIA-942-A-1 was created by TIA Engineering Subcommittee TR-42.1 in response to switch manufacturers’ concerns about the structured cabling described in TIA-942-A. The traditional three-tier switch architecture needed additional content to fully enable the newer switch fabric architectures for data centers that support cloud computing to provide the low-latency, high bandwidth, any-to-any device network that cloud computing requires.

“The standard describes the traditional three-tier switch architecture and several implementations of data center switch fabrics,” said Jonathan Jew, President of J&M Consultants and Vice-Chair of TR-42.1.  “For each of the implementations, it describes how structured cabling, as described in TIA-942-A, can be used to support the data center switch fabric implementation.”

In developing the standard, TR-42.1 involved not only users and cabling experts, but also experts involved in developing switch protocols and architectures.  The subcommittee also surveyed the data center switch fabric architectures implemented by many manufacturers. 

For more information about TR-42.1 and how to participate in standards development with TIA, contact Germaine Palangdao at standards@tiaonline.org.

ANSI/TIA-942-A-1 and all TIA standards may be purchased at http://global.ihs.com.

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 About TIA

The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) represents manufacturers and suppliers of global communications networks through standards development, policy and advocacy, business opportunities, market intelligence, and events and networking. TIA enhances the business environment for broadband, mobile wireless, information technology, networks, cable, satellite and unified communications. Members' products and services empower communications in every industry and market, including healthcare, education, security, public safety, transportation, government, the military, the environment, and entertainment. Visit tiaonline.org for more details.

TIA is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and is a proud sponsor of ANSI’s Standards Boost Business campaign. Visit www.standardsboostbusiness.org for details.

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