INDUSTRY INTERVIEW: CommScope
Q: What do you see as the value of your iPatch Real Time Infrastructure Management solution for the military?
A: In the challenging, resource-constrained military environment of today, where the network is mission-critical, the SYSTIMAX iPatch Solution provides insight into a part of the network that is vital to performance—the physical layer. In a net-centric fight, the ability to monitor, manage and change network components in real-time and maintain situational awareness of the network can mean the difference between success and failure. In addition to providing interactive, real-time control over both copper and fiber connections, the Joint Interoperability Test Command-tested and approved iPatch system performs Simple Network Management Protocol auto-discovery of network elements and generates appropriate alarms whenever unexpected or unauthorized physical connection changes occur in the network. iPatch enables unauthorized or suspicious network connections to be identified, physically located and countered. This provides network operators and users the confidence that their network infrastructure is properly configured, reliable, and secure.
The bottom line is that the iPatch solution protects the integrity of the network, improving the efficiency and accuracy of network provisioning; reduces network operations costs; and enhances the mission readiness of the network, while detecting and physically locating network intrusions. It is applicable both in the network defense and network support mission areas.
Q: You emphasize your company’s role in providing infrastructure solutions that are engineered for optimal deployment of mission critical data centers. Have you been active with the military in this area, and what results have users achieved?
A: Through our SYSTIMAX family of products, CommScope Enterprise Solutions has provided network infrastructure to the military for more than 100 years. At the same time, in the data center, we have pioneered the development of intelligent solutions that positively impact network security and IT efficiencies. Due to the versatility of our copper- and fiber-based solutions and the wide range of applications supported in the military network infrastructure, CommScope is able to balance the competing issues of electronics cost, bandwidth demand, life-cycle management costs, HVAC requirements and electrical demand with the appropriate cabling infrastructure architecture. Our ability to balance these competing issues to deliver a mission capable data center infrastructure solution is a key component of our support to the military.
For example, our InstaPATCH Plus System is designed to support those areas of the data center that require rapid deployment of a high-density and high-bandwidth fiber solution. Insta- PATCH Plus provides pre-terminated TeraSPEED singlemode or LazrSPEED 10 Gb/s capable multimode fiber optic hardware and backbone trunk cables that enable the rapid deployment or expansion of data center capabilities. Meanwhile, the switch-to-switch and switchto- server connections often will utilize twisted pair copper. For this application, CommScope offers high-bandwidth copper solutions that are capable of supporting up to 10 Gb/s over twisted pair copper. Innovative solutions such as our Visi- Patch 360 greatly increases the performance and density of the copper connectivity while enhancing cable management and space utilization in the data center.
Of critical importance to our military customers, CommScope delivers these solutions anytime, anywhere in the world. Through our network of certified business partners and authorized distributors, we have routinely positioned inventory and provided trained personnel to rapidly respond to the needs to the military and other government entities. The result is that the warfighter can expect a consistency of network performance, design and support whether deployed downrange or in garrison.
Q: What is so revolutionary and unique about the new SYSTIMAX GigaSPEED X10D Solution? Is this relevant to military needs?
A: With a SYSTIMAX 10 Gb/s solution in place, the military’s communications network is prepared to successfully take advantage of the most bandwidth-intensive, infrastructure-driven applications of today and well into the future. This is relevant to the military since applications such as real-time high-resolution video, grid computing, multi-source collaboration technologies and consolidated data center/area processing center applications will demand this level of performance from the network. What makes this technology attractive for the military and other government entities is that deploying a 10 gigabit-capable network using GigaSPEED X10D allows the user to still operate existing copper-based electronics and NIC cards. Thus, the technology can be deployed to enable current and future high bandwidth applications without the need to perform a “forklift” upgrade on the existing network electronics.
Q: What are some of your other products and services with special applicability to military users?
A: You’re never very far from CommScope. CommScope is the world’s largest manufacturer of coaxial cable used for everything from satellite transmission to security systems to video distribution. We also manufacture the SYSTIMAX QPL Military ST fiber-optic connector that is used in land-based tactical, airborne and shipboard applications. Another interesting product that CommScope makes specifically for the military is the SYSTIMAX ROC Reliable Optical Card-Edge Connector system that is used on the Air Force F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft. ♦
Tom McNeil, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
