Find Without Searching Datacentre Smart ID

Introduction

Manually picking out a single cable or server from hundreds was made simpler with traditional, analog labels. However, in today’s data centers, the sheer volume of cables and components has grown so rapidly that locating the right label can now feel like a daunting task in itself. Enter smart labels, which empower professionals to pinpoint any physical asset with precision.

Thousands of Cables and Components

Digital transformation continues to accelerate across various industries, and data center capacity is keeping pace. Increased demands for security, speed, and capacity have driven expansions, modernizations, and relocations of data center computational power. Moreover, the higher server and router port densities have multiplied the number of cables present in data centers to ensure all wired and wireless online applications run smoothly.

Current trends in data center evolution are making rapid and accurate network maintenance more challenging. Simultaneously, most applications have become mission-critical for businesses globally, leaving little room for errors or inefficiencies. Finding the correct cable to initiate repairs can consume valuable time that is often unavailable. Consequently, data center professionals require more flexible identification solutions to quickly locate and service any asset.

Efficient Interventions

Fortunately, advancing label technologies offer data center operators increasingly potent solutions to manage the growing number of cables and components. For instance, RFID labels allow professionals to zero in on any item, thanks to sound and/or visual cues provided by an app on an RFID reader or smartphone (with UHF RFID reading capability). Both portable and fixed RFID readers can activate all battery-free RFID labels within range and focus on a single labeled asset when selected on-screen.

With RFID technology, identifying the right server or cable for servicing becomes significantly faster, eliminating most of the guesswork involved. Additionally, the density of cables and components in a server room doesn’t affect the time required to locate the correct asset.

Follow the Lights

Perhaps the quickest method of finding cables and components combines RFID and LED technology. Most RFID readers can transmit enough power to ignite an LED light on battery-free RFID labels. Any labeled server or component will instantly appear on an RFID reader or smartphone screen, where it can be easily selected. As a result, the selected component’s RFID LED label begins to act like a blinking beacon, drawing attention and guiding busy data center professionals.

Secure Data on the Spot

To enhance the accuracy and speed of interventions, smart labels allow professionals to verify asset-related information precisely when and where it matters. RFID, NFC, and combined dual- frequency labels offer ample space to store both identifying asset data and links to relevant documentation about the labeled item.

For securing data, smart labels can be programmed to provide multiple layers of information based on specific user profiles. Unlike printed labels, RFID labels enable in-house specialists or management to access potentially sensitive information securely and easily from the asset itself. By setting up user profiles for tiered data access, sensitive information can also be withheld and protected.

Furthermore, all information stored in RFID and NFC labels can be encrypted to restrict access to identifying server data for the data center’s own RFID readers.

Automated Inventories

RFID readers are available in both portable and fixed configurations. While portable readers are highly convenient for quickly homing in on a single asset, fixed readers are ideal for providing comprehensive overviews in seconds.

Fixed RFID reader gates at server room entrances can detect any RFID-labeled physical server that passes through. They can maintain real-time server room inventories by sharing data with centralized systems. In essence, RFID technology has the potential to transform labor-intensive data center inventories into a simple matter of clicks.

Additionally, RFID reader gates can be easily programmed to issue a signal when a physical server or any other labeled asset enters the wrong server room. The same applies when the incorrect asset leaves a server room.

Too Hot?

Although battery-free RFID labeling technology doesn’t enable continuous monitoring, the labels can be pinged by RFID readers at any time and frequency. They can provide a series of data shots in quick succession. In this way, RFID labels equipped with temperature sensors can detect temperature spikes.

This technology offers a cost-effective alternative to detecting single-server overheating. By extension, it can help provide temperature readings for any mission-critical asset, as RFID labels can be applied to nearly any material.

Danger: Leaks

LED lights and temperature sensors aren’t the only technologies 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 encounters.

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 labeled asset’s status can be shared with centralized data center monitoring systems. The wet/dry threshold can be customized, 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 effectively addresses business needs involves more than just applying smart labels. A well-thought-out RFID concept goes a long way toward optimizing results and minimizing the cost of ownership.

Proper placement of fixed readers and optimal label locations can be challenging, and using the right technology prevents unexpected issues. Since RFID technology relies on radio signals, it’s crucial to use the appropriate ETSI bandwidth and 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 maximized in any environment to support meaningful business advantages.

RFID label technology also plays a role. On-metal RFID labels do exist and typically use a thin layer of insulating foam to enhance the label’s radio signal sending and receiving capabilities.

To achieve an optimal setup, including the right choice of labels, the right choice of readers, and their optimal placement, it’s best to consult a specialized supplier. They can assist in determining the best label location for each asset type and set up any fixed RFID readers needed in an optimal way.

Full Control

Once the optimal placement of readers is established and the best label locations per asset are determined, any data center can gain full control of its own RFID setup.

RFID print & program systems enable fast and accurate creation of additional RFID labels on-site. New hardware can be easily labeled with RFID labels printed and programmed locally. 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 to add or change information. Just like enabling tiered reading access, writing access can also be granted to specific user profiles.

Reliable For Years

Specialized identification solution suppliers can offer RFID-embedded labels that stay attached and remain legible for years to come. Regardless of how advanced RFID labels are, their functionality depends on how well they stay attached to your assets and equipment.

Labels for UTP, fiber optic, and electrical cables must remain attached to extremely curved surfaces without adhering to neighboring cables. Just like asset labels, they can be blank, color-coded, and partially or fully preprinted and preprogrammed. Asset labels can also feature a raised profile to maximize the neat, organized appearance and efficiency of any data center server room. All to maximize intervention speed and eliminate the need for searching.

If you’d like to explore our range of printing and labeling solutions, click here.