Find Without Searching Datacentre Smart ID

Introduction

With the advent of traditional, analog labels, pinpointing a specific cable or server among hundreds became significantly simpler. However, in contemporary data centers, the sheer volume of cables and components has grown exponentially, making the task of locating the correct label quite challenging. This is where smart labels come into play, offering professionals the ability to accurately identify any physical asset.

Thousands of Cables and Components

Digitization continues to accelerate across numerous industries, and data center capacities are keeping pace. Increased demands for security, speed, and capacity drive expansions, modernizations, and relocations of data center computing power. Additionally, higher server and router port densities multiply the number of cables present in data centers to ensure all wired and wireless online applications run smoothly.

Current data center developments make rapid and precise network maintenance increasingly complex. Moreover, most applications have become mission-critical for businesses globally, leaving little room for errors or inefficiencies. Locating the right cable to initiate a repair can consume valuable time that is rarely available. Consequently, data center professionals require more flexible identification solutions to quickly locate and service any asset.

Efficient Interventions

Luckily, evolving label technology offers data center operators increasingly powerful tools to manage the growing number of cables and components. For instance, RFID labels allow professionals to zero in on any item using sound and/or visuals provided by an app on an RFID reader or smartphone (with UHF RFID reading extension). Portable or fixed RFID readers can activate all battery-free RFID labels within range, focusing on a single labeled asset when selected on-screen.

With RFID technology, finding the appropriate server or cable for servicing becomes much faster, eliminating most of the search process. Furthermore, the density or number of cables and components in a server room does not affect the time required to locate the correct asset.

Follow the Lights

The quickest way to locate a cable or component might just be combining RFID and LED technology. Most RFID readers can supply enough power to battery-free RFID labels to trigger an LED light. Any labeled server or component will immediately show up 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 function 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 enable professionals to verify asset-related information when and where it matters. RFID, NFC, and combined dual-frequency labels provide ample space to store both identifying asset data and a link to documentation about the labeled item.

To secure data, smart labels can be programmed to offer multiple levels of information accessible only to specific user profiles. Unlike printed labels, RFID labels allow in-house specialists or management to securely access potentially sensitive information directly from the asset itself. By setting up user profiles for layered data access, sensitive information can be withheld and protected.

In addition, all data 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 versions. While portable readers are practical 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 passing through. They can keep server room inventories updated in real-time by sharing data with centralized systems. In other words, RFID technology has the potential to transform labor-intensive data center inventories into simple clicks.

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

Too Hot?

Battery-free RFID labeling technology does not enable continuous monitoring. However, the labels can be pinged by RFID readers at any time and frequency. They can provide a series of data snapshots in quick succession. In this way, RFID labels equipped with temperature sensors can detect temperature spikes.

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

Danger: Leaks

LED lights and temperature sensors are not 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 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 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 meets business needs is more than just applying smart labels. A well-thought-out RFID concept goes a long way to optimize results and minimize the cost of ownership.

Fixed reader placement and optimal label locations can be challenging, and using the right technology prevents unexpected issues. Since RFID technology relies on radio signals, it is 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 interesting business advantages.

RFID label technology also plays a role. On-metal RFID labels 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 with the right choice of labels, readers, and their optimal placement, it’s best to consult a specialized supplier. They can help determine the best label location per asset type and 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 center 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 labeled 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 to add or change information. Just like enabling layered 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.

UTP, fiber optic, and electrical cable labels must stay attached to extremely curved surfaces, preferably without sticking to neighboring cables. Just like asset labels, they can be blank, color-coded, and partially or fully pre-printed and pre-programmed. Asset labels can additionally feature a raised profile to maximize the neat and efficient appearance of any data center server room. All to maximize intervention speed and find assets without searching.

If you’d like to take a closer look at our range of printing and labeling solutions, click here.