If you search on “data center” you’ll find many images that show rows and rows of equipment racks. The network gear in these racks need to be physically connected to each other, and that’s where pluggable optic transceivers come in. But you also need to connect the transceivers together with fiber optic cables. That cabling infrastructure can get pretty complicated, especially in larger deployments. In Episode 9, we start a new conversation with Brian Kelly, a fiber cabling infrastructure expert at Panduit. We begin our conversation with his background, and then we get into fiber cable infrastructure and connectivity.

– Pat Chou, Cisco Optics Product Manager

Brian L. Kelly joined Panduit in 2012. In 2014 he joined Corporate R&D as a Solution Architect. Prior to joining Panduit, he worked for 14 years in the Telecommunications and Data Center Colocation industries. Currently, Brian manages Panduit’s Network Architecture team, which develops Reference Architecture content for the Data Center and Enterprise businesses. In addition, he manages the Panduit Labs Network, which provides secure connectivity and resources to their labs in Tinley Park, IL.

Brian has written well over twenty technical papers that have been published on the Panduit website, as well as partner websites. Brian owns a Bachelor’s Degree from Illinois State University and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Keller Graduate School of Management.

Related links

Panduit cabling guides for Cisco optics: http://www.panduit.com/panduitciscofiber

Cisco Optics-to-Device Compatibility Matrix: https://tmgmatrix.cisco.com/

Cisco Optics-to-Optics Interoperability Matrix: https://tmgmatrix.cisco.com/iop

Cisco Optics Product Information: https://copi.cisco.com/

Additional resources

Cisco Optics Podcast: https://blogs.cisco.com/tag/ciscoopticspodcast

Cisco Optics blogs: https://blogs.cisco.com/tag/ciscoopticsblog (subscribe at https://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=CiscoOpticsBlog )

Cisco Optics YouTube playlist: http://cs.co/9008BlQen

Cisco Optics landing page: cisco.com/go/optics

Timestamps

2:46 Brian's intro

5:30 Panduit intro

7:20 Buying network gear and fiber cable infrastructure

9:28 Prior work together

11:38 Common questions

12:21 Connectivity

Music credits

Sunny Morning by FSM Team | https://www.free-stock-music.com/artist.fsm-team.html

Upbeat by Mixaund | https://mixaund.bandcamp.com