Datech has installed a state-of-the-art IT network at the Chase Manhattan Bank’s global technology and operations centre. Andrew Emmerson investigates the system that they selected.
Bournemouth is not the first place that you’d expect to find the hub of a multinational banking organisation. But Bournemouth is where the Chase Manhattan Bank’s global technology and operations centre is based.

The centre was established about 12 years ago to relieve the bank’s City of London offices of all back-office work. Since then the staff there haven’t stood still and nor have the bank’s networking facilities. “We’re experiencing tremendous growth fuelled by business success at the moment,” declares Chase Manhattan project manager John Mugford. “Five years ago we had 1200 people on site and now there are more than 3000.”

The old Token Ring network could not handle the extra workload and so the decision was taken to install a switched Ethernet system, using a Krone PremisNET Cat 5 structured cabling network to serve Cisco switches and routers. This system will support the bank’s new desktop strategy “ChaseConnect”. Initially this was devised as a data-only network but as the cables have been extended into new areas they are being utilised for voice services as well.

Datech, a Nottingham-based company specialising in voice and data cabling, was called in to carry out the work. The company holds a NICEIC Grade 1 certificate in order to provide power wiring in connection with IT cabling work. It is a Krone associate installer.

Implementing the new cabling infrastructure needed the cooperation of all staff affected at each stage. Wall panels kept staff informed of progress and as project manager, Mugford made sure all went to plan. By way of insurance, the bank issued a 200-page ‘request for proposal’ indicating the requirements, testing and standards that had to be met, which Datech satisfied on competitive tender.

The installation work went to schedule according to Mugford: “Because connectivity is vital for the bank’s business, we couldn’t sanction any daytime work. Instead, all installation work was carried out at night and at the weekend. This was on a phased basis. We left the old system running until the new one was fully installed in each area.”

Krone PremisNET hardware has been used throughout the installation, from the 9000 faceplates, through to the advanced patching frames in the centralised communications rooms. Mugford comments: “We examined several suppliers’ equipment and decided that Krone equipment was the best for the job. It is now our standard choice, used at our other locations as well, and it’s what we stipulate on specification documents.”

All of the Krone components used are standard, although some parts of the installation are tailor-made. Where space is tight, patch panels have been mounted back-to-back in 19" rack frames, and outlet boxes have been designed to achieve total flexibility for moves and changes. The bank also specified its own design of connectivity pod, having three or four faceplates mounted in a metal box with glands for flexible conduit and a flange for floor mounting. The specification also called for 5 m of cable with each pod to enable relocation. These were made by Datech in its fabrication plant.

“With the system successfully up and running it’s easy to forget the effort that went into it,” concludes Mugford. “But the verdict is ‘mission successful’ and ChaseConnect is now an integral and vital part of the bank’s daily operations.”

No Wrongs Make A Right

Experience is showing that 100 BaseT Ethernet systems actually run at a fraction of their 100 megabit design speed. Recent reports state that for every 1 million bits of information sent electronically, 365 000 have to be retransmitted. This reduces the network throughput by nearly 40%. Fear not. Krone claims to have solved the problem. TrueNet technology is being hailed by the company as a cabling technology that actually delivers ZeBER, or to those of us not in the know, zero bit error rate. Using TrueNET technology, Krone’s new ZeBER-rated PremisNET systems are claimed to deliver the maximum network throughput. TrueNET technology embraces very close tolerance cable and connectors as well as completely new cable construction for patch leads, that reduces impedance variations to plus/minus 3 V. Keith Ford, market development manager for PremisNET says: “Other manufacturers have talked about the importance of impedance mis-matching but until now nobody has had the design and manufacturing technology to stand by the talk.”

Make It Data

The ECA has set up training courses for network cabling installations. It has appointed Keystone Training as partner to co-ordinate training which is Building Industry Consulting Services International (BICSI) accredited. Courses available include An introduction to lan distribution systems and An introduction to optical fibre networks. Both include hands on exercises in planning and connecting a network, together with detailed instructions in testing and fault-finding. Contractors can also gain BICSI Installer and Technician grades, as well as the highest grade of accreditation available – the BICSI Registered Cabling Distribution Designer (RCDD). Training course dates and costs are as follows:
  • Introduction to lan distribution systems – £350 + vat, (two days) 4-5 April, 6-7 June 2000;
  • Introduction to fibre optic distribution systems – £350 + vat, (two days) 2-3 May, 4-5 July 2000;
  • BICSI installer course – £1000 + vat, (five days) 8-12 May, 12-16 June, 4-8 Sept 2000;
  • BICSI technician course – £1000 + vat, 10-14 July 2000;
  • BICSI RCDD course – £2500 + vat, Sep/Oct 2000 (ten days). The ECA has also organised, with Wadsworth Electronics, the following:
  • Introduction to structured cabling – £150 + vat (one day course) call for details; Contact ECA Business Training on 01325 487829 for more information.

    • What's New in Voice and Data Cabling

    Mayflex’s Excel range of network cabling systems and components now encompasses fibre optic applications. These products comprise simplex and duplex interconnect fibre, loose tube or tight buffered internal/external grade fibre and fibre optic cabling assemblies including ST, SC and ST-SC/FDDI. Minitran, the specialist network supplier, is now offering Cat 5E and Cat 6 cables from Alcatel. LANmark Cat 6 cables feature a C3 (central crosstalk cancellation) construction to ensure that the performance of the cables is above Cat 6 requirements at all times. Anixter is now offering the Siecor MT-RJ fibre optic connector. It is designed as an interface of lower cost and size than the SC duplex coupler. The MT-RJ uses a plug-and-socket approach and it smaller than an RJ-45 plug.

    The Siemon Company

    The Siemon Company introduces the TERA plug and outlet module, a fully shielded balanced cabling solution that exceeds the proposed Cat 7/Class F specifications for transmission performance and shield effectiveness. TERA modules can be used to terminate 600 MHz, individually shielded 100V twisted pair cables.

    Connectix

    Connectix has extended its Connectix Cabling System to include equipment under the name of Networx. The range provides twisted pair and fibre optic solutions for small or large workgroups and lans and is designed for use with the Connectix Enhanced NET 5 and NET 5 twisted pair copper cabling and Optix fibre optic products. Transition Networks introduces the ‘Just convert it’ media converter line. The range is a suite of products that simplifies the process of upgrading twisted pair cable to fibre. The company says that the Just convert it range offers the same features as its full-featured media converters but it costs only half the price.

    Source

    Electrical and Mechanical Contractor

    Postscript

    Andrew Emmerson is a freelance reporter.