The widespread use of shared files and networks has increased the need to manage office technology. We discuss how to store communications equipment to minimise downtime
When it comes to hardware management the IT manager has to think about the systems being deployed, as different kinds of architecture will have their unique benefits and drawbacks. In this field there are two main options, open architecture (racks) or closed architecture (cabinets).

In the UK it has been standard to use cabinets to house corporate IT infrastructure. Cabinets are often seen as the secure option, as they tend to be lockable. However more sophisticated methods of security, such as the use of swipe cards make the locks defunct.

Within the modern communications room, servers and KVM switches have password protection, with locking bars available for vital connections and patch panels, making the area itself a secure environment.

Purpose-built offices have therefore solved many of the security problems that first prompted the need for cabinets. With these problems out of the way, IT managers and consultants have the option to use a more flexible and versatile storage method – which is the open architecture.

Open architecture provides instant access to equipment and cabling, enabling the IT manager to get at any problem without having to remove cumbersome panels and waste time. Moreover, open architecture takes a systems approach, and is designed to look after cabling as well as servers. Specially constructed open racks can be used to organise and manage cabling, providing an antidote to the nest of wires that often appears at the bottom of cabinets.

As IT infrastructure is the backbone of almost every business, being able to solve problems quickly and easily is vital; deploying an open architecture system could impact positively on the bottom line. As competitive advantage often takes the form of a company's e-commerce capabilities, network downtime can cost a company thousands of pounds (in excess of £50 000 an hour in some cases). Keeping this cost to a minimum is crucial. It can also be said that good cable management will provide a basis for systems to be quickly expanded or reconfigured with minimum downtime.

The hidden benefits
Escalating office rents mean that it's not just network downtime that costs money, but also office space.

Working on the basis that premium floor space in central London has now reached £100/ft2 per annum, it can be calculated that to house a single standard 800 x 800 mm equipment cabinet costs £5600 per year. This includes the necessary additional working clearances of 810 mm front and back, plus the space to walk around from front to back – on one side only – taking up a total of 5·2 m2.

In comparison, an open rack takes just up 2·9 m2, and if based on the same cost of real estate outlined above, represents a 45% cost saving per year.

Open architecture should not be just seen as another way to store IT equipment, but as a comprehensive business solution. The open rack is considered as a longer term investment; for example, its space efficiency and scalability allows extra equipment to be added to the network as it upgrades or expands. In contrast to cumbersome steel cabinets, open racking is made from aluminium, allowing it to be easily transported and quickly installed by a single engineer, saving staff numbers and installation time.

Another area where open architecture scores over cabinets is in showcasing technology. Showing investors or prospective clients around a well organised, modern equipment room, especially in the case of technology-driven companies, creates a good impression. Moreover, cabling engineers are finding that open rack installations provide a way to showcase their own professionalism.

Favouring cabinets is certainly a long-held tradition in the UK. However, companies in the USA have been supporting open architecture for many years as they have come to recognise the business benefits. For example, global companies such as Lucent Technologies, Novell and JD Edwards have been using these solutions for many years.

There is obviously a role for cabinets, but in most cases they do little to address the concerns outlined. Businesses now have a choice as to which solution to implement, and should take time to make a considered decision if they want to tackle problems such as downtime, ventilation and space.

Too few companies actually plan ahead and think about changes that might be needed, or things that might go wrong. Nor do they consider how the network might expand as the company does. Often companies don't even realise that there are experts available to help them, and as a result businesses may end up with a cable management system that creates more problems than it solves.

As IT budgets become squeezed, companies should look at the business benefits that different cabling and racking solutions offer. Installers and their customers must consider equipment storage and cable management, not as a one-off purchase, but as an ongoing overhead. It is one that could increase costs or revenues, depending on the approach that is taken. It is important that decision-makers invest in a cabling and racking solution that will house the necessary IT equipment successfully, as well as contribute to the bottom line.