Brand-Rex Launches New Global RFID-Based Intelligent Infrastructure Management System

SmartPatch removes the need for special IIM patch cords

Brand-Rex has developed a new advanced IIM (intelligent infrastructure management) solution for the world market.

Designated SmartPatch IMS and based on state-of-the-art RFID (radio-frequency identification) technology, the new system consigns into history the need for special IIM patch-cords. That’s because the RFID tags are simply clipped onto any standard Brand-Rex copper or fibre patch cord.

Launching the new system, Brand-Rex product manager Erwin Deeben said: "The importance of having 100 per cent available ICT services is business critical. This makes connectivity management business critical too. Our new SmartPatch IMS system brings to network managers intelligent infrastructure management that is highly affordable.”

The new Brand-Rex SmartPatch IPS solution comprise 1U or Zero-U network scanners, Category 6 and 6A copper patch panels plus LC-based single-mode and multi-mode fibre patch panels.

These intelligent patch panels take the established technology of Brand-Rex patch panels and add to that a small RFID antenna assembly - which reads the data in RFID tags clipped onto standard Brand-Rex Cat6Plus, 10GPlus, LC multi-mode and LC single-mode patch cords.

The simple RFID antenna assembly on each patch panel connects to a scanner module which conveys the real-time patching information to SmartPatch Connectivity Management Software running on either a network server or on Brand-Rex SaaS (software as a service) cloud software application.

Designed to maximise available active equipment real-estate in the data centre or comms room, SmartPatch IPS (intelligent patching system) network scanners can be located in a number of so-called ‘Zero U’ locations such as the vertical cabling space within racks, above the rack or underfloor and support multiple cabinets in a row or room, allowing flexibility in design and reducing cost.

A fascinating development of this new RFID enabled SmartPatch IPS solution is that the RFID tags on each patch cord can serve not only as an identifier, but can be programmed to store the individual patch cord’s performance test data - such as connector and cable type, cable length, return-loss and attenuation. SmartPatch then conveys this information to the central server making it available in real-time to network managers and engineers through the SmartPatch network management portal or through their network operations centre (NOC) system.

More information about SmartPatch IPS hardware and CMS software can be found at https://www.brand-rex.co.uk/Products/IIS.

Vendor agnostic software
Brand-Rex SmartPatch CMS (Connectivity Management Software) was launched in mid 2015 and provides the support system for the new SmartPatch IPS hardware. Unlike similar software, it is designed by Brand-Rex to be completely hardware-agnostic meaning that it can be applied to any network whether or not IPS hardware is installed or where hardware from multiple manufacturers exists.

SmartPatch CMS software suite is a complete end-to-end infrastructure management tool capable of real time monitoring of all end-to-end connectivity and can be patched into network management tools and physical aspects of the IT infrastructure. The software covers all elements of the network from the user’s connection through the building, data centre and the outside plant across campus and enterprise networks.

Said Erwin Deeben: “Many separate components of Building Management Systems have converged onto the single IP/Ethernet building network meaning, that both IT and Facilities Management need constant access to the network’s physical and logical details, integrating those components into the IT domain giving a full end-to-end overview.

“This has been an ongoing challenge in data centre environments for many years where IT has held this information and Facilities Management have not had access.

“Finally, with the launch of SmartPatch CMS Connectivity Management Software, Facilities Management, IT, networking and any other relevant departments can have instantaneous access to real-time, fully documented information.”

The SmartPatch CMS software combines all sources of information into a single real-time database which allows reliable tracking of connectivity, utilisation reporting and location of physical devices.

The software is totally hardware agnostic with the ability to integrate through an API (application program interface) into building management systems (BMS); network operations centres (NOC); data centre integrated management systems and any other software systems that the user desires.

Brand-Rex’s new SmartPatch Connectivity Management Software supports implementation of an Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL), the most widely adopted approach for IT Service Management in the world. ITIL provides a practical, no-nonsense framework for identifying, planning, delivering and supporting IT services to the business. The combination of unique features makes SmartPatch Connectivity Management Software an indispensable tool for managing your physical network and assets:

• Real-time monitoring and management of physical connectivity
• Integrates with IT Service Management tools & databases
• Network, Asset, Helpdesk & Facilities management systems
• Operates on multiple network/database platforms
• Supports Change, Configuration & Incident Management Processes
• Powerful reporting & search capability
• Extends existing network, help desk, management tools down to layer 1
• Modular build – s/w only – migrate passive to intelligent system
• Records all incidents affecting physical infrastructure
• Manage LAN and OSP connectivity

Possibly one of the most important and unique features of SmartPatch Connectivity Management Software is that it does not impose its own operational processes on a business. Instead it has been specifically written so that it can be used to supports and adapt to each business’s unique existing processes.

The software is available on a licenced basis for deployment on your own server or is available on a hosted Software-as-a-Service basis. Users access it via web interfaces on desktop PCs, laptops, tablets and smartphones.

For more information on the new SmartPatch Connectivity Management Software visit https://www.brand-rex.co.uk/Products/IIS.

About Brand-Rex
Brand-Rex, part of the Leviton group, is an established technology company, who designs, develops and manufactures high-end optical fibre and copper connectivity solutions for the data networking market and niche specialist cables for extreme environment applications. Headquartered in Scotland, the company is entirely carbon neutral and is committed to reducing its impact on the environment through carbon reduction programmes and offsetting CO2 created by the manufacture and distribution of its products. For more information, visit www.brand-rex.com.