Enterprise-Built DCI Optimization: Strategic Focus

The digital transformation landscape in large enterprises, particularly in the financial and government sectors, has seen a significant surge in data volume, emphasizing its growing importance. This has led to a strong push from both businesses and government bodies towards the establishment of Data Centers (DCs). Projections indicate a fourfold increase in DC establishments by 2025, with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) in data traffic between DCs expected to reach approximately 48%. This surge in inter-DC data traffic is expected to double private line leasing costs, exceeding enterprise budgets and hindering digital transformation efforts. Consequently, enterprises are increasingly turning to leasing optical fibers to create their own Data Center Interconnect (DCI) networks. However, several crucial factors need consideration before embarking on such an endeavor. This article aims to explore the driving forces behind the rise of enterprise-built DCI networks and provide essential insights for businesses entering this transformative field.

Four Strategic Focus Areas for Self-Built Data Center Interconnect

Area 1 : Optic Fiber Direct Linkage vs. WDM Interconnectivity

• Optic Fiber Direct Linkage

Self-built DCI networks offer two solutions, with the first involving direct optic fiber linkage, implying one fiber per service. Here, a switch's 10 GE port can span 80 km through a fiber pair, adequately meeting intra-city DC transmission requisites. Initial DCI network deployment is straightforward owing to modest service volumes. Nonetheless, limited fiber resources and suboptimal bandwidth utilization engender escalated fiber, leasing, and maintenance expenses as service demands burgeon. Furthermore, accelerated switch port speeds curtail transmission distances.

• WDM Interconnectivity

The second approach gravitates toward Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) interconnection. Leveraging wavelength multiplexing and high-performance transmission technologies, a solitary optical fiber can furnish a capacity ranging from 10+ Gbit/s to 10+ Tbit/s, spanning thousands of kilometers and satiating enterprise bandwidth exigencies for the forthcoming five to ten years. Unlike leased private lines and direct optic fiber connections, WDM interconnection facilitates capacity expansion via straightforward port or service board augmentation. Consequently, escalating service volumes and system capacities precipitate diminished per-bit costs for self-built DCI networks. Notably, investments break even within six months for bandwidths surpassing 40 Gbit/s costly leased private lines. Succinctly put, higher bandwidths hasten investment recovery. A singular hop site connection begets low latency and steadfast transmission. Ergo, an increasing cohort of large enterprises, particularly in finance and government domains, are turning to WDM apparatuses for DCI network establishment.

Area 2 : Ensuring Reliability and Security

• Reliability

For entities operating in finance and government domains, alongside large enterprises and non-profit entities, the reliability and security of DCI networks for Disaster Recovery (DR) and backup operations assume paramount importance. In terms of reliability, WDM stands as a time-honored technology with over 30 years of operational tenure, denoting complete maturation irrespective of lower-layer protocols and upper-layer management. WDM underscores the application of physics and chipset technology, mandating robust customer expertise. Alas, myriad enterprise clients lack the requisite WDM technical acumen. Consequently, opting for a qualified device provider — particularly one boasting robust Research and Development (R&D) prowess and an extensive track record of successful live network deployments — emerges as imperative for enterprises, heralding long-term partnerships. Devices must proffer redundancy protection for pivotal components like system control boards, power supplies, and fans to ensure stable operations. Leasing two pairs of optical fibers on the network side for 1 + 1 device protection is advisable.

• Security

From a security standpoint, WDM harnesses wavelength hard pipe isolation technology, markedly enhancing service isolation and transmission security transparent Ethernet data flow transmission. Additionally, WDM apparatuses furnish AES256 encryption functionality at the physical layer, encrypting services on a per-port basis, thereby ensuring data security.

Area 3 : Expediting DCI Deployment, Shrinking TTM, and Slashing TCO

• Efficient Deployment of Self-Built DCI Networks

Enterprises prioritize Return On Investment (ROI) but are increasingly recognizing the importance of curtailing Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) in self-built DCI networks. The demand for swift service deployment in the Internet era underscores the need for expeditious delivery. Traditional WDM apparatuses, while adhering to carrier telecommunications room standards, present complexities in installation and fault localization due to structural intricacies. Pre-installation site surveys often prolong delivery periods. However, tailored WDM devices designed for DC installation offer solutions without the need for extensive site surveys or equipment room refurbishments. Recommendations from providers emphasize selecting devices with high single-fiber capacity, integration, and co-deployment of electrical-layer and optical-layer devices on a unified platform.

• Optimizing Self-Built DCI Network Deployment

Enterprises, while profit-oriented, recognize the significance of curtailing Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) in self-built DCI networks. The demand for swift service deployment in the Internet era calls for efficient delivery methods. Traditional WDM apparatuses, though meeting carrier standards, pose challenges in installation and fault localization due to their structural complexities. However, tailored WDM devices designed for DC installation offer streamlined solutions, eliminating the need for extensive site surveys or equipment room refurbishments. Recommendations from providers emphasize selecting devices with high single-fiber capacity and integration, along with co-deployment of electrical-layer and optical-layer devices. Streamlining optical-layer boards further simplifies deployment, minimizes internal fiber connections, and reduces construction requirements, ultimately optimizing TCO.

Area 4 : Optimizing O&M Simplification and Minimizing Expertise Dependency

• Optimizing O&M Simplification

WDM systems place demanding technical requirements on Operations and Maintenance (O&M) personnel. Despite decades of technical innovation, these systems present various challenges related to service fault detection. An array of fault detection items and analog parameters adds to the complexity, increasing the pressure on O&M teams. Most commissioning engineers in data centers are IT professionals tasked with configuring devices from different vendors, leading to significant O&M challenges.

• Minimizing Expertise Dependency

As a response to these challenges, efforts are underway to automate and enhance intelligence in WDM devices to reduce the dependency on expertise. For example, the integration of an installation-free WebGUI enables hardware installation personnel to configure basic device settings and monitor fiber connections and device status during installation. This eliminates the need for extensive site visits and improves overall deployment efficiency. Automation in maintenance procedures, such as automatic service provisioning and fault localization, further streamlines operations and empowers IT personnel to effectively deploy and maintain the network.

Benefits of Self-Built Data Center Interconnect

Cost-effectiveness

Investing in self-built DCI infrastructure enables businesses to achieve significant cost savings compared to traditional leased-line solutions. By leveraging fiber optics and WDM technology, enterprises can reduce leasing fees, maintenance costs, and operational expenses associated with third-party service providers. The upfront investment in establishing DCI networks often pays off in the long run, especially as data traffic volumes increase over time.

IT Networking Staff Efficiency

Self-built DCI infrastructure empowers IT networking staff with greater control, flexibility, and efficiency in managing data transmission across multiple data centers. With internal expertise and direct access to network resources, IT teams can optimize network configurations, troubleshoot issues promptly, and implement customized solutions to meet specific business needs. This enhanced level of control translates into faster response times, improved service reliability, and streamlined network operations.

Flexibility and Adaptability

Unlike traditional leased-line solutions, self-built DCI infrastructure offers unparalleled flexibility and adaptability to accommodate evolving business needs and dynamic market conditions. Enterprises can rapidly scale network capacity, add new services, and expand geographical coverage without being constrained by the limitations of third-party service agreements. This flexibility enables businesses to seize new opportunities, enter emerging markets, and deliver innovative services to customers more effectively.

Performance and Business Benefits

Self-built DCI infrastructure delivers superior performance and business benefits compared to traditional networking solutions. With high-speed fiber optic connections and advanced WDM technology, enterprises can achieve low-latency, high-throughput data transmission across distributed data centers. This results in improved application performance, enhanced user experience, and increased productivity for employees and customers alike. Additionally, consolidating data traffic onto a unified network architecture simplifies management, enhances security, reduces complexity, and further drives business value.

FS 400G Coherent Optical Module Solution

FS's 400G Coherent Optical Module Solution for Metro Optical Transmission not only addresses the challenges of modern Internet traffic but also presents significant benefits for Enterprise-Built DCI (Data Center Interconnect). By seamlessly addressing the soaring demand for fiber optic transceiver modules amidst exponential Internet usage growth, FS's solution offers a strategic advantage in constructing robust DCI networks. Unlike traditional fiber optic modules struggling with bandwidth and long-distance transmission requirements, FS's solution ensures efficient and high-capacity transmission, leveraging standardized open DCI solutions with high signal-to-noise ratio tolerance. This optimal utilization of optical fiber resources is essential for building reliable and scalable DCI networks.

Moreover, FS's solution provides flexible networking capabilities supporting various modulation modes, catering to diverse networking scenarios typical in enterprise environments. Whether it's point-to-point, single-span, or multi-span setups, FS's solution enhances flexibility and reliability, crucial for Enterprise-Built DCI optimization. Furthermore, by supporting multiple service types such as OTUCn, OTU4, and Ethernet, FS's solution effectively meets complex business requirements while reducing equipment complexity, thereby streamlining the deployment and management of Enterprise-Built DCI networks.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the surge in data volume is driving enterprises, particularly in finance and government sectors, to establish Data Centers (DCs) and interconnect them efficiently. Self-built DCI networks, utilizing optic fiber direct linkage or WDM interconnectivity, offer scalable, cost-effective solutions. Ensuring reliability, security, and streamlined deployment processes are critical. Benefits include cost savings, improved IT staff efficiency, flexibility, and enhanced performance, positioning enterprises for effective digital transformation in the evolving business landscape.