When it comes to choosing a data center, it’s vital that you opt for one with the best connectivity options for your needs. Connectivity is at the very heart of what a data center does, and the way in which that connectivity is managed has a huge bearing over the capabilities of the data center in question.
One of the most important network connectivity types is of course the cross connect. Essential to the day to day running of data centers all over the world, cross connects can reduce latency and improve reliability.
In this article, we’ll give you an overview of cross connects, explaining what they are, how they work and why they’re so important in today’s data centers.
What does a cross connect do?
A cross connect is a type of hardware used to connect different units in a data center. The term can refer to cables, cords and jumpers. When we talk about cross connect, what we really mean is the direct link between two hardware assets – a point-to-point connection.
When a cross connect is used, a direct link is created between hardware units. The owners of these units can therefore create private network links, with no internet connection required.
Cross connects can be used in a number of different ways, for a variety of purposes. For example, companies that rely on speed to excel in their business often use hundreds of cross connections between their servers, to ensure that their systems are running faster than those of their competitors. Trading companies typically work in this way to guarantee access to the fastest means of completing trades.
Cross connects are often used by cloud providers, when joining networks up to internet services providers. Other companies might depend on cross connects to ensure that they always have a reliable connection to global networks, allowing them to make use of affordable network solutions and redundancy options.
In colocation, cross connections give customers the option to connect to a main distribution frame. Patch panels are used to connect hardware, with additional patch panels mirroring the ports of the original. Customers typically have a second patch panel, housed in the MMR. Should customers require a direct connection between different enclosures, cross connects can be used.
Why do cross connects matter?
Cross connects can make a real difference to performance. Not only are they convenient to use, they’re also particularly powerful – far more so than traditional internet connections.
Issues like network latency and bottlenecks are easily avoided using cross connects. If a business needs a stable network with reliable connections to its partners, cross connects work particularly well.
Cost is of course a factor in all business decisions, and cross connects come out on top here too. They’re a cost effective solution in almost every case. If a project is particularly bandwidth-hungry, then the cost savings of using cross connects are significant.
Network admins are in full control wherever cross connects are used. This is important, as it provides admins with greater visibility and better ways of making use of all assets at their disposal.
Three reasons to use cross connects
There are many benefits of using cross connects. Not only are cross connects a cost-effective solution in the majority of cases, they’re also brilliantly secure, fast and reliable. Take a look at the top three benefits of cross connects below.
Improved reliability
Many companies need reliability that can be depended on – no matter what. If your server is heavily relied upon 24/7, cross connections are ideal.
When creating a system that’s resistant to downtime of even a few seconds, we use cross connections to limit the risk of failure.
Direct cross connects from data centers to cloud service providers means that the potential for complications is significantly reduced, which equates to far better availability and performance.
Reduction in latency
Increases in latency can have devastating effects for businesses, particularly those that rely on providing a fast service that outshines those of their competitors. When latency increases, data transfers are delayed, and this can have a real impact on customer experience.
Cross connects reduce latency, while also improving performance and traffic flow. They’re more consistent and reliable than Internet connections – even when we take the capabilities of fiber optic connections into account.
Distance problems too are no match for cross connections. So, if latency is causing issues for your business, cross connects are something that may be worth investigating in more detail.
Robust security
Data transferred via cross connects is secure, because it doesn’t rely on public networks. Even encrypted data is at some level of risk when moving via public networks, which is why businesses often opt for cross connects to strengthen their security and give their data an extra element of protection.
When cross connects are used to link private networks with cloud services, the level of exposure of any transmitted data can be reduced quite significantly. This is great news in terms of security, drastically reducing the risk of assets being compromised due to a cyber attack.
Different types of cross connects
Cross connects are available in numerous formats, so the best cross connects for your requirements will vary depending on what you need and how those cross connects are to be used. Different cross connect formats come in different sizes and bandwidth, with a range of distance capabilities and levels of connection quality.
Fiber: Available in Single-Mode Fiber (SMF) and Multi-Mode Fiber (MMF) these fiber optic cables use light to transfer data.
Ethernet – CAT5 Ethernet and CAT 6 Ethernet are ethernet cables used in cross connects. There is also an updated version of CAT5, known as CAT5 Enhanced, which has improved signal interference protection and 1Gbps bandwidth.
COAX – This cost effective solution uses an insulated copper wide to transmit electrical signals.
Copper – This is another cost-effective option, using heavy-duty copper. It has a relatively low bandwidth.
POTS – The Plain Old Telephone Service cable transfers analog signals via a copper cable. Its features are limited, as is its bandwidth, but it’s incredibly reliable.
Why we offer free cross connects
At TRG, we know that speed, reliability and security are top priorities for our customers. Many of the amenities available at our data centers come free of charge, and cross connects are just one example. Read more about our free cross connects to find out why we offer these – and why they’re so important to us. And remember, if you need any advice on cross connects or any other issues you might have, our team is here to help.
