In modern industry, enterprise data centers are at the heart of the central nervous system that connects operations, data, and control systems. They are largely responsible for ensuring seamless communication across various business departments and remote facilities. Unlike traditional office networks, enterprise networks often face harsher environmental conditions, longer distances, and higher performance demands, especially in manufacturing plants, transportation hubs, and industrial complexes.
With the increasing adoption of automation, IoT, and real-time analytics, enterprises require connectivity solutions that go beyond consumer-grade products. Industrial connectivity ensures data integrity, power delivery, and long-term durability—even under extreme environmental stress. Challenges such as signal interference, network outages, cable damage, and inefficient routing can lead to costly downtime, compromised data, and safety risks. Therefore, choosing the right industrial power and speed connectivity products is essential to maintaining a resilient and scalable enterprise data center.
Here are five industrial components that enterprise data centers depend on for reliable power and high-speed performance:
-
Ethernet Cables
Some of the most in-demand features among Ethernet cable products in modern data centers are Cat6a bulk cables, Cat7 and shielded cables. Cat6a cables are essential for supporting 10 Gigabit Ethernet speeds over longer distances—up to 100 meters—and are increasingly necessary for future-proofing enterprise installations. Shielded Ethernet cables, on the other hand, protect signal integrity in environments with high electromagnetic interference, ensuring consistent performance.
Cat6a and Cat7 Bulk Ethernet Cables
L-com’s Cat6a (Category 6 augmented) and Cat7 bulk cables are ideal for modern enterprise networks requiring robust and high-speed connections. Cat6a cables support data rates up to 10 Gbps at 500 MHz, while Cat7 cables extend performance even further, supporting frequencies up to 600 MHz with enhanced shielding for superior noise resistance. Both cable types are specifically designed for installations where bandwidth, reliability, and future scalability are critical. With improved crosstalk performance and durable construction, Cat6a and Cat7 cables provide the consistent throughput needed for advanced applications such as real-time data processing, high-volume VoIP, HD video conferencing, and virtualization.
There are solid benefits to ordering your cable in bulk quantities and then cutting it to the exact lengths you need. Bulk cable can cost up to half as much as buying pre-cut lengths. It also simplifies long-distance connectivity, produces less cable waste, and allows you to build cable assemblies to the precise specifications of your environment.
L-com’s selection of Cat6a and Cat7 bulk cable includes options with solid or stranded copper conductors, various jacket types (CM, CMR, CMP), and shielded/unshielded configurations to meet specific installation requirements. Whether you’re wiring a server room or expanding plant-wide automation systems, Cat6a and Cat7 bulk cables ensure your network is built to handle current demands and tomorrow’s data challenges.
Shielded Ethernet Cables
In high-electromagnetic environments—such as factories, power stations, or transportation centers—unshielded Ethernet cables are prone to signal degradation and data loss. Electrical interference from nearby equipment or motors can compromise data integrity, leading to network slowdowns or failure. Moreover, compliance with fire safety regulations is a must in these facilities, and not all Ethernet cables are built to meet these standards.
Shielded Ethernet cables provide the noise resistance needed in electrically noisy environments. L-com offers a variety of shielded Ethernet options tailored to specific interference levels:
-
Foil Shielded (F/UTP): A single foil wrap around all four twisted pairs; suitable for moderate EMI environments.
-
Pair Shielded (U/FTP): Each pair is individually shielded with foil, offering enhanced performance in higher interference zones.
-
Double Shielded (S/FTP or SF/UTP): Combines individual pair shielding with an overall braid or foil shield; ideal for extreme EMI environments such as control rooms and power grids.
Additionally, businesses must adhere to flame rating standards based on cable routing and usage:
-
CM/CMG (general purpose): For general office environments where fire risk is minimal.
-
CMR (riser rated): Suitable for vertical runs between floors, with resistance to rising flames.
-
CMP (plenum rated): Ideal for air-handling spaces with strict fire safety requirements.
-
LSZH (low smoke zero halogen): Emits minimal smoke and no toxic halogens when exposed to fire—best for enclosed or populated areas.
-
Industrial Ethernet Switches
Traditional Ethernet switches are not built for industrial environments. They often fail under exposure to dust, moisture, temperature fluctuations, and electromagnetic interference. Enterprise networks in sectors like public transportation, utilities, and manufacturing need to operate 24/7 without failure—even in remote or rugged settings. Additionally, deploying cameras, sensors, or access points over long distances and powering them through a central location is a challenge without specialized infrastructure.
Industrial Ethernet switches are engineered for harsh environments and long-distance networking. L-com’s line of industrial switches includes 10-port, 8-port, and 6-port models, supporting speeds such as 10/100/1000TX 802.3at PoE, 10/100/1000T 802.3at PoE+, and 10/100TX Mbps M12 with PoE.
These switches offer the following benefits:
-
Rugged design for use in public transmission systems and railway communication networks.
-
Extended range—up to 1 kilometer of Ethernet and PoE over existing coaxial cables.
-
Power over Ethernet (PoE) support to power remote IP surveillance cameras, wireless access points, and IoT devices.
-
Reliable performance in building/home automation systems and long-reach IP surveillance.
-
Surge Protectors
Industrial networks are vulnerable to electrical surges caused by lightning strikes, power grid switching, or inductive load switching. These transient voltages can destroy Ethernet ports, switches, and other sensitive electronics—resulting in significant equipment replacement costs and extended downtime.
Industrial Surge Protectors act as the first line of defense for your network infrastructure. These devices clamp high voltages before they reach valuable electronics, protecting everything from Ethernet lines and coax cables to power inputs.
L-com’s surge protection solutions provide:
-
Inline protection for Ethernet, coaxial, and fiber optic lines.
-
Multi-stage designs that suppress transient voltages without affecting normal signal flow.
-
DIN-rail mounting options for clean integration into control panels and rack systems.
-
Power over Ethernet Solutions
Power over Ethernet (PoE) has become a cornerstone technology in modern enterprise data centers by allowing both data and electrical power to be transmitted over a single Ethernet cable. This eliminates the need for separate power supplies, reduces installation complexity, and supports devices such as IP cameras, access points, industrial sensors, and VoIP phones—even in locations without nearby AC outlets.
L-com’s PoE solutions include midspan injectors, splitters, and PoE switches that support various IEEE standards including 802.3af, 802.3at (PoE+), and 802.3bt (High-Power PoE). These products are ideal for large-scale deployments across campus environments, industrial automation zones, and secure surveillance systems. They ensure power is safely delivered without voltage drops, even at extended distances, and are designed to meet the demands of high-uptime operations.
-
Patch Panels and Racks
As enterprise networks scale, so do their cable management complexities. Without structured organization, patch cords become tangled, ports are mislabeled, and maintenance becomes time-consuming and error prone. Poor cable management can also restrict airflow in data centers, leading to overheating and performance issues.
Patch panels and racks provide a structured, scalable approach to network connectivity. These components help centralize cabling, simplify port identification, and enable easy changes or expansions.
L-com offers a broad selection of:
-
Patch panels for both copper and fiber optic cabling, helping consolidate terminations and route traffic effectively.
-
Rack enclosures that house and protect networking equipment in industrial or server-room environments.
-
Fiber optic rack enclosures for high-density applications requiring secure and organized fiber distribution.
About L-com
L-com is your one-stop shop for all the industrial connectivity products you might need for your enterprise data center. And don’t forget: We’ll fill your orders fast, with same-day shipping on all qualified, in-stock, online orders received Monday through Friday before 5 p.m. EST.
