Until now, many IT managers have had to work with painstakingly created notepads, files, or spreadsheets on their computers to keep track of data for each individual connection and between network cabinets. Reinhard Burkert adds, "Manually managed infrastructure is rarely easily up-to-date or complete, and it usually contains errors." According to a study by the market research company Watson & Fulton, manually managed data typically has an error rate of 10%. In their survey, consultants at Frost & Sullivan found that 20 to 40 percent of ports on a network become unusable over time, which can also be due to incorrect registration.

Manual management of data infrastructure no longer makes sense from a business administration perspective. Reinhard Burkert explains: “The investment in personnel and time is often too high. Furthermore, there is a responsibility to ensure an uninterrupted network. Sources of error are difficult to detect when documentation is inaccurate. International standards, safety regulations, legal requirements, service agreements, and quality management demand fully reliable network administration.”

R&M aims to help achieve this goal with its new R&M Intelligence Physics System. This system is based on two pillars: hardware for cable monitoring and an information management server. Data is recorded using RFID chips in plastic protectors, which are simply attached to the patch cord. These RFID chips contain identification codes and data about the connection type and its function. LED sensor bars are mounted on patch panels. These RFID chips are detected in contactless operations and communicate with other units called analyzers, which are integrated into the network cabinet. With this approach, the system monitors every port and every patch cord in the data center or network. LEDs indicate the connection status.

The analyzers communicate with the R&MinteliPhy Management Server. This software is installed on a local server or externally in the cloud. It continuously collects information about the network status and individual connections. The data can be tracked in real time with a PC or smartphone, allowing for the location of any incorrectly placed cables in a matter of seconds.

The R&MinteliPhy Information Management System is not only familiar with the current state of the physical infrastructure, but also provides a library for visualizing and planning network status. This tool allows for the management of network cabinet and network room layouts in any company and integrates this information with network plans or geographic location data. The software automatically generates updated connection plans when new equipment is integrated into the network or changes are made. Furthermore, patch panels not currently in use on active equipment are detected very quickly. With this information, companies can make better use of their infrastructure capacity and thus increase the profitability of their data center or networks. Many work procedures can be planned in advance with the help of R&MinteliPhy. New cabling additions or network expansions can be generated automatically, as can work orders for installers or cable labels.