At a Glance
Company
European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF)
Region / Country
Italy / Europe
Industry
Data Center
Panduit Solution
Singlemode OS2 fiber-optic connectivity
Multimode OM4 fiber-optic connectivity
PanMPO™ and LC connections in modular optical cassettes
TX6000™ Enhanced Category 6 U/UTP cable
Mini-Com® Category 6 UTP RJ45 TG Jack Modules
TX6-28™ Category 6 UTP small-diameter patch cords
Scalable Connectivity Powers ECMWF’s Data Center
ECMWF needed a high-performance infrastructure for its new supercomputing data center in Bologna. Panduit designed a scalable architecture combining OS2 and OM4 fiber, PanMPO™ connectivity, and Category 6 copper solutions. The infrastructure supports current and future equipment needs, simplifies moves, adds, and changes, and provides space-efficient fiber connectivity.
Challenges
- Design a complex data center infrastructure before construction was complete and final connection distances were known
- Provide high-performance connectivity for supercomputing systems supporting European-level weather forecasting requirements
- Connect equipment across a large data center divided into multiple operational zones
- Accommodate frequent equipment changes and future bandwidth requirements
Solution
- Deployed singlemode OS2 fiber for backbone cabling and multimode OM4 fiber for horizontal distribution
- Used PanMPO technology to support migration from 10G to 40G and up to 100G Ethernet
- Combined PanMPO and LC connections within modular optical cassettes
- Installed TX6000™, Mini-Com®, and TX6-28™ copper components for selected 1G links and cabinet connectivity
Outcome
- Connected the supercomputing equipment within ECMWF’s new Bologna data center
- Established infrastructure that can adapt to current and future equipment requirements
- Improved management of moves, adds, and changes within data center cabinets
- Consolidated required fiber connectivity into a Panduit rack-mount enclosure, saving half the space
Challenges
The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts is a research institute and 24/7 forecasting service supported by 35 states. Its supercomputing facility and data archive support the production and distribution of numerical weather forecasts to member states, while forecast data is also used for commercial and research purposes.
To address growing data-processing requirements, ECMWF selected the Tecnopolo in Bologna, Italy, as the site of its new data center. The infrastructure had to accommodate high-demand supercomputing equipment across a large site and reliably support weather-forecast data services.
The project team also had to develop the connectivity design before the buildings were complete. Precise distances within the site were not yet known, and the team was working primarily from drawings. ECMWF therefore required an adaptable approach using trunk and preconnected cabling without compromising performance.
“Having had a supplier like Panduit at our side, who followed us during the design phase and was able to suggest improvements, was an important added value for us. Panduit’s technical support also moved promptly to offer us quick and timely interventions.”
– Michele Toni
Senior Site Engineer, ECMWF
The Panduit Strategy and Solution:
Panduit developed a fiber and copper connectivity architecture aligned with ECMWF’s technical, application, and supercomputing requirements. The solution used singlemode OS2 fiber and multimode OM4 fiber with PanMPO technology.
PanMPO connectivity provides a migration path from 10G to 40G and up to 100G Ethernet. Its configurable gender and polarity capabilities help the installation remain aligned with industry standards while supporting changing equipment requirements.
Because the data center occupies a large area divided into several zones, Panduit created an architecture incorporating backbone links, horizontal links, and a main distribution area. Modular optical cassettes accommodated both PanMPO and LC connections to provide flexibility within the fiber infrastructure.
For selected 1G connections, Panduit supplied an end-to-end copper system using TX6000 Enhanced Category 6 U/UTP cable, Mini-Com Category 6 UTP RJ45 TG Jack Modules, and TX6-28 Category 6 UTP small-diameter patch cords. This combination supported more efficient management of moves, adds, and changes inside the cabinets.
The Implementation
ECMWF selected singlemode fiber for the backbone infrastructure, multimode fiber for horizontal distribution, and copper connectivity for rack and cabling applications. Panduit worked alongside the ECMWF team during the design process, recommending improvements and providing technical assistance as project requirements developed.
The operational phase began in September 2020, and the first supercomputer was connected in early June 2021. The project continued through material procurement and pandemic-related challenges, with the site remaining operational and deliveries being met.
The Outcome
Panduit’s fiber-optic and copper infrastructure connected ECMWF’s supercomputing machines and established a foundation designed for current operations, future connectivity needs, and frequent equipment changes.
The modular design provided an additional space benefit. According to Michele Toni, a single Panduit rack-mount enclosure accommodated the required types of fiber connectivity and saved half the space. The solution also gave ECMWF a scalable migration path toward higher Ethernet speeds while improving the management of equipment changes inside its cabinets.
The completed data center supports global numerical weather prediction delivered to ECMWF member states. The resulting data is also used internationally for commercial and research applications.
