In the scorching landscape of small business networking in South Africa, the battle against heat is real. The demarcation point at a business is often a chaotic mess, a true dog's breakfast, where multiple links arrive in a metal wall enclosure. Typically, ISPs install an excess of inexpensive devices that are likely to fail. The problem is compounded when any device with Wi-Fi is a non-starter, as the enclosure acts as a Faraday cage, blocking signals. Moreover, the devices used by ISPs are often plastic dinky toys, like the Mikrotik hAPs, which use cheaper plugs resulting in a higher probability of failure.
Within these confined spaces lie crucial equipment—POE switches, FTTX routers, network video recorders, and fanless devices—quietly overheating due to inadequate cooling mechanisms. As the equipment's temperature rises, the consequences are twofold: a reduced lifespan due to premature failure or, worse, a sluggish network as devices throttle to avoid overheating.
The absence of proper airflow and cooling mechanisms exacerbates this situation. Often, fanless gear designed for smaller setups inadvertently adds to the heat load, throttling the CPU as temperatures soar. The solution? Retrofitting the cabinets with ventilation systems or installing fan trays can significantly alleviate the heat buildup. Additionally, strategically positioning 220V server/cabinet fans to facilitate proper airflow from top to bottom ensures efficient cooling, mitigating the risk of hardware slowdown or failure.
Here is an example cabinet fan:
In the relentless battle against heat-related networking woes, providing sufficient ventilation and cooling becomes paramount to maintain optimal network performance and safeguard equipment longevity in the demanding South African climate.
A strategic approach to these challenges involves addressing the fundamental issues at the demarcation point. This includes:
Quality Equipment: Replace the inexpensive, failure-prone devices with robust, reliable equipment designed to withstand harsh conditions.
Proper Installation: Avoid placing networking gear in unventilated metal enclosures. Opt for cabinets with built-in ventilation and cooling solutions.
Regular Maintenance: Implement a schedule for routine checks and maintenance of all networking equipment to ensure they are operating efficiently and not overheating.
Redundancy Planning: Consider having backup equipment and alternative paths for critical network connections to ensure business continuity during failures.
Solving Room Problems
Often the primary problem with demarcation points is the room in which they are located. Often there is no room air conditioning or comfort systems. The solution is to get some air flow going!
A good solution is a whirlybird if one can be installed:
If that isn't possible then install an extractor fan:
The most easiest way to get an inlet is to install a vent on the door:
Wrap
By addressing these issues, businesses can transform their demarcation points from chaotic messes into well-organized, reliable network hubs that support their operations smoothly and efficiently.
Ronald Bartels ensures that Internet inhabiting things are connected reliably online at Fusion Broadband South Africa - the leading specialized SD-WAN provider in South Africa. Learn more about the best SD-WAN in the world: 👉 Contact Fusion
