NORDX/CDT (nordx.com), a wholly owned subsidiary of Cable Design Technologies, and iTRACS (iTRACS.com) have announced a partnership by which NORDX/CDT will license, manufacture, market and distribute intelligent cable-management systems based on iTRACS technology.
The intelligent system will consist of NORDX/CDT hardware—including patch panels, cords—and iTRACS Analyzer monitoring equipment.
The system is part of NORDX/CDT's IBDN line of cabling systems. At press time, "IntelIMAC" was the leading candidate for the system's brand name. "We have taken our top-of-the-line GigaFlex products and incorporated iTRACS technology into them," explains Andre Mouton, NORDX/CDT's product line manager for the system.
Mouton emphasizes that under the terms of the partnership, NORDX/CDT and iTRACS will market the system together. NORDX/CDT will market and support the system's hardware—including patch cords, patch panels, and active monitoring software—and iTRACS will market and support the software.
iTRACS software monitors the hardware to self-discover the network topology in data centers, communications rooms, and wiring spaces. It automatically detects authorized and unauthorized changes, uses patent-pending technology to pinpoint wiring trouble spots, alerts IT staff to problems, and issues work orders or trouble tickets to initiate corrective action. All iTRACS circuitry is isolated from the network, ensuring that the system does not impact data flow or network performance.
Users can purchase the system with the cable-management technology built in, or can purchase components to retrofit an existing system with the technology.
"We chose to partner with iTRACS because of the company's expertise, and for three other primary reasons," Mouton continues. "First is iTRACS' global presence. They can follow us anywhere in the world that we have clients. Next is their experience, with both hardware and software, in very large installations. And also for iTRACS' commitment to technology development. The technology incorporated into the system will not remain stagnant; it will continue to develop."
IntelIMAC products were available when the system was announced in late February, being shipped on a project-by-project basis rather than through more-traditional channels. Mouton says the system is targeted at customers "with very specific needs, such as system security or protection."
Other industry vendors, including Molex Premise Networks (molexpn.com), Ortronics (ortronics.com), and Tyco Electronics/AMP Netconnect (ampnetconnect.com), also offer systems that incorporate iTRACS' software.
—Patrick McLaughlin