FacilityBlog Moving as of April 11, 2008

As of Friday, April 11, 2008, all new articles for FacilityBlog will be posted at this new link. At 2,000 items, the original FacilityBlog has grown to such a massive size that it simply can't be contained in one Web site. Nothing has been lost or deleted, but all new posts will reside at the new URL.

So if you're looking for FacilityBlog, simply bookmark the new address: www.todaysfacilitymanager.com/facilityblog08.

See you there!

APC Introduces New Service For Data Centers

The global provider of integrated power and cooling services has introduced a Cable Infrastructure Assessment Service aimed at simplifying the process of data center transformations to 10 Gigabit (Gb/s) Ethernet network architectures.

This new service, specially designed for Cisco, supports the global launch of the Cisco Nexus 5000 Series. The Cisco Nexus 5000 is a line of Layer 2 access switches designed for data centers that provide high-density, low-latency, 10 Gigabit Ethernet switching, as well as a fully unified data center fabric integrating LAN, SAN and HPC traffic.

The APC Cable Infrastructure Assessment Service, available through Cisco Advanced Data Center services, delivers the resources, expertise and tools needed to prepare data centers to meet 10 Gb/s Ethernet specifications. Based on individual customer needs and requirements, APC’s BICSI certified Registered Communication Distribution Designers® (RCDD) will evaluate the existing structured cabling solution and recommend changes that will ensure support for current or emerging 10 Gb/s Ethernet technologies.

To read about ensuring that your network is ready for a changeover, see “It’s All About The Network,” which appears in the March 2008 issue of TFM.

Unified Fabric over Ethernet simplifies and reduces data center infrastructure. As organizations grow their networks to support bandwidth-intensive applications such as those enabled by server virtualization and I/O consolidation, 10 Gb/s Ethernet technology is becoming increasingly pervasive.

The APC Cable Infrastructure Assessment Service includes a broad range of activities to help customers deploy the Cisco Nexus 5000 Series and other advanced technologies in their data center environment using a lifecycle services approach. To find out more about the APC Cable Infrastructure Assessment Service for Cisco Nexus family switches, visit www.cisco.com/go/nexusservices or www.apc.com/techpartners.

The APC Cable Infrastructure Assessment Service for the Cisco Nexus switches is available immediately in the United States and Canada.

When Employees Criticize Supervisors

You've likely had coworkers complain to you about a fellow staffer, but how you handle these negative comments and complaints impacts your working relationship with your supervisors and your professional image in the office. Here are some suggestions for handling criticism of supervisors appropriately in various situations:

When you're standing in for a superior at a meeting: If attendees decide to air complaints about the supervisor during a meeting, you need to respond as effectively as possible. Take time to find out the reason for their anger, answer questions, clear confusion, and explain his/her position. Your overall mission is to support your superior.

When you're in a social atmosphere: Social gatherings are sometimes a popular forum for office gossip. When the gossip is about a superior, steer the conversation in another direction. If you're not able to change the subject, simply excuse yourself from the discussion.

When you're at work: Whether you overhear comments or colleagues complain to you directly, gather the information and try to find out as much as you can in order to respond appropriately.

While it's necessary to support your supervisor when others criticize him or her or spread gossip, you should make him or her aware of what's going on when:

• The criticism or gossip stirs up professional issues. For instance, gossip may be circulating around the office that could tarnish a supervisor's professional image.
• Your supervisor is able to take steps to correct the complaints or criticism.
• You're able to take corrective action to stop the criticism.

AHRI Awarded ANSI Accreditation

The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) has been awarded accreditation by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as a standards developing organization.

"ANSI accreditation adds value to our standards development process by confirming that our procedures meet ANSI's essential requirements for openness, balance, consensus and due process," said AHRI President Stephen Yurek. "In order to maintain accreditation, AHRI is required to consistently adhere to a rigorous set of requirements and procedures."

Many of AHRI's standards outline technical procedures for uniformly measuring the performance of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and commercial refrigeration (HVACR) equipment. Through the use of these standards and voluntary participation in the industry's performance certification programs, consumers can be assured manufacturers' performance claims are verified and rated uniformly to enable fair comparisons.

"The rigor of ANSI accreditation makes it widely recognized as a valid measurement of a standards program's credibility and competency by federal and state governments and governments outside the United States," said Yurek. "It also enhances the integrity of AHRI's industry certification programs, and improves consumer confidence in the performance of heating, cooling and commercial refrigeration equipment and components both domestically and abroad."

About AHRI
The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute is the trade association representing manufacturers of air conditioning, heating and commercial refrigeration equipment. AHRI develops standards for and certifies the performance of many of these products.