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(Editor's Note: This article refers to a video interview shot at Interop (News - Alert) 2010. To view TMCnet's entire library of videos from Interop and other industry shows, demonstrations and interviews in our in-house studio, visit our Video News home page.)

TMCnet had the opportunity to speak with a number of key industry players at Interop this year, including Anixter.

Andrew Jimenez (News - Alert), Vice President with Anixter visited the TMCnet media booth for an interview captured on video.

Anixter is a global infrastructure company, offering a large physical security solution, which is a key focus for the company at Interop. To be more specific, Jimenez noted that most security solutions out there are IP-based. The physical security market was largely antiquated just a few years ago and starting to see innovation.

 

Jimenez noted the company is seeing more and more IP-centric solutions. The advantage of IP is the ability to tie multiple systems together as it provides the ability to secure assets within the data center. The company aims to protect the migration path between IP and physical security infrastructure.

 

Anixter (News - Alert) has partnered with TZ to provide cabinet locking solution which secures a data center cabinet. These new solutions are electronic locking system for apps and cabinets.

"What makes it really different from other data cabinet locking solutions out there is that is works over structured cabling so if you've got cabling already embedded within your application, you simply install this solution within that environment and it will run in a more plug-in-play fashion," said Jimenez.

 

When asked about the fastest growth in the industry, Jimenez noted the physical security is the fastest growth as market is migrating toward Ethernet-based environments. North America is the largest region, but emerging markets are really adopting.

 

As for optical, there is a lot of work being done by IEEE (News - Alert); a lot of products at Interop are demonstrating new technology. Cabling must be a key focus for companies as cabling is in the wall for a long time, so you have to be sure it will support what you need now and in the future as a new technology environment is introduced every five years. At least three generations (15 years) of implementations.

 

Jimenez also talked about the future of the industry, noting there will be better penetration of Ethernet in non-traditional markets. Industrial automation and the Smart Grid - utilities, smart metering, connect all end-points within the public utility - are all key points of opportunities.

 

View the full video interview below (Apple (News - Alert) users click here):