PON has seen a significant evolution over recent years, Ciena’s Wayne Hickey reflects on an exciting new area and data center out-of-band management (DCOM).
PON isn’t just for broadband anymore. With its winning mix of low cost, easy scalability, and simple design, passive optical networking is powering everything from campus networks to next‑gen broadband—and it’s making big waves in the data center. Fast, efficient, sustainable… this is the future of connectivity.
Ready for the next big thing? Let’s talk DCOM.
Revolutionizing data centers: PON for efficiency and sustainability
Data centers are the backbone of our digital world, but they’re under increasing pressure to reduce their environmental footprint while meeting skyrocketing compute demands. As demand for AI and cloud services accelerates, so does the need for efficient data center operations, disaster recovery, device bootstrapping, remote troubleshooting, and secure lifecycle management. Out-of-band (OOB) management uses a separate network for remote access and control of data center devices (servers, storage, etc.) via management (Ethernet) and/or console ports (RS232) even if the main network is down, enabling remote configuration, troubleshooting, and maintenance.
Traditional OOB approaches have become outdated—burdened by manual setups, rigid designs, power inefficiency, and complex, fragmented workflows that are ill-suited for modern AI-driven environments, also consuming a significant portion of the precious real estate in Data Centers.
Enter PON—a technology that’s rewriting the rules for efficiency and sustainability in data center design and operations.
PON can help data centers optimize space, power, and cabling. Key benefits include:
- Space and Power Reduction: Streamlining infrastructure to save energy and physical space.
- Modular Design: Scaling capacity as needed, without waste.
- Shared Infrastructure Usage: Maximizing resource efficiency for multi-tenant environments.
- Advanced Telemetry: Enabling smarter monitoring and management for peak performance.
PON supports sustainability goals by minimizing energy use and material consumption, helping reduce the environmental footprint of data center builds. If you’re looking for ways to make your data center smarter, greener, and more efficient, Ciena’s data center out-of-band management (DCOM) solution can help.
Ciena’s DCOM solution delivers the same capabilities at greater scale using simpler devices. With a fully automated design, it
streamlines planning, minimizes workflows, and enhances operational efficiency. Leveraging a modern PON-based architecture, it is ideally suited for AI-driven data center OOB management—reducing stages, equipment platforms, cooling, space, and power requirements. Its flexible design enables per-rack management isolation, efficient port utilization, and simplified configuration, all while lowering TCO through reduced equipment, space, active components, and resource needs.
On this episode, Mike “MJ” Joseph, who manages the infrastructure network engineering team at Meta, joins Ciena’s Mark Bieberich to discuss innovation in out-of-band (OOB) management networks.
Join us at Network X
PON technology has advanced tremendously, and we’re excited to continue that journey at Network X. There, you’ll hear from myself and Furqan Haq, who are passionate about helping organizations unlock the full potential of PON.
Join us for an exclusive workshop where we’ll unpack the latest breakthroughs in PON technology – and explore how it’s transforming industries worldwide.
If you’re a data center architect, this is your chance to gain practical, ready-to-use insights that can revolutionize your data center infrastructure management (DCIM) and future-proof your operations.
You’ll walk away with:
- A front-row look at how PON is driving unprecedented efficiency, lowering operational costs, and advancing sustainability in data centers.
Don’t miss this opportunity to see where the future is headed – and how you can lead the way.
I’m excited about attending and can’t wait to see you there! Swing by Ciena’s booth for updates and insights, and let’s collaborate to build the networks of tomorrow today.
PON and beyond
PON is more than just a technology—it’s a smarter, faster, and greener way to build the networks that connect our world! Whether you’re already familiar with PON or just starting to explore its potential, it’s an exciting time to learn, share ideas, and connect with others who are passionate about the future of networking.