GLENVIEW, Ill., March 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Anixter, a leading global supplier of communications products used to connect video, voice, data and security systems, announced today its lineup of industry experts that will participate in its 2009 Seminar Series: Solving the Data Center Optimization Puzzle. The seminars will bring together leading industry experts from across the country to share best practices and discuss future trends around data center security, infrastructure and sustainability. An innovative video presentation focusing on data center optimization will be broadcast in movie theaters in 10 cities across the U.S. The seminars will also give attendees a chance to participate in live discussions with industry experts. Speakers from IBM, the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), the Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and Security Technology Executive magazine will participate in the live panel. Many industry-leading manufacturers will also be present for networking. Topics covered will be those that are most pressing to contractors, integrators, end-users, architects, consultants and engineers--from sustainability and the green movement to physical security and data center infrastructure. "As economic times are changing, organizations are looking for ways to save money and ensure their network is running efficiently," said Andy Jimenez, Anixter's Vice President of Technology for Enterprise Cabling Solutions. "These seminars were designed to help give customers some of the tools and best practices to make certain that the nerve center of their organization -- their data center -- is reliable, efficient, secure and sustainable." When designing a data center, applying industry standards is essential in creating an infrastructure that supports an organization's growing network needs. "Data center bandwidth requirements are escalating to 40 gigabit and 100 gigabit requirements. To account for increased bandwidth needs, a standard around 100 Gigabit Ethernet is currently in development within the IEEE," said Chris DiMinico, a key member of the IEEE and President of MC Communications. According to Steve Lasky, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of Security Technology Executive magazine, convergence is an economy of scale that provides a tangible return on investment. "The convergence of physical and logical security affects the data center in several areas. Now that we have video intelligence built into the networks, we are able to audit the breaches that are of a physical nature better, but we are also providing audit trails for people that are manning servers and the administrative positions inside the data center." According to the EPA, data centers continue to consume a significant amount of the nation's energy supply -- an amount roughly equal to the electricity consumption of approximately 5.8 million U.S. households. The continuing increase in power consumption will dramatically impact business operations, energy utilities and the environment. Anixter's 2009 Seminar Series provides attendees with information to help design and secure an energy efficient data center to reduce power and cooling costs and streamline deployment. "We're seeing major trends around the whole green movement," said Steve Sams, IBM's Vice President of Site and Facilities Services. "This trend is causing customers to increase their spending. Two thirds of them want to focus their spending on where there is a significant return on their investment. For every dollar we save on energy, we find an equivalent four to six dollars of savings in other operational costs." Attendees will have the opportunity to interact with leading infrastructure and security manufacturers, and to take advantage of the new theater setting, guests will be treated to a private screening of a current blockbuster movie following the event. Guests will also be given two free movie passes for use at a later date. Dates include Orange, CA (April 9); Union City, CA (April 16); Atlanta, GA (April 23); Phoenix, AZ (April 30); New York, NY (May 14); Raleigh, NC (May 21); Orlando, FL (June 4); Houston, TX (June 11); Chicago, IL (June 18); and Boston, MA (June 25). To register for Anixter's 2009 Seminar Series: Solving the Data Center Optimization Puzzle, visit http://www.anixter.com/events or call 1.800.ANIXTER. About Anixter Anixter International is a leading global distributor of communications products, electrical and electronic wire and cable, fasteners and other small parts. The company adds value to the distribution process by providing its customers access to 1) innovative inventory management programs; 2) more than 425,000 products and over $1 billion in inventory; 3) 237 warehouses with more than 6.5 million square feet of space; and 4) locations in 271 cities in 52 countries. Founded in 1957 and headquartered near Chicago, Anixter trades on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AXE. DATASOURCE: Anixter International CONTACT: Dawn Marks of Anixter International, +1-224-521-8484 Web Site: http://www.anixter.com/

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