| Choosing the Right Cabling System | | | | make the decision on which type of cabling is right |
| When its time to choose a structured cabling | | | | for you, first determine how long you will be using |
| system, there are several factors you must take | | | | it for. If you plan on only using a structured |
| into consideration before making a decision. Cabling | | | | cabling arrangement for a year, using cat5e |
| systems range from category 5e to category 7a. | | | | cabling would be the best financial decision due to |
| Although a cat5e system has the lowest initial | | | | the low initial cost. However, if you are planning on |
| installation cost compared to cat6a or cat7a, you | | | | using the cabling system for more than 5 years, it |
| must consider the total cost of ownership. Initial | | | | would make more fiscal sense to use higher |
| installation costs include cost of components, cost | | | | performing cabling such as cat6a or cat7a. To |
| of labor, and cost of testing. The lower | | | | install a category5e cabling system based on the |
| performing systems have lower initial cost, and | | | | lower initial cost might seem like a good idea, but |
| the higher performing systems have higher initial | | | | you must consider all factors of the total cost of |
| costs. Depending on how long you plan to use the | | | | ownership of your cabling system. |
| cabling for, the total cost of ownership for a | | | | Factors to consider are: |
| lower performing system could end up being | | | | - Installation cost |
| more in the long run than spending more initially | | | | - Lifecycle of system |
| for a category 6a or 7a system. | | | | - Annualized cost of ownership |
| Cabling Life cycles | | | | - Incremental Testing cost |
| - A category 5e system cannot support 10g | | | | - Cost to upgrade |
| Base-T, and is limited to a 5 year maximum life | | | | - Downtime cost With a higher performing cabling |
| cycle. This cabling system will require replacement | | | | system such as 6a or 7a, your structured cabling |
| as 10 gig electronics become more readily | | | | installation cost is basically your only cost. Since |
| offered. Replacing a cabling system is expensive | | | | your system already supports 10 gig, you will not |
| and includes cost of removal of your existing | | | | have to pay for any upgrades or incremental |
| system, cost of the new cabling system, cost of | | | | testing. Also, you will not face any downtime |
| installation, and cost of network downtime you will | | | | costs associated with a system upgrade; all these |
| incur. | | | | are issues that a lower performing system will |
| - Legacy category 6 systems are being | | | | encounter. |
| considered for 10gig applications over a limited | | | | Based strictly on annualized cost, most if not all of |
| distance, giving category6 only a 2 year life cycle | | | | the savings collected from installing lower |
| advantage over category5e, with a life cycle of 7 | | | | performing structured cabling with a lower |
| years. That being the case, you must take into | | | | installation cost up front are lost over the life |
| consideration how far your structured cabling | | | | cycle of that cabling system. This is true even |
| needs extend. If they exceed the distance | | | | prior to taking into account the incremental cost |
| restrictions of legacy cat6, you will need to | | | | to upgrade, going from 10 /100 to 1 gigabit. |
| choose an alternate cabling system. | | | | Invest in cabling that has a life cycle that matches |
| - Category6a cabling systems can support 10g | | | | your needs as far as how long you will be using it |
| Base-T with a 10 year life cycle. This cabling | | | | for. Structured cabling is potentially the most |
| system will support 10gig applications without the | | | | costly and difficult element of your network to |
| length restrictions of legacy cat6. | | | | replace, so choosing the right one for you is |
| - Category 7a is expected to support applications | | | | critical. It is better to spend the extra money in |
| beyond 10gig Ethernet extending its life cycle to | | | | the beginning than to have recurring costs to |
| 15 years. This is currently the most advanced | | | | upgrade and test your system, costing you much |
| structured cabling available. However, it is also the | | | | more in the long run. |
| most costly at the initial time of purchase. To | | | | |