| What is cabling? Cabling is the foundation of your | | | | - CAT6a - An improvement on CAT6, CAT6a |
| network, it is the medium that connects all your | | | | operates at frequencies up to 500 MHz and can |
| computers and servers together and is probably | | | | carry 10 Gbit/s operations up to a maximum |
| one of the most important and often overlooked | | | | distance of 100 meters. CAT6a also improved |
| items in business networks. The process begins | | | | conditions particularly in the area of crosstalk. |
| by installing a twisted pair cable made up of | | | | - CAT7 - Backwards compatible with CAT5 and |
| twisted wires surrounded by a protective jacket | | | | CAT6. CAT7 introduces even more exacting |
| to connect data lines to a computer or other | | | | specifications for crosstalk CAT6 or CAT6a. |
| network component. The cables are run through | | | | Shielding has been added for individual wire pairs, |
| ceilings and walls, out of sight, and link a data | | | | and the cable as a whole to achieve this. CAT7 |
| phone drop to a patch panel, or other termination | | | | has been created to allow 10 - gigabit Ethernet |
| block often installed within a rack in a server | | | | over 100 meters of copper cabling, and is capable |
| room or telecom closet. Simply put, cabling is used | | | | of running at frequencies up to 600 MHz. After |
| to link together computers so they may form a | | | | you have selected your cable speed requirements |
| common network and communicate seamlessly | | | | you have to determine which jacket type is |
| with one another. | | | | required for your particular structured cabling |
| Anatomy of a typical office cabling installation: | | | | installation: |
| - The cable begins its run from the central | | | | - Plenum - Plenum is a type of cable jacket that is |
| termination point or MDF (Main Distribution Frame) | | | | not only extremely fire resistant, but also emits a |
| and extends through the building to an outlet. | | | | far less toxic smoke should it catch fire. Some |
| - The outlet is terminated with a keystone jack | | | | buildings and building codes require this as a |
| (RJ-45 jack) rated for the type of cable you are | | | | precautionary measure in case of fire. The name |
| using. | | | | plenum refers to the air conditioning, HVAC |
| - A patch cable is then used to connect the RJ-45 | | | | systems installed in buildings used to pull air out of |
| workstation area outlet (WAO) to a computer or | | | | once area and blow it out at another. If there |
| other device network capable device like an VOIP | | | | happened to be toxic smoke in the air, imagine |
| enabled phone. | | | | how quickly it could be pumped throughout an |
| - In the server room, MDF, or telcom closet, | | | | office building with some of these large suction |
| cables are terminated on a patch panel and the | | | | systems in use. With plenum jacketing, toxicity |
| corresponding numbers will be aligned to ensure | | | | levels after a catastrophic event like that would |
| easy identification. A floor or wall mounted rack | | | | be exceedingly lower than with PVC, however |
| (typically 19″ wide) may be used to house | | | | plenum can be almost twice as expensive as |
| the patch panel depending on the rooms design | | | | standard PVC. |
| and space requirements. | | | | - PVC - PVC is standard a standard cable jacket |
| - Finally, cable testing will be done to guarantee | | | | that is exceedingly cost effective if you are on a |
| everything is in working order, and certification | | | | tight budget. Although not as safe as plenum |
| testing may also be done to ensure compliance | | | | jacketing, PVC works at the same speed and is |
| with industry standards Once your office is | | | | the same quality of cable. The only difference, |
| properly cabled, efficiency is sure to increase and | | | | other than the cost would be that the PVC |
| any additions or changes to the cabling system will | | | | jacket material is extremely toxic when burned. |
| be easy to accomplish. So how do you get | | | | For standard home use, PVC might not be a bad |
| started? There are several variables that must be | | | | choice, but for a populated business office, or a |
| considered before you begin. The first is what | | | | large public facility such as a hospital or a library, |
| type of cable will be used. There are various cable | | | | PVC would be a recipe for disaster due to the |
| types and using the correct one is critical. As | | | | combination of HVAC systems and high number |
| technology advances, cable protocols are | | | | of people that would be exposed to the toxic |
| becoming faster and better. | | | | fumes. Another important factor to consider is |
| - CAT3 - An unshielded twisted pair (UTP) | | | | what type of ceiling you have in your building. This |
| configured to carry data up to 10 Mbit/s, with an | | | | will directly affect how the cabling will be installed. |
| attainable bandwidth of 16 MHz. Popular in the | | | | - Drop Ceiling - with a drop ceiling, cabling is as |
| early 1990's but now considered obsolete, it | | | | easy as sliding a ceiling tile open and running the |
| decreased in popularity due to the favoring of the | | | | cable through. This type of ceiling allows for the |
| high performing CAT5. | | | | cables to be easily hidden and is the least difficult |
| - CAT5 - A twisted pair high signal integrity cable | | | | to work with and is dominant ceiling type in most |
| that is capable of upholding frequencies up to 100 | | | | commercial buildings. |
| MHz. Within a category 5 cables are 4 twisted | | | | - Open Ceiling - an open ceiling requires meticulous |
| pairs in a single cable jacket. This use of balanced | | | | attention to detail being that the cables and |
| lines helps keep a high signal to noise ratio and | | | | beams will be exposed and time must be spent |
| considerably reduces crosstalk interference. | | | | to make the cabling aesthetically pleasing. |
| - CAT5e - An improved version of Cat 5 that | | | | - Hard Ceiling - If you have a hard ceiling, the |
| increases specifications for far end crosstalk and | | | | cabling job will be the most difficult. Cabling a hard |
| all new installation should be at least CAT5e | | | | ceiling is far more work than cabling a drop ceiling, |
| - CAT6 - A cable structure for gigabit Ethernet | | | | which makes for a more expensive and time |
| and additional network protocol that is backwards | | | | consuming job. Few commercial buildings have |
| compatible with CAT3, CAT5, and CAT5e. CAT6 | | | | hard ceilings, but nearly all residences do. Whoa! A |
| features stricter blueprints for crosstalk and | | | | lot of information, isn't it? What cable do I use? |
| system noise. CAT6 provides performance up to | | | | Where do I begin? What best suits my needs? |
| 250 MHz. | | | | |