Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
On the other hand, if you install cable for someone else, you will want to make
sure that the installation will stand the test of time. Your reputation is on the line,
and you may be responsible for repairs should failures occur at some later time.
A very good philosophy is to install LAN cabling in such a manner that, when
network problems occur, it will
never
be the cable system that is at fault. If you
adhere to this guideline, you will save countless hours of tedious and expensive trou-
bleshooting. Even though wiring components are relatively simple physical devices,
they have technically sophisticated operating characteristics that require expensive
equipment and trained technicians to troubleshoot. The performance issues are
greatly compounded if you use the wiring to its maximum capability.
Because many companies with LAN installations do not have access to sophis-
ticated wire test equipment, many LAN managers start troubleshooting a problem
by looking at the servers, routers, hubs, and workstations connected to the cabling
system. They check the configurations of network software, drivers, and applica-
tions. They may even change out hardware, including computers, printers, hub
cards, or whatever seems to be related to the problem. After all that thrashing
about, you never want the cable to be at fault. Too much emotional and physical
energy has been tied up in troubleshooting by the time they get to the cable. It had
better not be a cable fault!
So, to prevent all of this energy from getting expended at you, just make cer-
tain the cable system is done right. Proper installation of LAN wiring has become
considerably more difficult as LAN speeds push upward. You should install all your
wire in accordance with the latest standards, particularly those that address cable
routing, telecommunications room locations, handling of the cable itself, and work-
manship.
Proper planning, components, installation practices, and workmanship will
make your cable system installation both reliable and maintainable.
The Structure of Cabling
The concept of
Structured Cabling
is basic to the philosophy of modern LAN
wiring. Structured Cabling is a hierarchical system of wiring structures that are
designed to distribute connectivity from a central concentration point, through
intermediate concentration points, to individual workstation locations.
With the higher speeds of today's networks, it is recognized that the total
length of cable that connects from the hub to a workstation or other device has a
finite maximum length. The entire networking system must therefore be broken up
into chunks that allow workstation (or station) wire to be concentrated, with each
cable length short enough to support the desired data rate. Structured wiring stan-
