Adoption of Structured Cabling

Many network administrators keep hearing that the network is down because of some or the
other reason. Various researches indicate that in many cases, the network is down on account of
inferior cabling systems. And installing standards-complaint structured cabling systems can
eliminate much of this downtime. Another important factor that needs to be taken into account is
that the structured cabling system, though it outlives most other networking components,
represents just five percent of the total network investment. The structured cable is the only one
that needs to be installed to contend with the needs of telephone and data communications now
and in the future. It is a system that provides a very "structured" approach to the entire cabling
system—a single-mixed media network that handles all information traffic like voice, data,
video, and even big complex building management systems. In brief, it could be described as a
system that comprises a set of transmission products, applied with engineering design rules that
allow the user to apply voice, data, and signals in a manner that maximizes data rates. Structured
cabling divides the entire infrastructure into manageable blocks and then attempts to integrate
these blocks to produce the high-performance networks that we have now come to rely on. To
the user, this means investment protection. In addition to investment protection, structured
cabling also provides administrative and management capabilities. All cables originating from
the different work locations are terminated on a passive centralized cross-connect in the network
room. Simple labeling and colouring mechanisms provide for easy and quick identification of
work outlets. Hence, it provides for a single point for all administrative and management
requirements. Another underlying factor is management of change. It must be realized that
system architectures keep changing as the system evolves. And the cabling architecture should
be able to change with minimal inconvenience. The provision of a central administrative panel
provides the flexibility to make additions, moves, and changes. The changes can be facilitated
with simple switch over of patch cords. Apart from this, structured cabling is also technology
independent.

The advantages of Structured cabling are:

• Consistency – A structured cabling systems means the same cabling systems for Data, voice
and video. • Support for multi-vendor equipment – A standard-based cable system will support
applications and hardware even with mix & match vendors.

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• Simplify moves/adds/changes – Structured cabling systems can support any changes within the
systems.

• Simplify troubleshooting – With structured cabling systems, problems are less likely to down
the entire network, easier to isolate and easier to fix.

• Support for future applications – Structured cabling system supports future applications like
multimedia, video conferencing etc with little or no upgrade pain.

Another primary advantage of structured cabling is fault isolation. By dividing the entire
infrastructure into simple manageable blocks, it is easy to test and isolate the specific points of
fault and correct them with minimal disturbance to the network. A structured approach in cabling
helps reduce maintenance costs too. Structured cabling system is fast becoming the norm for
small, medium and large networks

NETWORKING

Objectives

The first step is to establish the aims of network implementation. These might include:-

• Implementation of administrative and financial database

• Staff access to company records • Automation of letter, report or specification writing

• E-mail for staff • Staff scheduling

• General information automation (including library, plans, graphics and images)

• Learning or training aids (interactive software)

• Computer skills training rooms (word processing, publishing, CADD, spreadsheets, databases)

• Printer sharing

• File transfer

• Internet access (graphical, text, news)

• Access to centralized information sources (e.g. CD-ROM stacks)

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• Automate software updates

• Centralize application software

Choice of Software and Hardware

Before considering network requirements, the machines and software, which are to be
networked now or in the future, must be identified. The purpose of this step is to:

• Identify which software applications the network operating system and hardware must support

• Exclude software or machines that will be discarded for other reasons from further networking
considerations. After answering the following questions, it should be possible to identify which
PC's will initially be networked, and what existing "legacy" networks should be supported and
grafted to the new network.

a) Which software packages are proposed to implement the target applications?

b) What hardware platform (type, size and speed of PC) will be required to run the software?

c) Can existing computers be used, or will they require replacement?

d) Can existing computers be upgraded (higher speed CPU, add DOS card to Mac, etc)?

e) If existing computers require replacement, should they be redeployed to less demanding

tasks?

f) To what extent will expenditure on replacement PC's and software reduce the available budget
for networking?

Structured Cabling standards

Network managers face a difficult challenge when fitting up a new corporate facility. They must
ensure that every possible employee location is accessible to the corporate LAN, but they must
also ensure that each of these locations can successfully work with a potentially broad range of
new high 7 speed LAN technologies, since these technologies are rapidly gaining in importance
and becoming cost effective. The solution to these challenges lies in implementing a structured
cabling system within a new facility. Such a system must extend to every employee work area
and must be able to support all of the existing LAN technologies and all of the new and emerging

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high speed LAN technologies, since it is impossible to predict where within a facility the highest
capacity users will be at any time in the future. The group, which sets standards for structured
data wiring in the United States, is the Telecommunications Industry Association, or TIA. The
TIA 568A standard defines multiple categories or grading of structured wiring system
performance, with the category 5 designation as the highest currently standardized. The TIA
568A category 5 specifications are the basis to which many of the new high-speed LAN
technologies are targeted.

Highlights of the EIA/TIA-568A standards

Purpose

• To specify a generic voice and data telecommunications cabling systems that will support a
multiproduct, multi-vendor environment.

• To provide direction for the design of telecommunications equipment and cabling products
intended to serve commercial enterprises

• To enable the planning and installation of a structured cabling system for commercial
buildings that is capable of supporting the diverse telecommunications needs of building
occupants

• To establish performance and technical criteria for various types of cable and connecting
hardware and for cabling system design and installation

Scope

• Specification are intended for telecommunications installation that are “ Office oriented”

• Requirements are for a structured cabling system with a usable life in excess of 10 years

• Specification addressed:

(a) Recognized Media – cable and connecting hardware

(b) Performance

(c) Topology

(d) Cabling distances

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(e) Installation Practice

(f) User interface

(g) Channel Performance

STRUCTURED CABLING

Structured Cabling System Design Considerations

The six subsystem of a Structured Cabling System are as follows:

Building Entrance

Building entrance facilities provide the point at which outside cabling interfaces with the
intrabuilding backbone cabling. The physical requirements of the network interface are
defined in the EIA/TIA-569 standard.

Equipment Room

The design aspects of the equipment room are specified in the EIA/TIA-569 standard.
Equipment rooms usually house equipment of higher complexity than telecommunication
closets. An equipment room may provide any or all of the functions of a telecommunications
closet.

Backbone Cabling

The backbone cabling provides interconnection between telecommunications closets,

equipment rooms and entrance facilities. It consists of the backbone cables, intermediate and
main crossconnects, mechanical terminations and patch cords or jumpers used for backbone-
to-backbone cross-connection.

This includes:
• Vertical connection between floors (risers)
• Cables between an equipment room and building cable entrance facilities
• Cables between buildings (inter-building)

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 Backbone cabling is also known as vertical cabling. It offers the connectivity between
telecommunication rooms, equipment rooms, access provider spaces and entrance facilities.
The cable runs on the same floor, from floor to floor, and even between buildings. Cable
distance depends on the cable type and the connected facilities, but twisted pair cable is
limited to 90 meters.

Telecommunications Closet

A telecommunications closet is the area within a building that houses the

telecommunications cabling system equipment. This includes the mechanical terminations
and/or cross-connect for the horizontal and backbone cabling system.

Horizontal Cabling

The horizontal cabling system extends from the telecommunications outlet in the work area to
the horizontal cross-connect in the telecommunications closet. It includes the
telecommunications outlet, an optional consolidation point or transition point connector,
horizontal cable, and the mechanical terminations and patch cords (or jumpers) that comprises
the horizontal cross-connect.

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Horizontal cabling distance specification

Work Area

The telecommunications outlet serves as the work area interface to the cabling system. Some
specifications related to work area cabling include:

• Equipment cords are assumed to have the same performance as patch cords of the same type
and category

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• When used, adapters are assumed to be compatible with the transmission capabilities of the
equipment to which they connect. Horizontal cable lengths are specified with the assumption that
a maximum cable length of 3m (10ft) Work Area Components

Station Equipment computers, data terminals, telephones, etc. • Patch Cables modular cords, PC
adapter cables, fiber jumpers, etc. • Adapters baluns, etc. must be external to telecommunications
outlet is used for equipment cords in the work area.

Horizontal cabling

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Typical scheme of equipment room

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