Structured LAN Cabling Overview

Structured cabling system is a type of cabling which is associated with hardware, it helps by providing a detailed telecommunications infrastructure. It serves a wide range of uses, such as to provide telephone service, printing, sharing documents, data transmission via a computer network.

Network Topology

The interconnections that existed between different computers in a computer network is what will termed as Network topology. Network topology can also be called to as Network Architecture. Under network topology, the devices that are present in a network are called nodes. Examples of such nodes are computer, switches, router etc. There are two categories of network typologies namely:

Physical Topology: This defines the physical arrangement of the cabling and the devices on the network.

Logical Topology: The defines the flow of data in a computer network.

Type of network Topology

1. Point to Point Topology

This is a direct connection between two computers. It is very fast and more reliable than any other type of connections since the connection is direct. The only disadvantage of this network is that it can only be used for a small network connection.

Bus Topology

In Bus topology all the devices on the network are connected via one cable. One computer on the network can serve as the server.

Advantages

1. Easy to connect
2. The topology is simple
3. Requires small amount of cables to connect computers
4. Require less cable length thereby making it to be very less expensive.
5. Failure of one computer does not affect the others.

Disadvantages

1. If there is a problem with the main cable the entire network will be down.
2. Terminators are needed at both end of the backbone cable.
3. Very difficult to troubleshoot when the network is down.
4. Only small numbers of computer can be connected under this topology

Start Topology

In this type of topology, each computer is connected via a central hub which can be a switch or a router

Ring Topology

Under this topology, the network is connected in a circular version. Each computer on this network is directly connected to the next computer on the network meaning that the transfer of data happens in one direction. The line of transmission is just a straightforward pathway.

Advantages of Ring Topology

1. Transmission of data is very fast since there is no bottle neck.
2. Packets travels in only one direction making it to be very simple.
3. Very easy to prevent network collision with this type of network.
4. It is less expensive to build.

Disadvantages of Ring Topology

1.Data transmission is slower because data packets must pass through every node between the sender and the recipient.

2. Very difficult to troubleshoot

3. They are not scalable network meaning that is not easy change the size of the network.

4. Wiring cost is high because they require more cabling.

Mesh Topology

In a mesh topology, each node are interconnected to each other.

Advantages of Mesh Topology

1. Failure in one node cannot cause failure in others because each node can work independently.
2. There will not be any disruption of activities while expanding and modifying the topology by adding additional nodes.
3. Multiple nodes can transmit data simultaneously.

Disadvantages of Mesh Topology

1. Setup cost is always very expensive.
2. Setting up and maintaining the topology is difficult.
3. There is a high tendency of redundancy in the connection.

Cabling Media

1. Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP)

An unshielded twisted pair cable is a type of network cables which has four twisted pair of cables.

UTP Cable Categories

Category 5 Cable

1. The bandwidth frequency is 100 MHz.
2. The supported technology is 100 Mbps Ethernet (100-Base-TX).

Category 5e Cable

1. The bandwidth frequency is 100 MHz.
2. The supported technology is 100 Mbps Ethernet (100-Base-TX) and 1000 Mbps Ethernet (1000-Base-T).

Category 6

1. The bandwidth frequency is 250 MHz.
2. The supported technology is 1000 Mbps Ethernet (1000-Base-T).

Category 6a

1. The bandwidth frequency is 500 MHz.
2. The supported technology is 1000 Mbps Ethernet (1000-Base-T) and 10 Gbps Ethernet (10GBase-T)

Fiber Optic Cable

We have both single mode fiber and multi mode fiber optic cable.

Single Mode Fiber Cable

In single Mode fiber optic cable, the small diameter core permits only one mode of light to propagate. And this lead to decrease in the number of light reflections created as the light passes through the core decreases, lowering attenuation and creating the ability for the signal to travel further.

Multi Mode Fiber Optic Cable

In multi mode fiber optic cable the diameter of the core is large and permits multiple modes of light to propagate. The total number of light reflections that is being created as the result of light passing through the core increases, thereby giving room for more data to pass through at a given time.

LAN CABLING REQUIREMENTS

1. Category 6 Cable

The cable standard provides performance of up to 250 MHz and is suitable for 10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX (Fast Ethernet), 1000BASE-T/1000BASE-TX (Gigabit Ethernet) and 10GBASE-T (10-Gigabit Ethernet). 

When used for 10/100/1000BASE-T, the maximum allowed length of a Cat 6 cable is 100 meters or 328 feet. This consists of 90 meters (300 ft) of solid "horizontal" cabling between the patch panel and the wall jack, plus 10 meters (33 ft) of stranded patch cable between each jack and the attached device.

2. PATCH PANEL

A patch panel is a number of circuits, usually of the same or similar type, which appear on jacks for monitoring, interconnecting, and testing circuits in a convenient, flexible manner.

3. RJ-45 CONNECTOR

The 8 position 8 contact (8P8C) connector is a modular connector commonly used to terminate twisted pair and multi-conductor flat cable. 

4. MODULE AND NETWORK WALL FACE PLATE

A module is a standardized snap-in package for mounting a variety of low-voltage electrical jacks or optical connectors into a wall plate, face plate, surface-mount box, or a patch panel.

5. RACK

A computer rack (commonly called a rack) is a metal frame used to hold various hardware devices such as servers, hard disk drives, modems and other electronic equipment. It serves as housing unit for all the network devices.

6. Network Switch

A network switch is a computer networking device that is used to connect devices together in a computer network. 

7. Patch Cable

A patch cable or patch cord or patch lead is an electrical or optical cable used to connect ("patch-in") one electronic or optical device to another for signal routing.

8. Floor Plan

A floor plan is a pictorial view of computer networks which shows the distribution and arrangement of all the network nodes.

LAN CABLING IMPLEMENTATION TOOLS

1. Cable LAN Tester

A cable LAN tester is used to test the connectivity of a network cable. To make sure that all the required 8 pins are present at both ends of the cable.

2. Cable Stripper

A wire stripper is a small, hand-held device used to strip the electrical insulation from electric wires.

3. Crimping Tool

A crimping tool is a tool designed to crimp or connect a connector to the end of a cable

4. Punch Down Tool

A punch down tool is a network implementation device used in inserting wire into insulation-displacement connectors on punch down blocks, patch panels, keystone modules, and surface mount boxes .

5. Hammer

A hammer is a tool meant to deliver an impact to an object. The most common uses for hammers are to drive nails, fit parts, close trunk, forge metal and break apart objects. 

6. Set Of Screw Drivers

A screwdriver is a tool, manual or powered, for turning (driving or removing) screws. A typical simple screwdriver has a handle, a shaft, and a tip which is inserted into the head of the screw to turn it.