The Minimum and the Recommended Requirements in Deploying LAN Cabling

LAN cables are the Ethernet transmission medianetworking environments.
connecting network devices in the computerCoaxial LAN Cables
network environment. A well-designed computerCoaxial LAN Cables are used for 10Base2 and
network cabling can be a critical task of making a10Base5 Ethernet in years past. 10Base5 was
LAN network more manageable and available.referred to as thicknet, and 10Base2 was
High speed LANs are required in order to providereferred to as thinnet because 10Base5 used
the scalable bandwidth necessary to supportthicker coaxial LAN Cables, they are regarded as
current and future network applications andlegacy Computer Network Cable.
services. Structured cabling provides LANCoaxial LAN Cables are which the original Ethernet
connectivity at Fast Ethernet (100 Mbps) andnetwork technology is based on, it can extend up
potentially Gigabit speeds using current standardsto 500 meters per segment, but maximum speed
based UTP wiring. Fiber optic cabling allowsis 10 Mbps. Today coaxial LAN Cables is not
transmission across LAN backbone connections atpopular anymore.
Gigabit Ethernet (GE) and future 10GE/100GEUTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair) and STP (Shielded
speeds.twisted pair)
In order to make a well-designed computerThere are two types of copper-wire: UTP and
network cabling, the following lists the minimumUTP. UTP LAN Cables is the most popular for
and the recommended requirements when youComputer cabling; it contains 4 pairs of color
deploy LAN cabling for your computer network.coded plastic insulation. The grade of the cable is
Minimum requirements:identified by the number of Twists per inch, the
· All the structured cabling must comply withless attenuation, the less signal interference and
Certified CAT5 (category 5).the less crosstalk. You can go maximum to 100
· All UTP cable segments including patch leads,meters (approx 300 feet), if you go further than
wall and roof cabling must be less than 100that, you cannot guarantee - there'll be too much
meters in total length and should be CAT5signal strength attenuation. The maximum speed
compliant.of UTP LAN Cables is 1 gigabit for Category 5e
· Any legacy LAN cabling should be replaced withwhich is identified by the slightly higher number of
CAT5e cable.twists per inch with single nylon jacket insulation.
· Computer LAN Cabling must be documentedSo the grade of the cable is identified by the
and patched in a tidy fashion to a secure location.number of twists per inch.
Wall points and patch panels must be labeled.Connecting devices
The recommended computer LAN CablingHere is the rule, when interconnecting different
requirements are:devices - use straight through LAN Cables. While if
· Certified CAT5e (enhanced) structured cablingyou want to make an interconnecting the same
and/or fiber optic cabling.two devices - use crossover cable.
· All UTP cable segments (including patch leads,Fiber optic
wall and roof cabling) must be less than 100Fiber optic is the latest transmission media for
meters long (total length) and CAT5e compliant.Ethernet standard used in LAN Cables. The main
· All the backbone links that require gigabit anddifferent in terms of function, between optical
higher speeds should use the Fiber optic cabling.LAN Cables for Ethernet and electrical cable as
Less expensive multi-mode fiber (MMF)follows:
connections are to be used for segments less· Longer distance
than 400 meters and single-mode fiber (SMF) for· Greater monetary cost
segments up to 2 kilometers long. New fiber optic· Less magnetic interference, making it more
connectors should be either SC or MT-RJ typesecure
interfaces.· Can support up to 10Gbps
· Standard coloring should be used. Cabling shouldCertified optical fiber should be used for vertical
be color coded, adequately labeled and patched toand/or horizontal cabling where gigabit backbone
a secure central location. Wall points and patchconnections are required. All cabling should be
panels must be labeled.provisioned correctly and fastened securely in a
· An ongoing cable management process shouldnon-hostile environment. Gigabit connections for
be in place to ensure cabling is correctly patchedfile servers should be provisioned using MMF and
and is tidy.not UTP due to known performance limitations
The following are some types of Computer LANusing gigabit over current copper standards.
Cable that are typically used in the local computer