Is Your Cable Able?!
Cable... no, not the TV, the structured cable running through
your building. While structured cabling may not seem as exciting
as a discussion about your favorite show on cable television,
what cabling solution you choose for a new or retro-fit building
is the single most important decision you can make when it comes
to your network design. Keep in mind that most servers and
desktops last an average of three to five years. Your cabling
system is built to last- if designed and installed properly.
There are several components that you, as a decision maker,
should be aware of. There are partnerships in the cabling
industry that work to your advantage. Existing between cable and
connection device manufacturers (patch panels, jacks, etc.),
these partnerships maximize the end to end performance of the
network cabling through testing of interference factors,
bandwidth performance and more. The list below is not all
inclusive, but gives a good sense of which partnerships are
available today: * Panduit/General Cable * Systimax/CommScope *
Ortonics/Berktek * Siemens/Siemens (they have begun to sell
their own cable)
Why is this important? Many of these partnerships offer extended
warranties (15+ years) for the cable (ex.-Berktek) and connector
equipment (ex.-Ortronics) used in the installation. The warranty
criteria include other factors, such as the installer of the
product must be certified by the manufacturer of the solution.
Be careful when reviewing proposals from vendors. If these
criteria are not met, your promised 15+ year warranty will be
invalid.
Many people are tired of hearing about the differences between
CAT5, CAT5E, CAT6 and now CAT7. However, these categories and
other standards in the cabling industry are relevant to final
network performance. CAT5 is generally used for telephone
connections rather than the previous CAT3 cable. CAT5E is still
widely used for data applications at this time, but CAT6 is
becoming more prevalent.
More bandwidth mandated a new standard. Ten years ago we were
talking about whether a company would run a 10MB or 100MB
network. Now the question is, do they run a 100MB or 1GB
network? CAT6 is built with tighter wire twists and increased
separation of pairs which reduces interference between cables
and increases the amount of data that can be pushed through the
wires. Take care, however, that you do not install CAT6 cable in
the wall and think that is going to allow the 1GB network to
function at full speed. The jacks, patch panels, patch cords,
switches, and NIC (network interface card) must also be 1GB
compliant to ensure 1GB performance.
When embarking on a new building project or a substantial
remodel, CAT6 should be installed for both voice and data
locations to prepare for the future. The cost difference is
generally between 25 - 30% higher for the material, while the
labor remains virtually the same. It is still far less expensive
to cable for the future in the beginning rather than to come
back and re-do. If you need to tweak the budget do it by not
purchasing 1GB switches, NIC cards and patch cables because
those components are easy to change as you grow. If the
additional cost for the right cable seems frivolous, compare
that cost to the components of your voice and data network (IP
telephones, servers, desktop devices, software). It will make
the cable cost seem like a drop in the bucket.
Not to muddy the waters but now the newest talk of the town
(although it has been around for a while) is CAT7 - or 10Gigabit
cable?! It never ends. But there is good news. This cable is not
ideal for mainstream desktop cable runs in most situations at
this time. Appropriate applications for CAT7 are data centers,
data devices pushing very high bandwidth such as full medical
records, etc. If the distance limitation of 300 ft is not a
factor, CAT7 could also provide a less expensive option than
fiber to connect remote data closets within a building.
Plenum anyone? Each cable is offered in a plenum or non-plenum
(PVC) variety. In the event of a fire, the plenum cable is slow
to burn and produces less smoke than standard PVC cable. It does
not mean that the cable will not burn - it simply means that
when it burns it will burn "cleaner". All of the cables
mentioned above come in these varieties and it is important to
install the proper cable. Many new buildings are required to
install plenum cable as are buildings using the drop ceiling
structure for a cold air return rather than providing venting
for this purpose. Stay educated to avoid undue consequences for
non-compliance. An architect/engineer would be a good source for
this information.
Lastly, the NEC (National Electric Code) requires that unused
(abandoned) cable be removed from a building. The main reason
for this is that the old copper cable does not add any value but
it may be a fire inducer. Many people do not even think about
this issue when pulling in a new cable system. Be sure to check
on local codes to ensure that your company is adhering to the
policies set in your city. If no code exists in your city or
state, the NEC is the one to follow.
You wouldn't construct your building without a solid foundation.
Give the same attention to your network foundation - the
structured cabling system. Do not simply go for the cheapest
solution -most likely it will cost more money later in
re-cabling the same areas or poor network performance
troubleshooting. Be safe and research the type of cable needed
for the environment in which it is installed. And finally, rely
on industry professionals to assist you in your decision making
process.