Month: September 2009 | Progressive Office Cabling

Spyware Definition and Protection

24 Sep 2009

Spyware is usually defined as a type of malware (software that gathers information from a computer without the user's knowledge or consent). Some spyware applications may also be deliberately installed and often contain advertisements, window pop-ups or different types of unpleasant software. Ideally, spyware and other malware should be prevented from intruding.

Currently, the most common source of infection is websites with potentially dangerous content in emails. Other methods of transmission include e-mail or transmission by worms and viruses. The most important protection is to use an always-on background scanner, such as the cutting edge NCES Spyware component. It works like a resident shield and scans applications in the background as they run.

Cabling Definitions

24 Sep 2009

Stu Kushner

Backbone wiring is the cabling used to interconnect between telecommunication closets, equipment rooms and buildings.

A 19-inch rack is a standardized frame or enclosure for mounting multiple equipment modules. A frame style, open rack (see image to the right) would have outer posts but no front or side panels. An enclosed rack has sides and a door for security and usually includes ventilating fans to keep equipment cool. Enclosures are much more expensive than open racks.

Racks have a front panel that is 19 inches wide, including edges or ears that protrude on each side which allow the shelves, switches and patch panels to be fastened to the rack frame with screws.

Rack Unit or U is a unit of measure that describes the height of equipment to be mounted in a computer equipment rack. One rack unit is 1.75 inches (44.45 mm) high. The size of rack-mounted equipment is described as a number in "U". For example, one rack unit is referred to as "1U", 2 rack units as "2U" and so on. A typical full size rack is 42U, which means it holds just over 6 feet of equipment.

Wall Plates are the metal or plastic covers that house the network connection jack. Wall plates are flush-mounted on office and residential drywal surfaces.

RJ45 Connector is the modular connector that is found at the end of a network cable. It is similar in look functionality to a phone connection cat5cable

but it is larger in size and it has 4-pairs of wires rather than the 2-pairs that are found in a phone line.

Jacks and Inserts are the actual connection at the wallplate. They are often color coded to distinguish the different connections such as voice and data.

Patch Panel is a series of 24, 48 or 96 RJ45 network connectors on a

panel. The patch panel is the hub of all incoming workstation network connections.

Patch Cable is a network cable with RJ45 connectors at each end that create the connection from the wallplate to the computer and also from the patch panel to the switch.

Horizontal wiring encompasses all cable from a wallplate network connection to the wiring closet. The outlets, cable, and cross-connects in the closet are all part of the horizontal wiring.

Wiring closet is an enclosed area, such as a room or cabinet, for containing network, telecommunications equipment, and cable terminations. Each building must have at least one wiring closet.

Equipment room is the space that houses the office network and telecommunications systems such as PBXs, racks, servers, and the mechanical terminations of the cabling system. Larger facilities often have Equipment Rooms rather than Wiring Closets.

Cabling administration is a process that includes all aspects of premise wiring related to documenting and managing the system, testing the system, as well as the architectural plans for the system.

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Cat6 Cabling – Usage and Methods

24 Sep 2009

Stu Kushner

Category6

Category 6 cable, commonly referred to as Cat6, is a cable standard for Gigabit Ethernet and other network protocols that is backward compatible with the Category 5/5e standards. Cat6 features more stringent specifications for crosstalk and system noise. The cable standard provides performance of up to 250 MHz and is suitable for 100BaseTX and 1000BaseT (Gigabit) Ethernet.

The cable contains four twisted copper wire pairs, just like earlier copper cable standards. Although Cat6 is sometimes made with 23 gauge wire, this is not a requirement; the specification states the cable may be made with 22 to 24 AWG wire, so long as the cable meets the specified testing standards. When used as a patch cable, Cat6 is normally terminated with an 8P8C modular connector, commonly referred to as an "RJ-45" connector. Cat6 connectors are made to higher standards that help reduce noise caused by crosstalk and system interference.

Some Cat6 cables are too large and may be difficult to attach to RJ45 connectors without a special modular piece and are technically not standard compliant. If components of the various cable standards are intermixed, the performance of the signal path will be limited to that of the lowest category. The maximum allowed length of a Cat6 cable is 100 meters (330 ft).

The cable is terminated in either the T568A scheme or the T568B scheme. It doesn't make any difference which is used, as they are both straight through (pin 1 to 1, pin 2 to 2, etc). Mixing T568A-terminated patch cords with T568B-terminated horizontal cables (or the reverse) does not produce pinout problems in a facility. Although it may vary slightly or sometimes degrade signal quality, this effect is marginal and certainly no greater than that produced by mixing cable brands in-channel. The T568B Scheme is by far the most widely used method of terminating patch cables.

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Plenum Cable Definition

24 Sep 2009

Stu Kushner

Plenum cable is cable that is laid in the plenum spaces of buildings. The plenum is the space that facilitates air circulation for heating and air conditioning systems, by providing pathways for either heated/conditioned or return airflows.

Space between the structural ceiling and the dropped ceiling or under a raised floor is typically considered plenum. The plenum space is typically used to house the communication cables for the building's computer and telephone network. Additionally, no high-voltage powered equipment is allowed in the plenum space because presence of fresh air can greatly increase danger of rapid flame spreading should the equipment catch on fire.

Note that diligence is required to make sure that a non-plenum airspace stays that way. A non-plenum airspace can become a plenum airspace by accident if the ductwork is disconnected and not properly repaired. Ductwork degradation can occur due to building damage such as earthquakes, aging or adverse environment causing the metal to corrode and fall apart, or simply negligence on the part of building contractors that leave work unfinished. Discovery and repair of unintended plenums is difficult due to the hidden nature, limited space, and difficult access of most installed drop ceilings. For highest fire safety it is best to assume all drop-ceiling airspaces are plenums, whether or not they are officially designated as one.

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