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Structured Cabling, Cabling, Washington DC

Data Center Cabling Best Practices – Part 1

4 May 2017

Structured Cabling, Washington DC, New York City Modern data centers are equipped with devices and networking equipment that connect them. These devices demand increasingly greater bandwidth, and so their fiber or copper cabling must perform at a high level. Today’s data centers must be flexible, scalable, reliable, and manageable, making best practices required.

Planning the Infrastructure

Thus, documenting the existing and planned network, along with its equipment is needed. A flexible patching structure will permit the interconnection of devices at desired locations.

Structured Cabling

The structured approach of cabling revolves around the design of runs and connections that ease cable identification, maintenance, repair, and future expansion or reconfiguration. A Main Distribution Area (MDA) and Horizontal Distribution Area(s) (HDAs), along with two-post racks that permit improved access and cable management, will be needed.

MDA and HDA components must be of high quality and capable of bearing expected future loads. Their layout should have horizontal and vertical cable managers. The MDA contains primary cross-connects and core networking equipment. The HDA contains the cross-connects for the distribution of cables to Equipment Distribution Areas (EDAs). Patch cables will connect servers and storage by utilizing patch panels at their respective EDA.

Next, the equipment racks inside the data center must have their layout determined. A horizontal cabling configuration will be used for the distribution of cables from the HDA to the EDA. Flexible connectivity is required by a dynamic data center environment. The goal is the implementation of a system that transmits fiber channel, Ethernet, and other protocols.

Future port and application requirements will also need to be considered. Expansion and technological advances must be anticipated, so the installation of ports and cabling needed in the future should be done now to save on labor costs and downtime if upgrades are needed.

Structured Infrastructure Benefits

Cable identification and fault isolation simplified

Consistent cabling lays sound foundation for future

Future expansions and modifications made easier

Standard-compliant components from multiple vendors possible

Flexible connections provided

Cabling for Modular Data and High Density/High Port Count Fiber Equipment will be discussed in Part 2.

Union Network Cabling

When union work requires a unionized cabling group, call on Progressive Office Network Cabling for your commercial Cat5e/6/6a and fiber cabling projects. Specializing in cabling for data, voice, security and even the latest WiFi and LiFi solutions. Phone: (202) 462-4290

cable,Data Cabling ,Cat5e, Cat6/6a Cabling

Category 5e Cabling Becoming Obsolete

4 Apr 2017

Stu Kushner

cable,Data Cabling ,Cat5e, Cat6/6a Cabling It is inevitable that applications requiring speeds greater than 100 Mbps and 1000 Mbps will increase. The growing use of wireless devices, high resolution images, HD video streaming, surveillance, and multimedia are straining the capacity of Category 5e infrastructure, and there will come a point when it will be unable to cope.

Although it is capable of handling 1000 Mbps speeds at 100 MHz, the upgrading of Category 5e cabling will be necessary in the near future in order to support new applications and emerging technologies that will be deployed by businesses that are bandwidth intensive.

Category 5e Inadequate in Near Future

Cabling will be migrating from being behind walls to above ceilings, where it can end at a wireless access point (WAP). Much more cabling will be needed to serve an increasing utilization of WAPs for numerous users.

The advent and growth of new Wave 2 WiFi devices, which transmit at data at ranges of 1 Gbps up to perhaps 7 Gbps, will require faster Ethernet links for the connection of these WAPs. Installing Category 6A cabling may be the only effective solution for companies. The need for average speeds greater than 1G is increasing, perhaps to 10G. Category 5e is incapable of carrying speeds of 10 Gbps speeds over a required distance of 100 meters.

An emerging technology using balanced twisted-pair cabling, HDBaseT is used to transmit uncompressed HD video, audio, Ethernet, control, and power over 100 meters. Category 5e will be unable to support it, while Category 6A cabling is capable.

4-cable pair PoE, the next power over Ethernet standard, provides power more efficiently. However, the gauge of cable must grow in order for the reduction of resistance and permit higher power delivery. Consequently, 4-pair PoE has superior performance on Category 6A 23 AWG than Category 5e 24 AWG.

Cabling Standards Recommend Category 6A

For certain organizations, such as educational institutions, commercial buildings, data centers, and healthcare facilities, new installations require or recommend at least Category 6 cabling. Even though Category 6A may require greater capital expenditure than Category 5e cabling, costs will be decreased in the long term. A company’s network will be future proofed and will be capable of supporting new applications and emerging technologies.

Union Network Cabling

When union work requires a unionized cabling group, call on Union Network Cabling for your commercial Cat5e/6/6a and fiber cabling projects. Specializing in cabling for data, voice, security and even the latest WiFi and LiFi solutions. Phone: (202) 462-4290

Comparing Cat 7 to the Other Cats

3 Mar 2017

Stu Kushner

Data cabling, network cabling Nowadays offices and homes utilize either a wireless (Wi-Fi) connection or wired network connection. Usually faster than Wi-Fi, wired connections also have lower latency. These two types of network connection continue to progress technologically, providing users ever increasing speeds.

In the case of home networks, the speed of the internet connection is typically the issue, and the cabling may not be a factor. However, a company must consider the specifications of particular cables and how these would meet its requirements in order to properly decide which to select. There can be a vast difference between the network speeds of the various Ethernet cables.

Types

Cables are differentiated by standard categories. Category has been abbreviated to “Cat” by the industry. Currently, the most common cables in use are Cat 5, Cat 5e, Cat 6, and Cat 6a. The newest type is Cat 7. Every type is backward compatible, allowing users to insert a newer cable into a device that was manufactured for an older cable without any compatibility issues arising.

Progress

With every new cable category, users were provided increased speed and decreased crosstalk. Newer category cables provided faster speeds at increased lengths of cable. The following offers comparisons at 100 meters of cable, illustrating the differences between the ethernet cable categories:

Cat 5 - Considered slow and inadequate for business networks, providing up to 100 Mb/second at 100 Mhz.

Cat 5e - provides up to 1 Gb/second internet speed at 100 Mhz.

Cat 6 -provides up to 1 Gb/second, and cable lengths up to 55 meters can give internet speeds of 10 Gb/second at 250

Cat 6a -can provides speeds up to 10 Gb/second, to 100 meters of cable length, at 500 Mhz.

Cat 7 - provides speeds up to 10 Gb/second to 100 meters of cable, at 600 Mhz.

History

Cat 5 was the standard in 1995, Cat 5e became standard in 2001, and Cat 6 was introduced in 2002. Arriving in 2008, Cat 6a is typically the newest cable the majority of companies have used because it is not considered necessary to update to Cat 7 yet. Cat 7a and Cat 8, which were respectively released in 2010 and 2013, are still waiting in the wings.

Union Network Cabling

When union work requires a unionized cabling group, call on Union Network Cabling for your commercial Cat5e/6/6a and fiber cabling projects. We specialize in cabling for data, voice, security and even the latest WiFi and LiFi solutions. Phone: (202) 462-4290

Cat5e Cat6/6a Cabling,cable installations

What is Certification and is it really necessary?

10 Aug 2015

Stu Kushner

Environmental Problems with Cat5e, Cat6, and Cat6A Cable

Cable must be installed so that external environmental factors do not have an effect on the performance of the network. Problems can occur at the patch panel punch down, at the wall plate jack and anywhere along the cable itself. Maybe an inadvertent kink is in the cable. Or there is a snag in the cable as it got pulled across a rough surface in the rafters above the drop ceiling. Or maybe the cable got too close to an electric line. Any one of these issues can degrade the performance of an individual cable.

There are two basic kinds of testing that is performed during the installation of cabling:

Continuity Testing

Certification

Continuity Testing

Continuity Testing is a test to insure that the wires in the connectors at the faceplate and at the patch panel are connected up correctly. There are 4 pairs of wires and each wire is color-coded. So, as the technician is connecting everything, a particular sequence is required. If a wire is connected in the wrong order, the cable will fail. This is a basic wire-mapping test. If this test fails, the connector and wires are re-examined and re-terminated. All of our cable installations include continuity testing.

But the only way to insure and guarantee full speed to every cable is to do Certification Testing on each cable.

Certification

Certification Testing is a performance test that utilizes a precision device that sends a signal from one end of the cable to the other. This test is the only way to test the data-carrying capacity of each cable. For example, Cat6A cable is rated to run at 10G/sec. But if you have an issue, the cable will work but it might be running at a slower speed. It passes the continuity test but it's not performing at 100%. Certification will find the fault, pin-pointed to its exact location so that our technician can fix it, retest it and fully certify it as 100% top-speed rated.

The Fluke DSX-5000 is a very expensive test device that we employ to test and certify our cabling jobs. It costs about an extra $10 per cable to get everything tested and certified. But without this test, we can't guarantee top speeds throughout your network. And, considering that most cabling projects have a useful lifespan of 15 - 20 years, this investment upfront is very cost-effective. It means you will have full speed to every device for the entire lifetime of your cabling infrastructure.

Certification includes a PDF report showing every cable and the test results.

Do you have an upcoming cabling project?

Are you Ready for 2gb Internet?

13 Jun 2015

Stu Kushner

Your city might be poised for a dramatic increase in Internet speed into your office. Right now, you might have DSL Internet running on Cat5e cable at speeds of up to 25 - 30mb. But 2gb Internet is coming. New high-speed fiber optic networks are being built that will bring 2gb Internet to your office's network. It's coming.

So, are you ready for it?

The answer to that question lies primarily in the cabling that exists in your office. Most offices in the US have Cat5e cabling. Cat5e is not even fully capable of handling 1gb speeds and will likely create speed issues at the desktop as users demand more bandwidth from advanced online and desktop applications. Cat5 cable is even slower. So, you will first need to figure out what kind of cable you have. The best way to do this is to look at the cable. Go to you wall closet or server room and look behind the patch panel. The patch panel looks like this.

And behind the panel is a bundle of cables. These cables have writing on them that describe the type of cable.That might look like this.

You should be able to see printed right on the cable the words "CATEGORY 5" or "CATEGORY 5E". If it says, "CATEGORY 6" or "CATEGORY 6A" than you are fine. Otherwise, you have cable that will not fully support 2gb Internet speeds into your office. Cat6/6A cabling is designed for 2gb and higher throughputs of data.

But getting ready for 2gb Internet is not just about the cable. You need the right cable and you also need the Cat6 compatible connectors, patch panels and a faster switch too. So, now you have a big decision to make.

The Big Decision

What should you do? Recabling an office is a big deal. It's disruptive and it's expensive. But, wait. Is it really such a big expense and does it need to be disruptive? The cost of installing Cat6 cabling in an office is about $175 - $250 per drop. Each computer will need one drop. And you might have a few printers on your network too. So, the cost is about the same as a cheap computer monitor. And the boost in productivity will go on for many years to come.

Will it be disruptive? We can install new cabling in parallel to your existing network at night and on weekends. The switch-over is a weekend job too. Then we finish up by pulling out all of the old cable. That's called demolition. It might get a little dusty. But our team will do it's best to keep things as tidy as possible.

So, are you ready for 1gb Internet? If the service is available and you want a free on-site survey, contact us. We will be happy to come by and look at your office and prepare a Proposal for you at no charge and no obligation. If you aren't sure about the availability of 1gb Internet, contact us and we will find out for you.

Punch Down Tools in Data Cabling

22 May 2015

Stu Kushner

Data Cabling,Cat5e, Cat6/6a Cabling Punch-down tools are important for terminating cables in Insulation Displacement Connector (IDC) connecting blocks, patch bays and terminal jacks. These reliable tools have been present for many years. However, manufacturers do not stop in developing accessibility and labor concerns.

Punching down is the term used for the physical force needed to pierce or take away the cable insulation while the connection is being made. These used to be simple screwdrivers which have evolved into modern gadgets designed with durable rubber, gripping curve and impact mechanisms that reduce the use of force for manual exertion.

Is it Practical to Use Cat6 Cable?

26 Apr 2015

Stu Kushner

cat 6,structured cabling, Data Cabling Data volume has grown extensively. Also, the processing capacity to users continues to get grow. Specialists in data management forecast that information production will be 44 times larger in five years with enterprises needing to process and safeguard 80 percent of the new data.

Data Cables

For these reasons, you might need to become more familiar with different types of cabling. There is Category 5 (Cat5) cable but it is only capable of transmitting 1000 megabits data rate per second on an Ethernet network. Transfer of data demands are increasing due to new and more sophisticated applications. That is why many companies prefer to work with Category 6 (Cat6) cables. Cat6 has a maximum data transfer of 10,000 megabits per second. Cat6 is also backward compatible which means your Cat5 connectors will plug i and work (at the lower speeds).

Future Proofing

Cat6 infrastructure guarantees that your system will be relevant well into the future. This allows users to easily cope with any modifications, new features or technological developments. The Cat5 standard has been used for a long time. However, your enterprise needs adequate bandwidth to handle these continuing and future changes. It is not merely a possibility or “let's say” situation. It is to be anticipated as the online experience continues to progress.

Demand for Cat6 escalates as the world-wide web is now offering premium video streams, online applications, highly-responsive and media-heavy portals. If you decide to upgrade to a more reliable network, consider Cat6 cables. It is fast becoming the new standard in this industry.

Downsides

Cat 6 is more costly compared to Cat5e cables. On average, we are finding that projects cost about 20-25% more. This is because you are not guaranteed full speed unless all the components operate at gigabit speed. So, you need Cat6 cable, connectors, patch panels and Gigabit switches too. If one part is not rated as gigabit, the network will run at Cat5e speeds. Call or contact us to help you make this decision.

Nevertheless, experts say Cat6 will sooner or later surpass Category 5e. And the initial upfront costs will pay future productivity gains for many, many years to come.

Essential Components for Wired Networks

10 Apr 2015

Stu Kushner

Data Cabling ,Network cabling, DC Be sure to purchase the correct components before you install a wired network. The major components consist of the cable, router and network adapters.

Cables

You should opt for fast Ethernet or the 100 Base T cable. Ethernet (RJ-45) looks like telephone cables with somewhat thicker wire and jacks. It is also known as Cat 5e or Twisted Pair Ethernet with corresponding speed ratings of 10, 100, and 1,000. Every PC requires a separate network adapter.

Directions in Telecommunications and Cabling

3 Apr 2015

Stu Kushner

The telecommunications industry continues to advance. And bandwidth demands will continue to increase. Meanwhile, conditions to convey considerable amounts of information quickly are changing. Applications including graphic information, technical modeling, video conferencing, and multi-level online databases will certainly increase bandwidth requisites. The bottom line is demand for higher transfer speed for information is expected to rise.

Properties for Cabling Systems

Two principal properties needed for cabling systems are performance and easy installation. Fiber and shielded twisted-pair provide stronger signals compared to Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) although these two lagging in client acceptance. The question is will UTP provide the appropriate bandwidth for modern applications?

Unshielded Twisted Pair

UTP is considered the most prevalent cable worldwide for telecommunications and networking. Cat 5e is the most popular and it long ago replaced coaxial cable which failed to keep up with more dependable and faster networks. UTP is also easy to install, develop and troubleshoot. Unshielded Twisted Pair cabling does not have any foil covering. It depends on twisted pairs inside the cable to prevent electromagnetic interference. UTP is used extensively for local area networking and comparable cabling configurations. Hence, installation is easier and less expensive.

Shielded Twisted Pair

Shielded twisted Pair (STP) features a metallic foil enclosing twisted wire pairs inside the cable. This is the safeguard against electromagnetic intervention which facilitates rapid data transmission. STP functions by drawing electromagnetic interference and counterbalancing this with grounded cabling. The drawback is that if the cable is not grounded correctly it loses the capacity to prevent unnecessary noise. STP is also larger and more sensitive compared to UTP cables. Expert cable installers use this cabling for industrial environments where adjacent equipment emit significant amounts of elctron-magnetic interference (EMI). Actually, UTP and STP can perform well if installed and maintained by efficient cabling providers.

Transmission is Essential

Transmission should be balanced. This is the standard for conduction of data using twisted cabling pairs. Separate protection for balanced twisted pairs is designed to enhance resistance and emission of the communication lines. The shielding method produces a conductive barrier that lessens these electromagnetic waves. It also creates a conduit for conduction so that currents and can pass data through without any obstruction. Shielding can be performed on individual pairs or as one set of pairs.

Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns or if you need a free quote on your cabling project.

Patch Cables and Twisted Pair Cabling

21 Mar 2015

Stu Kushner

The patch cable is used to link up two network devices. This type of cabling is usually a Cat6 or a Cat5e cable tha Cat5e ,Cat6/6a Cabling,patch cables t connects personal computers to the wall plate or provides the short interconnects among the switches, routers and the patch panels in the wall closet or Server Room. These make use of stranded wires instead of solid to increase flexibility. It also lessens the risk of cracking when you unplug the cable. There is also a variety of Ethernet patch called the crossover cable. It is used to hook up two PCs together and sometimes to interconnect switches.

Ethernet Systems

Ethernet systems ensure adaptable and economical methods of conveying voice, data, and multimedia over integrated networks. In fact, Ethernet patch cords have become very common. These wall to wall cables gave rise to the growth of generic and structured cabling systems. Today, these are used practically for all networking components regardless of industry or application. However, there are concerns that you need to consider. Whereas modular attributes and profusion of patch cables denote absolute universal use, there are differences that can reduce interchangeability. Some of the disparities originate from various wiring configurations of cable conductors and connector pins.

Twister Pair Cables

For this type of cabling, two conductors are coiled to prevent electromagnetic interference (commonly known as EMI) that comes from external (usually electrical) sources. One example is the electromagnetic radiation caused by uncovered twisted pair cables or UTP as well as cross talk produced by adjacent electrical wires. The process of shielding generates a conductive barrier to lessen these electromagnetic waves. It also creates a conduit for conduction so that currents and data can traverse freely. Shielding can be applied on individual pairs or as a group of pairs.

Twisted conductor pairs form a secure circuit. The voltages carry the same magnitude or amplitude. However, one is positive while the other is negative. Incidentally, crosstalk takes place if the electromagnetic field turns out a signal that is too big or strong and intereferes with a nearby pair. The sound is like a fusion of the two fields by means of a swap of the energy between them. Certain components of these signals are passed on to each other during this exchange of energy.

As a result, here is an ensuing increase in the level of “noise”. External sources of EMI and RFI create signal interference in a similar manner. These cause distortion of the signals that go to your office and communications equipment.

Overall, these are the things that you should take into account with regards to twisted and patch cabling.

Please feel free to contact us if you need help with your office cabling project!

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