Network Cabling Structured Cabling

Are you Ready for 2gb Internet?

13 Jun 2015

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.

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

Network Infrastructure Planning

28 Jan 2015

What is a network?Full_Network


The network is classified as a group of hardware and software components that connect devices within a company and link that entity to other companies in the world-wide web. The hardware for networking consists of network interface cards, computers, routers, switches, patch panels and cables. Software refers to network services and protocols that facilitate communications. The hardware components should be installed and configured before the software and operating systems are initiated. Network communications serve as the core foundation of the whole system. It makes up the services that build the network’s framework. The key is to determine the infrastructure based on the objectives that you have set so the architecture can scale up as a companies needs grow.



The Operating Systems


Begin by understanding the current setup. This will allow you to establish how to plan for your operational targets and objectives. Draw a full map of the current network. Include these all cabled connections, server information, location of devices in the network, and all of the users.  Complete this inventory first. Then, proceed with reviewing all available information in combination with the future goals. This will enable you to fully understand the required changes needed for deployment.


The operating systems or OS installed on computers make up the primary software components in a cabling infrastructure. The OS contains protocols that facilitate network communications. It also consists of applications and services that secure the data. Conventional features include connectivity, security, control of access, and routing/switching functions. There should an existing network before installing servers to support applications. These consist of file, print, web, messaging, application, and database servers.



Meticulous Planning



  • Document the physical hardware and software components

  • Decide on the actual location of each components.

  • Determine configuration requirements.

  • Buy, assemble and mount the hardware.

  • Install and configure your OS, apps as well as other software.


Be sure to understand the network’s physical design. If there are multiple heavy or data intensive workloads, servers will need more bandwidth and connections to deal with the data traffic. Network resources need to  allocated among the numerous applications which mean that vital applications can affect performance considerably. Planning becomes an integral component of development and should be specific to the business plans.


Keep track of existing workloads and use performance results as a reference. There should be proper tests to determine the performance of your network. Speculation is not advisable because that can cause mistakes and overspending.


As always, Progressive Office is available to assist with project planning. Please call or email us anytime.


 
Network Cabling,data cabling,,DC

Network Cabling Issues

4 Jan 2013

Cat5 ,Cat6 ,lan cableGiven that labor costs for installation are much higher than the material cost for cable; your first requirement is to use the highest grade cable available. Cat5e is the most common, but Cat6 is becoming the standard as it is rated for a higher frequency signal, a somewhat higher cable quality, and has tighter specifications for noise and crosstalk. Both Cat5e  and Cat6 can handle gigabit speeds.


Both Cat5e and Cat6 use 10BaseT “twisted-pair” cabling, because it is ideal for either small, medium, or large networks that need flexibility and the capacity to expand as the number of network users grow.  In a twisted-pair network, each PC has a twisted-pair cable that runs to a centralized hub. Twisted-pair is generally more reliable than thin coax networks because the hub is capable of correcting data errors and improving the network's overall transmission speed and reliability. Also known as “up linking” hubs, they can be chained together for even greater expansion.


Should you install the cabling yourself, or hire a contractor? The smaller the office network, the more tempting it is to install cabling in-house. While this will save installation costs, it is important to be sure that all the cabling is installed and tested to professional standards. If your network encompasses multiple rooms-and/or floors, then hiring a professional cable installer that has experience with data communications networks is the safest and most practical route.  General electricians may not be familiar with all the requirements. Experienced cable installers such as Progressive Cabling will know the right grades of cables and connectors and have the knowledge and equipment to install and test a cabling system.

Network Cabling,Structured cabling, Washington DC

The Importance of Hiring a Professional for Your Office Networking

7 Feb 2011

Network Cabling,Structured cabling, Washington DCSmall office networking projects consisting of only a few PCs and additional pieces of equipment may seem like a reasonably easy undertaking, but even a small networking project shouldn’t be taken lightly.  The installation of new network cabling can have a number of advantages, but if the wrong materials are used or if the work is not properly performed, serious issues can arise in your business operations.


A consultation with a networking professional can shed some light on exactly what materials will be required for your networking job to achieve the best possible performance for the smallest investment.  In most cases a network specialist will also be able to complete the installation in a much shorter time than a private individual would be able to on their own.  This means that you’ll be able to

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Office Cabling, Network Cabling

Keeping Your Small Business Updated and Up-to-Date with Network Cabling

4 Feb 2011

 Office Cabling ,Network CablingIn the days before office networking was common, upgrading necessary software programs could be a monumental expense for an office with several PCs.  A small business owner with meager margins may have struggled to pay for the purchase of individual programs for every single PC in the office in order to make a full upgrade.


Many software manufacturers now offer licensing agreements for networks that is a much more cost effective option for initializing a complete office upgrade for an expensive program.  A licensing agreement can make it possible for a business owner to upgrade the software on a

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