Did you know for example, cabling accounts for only 5% of network costs but can account for up to 50% of network problems! The reality is that you cant and shouldnt ignore this issue because, although cabling is somewhat “boring”, and is often hidden in the wall, it plays a critical role in supporting your network and your customers network applications. These costs include obvious downtime, as well as less apparent slow-time and intermittent faults. Read on to discover how to optimise your network cabling system and ensure the work gets done right - the first time. WHATS THE PROBLEM? The first problem with infrastructure design is not treating it as a whole. A network can only perform as well or be as reliable as its weakest link, which often turns out to be the physical layer. WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW Passive equipment plays an active role in determining network performance. Patch cords, often crimped on-site, are the single largest source of cabling faults. They have a significant effect on NEXT and Return Loss - two critical parameters that affect network performance. The channel depends on the jack/plug NEXT performance. Thus, poorly terminated patch cord plugs can easily drag channel performance down below what the jacks can compensate for. Cutting away the cable sheath too much or kinking the cables can upset cable geometry causing echoes that disturb signal throughput. Strictly adhering to the standards rule for untwisting wires can improve NEXT by up to 2dB. Throughput is exponentially reduced as bit errors (re-transmissions) increase. According to Metcalfs Law, a 1% retransmission can reduce a 100Mbps link to 20Mbps. A 5% error rate decreases the link to 0.032Mbps and grinds the network to a halt, even while all the green lights are still blinking. Some problems only occur after network installation, such as electromagnetic interference (EMI) from building equipment and poor grounding and bonding, which can damage expensive equipment. Cable management, labelling and documentation are essential for maintenance, troubleshooting, upgrades and change management.
Posted on: Sat, 03 Jan 2015 03:32:24 +0000
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