Intelligent choice of network and cable types depends on the types of devices to be connected, their location and the way they are used. At the planning stage, consider future as well as present requirements. Under-specifying network configurations and cabling systems is a common error. Since the expense and disruption caused by a premature replacement are great, trying to cut corners at the installation stage may be unwise and will result in ongoing rearrangements at a much higher financial cost and with associated disruptions or delays in deployment of services.

The use of structured cabling allows established systems, as well as newer ones, to benefit from the latest cabling techniques. Cabling is a key component of any networked system, so decision makers should be prepared to commit up to 10 to 15% of the total cost in this area.

The first cabling decision is between unshielded twisted pair (UTP), shielded and/or foil screened cable types, optical fiber, or a combination of these.

It is important to check the space available for cable runs before making decisions on cable type, understanding that optical fiber cabling offers many advantages for backbone deployment of LAN applications.

UTP cabling is preferred worldwide and is capable of supporting high data rates to the desk. A significant number of installations are already running gigabit speeds over high performance UTP cabling, with the migration to gigabit over UTP expected to pick up the pace dramatically over the next few years. 10 Gb/s UTP connections are expected to be initially implemented in data centers, low-rise backbones and for mission critical applications. Although the exact timing of the migration to higher speeds for a given organization is not easily predicted, the selection of a suitable infrastructure today can determine the ability to react in a speedy and cost-effective manner whenever the need arises.

In practice, the most important network decision for most users is the selection of a supplier. Besides implementing the network, good suppliers can offer valuable advice and information. Since networking is a subject for specialists, it is vital to select a supplier or consultant with skills and experience that can be trusted.

Source: Systimax