Lesson 1-4: Structured Cabling Systems: at A Glance
Lesson 1-4: Structured Cabling Systems: at A Glance
Lesson 1-4: Structured Cabling Systems: at A Glance
At a Glance
This lesson describes both physical and logical organization of networks.
Topologies described include bus, ring, star, and hybrid. This unit also
covers TIA/EIA 568 structured cabling standards, which govern the
installation of local area networks. In order to design, install,
troubleshoot, and maintain networks, administrators must have a solid
understanding of these topologies and cabling standards.
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Tech Talk
• Active HubType of hub that monitors, amplifies, and regenerates
signals. Signals are strengthened in active hubs. The opposite of a
passive hub.
• AttenuationThe weakening of a signal as it travels over connection
media; also referred to as signal degradation.
• Bus TopologyNetwork topology where computer devices are
connected in a row to a continuous length of cable segment. Each end
of the cable segment must be terminated by means of a terminating
resistor.
• Logical TopologyLogical topology describes the actual path of data
signals through a network. It does not refer to the physical layout of
the network.
• Passive HubType of hub that does not take an active role in
maintaining, processing, or regenerating signals. A passive hub serves
only as a physical connection point for computer devices. The opposite
of active hub.
• Patch Panel Connection point located in a secure closet and used to
terminate the horizontal and vertical cables.
• Physical TopologyThe attributes and physical setup, not logical
topology, of a network. Physical topology describes the physical
connections and arrangement of the internetworking devices.
• RedundancyNetworking redundancy refers to the additional
equipment or measures taken to ensure continuous operation of a
network. One example is having an extra server available in case one
goes down.
• Ring TopologyClosed network with no beginning or end point.
Computer devices are all connected to one main cable segment in a
continuous fashion. Termination devices are not necessary. All
computers have equal access to the network.
• Star TopologyTopology that uses point-to-point wiring. There is a
central hub, which receives and transmits signals over the network.
Each computer device is connected to a hub, not directly to the other
computers.
• TerminatorDevice connected at the end of each wire segment in bus
networks. Terminators absorb transmission signals, which prevent
them from bouncing back and causing interference.
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The building entrance requirements are simply the specifications for the
point at which the cabling enters a building. The specifications include
recommendations for the type of connecting and surge protection devices.
The standard also specifies the placement of the cabling used to connect
the inside wiring to other buildings.
Equipment Room
Backbone Cabling
Backbone cabling is the wiring that runs vertically between floors and/or
between equipment rooms. Backbone cabling provides the
interconnections between equipment rooms and the building entrance site,
including cross-connects, patch cords, and terminators. Backbone cabling
can also extend between buildings.
When planning a network it is a good idea to double or even triple the
length of backbone cable that is needed for installation. This provides for
expansion and the ability to run redundant connections.
Backbone
Cable
Backbon
Limit Depends on
Cable Type
Cable
e
Patch Cable
6 Meter Limit
The wiring used for backbone cabling may be either copper or fiber optic.
Recommended backbone cable maximum distance limitations include:
• Voice grade 100 ohm UTP 800 meter limitation
• STP data grade 150 ohm 90 meter limitation
• Multimode 62.5/125µm fiber 2,000 meter limitation
• Patch cable 3 - 6 meter limitation
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When using copper wire for backbone cabling, avoid sources of high level
electromagnetic or radio frequency interference (EMI/RFI). Fiber optic
cable, although more expensive, has distinct advantages over copper since
it can be run in locations such as elevator shafts or alongside power lines
with no EMI/RFI affects. Since backbone cabling is stationary and there is
less of it used, spending more money per unit length for high-speed
backbone fiber optic cable is often the best choice. Recently, the price of
fiber optic cable was reduced making this the current backbone cable of
choice.
Horizontal Cabling
Horizontal cable is the physical media that runs from the wall jack at the
workstation outlet to the termination in the equipment room. It also
includes the cable run from the wall outlet to the workstation, and the
cable in equipment closets that connects hubs, switches, and so on. These
short pieces of cable are called patch cords or patch cable. There is a 3-
meter limit from the wall jack to the workstation and a 6-meter limit
between equipment in the telecommunications closet.
Horizontal Cabling
Horizontal
Horizonta
Cable
lCable
90 Meter Limit
Patch Cable
3 Meter Limit
Patch
Cables
Most often, horizontal cable is routed directly from the wiring closet to the
workstation, without splices, cable junctures, or taps. By eliminating
splices, cable junctures and/or taps, the potential for faulty connections
and electrical noise is reduced. Although not necessary, it is recommended
that horizontal cabling be rated for category 5 use.
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Work Area
♦ Wiring that runs from the equipment closet on one floor to the
equipment closet on other floors and to the building entrance point
is called what?
Network Topologies
Networking “physical” topology is simply where the workstations and cable
are physically placed. The “logical” topology is not where the devices are
physically positioned, it is the actual path the data signal takes when
transmitted. You can see where workstations are located, but you cannot
see the route taken by the data. When planning a reliable network,
administrators must consider several factors p rior to selecting the physical
and logical topology. Such factors include, ease of maintenance and
management, cost, traffic, security, reliability, and redundancy. There are
several topology choices, including bus, ring, star, and hybrid topology.
Bus Topology
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Bus Topology
Termi
nator
Terminator
Terminator
with ground Transceiver
cable
Repeater
Transceiver
Ring Topology
Like bus topology, all computer devices are connected to the same cable
segment. However, it is one continuous connection with no beginning or
end point. Termination is not required. The signal flows in only one
direction in ring topology and each device in the ring receives the signal
and examines it. If the transmission is not intended for that device, the
signal is regenerated and passed on to the next device in the ring.
Ring topology advantages:
• Provides equal access for all devices on the ring
• Easier to manage and maintain than bus topology
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• Very reliable
• Handles high volume traffic well
Ring topology disadvantages:
• Difficult to isolate malfunctions
• Expansion of network disrupts services for all
Each device has equal access to the network and is guaranteed access
at regular intervals. This is important in a business where regular
movement of data is essential, such as checks or other banking
transactions.
Ring Topology
B
Da
ta
ta
Da
A Cable C
Hub
Da ta
ta Da
D
Star Topology
Star Topology
A
Data
C
Hub
Da
ta
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Computer devices are attached directly to central hubs via patch cable.
Each patch cable connects to a port on the hub. Small hubs usually have 4,
8, or 16 ports. Larger hubs may have up to 512 ports. Cabling is more
expensive than for other topologies since each device must be connected
directly to the hub
When a device on a star topology network fails, it does not disrupt the
other computer devices. Similarly, if you add a new device, service to other
nodes continues uninterrupted. However, if the hub fails, the entire
network goes down. 10BASE-T is one of the most popular star topology
networks.
Hybrid topology is any combination of bus, star, and ring topology, for
example, a star-bus configuration. With a star-bus network, several hubs
can be connected on a bus segment to several star topology segments.
Hybrid Topology
Token
Internet Ring
Router
10BaseT
LAN
10BaseT
LAN
Switch
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Try It Out
Network Topologies
In the connectivity lesson, you diagramed all the devices and workstations
connected to your network. When administrators design network
topologies, they often use software applications to illustrate the topology.
Using a computer, generate designs for four different network topologies,
bus, ring, star, and hybrid topologies. Print out your networks and save in
your portfolio.
Materials Needed
5. Move the pointer to where you want to draw a box, which will represent
the computers. The pointer changes to a crosshair. Hold down the left
mouse button and drag to create the box. For each computer device in
your diagram, draw a textbox.
6. To move the textbox, bring the pointer to the edge of the box until it
changes to a cross with arrows. Hold down the Shift key and move the
box so it is where you want to place the computer.
7. You can size the text box by bringing the pointer to the edge or corner
of the box until the pointer turns to a two-sided arrow. Hold down the
left mouse button and size your text box.
8. Highlight the Line button on the Drawing toolbar.
9. Draw in lines to connect the computer devices. Use the lines to create a
bus topology. Label the diagram Bus Topology.
10. Print your bus topology diagram and place it in your portfolio.
11. Create three more diagrams. One for star, one for ring, and one for a
hybrid topology. Put them in your portfolio.
12. Contact your school’s network administrator and ask what type of
network topology the school uses.
13. Which type of topology does your school network use?
14. Using the hand drawn diagram you created for the connectivity lesson,
and the information you received from the school network
administrator, create a computer diagram of how your school may be
wired.
15. Obtain the actual topology documentation for your school’s network
from your teacher.
16. Re-create the diagram to accurately reflect your school’s topology.
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Stretch Yourself
Star Network
In this lesson, you learned the different types of wiring topology for
networks. You have to be connected to the network in order to transmit
data. In the connectivity lesson, you installed a NIC. In this activity, you
will design a star and bus network topology and experience what happens
when a network connection is broken.
Materials Needed
• Cables
• Networking equipment, e.g. a hub and several computers
• Computer file enabled for sharing
Star Network
♦ Explain why this happened. Are the other devices able to stay
connected? Why?
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Network Wizards
Network Design
Materials Needed
• Spreadsheet application
• Drawing application
• Cable cost analysis prepared for Stretch Yourself, Lesson 3
Work with a partner to create a list of questions you should ask a client
who has hired you to build a network. The client wants to know which
type of cable you plan to use and why, how much the cable will cost, and
why you selected the particular topology. The client also wants you to
submit a proposal that defends your choice of cabling and network design.
After you create your questionnaire, role-play with your partner. One of
you will assume the role of client, and the other the role of the network
designer. The client will answer all the questions for a fictitious company
of his/her choice. The network designer will record all of the answers.
When the questionnaire is complete, you will both analyze the
requirements and determine the appropriate topology. Create a computer
diagram of the proposed network for the client. Prepare a spreadsheet that
shows a cost analysis of the cable needed to complete the job. The cost
analysis should include the type of cable, length of cable, cost of each type
of cable, and the total cable cost. Use the cost information you gathered in
the cabling lesson.
Submit a proposal to the client indicating the suggested network topology.
Include a summary to convince the client that this is the best, most cost
efficient design for her/his needs. Your proposal must also defend your
cable choices. Attach the computer diagram and cable cost analysis
spreadsheet to your proposal.
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Summary
In this lesson, you learned the following:
• To identify and describe the elements that are recommended for
structured cabling networks.
• To diagram bus, star, ring, and hybrid topologies.
• To compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of bus,
star, ring, and hybrid topologies.
• To select the appropriate topology for a particular set of network
requirements.
• To create a questionnaire for an administrator to use when planning or
expanding a network.
• To select and estimate the cost of cabling for a given network.
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4. The cabling that carries the signals from the equipment room to the
various work areas.
a. Workstation cabling
b. Patch cabling
c. Horizontal cabling
d. Backbone cabling
Part B
Part C
Part D
1. You have been asked to create a network for five computers. Low cost
is important and it is unlikely that the network will expand. Which
network topology would you recommend and why?
3. You are designing a network for an automobile factory. There are lots
of motors and fluorescent lights. Cost is not a factor. Each of the
workstations must have equal access to the network. Which topology
would you choose? Why?
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Scoring
References
Aschermann, Robert (1998). MCSE Networking Essentials for Dummies.
IDG Books Worldwide, Inc. Foster City, California.
Bert, Glen (1998). MCSE Networking Essentials: Next Generation
Training Second Edition. New Riders Publishing Indianapolis, Indiana.
Carol, J. T. & Love, R.D. (1995). Dedicated Token Ring. In The Token
Ring Consortium Report [Online]. University of New Hamphsire
InterOperability Labs. Available:
www.iol.unh.edu/consortiums/tokenring/MACs_n_PHYs/Fall95/Special_Feature.ht
ml. [1999, April 30].
Lowe, Doug. (1998). Networking for Dummies. Third Edition. IDG Books
Worldwide, Inc., Foster City, California.
Microsoft Corporation (1998). Dictionary of Computer Terms, Microsoft
Press, Redmond, Washington.
Nortel Networks (1998). Internetworking Fundamentals: Student Guide.
Bay Networks Inc. Billerica, Massachusetts.
Palmer, Michael J. (1998) Hands-On Networking Essentials with Projects,
Course Technology, Inc. Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Spurgeon, Charles E. (1997). Practical Networking With Ethernet,
International Thomson Computer Press, Boston, Massachusetts.
Spurgeon, Charles. (1993-1995). Quick Reference Guide to Ethernet
[Online]. University of Texas Office of Telecommunications. Available:
www.ots.utexas.edu/ethernet/descript-10quickref.html [1999, April 20].
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