Module 2

Supporting Cabling and Physical

Installations

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Learning Objectives
• Summarize Ethernet standards.
• Summarize copper cabling and connector types.
• Summarize fiber optic cabling and connector types.
• Describe physical installation factors for rack-based
installations in server rooms and datacenters.
• Deploy and troubleshoot Ethernet cabling.

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Lesson 2.1
Ethernet

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Network Data Transmission Terms

Data Data is sent Digital signals

transmission is point-to point via (1s and 0s) are
transferring data wired or wireless transmitted
from one device streams or across the
to another. channels. channels.
Error
Transmission
detection/corre
media include The speed at
ction
copper wires, which the data is
mechanisms
fiber optic sent is the data
detect
cables, or transfer rate.
transmission
wireless signals.
errors.
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Ethernet Standards
IEEE 802.3 standards define the physical layer and data link
layer’s media access control (MAC) for wired Ethernet.
Standard Cables Speed
10Base-T Unshielded twisted pair (UTP) 10 Mbps
100Base-T Cat5e or higher 100 Mbps
1000Base-T Cat6 or higher 1000 Mbps
Gigabit Ethernet
10GBase-T Cat6 or higher 10 Gbps
10 Gigabit Ethernet
100Base-TX Cat5 or higher 100 Mbps
Fast Ethernet
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Carrier Sense Multiple Access with
Collision Detection (CSMA/CD)

Collision
Purpose Process Resolution
Detection

Carrier Sense Jam Signal

Regulates
If two devices
communication
transmit
in networks with
simultaneously, a
shared
collision is
transmission
detected.
mediums
Backoff
Multiple Access
Algorithm

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CSMA/CD Diagram

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Fiber Ethernet Standards

Standard Cables Speed

100Base-FX MMF (OM1) 100 Mbps
100Base-SX MMF (OM1, OM2) 100 Mbps
1000Base-SX MMF (OM2, OM3) 1 Gbps
1000Base-LX MMF (OM1, OM2, OM3), SMF 1 Gbps
(OS1, OS2)
10GBase-SR MMF (OM2, OM3, OM4) 10 Gbps
10GBase-LR SMF (OS1,OS2) 10 Gbps
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Activity: True or False

CSMA/CD regulates
communication in networks
with shared transmission
media.

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Lesson 2.2
Copper Cables and Connectors

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Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP)
Structure

• Contains 2 to 1800 pairs in a plastic jacket

Interference

• Minimal EMI protection

Use

• Popular for LANs because it is cost-effective

Categories

• Grades like Cat5e (1 Gbps) and Cat6a (10 Gbps)

Installation

• Avoid sharp bends, keep away from EMI sources

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Shielded Twisted Pair Cable (STP)

Structure Interference Use Categories Installation

High-
Twisted EMI Grades such Careful
interference
copper wires protection as Cat5e, 6, 7 handling
areas

Sensitive
Conductive Reduced Avoid sharp
data
shielding crosstalk bends
transmission

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Ethernet Connectors
Feature RJ11 RJ45

Image

Configuration 6 positions, 4 connectors 8 positions, 8 connectors

Usage Phone and modem Computer networking

Bandwidth 24 Mbps 10 Gbps over Ethernet

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Plenum and Riser-Rated Cable

Plenum-rated Riser-rated
Used in vertical spaces
Installed in plenum spaces
between floors

Made of fire-resistant low toxic

Fire-resistant
materials

Meets higher fire safety Prevent spread of fire between

standards floors

More expensive More cost-effective

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Coaxial and Twinaxial Cable
Feature Coaxial Twinaxial

Image

Configuration Central conductor, insulation, metallic Two inner conductors in a twisted

shield, outer jacket pair, insulation, outer jacket
Usage TV, Internet, radio signals, CCTV 10 GB Ethernet networks

Bandwidth Wide range of frequencies, high-speed Very-short range high-speed

data transmission
Connectors BNC, TNC, SMA Proprietary
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Activity: Multiple Choice
A company is setting up a network in an
industrial environment where machinery often
causes significant electromagnetic interference.
The network requires a cabling solution that
can handle high-speed data transfer while also
being resistant to this interference. The cable
will be used to connect servers within the same
data center, and the runs will not exceed 100
meters.

A. Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP)

B. Shielded Twisted Pair (STP)
C. Coaxial Cable
D. Fiber Optic Cable

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Lesson 2.3
Wiring Implementation

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 Structured Cabling System
A structured cabling scheme is a standard way of provisioning cabled networking for
computers in an office building.

Work Area • User connection point

• Floor-level networking
Horizontal Cabling • Multiple IDFs

Telecommunications • Equipment hub

Room • Dedicated space

Backbone Cabling • Vertical connections

Entrance • Network transition point

Facilities/Demarc • LEC integration

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Structured Cabling Diagram

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T568A and T568B Termination Standards

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Patch Panels
Wiring
Purpose Structure Function
Standards
• Facilitates • Punch down • IDC terminals • Supports
cable blocks at rear allow for T568A wiring
management for cable secure and schemes
termination compact cable
termination • Supports
• RJ45 ports in T568B wiring
front for device • RJ45 ports schemes
connections enable easy
reconfiguration
of network
connections

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Structured Cable Installation

Pulling Cable Connection Documentation

• Gather tools • Service loop • Verify
• Plan route • Label cables • Cut and label • Patch panel connections • Record details
• Route cables • Work area • Test network
• Bundle cables

Preparation Termination Testing

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Termination Tools
Cable Cutters Crimp Tools

For clean cuts

To attach
of the cable
connectors to
without
the cable
damaging
ends.
wires.

Punch-Down Tools Cable Strippers

For For safely

terminating removing
cable wires in insulation
punch down without
blocks. nicking wires.

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Activity: What is it?

1 2 3

4
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Lesson 2.4
Fiber Optic Cables and Connectors

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Fiber Optic Considerations
Fiber optic cables

• Thin stands of glass or plastic

• Transmit data using light pulses

Composition

• Core: ultra-pure strands of glass

• Cladding: reflects light back into the core
• Buffer: outer protective jacket

Benefits

• Transmit data up to 800 Gbps

• Maintain signal quality over long distances
• Immune to electromagnetic interference

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Single Mode and Multimode Fiber
Factor Single Mode Multimode

Core diameter Small core allowing only one light to Larger core allowing multiple light
pass through modes to pass through
Light transmission Light travels directly down the fiber Light bounces more causing more
with minimal reflection and dispersion and attenuation
attenuation
Distance and Suitable for long distances Best for shorter distances
bandwidth
Applications Long-haul networks, high-speed Datacenters, LANs
broadband, telecommunications
Cost More expensive Less expensive

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Fiber Optic Connector Types
Factor Subscriber Connector (SC) Lucent Connector (LC) Straight Tip Connector (ST)

Image

Ferrule Size 2.5 mm 1.25 mm 2.5 mm

Applications Telecommunications Heavily populated patch LANS and datacenters

networks, data panels and cabinets
transmission
Features Push-pull design, quick Square shape, duplex Bayonet twist-lock, older
deployment, low insertion header design but still widely used
loss, durability
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Wavelength Division Multiplexing
(WDM) Allows multiple data channels to share the
same fiber using different wavelengths of light

Bidirectional WDM
(BiDi): Coarse WDM (CWDM): Dense WDM (DWDM):

• Supports Tx and Rx over the • Supports up to 16 • Provisions more channels (20,

same fiber strand wavelengths 40, 80, or 160)
• Uses shifted wavelengths • Typically used for 4-8 • Requires precise lasers due to
(1310 nm for Tx, 1490 nm for bidirectional channels on a less spacing between channels
Rx) single strand • Supports multi-channel
• Requires installation in • Can also be used for 1G, 10G, and 40G Ethernet
opposite pairs unidirectional channels on links
• Documented in Ethernet dual strands
• Transceivers installed in
standards (1000BASE-BX,
opposite pairs for proper
10GBASE-BX)
function

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Activity: Two Truths and a Lie
Fiber optic cables are Single mode fiber
made of thin strands causes more
of glass or plastic that dispersion and
transmit data using attenuation then
light pulses multimode fiber

Lucent connectors are

often used for heavily
populated patch
panels

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Lesson 2.5
Physical Installation Factors

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Rack Systems
Secure Areas:

• Telecommunications closets, equipment rooms, server rooms

• Datacenters for server provisioning

Access Control:

• Physical access controls for authorized entry

Rack Installation:

• Steel shelving systems for standard-size equipment

• Secure, compact storage; increased density

Standard Sizing:

• EIA standard 19"/48.26 cm width for rack-mounting

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Humidity and Temperature
Temperature Humidity Electrical Flood
Monitoring Control Stability Detection

Avoids Ensures Identifies

Prevents
condensation uninterrupted water-related
overheating
and corrosion power supply risks

Triggers
Ensures Monitors for
Reduces static immediate
effective heat voltage
charge risks system
dissipation irregularities
shutdowns

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Power Management
Power Load and Battery
PDUs
Essentials Voltage Backups
Component-level
storage device
Essential stable protection
AC circuits aligned Ensure clean power
power for network
with equipment load signals
appliances

UPS for system-level

power continuity

Protection against
High-voltage circuits Offer remote
voltage spikes,
in datacenters monitoring/control UPS runtime
surges, and failures
dependent on
load/model

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Fire Suppression
Fire Safety Detection and Sprinkler Sprinkler
Extinguishers:
Elements Alarms Systems Alternatives

Clearly marked Dry-pipe

fire exits. Various types for
Heat-triggered,
different fire
water discharge.
classes.
Automatic and Pre-action
Regular manual
emergency smoke/fire
evacuation drills. detection
systems. Halon (phased
out).
Class C Risk of burst
extinguishers for pipes, accidental
Fire-resistant electrical safety. triggering.
building design. Clean agent

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Activity: Prevention

What would you do to:

• Prevent equipment from
overheating in server room
• Prevent static discharge
• Protect equipment and
data from brownouts and
blackouts

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Lesson 2.6
Cable Troubleshooting

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Specifications and Limitations: Part One
Understanding Speed vs. Throughput
Specifications Throughput Factors
• Compare • Physical Layer: • Average data
expected vs. Symbols transfer rate over
actual transmitted, time
performance measured in
baud rate (Hz) • Affected by
• Assess speed, encoding, errors,
throughput, • Data Link Layer: distance,
distance Nominal bit rate interference
or bandwidth
(bps)

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Specifications and Limitations: Part
Two
Measurement Layers Latency Distance Limitations
• Network/Transport • Speed of packet • Media type dictates
Layer: Throughput delivery, measured bit rate over
• Application Layer: in milliseconds (ms) distance
Goodput • Also known as • Attenuation (dB
(accounting for latency or delay loss) and
packet loss) interference (SNR)
impact
performance

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Cable Issues: Symptoms
Random
Slow Internet disconnections Connection
speeds and timeouts
reconnections

Lagging Frequent drops

Slowing down
audio/video or unstable
of applications
communication network link

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Cable Issues: Troubleshooting

Use
Substitute Test Check
alternative Verify
Physical Verify patch patch cords transceivers structured
hosts or drivers and
inspection cord with known with a cabling with
switch ports network
of cables connections good ones loopback appropriate
to test adapter
if faulty tool tools
connectivity

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Cable Testers
Diagnosis with Cable Testing Tools

• Used when cable is not directly accessible

• Diagnose intermittent connectivity or
performance issues

Cable Tester Functions

• Reports on physical and electrical properties

• Tests conditions, crosstalk, attenuation,
noise, resistance

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Wire Map Testers and Tone Generators
Wire Map Testers Tone Generators
• Detect improper cable • Trace cables through
termination walls or identify active
• Use base and remote cables in a bundle
units to test each wire • Known as “Fox and
conductor Hound”
• Identify issues like open • Apply signal to trace
circuits, shorts, and cable with a probe
incorrect pin-outs

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Attenuation Issues
Loss of signal strength in networking cables or connections
(measured in decibels (dB) or voltage)

• Signal strength loss during transmission

• Higher impedance, higher attenuation

Issues •
•
Long cabling distance
Thin wire size
• Environmental factors

• Shorten cable lengths

Solutions
• Use repeaters/extenders
• Upgrade to high-quality cables
• Measure and test signal attenuation at installation

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Interference Issues
Negative effects of electromagnetic, radio frequency, and electrostatic signals on
cable transmissions

• Electromagnetic interference (EMI)

Issues
• Radio frequency interference (RFI)
• Crosstalk from adjacent wires
• Defective connectors/conductors

• Shielding techniques (foil/braided shields)

Solutions
• Systematic cable routing and organization
• Use robust materials and strain relief
• Compatibility testing

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Crosstalk Issues
Interference caused by signal overlap cables

• Crosstalk at transmitter
Near End Crosstalk (NEXT) • Caused by untwisting, faulty shields

Attenuation to Crosstalk • Insertion loss vs. NEXT

Radio, Near End (ACRN) • High value: strong signal

Attenuation to Crosstalk • FEXT at recipient end

Radio, Far End (ACRF) • Independent of link length

• For Gigabit/10 GbE Ethernet

Power Sum • Ensures cable suitability

• Interference from nearby cables

Alien Crosstalk: • Due to tight bundling, bad termination

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Crosstalk Issues: Solutions
Check for physical damage
and improper installation

Avoid excessive untwisting

Ensure proper bundling

Use appropriate cable types

and connectors

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Activity: Think About It

What are some

symptoms of cabling
issues?

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Summary
Understand Cable Needs: Consider factors like interference and attenuation
when choosing shielded copper or fiber optic cables
Proper Cable Preparation: Use appropriate tools for cable preparation and
termination for connectors or punch down blocks
Application-Specific Use: Ensure cables are used for their intended purpose
to meet network requirements.
Cable Testing: Verify cable integrity using appropriate testing tools to
identify and troubleshoot faults

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