Cabling

The physical linkages responsible for carrying a company's data continue to be the most neglected components of the typical network--to the extent that nearly 70% of all network-related problems result from poor cabling. In this third edition of a widely acclaimed resource, three networking experts share their extensive experience, teaching you the cabling skills you need to build a reliable, efficient, and cost-effective network cabling infrastructure. As you master these techniques, you'll learn to avoid common pitfalls and troubleshoot problems as quickly as they arise. Coverage includes: * Choosing the right cables and components for your network architecture and topology * Avoiding unnecessary and unexpected costs * Understanding the current limitations of data communications and network cabling * Understanding how laws and building codes constrain cabling * Understanding the function and importance of universal cabling standards * Determining when you have a cabling-related network problem * Assembling a complete cabling toolkit * Integrating voice and data on the same cable system * Setting up an infrastructure in which desktops, printers, copiers, and other nodes share cabling * Understanding issues of bandwidth, impedance, resistance, attenuation, crosstalk, capacitance, propagation, delay, and delay skew * Working effectively with USB and Firewire * Knowing when to discard legacy cabling and begin anew * Documenting your cabling * Creating an RFP and selecting a vendor