Networking - Cabling and the Physical Layer

STRUCTURED CABLING

Contrary to popular belief, cabling is not simply sending your retired telephone friend down to your local hardware store to run your data lines. Networks have become more advanced and the speed and sensitivity of data requires a rock-solid solution with a certified foundation. Would you pour the foundation or your new house yourself if you could save a couple bucks?

ABS Internet has been cabling homes, buildings, and complexes now for over 15 years. We take great pride in providing structured cabling solutions that are among the best in the industry.

CABLE MANAGEMENT

Our cable management solutions provide systems which organize, store, secure and protect cabling, computers, data and communications equipment. Cable management systems include two-post systems, four-post systems, enclosed cabinets, wall & under-floor systems, cable management, runway, and accessories.

Flooring / Bracing: Flooring, in the network architecture sense, seems not to require much attention, good data center administrators understand its importance. A raised floor in a data center is critical to ensure good airflow - and thus cooling. Seismic bracing is also critical for any earthquake activity, and the data center is also the main path for routing the miles of cabling any good-sized data center is likely to have.

Cable Pathways and Ducts: Cable pathway products make up a vital part of the total IT Infrastructure solution. Cable pathway systems support horizontal and backbone cables from the patch rack to workstations. Cable pathway solutions protect cables and help maintain proper cable bend radius per ANSI/TIA/EIA standards for superior data transmission and easier network maintenance.

Patch Panels: A panel of network ports contained together, usually within a telecommunications closet, that connects incoming and outgoing lines of a LAN or other communication, electronic or electrical system. In a LAN, the patch panel connects the network's computers to each other and to the outside lines that enable the LAN to connect to the Internet or another WAN. Connections are made with patch cords. The patch panel allows circuits to be arranged and rearranged by plugging and unplugging the patch cords.

Grounding & Bonding: The grounding system is not just an insurance policy against a lightning strike. It is an active, functioning system that provides protection for personnel and equipment. Proper grounding is essential for efficient network system performance. The purpose of the grounding system is to create a low resistance path to earth ground for electrical surges and transient voltages. Lightning, fault currents, circuit switching (motors turning on and off), and electrostatic discharge are the common causes of these surges and transient voltages. An effective grounding system minimizes the detrimental effects of these electrical surges.

OPTICAL FIBER

The optical fiber can be used as a medium for telecommunication and networking because it is flexible and can be bundled as cables. Although fibers can be made out of either transparent plastic or glass, the fibers used in long-distance telecommunications applications are always glass, because of the lower optical attenuation. Both multi-mode and single-mode fibers are used in communications, with multi-mode fiber used mostly for short distances (up to 500 m), and single-mode fiber used for longer distance links. Because of the tighter tolerances required to couple light into and between single-mode fibers, single-mode transmitters, receivers, amplifiers and other components are generally more expensive than multi-mode components.

COPPER

There are many categories (CAT) of copper wire. CAT6 copper cable contains four pairs of copper wire and unlike CAT5, utilizes all four pairs. CAT6 supports Gigabit (1000 Mbps) Ethernet and supports communications at more than twice the speed of CAT5e, the other popular standard for Gigabit Ethernet cabling. CAT6 comes at a significantly higher price tag than CAT5 or CAT5e, and today's applications simply can't take advantage of CAT6's better performance. However, if wiring a home or building for the long term, one may still consider using CAT6. ABS provides Category 6 and Category 5e copper connectivity solutions for voice, video, data, and manufacturing automation. All copper cabling solutions are installed, tested, and certified to meet or exceed the latest ANSI/TIA-568 standard specifications.

COAX

Coaxial cable is the kind of copper cable used by cable TV companies between the community antenna and user homes and businesses. Coaxial cable is sometimes used by telephone companies from their central office to the telephone poles near users. It is also widely installed for use in business and corporation Ethernet and other types of local area network. Coaxial cable is called "coaxial" because it includes one physical channel that carries the signal surrounded (after a layer of insulation) by another concentric physical channel, both running along the same axis. The outer channel serves as a ground. Many of these cables or pairs of coaxial tubes can be placed in a single outer sheathing and, with repeaters, can carry information for a great distance.