Ethernet Network Cabling Solution for Office Buildings

In this modern world, efficient and reliable access to information has become an important factor to attain a competitive advantage. Networking is a blessing to business organizations that allows co-workers thousands of miles apart to share information with each other instantaneously and can help workers working at same location to review and update data maintained online.

          Ethernet network was first designed and tested by researcher Bob Metcalfe, in 1973, at Xerox Corporation’s Palo Alto Research Centre. Since then Ethernet has become the most widely used network technology in world. Ethernet is one of the most cheapest and flexible option that is used in almost all networks. As a result of Ethernet dominance, most vendors are using Ethernet cabling for their products. Most of the Ethernet varieties operate at a speed of 10mbps and every node on the network share this bandwidth.

Networks appropriate for connecting devices in a home or office building:

• Twisted-Pair Ethernets:

These are most common Ethernet wiring and are available in different grades like CAT-3, CAT-5, CAT-5e, CAT-6, etc. It looks like the traditional telephone wire and can connect any number of devices within about 100 meters.

• Coaxial cable Ethernets:

They provide a wider range, about 185 meters than twisted pair cables but they are harder to connect and require special adapters to connect to networking devices.

• Fibre-Optic Networks:

They support excellent data rates and longer distances up to few kilometres. But it’s not recommended as it can’t be used effectively without special training and at the same time it’s expensive too.

Networking requirements:

          Twisted pair Ethernet cables can carry 10 Mbps to 1 Gbps of data. In order to get a certain speed every network parts like type of wire and connectors, workmanship of wiring, Ethernet card, hub etc must support it. CAT-3 telephone wiring can provide 10 Mbps of data through it. CAT-5 parts can support 100 Mbps. CAT-5e and CAT-6 parts can support 1000 Mbps.

Materials required:

          Speed of the network depends on the worst-rated part it contains. So if CAT-5 cabling or higher is used make sure of the quality of parts used in the network. 

• The cable wire.
• Good quality ‘RJ45’ sockets for the equipment end of wires.
• Good quality modular plugs for the hub end of wire.
• Ethernet hub to plug all those plugs.

Ethernet cards are also needed for devices that don’t have them already. Ethernet patch cables are also needed to short from outlets to devices. For big projects a patch panel is needed at the hub end where all the wires come together.

The wiring process:

          Deciding the location for the hub is the first step. It’s preferred in centre portions and the basement walls are selected which are not too close to the electric panel. Then design the wiring plans. Wiring from the device to the hub may require painful vertical runs, drilling through walls etc. Leave some extra wiring at each end so that if any damage occurs there will be a chance of cutting down the damage and having enough to be useful for a short run. Labelling each wire on the hub end is important to avoid a painful sorting job later.

Long Outdoor Cabling:

If the cabling is required beyond 100 meters/325 foot lengths then several options are available:

• Switching to coaxial cables which provide a length limit of 185 meters.
• Switching to fibre optic cables which are available in different data rates, different length limits and different rates.
• Extend the range of twisted pairs. It can be done by hooking two electrically separate networks together.
• Extend the range of wireless network.

Recommendations for a small office network:

• Ethernet is more preferred than other networking technologies unless there are some other unusual requirements.
• Coaxial Ethernet of either the thick or thin-wire variety is not recommended to use.
• For increased performance use 100Base-T cabling.
• For lower prices use 10Base-T cabling.
• For small office networks Gigabit Ethernets should not be considered as an option.

Once the network is connected to the network a bug in any program can cause the entire system to get hacked. Installing a DHCP router and to have good virus protection, can provide protection to the networking device.