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Hardware Networking FAQs?

Posted by Cliff on from the cabling-101 dept.

TufelKinder asks: "Our company is installing a new network at a new building location. There don't seem to be many discussions that center on the best cabling systems, etc, to use. I'm wondering what /. folk have found to be the best brands/types of copper cables to use for 10/100BT networking and for gigabit over copper as well. Are there any specific types of cable or cabling practices to avoid?"

3 of 25 comments (clear)

  1. Cabling by _typo · · Score: 2, Interesting
    Put Cat5 everywere, it's cheap, but run it inside ample conduits were you can later on put fiber. When Gigabit really comes you'll probably want to do it over fiber. Run every line to a central location where you have the switches and asorted networking equipment and have a diferent swith for your servers. In that switch you can invest in fiber and gigabit so that your servers have ample bandwidth and are isolated from other computers, think sniffing.

    There is however one problem when using this setup that is when the server is trying to send more information than the client can take (1000Mbit server to 100Mbit client). This will cause errors and the network misperforming.

    Linux handles this with ECN (Explicit Congestion Notification), but some internet hosts deal badly with this.

    Anyway, to make a long story short, run todays regular solution everywere, think about upgraded connections for servers, and make sure upgrading is just a matter of buying new cable to run through existing conduits and new switches.

    --

    Pedro Côrte-Real.

  2. Re:cat5 for short runs, fiber for the long haul by rdndc · · Score: 3, Interesting
    I agree wholeheartedly with your advice. Well, except for one minor quibble {grin}

    The costs for Cisco laser GBICs to drive SingleMode fiber are substantially higher than that of LED GBICs to drive MultiMode fiber. It seems reasonable to expect that SingleMode gear from other vendors would be similarly expensive. I don't know how much more expensive the SM fiber itself might be.

    So... my suggestion would be to use MultiMode where you can, as it will indeed carry Gigabit Ethernet, and only spend the extra money for SingleMode fiber where distances require.

  3. Robotic Cable Puller by AmigaAvenger · · Score: 2, Interesting

    And if you do go with raised floors (good idea!), you will need something capable of pulling new cable runs under the floor, and have some fun doing it! Take a look at the Mark VI