4 Connecting to the Internet through an ISP

4.1 Chapter introduction

4.1.1 Explain What Internet Is

Every day millions of people exchange information through the Internet - but what
exactly is the Internet? The Internet is a worldwide collection of computer networks,
cooperating with each other to exchange information using common standards. Through
telephone wires, fiber optic cables, wireless transmissions and satellite links, Internet
users can exchange information in a variety of forms.

The Internet is a network of networks that connects users in every country in the world.
There are currently over one billion Internet users worldwide.

Up to now the networks we have discussed have been controlled by one individual or
organization. The Internet is a conglomerate of networks and is owned by no one
individual or group. There are, however, several major International organizations that
help manage the Internet so that everyone uses the same rules.

4.1.2 Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

Any home, business or organization that wants to connect to the Internet must use an
Internet Service Provider (ISP). An ISP is a company that provides the connections and
support to access the Internet. It can also provide additional services such as Email and
web hosting.

ISPs are essential to gaining access to the Internet. No one gets on the Internet without a
host computer, and no one gets on the Internet without going through an ISP.

ISPs range in size from small to very large and differ in terms of the area they service.
ISPs may provide limited services to a small geographical area or can have a wide variety
of services and support entire countries with millions of customers. ISPs also differ in the
types of connection technologies and speeds they offer. Examples of well known ISPs
include AOL, EarthLink, and Roadrunner.
Do you have Internet access? Who is your ISP?
 4.1.3 The ISPs Relationship With Internet

Individual computers and local networks connect to the ISP at a Point of Presence (POP).
A POP is the connection point between the ISP's network and the particular geographical
region that the POP is servicing.
An ISP may have many POPs depending on its size and the area it services. Within an
ISP, a network of high-speed routers and switches move data between the various POPs.
Multiple links interconnect the POPs to provide alternate routes for the data should one
link fail or become overloaded with traffic and congested.
ISPs connect to other ISPs in order to send information beyond the boundaries of their
own network. The Internet is made up of very high-speed data links that interconnect ISP
POPs and ISPs to each other. These interconnections are part of the very large, high
capacity network known as the Internet Backbone.
Connecting to the ISP at the POP provides users with access to the ISP's services and the
Internet.

4.1.4 Options for connecting to ISP

ISPs provide a variety of ways to connect to the Internet, depending on location and
desired connection speed.

In a major city there are typically more choices for ISPs and more connection options
than in a rural area. For example, cable Internet access is only available in certain
metropolitan areas where cable TV service is available. Remote areas may only have
access via dial-up or satellite.
Each Internet access technology uses a network access device, such as a modem, in order
to connect to the ISP. It may be built in to your computer or may be provided by the ISP.

The simplest arrangement is a modem that provides a direct connection between a

computer and the ISP. However, if multiple computers connect through a single ISP
connection, you will need additional networking devices. This includes a switch to
connect multiple hosts on a local network, and a router to move packets from your local
network to the ISP network. A home networking device, such as an integrated router, can
provide these functions, as well as wireless capability, in a single package.

The choice of Internet access technologies depends on availability, cost, access device
used, media used and the speed of the connection.

Most of the technologies shown are used for both home and small business. Leased lines
are typically used for business and large organizations, but can be used to provide high
speed connectivity in areas where cable or DSL are not available.

4.1.5 ISP Levels of Service

Depending on the ISP and the connection technology, various services are available such
as virus scanning, video on demand, and file storage. The contract with the ISP
determines the type and level of services that are available. Most ISPs offer two different
contract levels: home service or business class service.

Home service is normally less expensive than business services, and generally provides
scaled-down services such as slower connection speed, reduced web space storage, and
fewer email accounts. A typical home account may include a minimum of five email
addresses with additional addresses being available for a fee.

Business class service is more expensive but provides faster connection speeds and
additional web space and email accounts. A business class service may include twenty,
fifty or more email addresses. Business service also includes agreements between the ISP
and the customer specifying items such as network availability and service response time.
These are known as Service Level Agreements (SLAs).

When data is transferred, it is either uploaded or downloaded. Downloading refers to

information coming from the Internet to your computer, while uploading indicates the
reverse path, from your computer to the Internet. When the download transfer rate is
different from the upload transfer rate, it is called asymmetric. When the transfer rate is
the same in both directions, it is called symmetric. ISPs can offer both asymmetric and
symmetric services.

Asymmetric:
Most commonly used for the home.
Download speeds are faster than upload speeds.
Necessary for users that download significantly more than upload.
Most Internet users, especially those who use graphics or multimedia intensive web data,
need lots of download bandwidth.

Symmetric:
Most commonly used for business or individuals hosting servers on the Internet.
Used when necessary to upload large amounts of traffic such as intensive graphics,
multimedia, or video.
It can carry large amounts of data in both directions at equal rates.

4.2 Sending Information across the internet

4.2.1 Importance of Internet Protocol

For hosts to communicate on the Internet, they must be running Internet Protocol (IP)
software. The IP protocol is one of a group of protocols that are collectively referred to as
TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol). The Internet Protocol (IP)
uses packets to carry data. Whether you are playing an Internet video game, chatting with
a friend, sending email or searching the Web, the information you are sending or
receiving is carried in the form of IP packets.

Each IP packet must contain a valid source and destination IP address. Without valid
address information, packets sent will not reach the destination host. Return packets will
not make it back to the original source.

IP defines the structure of the source and destination IP addresses. It specifies how these
addresses are used in routing of packets from one host or network to another.

All protocols that operate on the Internet, including IP, are defined in numbered standards
documents called RFCs (Request for Comments).

An IP packet has a header at the beginning which contains the source and destination IP
addresses. It also contains control information that describes the packet to network
devices, such as routers, it passes through and also helps to control its behavior on the
network. The IP packet is sometimes referred to as a datagram.

IP addresses must be unique on the Internet. There are organizations responsible for
controlling the distribution of IP addresses so that there is no duplication. ISPs obtain
blocks of IP addresses from a local, national or regional Internet registry (RIR). It is the
responsibly of the ISPs to manage these addresses and assign them to end users.

Computers in homes, small businesses and other organizations obtain their IP

configuration from their ISP. Typically, this configuration is obtained automatically when
the user connects to the ISP for Internet access.
 4.2.2 How ISP handle Packets

Routers in each of the ISP POPs use the destination address of the IP packets to choose
the best path through the Internet. The packets you send to the ISP POP are forwarded by
routers through the ISP's network and then through the networks of other ISPs. They pass
from router to router until they reach their final destination.

4.2.3 Forwarding Packets Across the Internet

There are network utilities that test connectivity to the destination device. The ping utility
tests end-to-end connectivity between source and destination. It measures the time that it
takes test packets to make a round trip from the source to the destination and whether the
transmission is successful. However, if the packet does not reach the destination, or if
delays are encountered along the way, there is no way to determine where the problem is
located.
How is it possible to determine which routers the packets have passed through and detect
the problem areas in the path?

The traceroute utility traces the route from source to destination. Each router through
which the packets travel is referred to as a hop. Traceroute displays each hop along the
way and the time it takes for each one. If a problem occurs, the display of the time and
the route that the packet traveled can help to determine where the packet was lost or
delayed. The traceroute utility is called tracert in the Windows environment.

There are also a number of visual traceroute programs that can provide a graphical
display of the route that a packet takes.

4.3 Network devices In NOC

4.3.1 Internet cloud

When packets travel across the Internet, they pass through many network devices.

The Internet can be thought of as a network of routers, interconnected with one another.
Very often, there are alternate routes between routers, and packets may take different
paths between source and destination.

Should there be a problem with traffic flow at any point in the network; packets
automatically take an alternate route.

A diagram that shows all network devices and their interconnections would be very
complex. Additionally, the final routing path between source and destination is not
usually important, only that the source is able to communicate with the destination.
Therefore, in network diagrams a cloud is often used to represent the Internet or any other
complex network, without showing the details of the connections. The cloud allows for
simple diagrams that focus on source and destination only, even though there may be
many devices linked in-between.

4.3.2 Devices In Internet Cloud

\
Routers are not the only devices found in the Internet cloud nor are they the only devices
found at an ISP. The ISP must be able to accept and deliver information to the end-user
as well as participate in the Internet.

Devices that provide connectivity to end-users must match the technology used by the
end-user to connect to the ISP. For example, if the end-user is using DSL technology to
connect, the ISP must have a DSL Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) to accept these
connections. For cable modems to connect, the ISP must have a Cable Modem
Termination System (CMTS). Some ISPs still accept analog calls through modems and
have banks of modems to support these users. ISPs that provide wireless access have
wireless bridging equipment.

The ISP must also be able to connect with and transfer data with other ISPs. A variety of
technologies are used to accomplish this, each requiring specialized equipment and
configurations in order to function.
The type of equipment found in an ISP equipment room depends on the technology of the
networks in which it is participating. Routers and switches make up most of this
equipment. But these devices are very different than the ones found in the home or small
business environment.

Networking devices used by the ISP handle extremely large volumes of traffic very
quickly. They must function at near 100% uptime since the failure of a key piece of
equipment at an ISP can have disastrous effects on network traffic. For this reason, most
of the equipment used by ISPs are high-end, high-speed devices with redundancy.

In contrast, network devices used in the home or small business environment are lower-
end, lower-speed devices that are not capable of handling large volumes of traffic.
Integrated routers can perform several functions, including: Wireless LAN access point,
switching, routing, firewalls and various address functions. An integrated router may
support some or all of these functions.

4.3.3 Physical and Environmental Requirements

The network installation located at an ISP versus a home/small business is very different.

The home or small business network provides a limited number of services for relatively
few users. Internet connectivity is purchased from an ISP. The volume of traffic is small,
and no transport services are provided.

The ISP provides transport and other services to a large number of users. A number of
different devices are required to accept input from end users. To participate in a transport
network, they must be able to connect to other ISPs. They handle large volumes of traffic
and require very reliable equipment in order to handle the load.
Even though these two networks appear very different, they both require an environment
where the equipment can function reliably and without interruption. The requirements are
the same, but the scale of operation is different: at home, a single power outlet will
suffice, whereas at an ISP the power requirements need to be planned out ahead of time
and installed.

One major difference between an ISP and a home/small business network is the inclusion
of servers. Most home users do not run servers and small businesses usually may have a
few. They rely on the services offered by the ISP for such things as email, address
assignment and web space. An ISP must consider the physical requirements of not only
the networking equipment, but also the servers it houses.

One of the main considerations for electronic equipment is a reliable supply of stable
power. Unfortunately the supply of power is not always reliable, and this can lead to
problems for network devices. ISPs install power conditioning equipment with
substantial battery backup to maintain continuity of supply should the main power grid
fail. For the home/small business, inexpensive uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and
battery backup units are usually sufficient for the relatively small amount of equipment
they use.

Environmental factors, such as heat and humidity, must also be considered when
planning a network installation. However, because of the volume of equipment and the
amount of power consumed in an ISP, high-end air conditioning units are necessary to
maintain controlled temperatures. For the home/small business, ordinary air conditioning,
heating, and humidity controls are usually sufficient.

Cable management is another area of concern for both the home/small business network
and the ISP. Cables must be protected from physical damage and organized in a manner
that will aid in the troubleshooting process. In small networks, there are only a few
cables, but in ISP networks, thousands of cables must be managed. This can include not
only copper data cables but also fiber optic and power cables.

All of these factors, namely power supply, environment and cable management, must be
considered when setting up a network of any size. There is a big variation between size
and therefore requirements for an ISP and a home network. Most networks fall
somewhere between these two extremes.

4.4 Cables and Connectors

4.4.1 Common Network Cables

In order for communication to occur a source, destination, and some sort of channel must
be present. A channel, or medium, provides a path over which the information is sent. In
the networked world, the medium is usually some sort of physical cable. It may also be
electromagnetic radiation, in the case of wireless networking. The connection between
the source and destination may either be direct or indirect, and may span multiple media
types.
Many different types of cables exist to interconnect the various devices in a NOC or local
network.

There are two kinds of physical cable. Metal cables, usually copper, have electrical
impulses applied to them to convey information. Fiber optic cables, made of glass or
plastic, use flashes of light to convey information.

Twisted Pair

Modern Ethernet technology generally uses a type of copper cable known as twisted pair
(TP) to interconnect devices. Because Ethernet is the foundation for most local networks,
TP is the most commonly encountered type of network cabling.

Coaxial Cable

Coaxial cable is usually constructed of either copper or aluminum, and is used by cable
television companies to provide service. It is also used for connecting the various
components which make up satellite communication systems.

Fiber Optic

Fiber optic cables are made of glass or plastic. They have a very high bandwidth, which
enables them to carry very large amounts of data. Fiber is used in backbone networks,
large enterprise environments and large data centers. It is also used extensively by
telephone companies.
 4.4.2 Twisted Pair Cables

Twisted pair cables consist of one or more pairs of insulated copper wires that are twisted
together and housed in a protective jacket. Like all copper cables, twisted pair uses pulses
of electricity to transmit data.

Data transmission is sensitive to interference or noise, which can reduce the data rate that
a cable can provide. A twisted pair cable is susceptible to electromagnetic interference
(EMI), a type of noise.

A source of interference, known as crosstalk, occurs when cables are bundled together for
long lengths. The signal from one cable can leak out and enter adjacent cables.

When data transmission is corrupted due to interference such as crosstalk, the data must
be retransmitted. This can degrade the data carrying capacity of the medium.

In twisted pair cabling, the number of twists per unit length affects the amount of
resistance that the cable has to interference. Twisted pair cable suitable for carrying
telephone traffic, referred to as CAT3, has 3-4 turns per foot making it less resistant.
Cable suitable for data transmission, known as CAT5, has 3-4 turns per inch, making it
more resistant to interference.

There are three types of twisted pair cable: unshielded twisted pair, shielded twisted pair,
and screened twisted pair.
Unshielded twisted pair (UTP) is the most commonly encountered type of network cable
in North America and many other areas. Shielded cables (ScTP and F-UTP) are used
almost exclusively in European countries.

UTP cable is inexpensive, offers a high bandwidth, and is easy to install. This type of
cable is used to connect workstations, hosts and network devices. It can come with many
different numbers of pairs inside the jacket, but the most common number of pairs is
four. Each pair is identified by a specific color code.

Many different categories of UTP cables have been developed over time. Each category
of cable was developed to support a specific technology and most are no longer
encountered in homes or offices. The cable types which are still commonly found include
Categories 3, 5, 5e and 6. There are electrical environments in which EMI and RFI are so
strong that shielding is a requirement to make communication possible, such as in a noisy
factory. In this instance, it may be necessary to use a cable that contains shielding, such
as Shielded twisted-pair (STP) and Screened twisted-pair (ScTP). Unfortunately both
STP and ScTP are very expensive, not as flexible, and have additional requirements due
to the shielding that make them difficult to work with.

All Categories of data grade UTP cable are traditionally terminated into an RJ-45
connector.

4.4.3 Coaxial Cable

Like twisted pair, coaxial cable (or coax) also carries data in the form of electrical
signals. It provides improved shielding compared to UTP, so has a lower signal-to-noise
ratio and can therefore carry more data. It is often used to connect a TV set to the signal
source, be it a cable TV outlet, satellite TV, or conventional antenna. It is also used at
NOCs to connect to the cable modem termination system (CMTS) and to connect to some
high-speed interfaces.
Although coax has improved data carrying characteristics, twisted pair cabling has
replaced coax in local area networking uses. Among the reasons for the replacement is
that - compared to UTP - coax is physically harder to install, more expensive, and harder
to troubleshoot.

4.4.4 Fiber Optic Cables

Unlike TP and coax, fiber optic cables transmit data using pulses of light. Although not
normally found in home or small business environments, fiber optic cabling is widely
used in enterprise environments and large data centers.

Fiber optic cable is constructed of either glass or plastic, neither of which conducts
electricity. This means that it is immune to EMI and is suitable for installation in
environments where interference is a problem.

In addition to its resistance to EMI, fiber optic cables support a large amount of
bandwidth making them ideally suited for high-speed data backbones. Fiber optic
backbones are found in many corporations and are also used to connect ISPs on the
Internet.

Each fiber optic circuit is actually two fiber cables. One is used to transmit data; the other
is used to receive data.

There are two forms of fiber optic cable: multimode and single mode.

Multimode

Of the two forms of fiber optic, multimode is the less expensive and more widely used.
The light source that produces the pulses of light is usually an LED. It is referred to as
multimode because there are multiple rays of light, each carrying data, being transmitted
through the cable simultaneously. Each ray of light takes a separate path through the
multimode core. Multimode fiber optical cables are generally suitable for links of up to
2000 meters. However, improvements in technology are continually improving this
distance.
 Single Mode

Single mode fiber optic cables are constructed in such a way that light can follow only a
single path through the fiber. The light source for single mode fiber optic cables is
usually a LED laser, which is significantly more expensive and intense than ordinary
LEDs. Due to the intensity of the LED laser, much higher data rates and longer ranges
can be obtained. Single mode fibers can transmit data for approximately 3000 meters and
are used for backbone cabling including the interconnection of various NOCs. Again,
improvements in technology are continually improving this distance.

4.5 Working with Twisted Pair Cabling

4.5.1 Cabling standards

Cabling is an integral part of building any network. When installing cable, it is important
to follow cabling standards, which have been developed to ensure data networks operate
to agreed levels of performance.

Cabling standards are a set of specifications for the installation and testing of cables.
Standards specify types of cables to use in specific environments, conductor materials,
pinouts, wire sizes, shielding, cable lengths, connector types and performance limits.

There are many different organizations involved in the creation of cabling standards.
While some of these organizations have only local jurisdiction many offer standards that
are adopted around the world.

Some of the organizations and the areas that they manage are seen in the graphic.
 4.5.2 UTP Cables

Twisted pair cable is most commonly used in network installations. The TIA/EIA
organization defines two different patterns, or wiring schemes, called T568A and T568B.
Each wiring scheme defines the pinout, or order of wire connections, on the end of the
cable.

The two schemes are similar except two of the four pairs are reversed in the termination
order. The graphic shows this color-coding and how the two pairs are reversed.

On a network installation, one of the two wiring schemes (T568A or T568B) should be
chosen and followed. It is important that the same wiring scheme is used for every
termination in that project. If working on an existing network, use the wiring scheme
already employed.

Using the T568A and T568B wiring schemes, two types of cables can be created: a
straight-through cable and a crossover cable. These two types of cable are found in data
installations.
 Straight-through Cables

A Straight-through cable is the most common cable type. It maps a wire to the same pins
on both ends of the cable. In other words, if T568A is on one end of the cable, T568A is
also on the other. If T568B is on one end of the cable, T568B is on the other. This means
that the order of connections (the pinout) for each color is the exact same on both ends.

It is the type of straight-through cable (T568A or T568B) used on the network that
defines the wiring scheme for the network.

Crossover Cable

A crossover cable uses both wiring schemes. T568A on one end of the cable and T568B
on the other end of the same cable. This means that the order of connection on one end of
the cable does not match the order of connections on the other.

The straight-through and crossover cables each have a specific use on the network. The
type of cable needed to connect two devices depends on which wire pairs the devices use
to transmit and receive data.

UTP Cable

Specific pins on the connector are associated with a transmit function and a receive
function. The transmit pin versus the receive pin is determined based on the device.

Two devices directly connected and using different pins for transmit and receive are
known as unlike devices. They require a straight-through cable to exchange data. Devices
that are directly connected and use the same pins for transmit and receive, are known as
like devices. They require the use of a crossover cable to exchange data.

Unlike Devices

The pins on the RJ-45 data connector of a PC have pins 1 and 2 as transmit and pins 3
and 6 as receive. The pins on the data connector of a switch have pins 1 and 2 as receive
and pins 3 and 6 as transmit. The pins used for transmit on the PC correspond to those
used for receive on the switch. Therefore, a straight-through cable is necessary.
The wire connected to pin 1 (transmit pin) on the PC on one end of the cable, is
connected to pin 1 (receive pin) on the switch on the other end of the cable.

Other examples of unlike devices that require a straight-through cable include:

Switch port to router port
Hub port to PC

Like Devices

If a PC is directly connected to another PC, pins 1 and 2 on both devices are transmit pins
and pins 3 and 6 are receive pins.

A crossover cable would ensure that the green wire connected to pins 1 and 2 (transmit
pins) on one PC connect to pins 3 and 6 (receive pins) on the other PC.

If a straight-through cable were used, the wire connected to pin 1, the transmit pin, on
PC1 would be connected to pin 1, the transmit pin, on PC2. It is not possible to receive
data on a transmit pin.

Other examples of like devices that require a crossover cable include:

Switch port to switch port
Switch port to hub port
Hub port to hub port
Router port to router port
PC to router port
PC to PC

If the incorrect cable type is used, the connection between network devices will not
function.

Some devices can automatically sense which pins are used for transmit and receive and
will adjust their internal connections accordingly.
 4.5.3 UTP Cable termination

UTP and STP cable is usually terminated into an RJ-45 connector.

The RJ-45 connector is considered a male component, which is crimped to the end of the
cable. When a male connector is viewed from the front with the metal contacts facing up,
the pin locations are numbered from 8 on the left to 1 on the right.

The jack is considered the female component and is located in networking devices, wall
outlets, or patch panels. The RJ-45 connector on the wire plugs into the jack.

Cables can be purchased that are pre-terminated with RJ-45 connectors. They can also be
manually terminated, onsite, using a crimping tool. When manually terminating UTP
cable into an RJ-45 connector, untwist only a small amount of wire to minimize crosstalk.
Also be sure that the wires are pushed all the way into the end of the connector and that
the RJ45 connector is crimped onto the wire jacket. This ensures good electrical contact
and provides strength to the wire connection.

4.5.4 Terminating UTP at Patch Panels and Well Jacks

In a NOC, network devices are usually connected to patch panels. Patch panels act like
switchboards that connect workstation cables to other devices. The use of patch panels
enables the physical cabling of the network to be quickly rearranged as equipment is
added or replaced. These patch panels use RJ-45 jacks for quick connection on the front,
but require the cables to be punched down on the reverse side of the RJ-45 jack.

Patch panels are no longer confined to enterprise network installations. They can be
found in many small businesses and even homes where they provide a central connection
point for data, telephone and even audio systems.
The RJ-45 jack has eight conductors, and is wired according to either T568A or T568B.
At the patch panel a device known as a punchdown tool is required to push the wires into
the connector. The wires should be matched up to the appropriate insulation displacement
connector (IDC) by color before punching them down. The punchdown tool also cuts off
any excess wire.

A punchdown tool is not required to terminate most wall jacks. To terminate these
connectors the cables are untwisted and placed into the appropriate IDC. Placing the cap
on the jack pushes the cables into the IDC and cuts through the insulation on the wires.
Most of these connectors then require the installer to manually trim away excess cable.

In all cases, untwisting more cable than is necessary will increase the amount of crosstalk
and degrade overall network performance.
 4.5.5 Cable Test

When a new or repaired cable run is terminated, it is important to verify that the cable
operates correctly and meets connectivity standards. This can be done through a series of
tests.

The first test is a visual inspection, which verifies that all wires are connected according
to T568A or B.

In addition to visual examination, check the cable electrically in order to determine

problems or flaws in a network cabling installation. The following are tools that can be
used for cable diagnostics:
Cable testers
Cable certifiers
Multimeters

The cable tester is used to perform initial diagnostics. The first test usually is called a
continuity test and it verifies that there is end-to-end connectivity. It can also detect
common cabling faults such as opens and shorts.

An open circuit occurs when the wire is not properly pushed into the connector and there
is no electrical contact. An open can also occur if there is a break in the wire.

A short occurs when the copper conductors touch each other. As the electric pulse travels
down the wire, it will cross onto the touching wire. This creates an unintended path in the
flow of the signal to its destination.

A cable tester can also create wire maps that will verify that the cable is terminated
correctly. A wire map shows which wire pairs connect to which pins on the plugs and
sockets. The wire map test verifies that all eight wires are connected to the correct pins
and indicates if cabling faults are present such as split pairs or reversals.

If any of these faults are detected, the easiest way to correct them is to reterminate the
cable.
Specialized cable testers provide additional information, such as the level of attenuation
and crosstalk.

Attenuation

Attenuation, also commonly referred to as insertion loss, is a general term that refers to
the reduction in the strength of a signal. Attenuation is a natural consequence of signal
transmission over any medium. Attenuation limits the length of network cabling over
which a message can be sent. A cable tester measures attenuation by injecting a signal in
one end and then measuring its strength at the other end.

Crosstalk

Crosstalk is the leakage of signals between pairs. If this is measured near the transmitting
end it is termed near-end crosstalk (NEXT). If measured at the receiving end of the cable
it is termed far-end crosstalk (FEXT). Both forms of crosstalk degrade network
performance and are often caused by untwisting too much cable when terminating. If
high crosstalk values are detected, the best thing to do is check the cable terminations and
re-terminate as necessary.
 4.5.6 Cabling Best Practices

The following steps, called best practices, ensure that cable termination is successful.

1. It is important that the type of cables and components used on a network adhere to the
standards required for that network. Modern converged networks carry voice, video and
data traffic on the same wires; therefore the cables used on converged networks must be
able to support all these applications.

2. Cable standards specify maximum lengths for different types of cables. Always adhere
to the length restrictions for the type of cable being installed.

3. UTP, like all copper cable, is susceptible to EMI. It is important to install cable away
from sources of interference such as high-voltage cables and fluorescent lighting.
Televisions, computer monitors and microwaves are other possible sources of
interference. In some environments it may be necessary to install data cables in conduit to
protect them from EMI and RFI.

4. Improper termination and the use of low quality cables and connectors can degrade the
signal carrying capacity of the cable. Always follow the rules for cable termination and
test to verify that the termination has been done properly.

5. Test all cable installations to ensure proper connectivity and operation.

6. Label all cables as they are installed, and record the location of cables in network
documentation.

Structured cabling is a method for creating an organized cabling system that can be easily
understood by installers, network administrators, and any other technicians who deal with
cables. One component of structured cabling is cable management.

Cable management serves multiple purposes. First, it presents a neat and organized
system which aids in the isolation of cabling problems. Second, by following cable
management best practices, the cables are protected from physical damage which greatly
reduces the number of problems experienced.

Cables should be considered a long term investment. What may be sufficient now may
not be in the near future. Always plan for the future by complying with all current
standards. Remember that standards help to ensure that the cables will be able to deliver
acceptable performance as the technology evolves.

It is important to observe cabling best practices in all environments. Strict adherence to

these practices, in home and business environments, helps reduce the number of potential
problems. It will save a great amount of time, money and frustration.
4.6 Chapter Summary