Cabling: The Complete Guide to Network Wiring

Welcome to the incredibly complex world of premises data-communications cabling. This introduction will tell you a little about how this book came about and how you can use it to your best advantage. Not only does cabling carry the data across your network, it can also carry voice, serial communications, alarm signals, video, and audio transmissions. In the past, people took their cabling systems for granted. However, over the last decade, the information technology world began to understand the importance of a reliable and well-designed structured cabling system. This period also resulted in an explosion in the number of registered structured-cabling installers. The number of people who need to know the basics of cabling has increased dramatically. We had a great time writing this book. In the year-long process of researching, writing, and editing it, we met many consummate professionals in the cabling business. Many distributors, manufacturers, and cabling contractors provided us with feedback, tips, and in-the-field experiences. During the research phase of the book, we continually reviewed newsgroups, cabling FAQs, and other Internet resources, besides polling information technology managers, help-desk staff, network designers, cable installers, and system managers to find out what people want to know about their cabling system. The answers we received helped us write this book. About This Book This book’s topics run the gamut of cabling; they include the following: ● An introduction to data cabling ● Information on cabling standards and how to choose the correct ones ● Cable system and infrastructure constraints ● Cabling-System Components ● Tools of the trade ● Copper, fiber-optic, and unbounded media ● Wall plates and cable connectors ● Cabling-system design and installation ● Cable-connector installation