Installing a Physical NetworkInstalling a Physical Networkg yg y

Ch t 6Chapter 6

ObjectivesObjectivesjj• Recognize and describe the functions of basic components in a structured cabling systemcomponents in a structured cabling system

• Explain the process of installing structured blcable

• Install a network interface card• Perform basic troubleshooting on a structured cable network

OverviewOverview

Fi 6 1 Wh t d l l ki t k!Figure 6.1 What an orderly looking network!

Figure 6 2 A real world networkFigure 6.2 A real-world network

Four Parts to Chapter 6Four Parts to Chapter 6Four Parts to Chapter 6Four Parts to Chapter 6• Understanding Structured Cabling• Understanding Structured Cabling• Installing Structured Cabling• NICs• Diagnostics and Repair of Physical Cabling

Understanding Understanding ggStructured CablingStructured Cabling

• Set of TIA/EIA standards• Set of TIA/EIA standards• Details on every aspect of cabled network

T f bli– Type of cabling– Position of wall outlets– And more…

• Goal• Goal – Create a safe, reliable cabling infrastructure

• Applies to• Applies to– Networks– Telephone– Video– Anything that needs low‐power, distributed cabling

• Three important issues• Three important issues – Cable basics– Network ComponentsNetwork Components– Assessment of connections leading outside

the network

• Cable Basics – A Star is Born• Cable Basics  A Star is Born– Most basic network

• A switch• A switch• UTP cable• Some PCs

Figure 6.3 A switch connected by UTP cable to two PCs

• Problems in keeping it simple (a switch• Problems in keeping it simple (a switch in middle of office space)– Exposed cables are vulnerable to physical– Exposed cables are vulnerable to physical damage

– Signals exposed to electrical interferenceSignals exposed to electrical interference– Limits ability to make changes to network

• Better installation design• Better installation design– Provides safetyProvides hardware to organize and protect– Provides hardware to organize and protect cabling

• Flexibility of cabling standard allows for growth• Flexibility of cabling standard allows for growth

• Solution: TIA/EIA standards for structured blicabling

• Structured Cable Network Components• Structured Cable Network Components– Telecommunications roomHorizontal cabling– Horizontal cabling

– Work area

Figure 6.4 Telecommunications room

• Horizontal cabling– From work area to telecommunications room

– CAT5e or better– Solid core

• Better conductor than stranded core• Will break if mishandled

– Stranded core• Not as good a conductorS d h dli i h b ki• Stands up to handling without breaking

Figure 6.5 Horizontal cabling and work area

Figure 6.6 Solid and stranded core UTP

Figure 6.7 25-pair UTP

• Horizontal cabling – Number of Strands• Horizontal cabling  Number of Strands– Four‐pair UTP assumedHigh end telephone setups– High‐end telephone setups use 25‐ or 100‐pair

• Choosing Your Horizontal Cabling• Choosing Your Horizontal Cabling– CAT 5e or CAT 6 UTPCAT 6a for 10GBaseT– CAT 6a for 10GBaseT

– Install higher‐rated cable for future technologiestechnologies

– Contract network installers will bid with intention of installing lowest grade possibleintention of installing lowest grade possible

• The Telecommunications Room• The Telecommunications Room– Heart of basic starIntermediate distribution frame (IDF)– Intermediate distribution frame (IDF)

– Endpoint of all horizontal runs from all work areaswork areas

– Central component is equipment rack

• Equipment Rack• Equipment Rack– Safe, stable platform for hardware componentsNetwork equipment comes rack mounted– Network equipment comes rack‐mounted

– 19 inches wide V i i h i ht– Varies in height• U = 1.75”• 1U 2U 4U• 1U, 2U, 4U

Figure 6.8 A short equipment rack

Figure 6.9 A floor-to-ceiling rack

• Patch Panel box• Patch Panel box– Row of female connectors (ports) in frontPermanent connections to horizontal cables in– Permanent connections to horizontal cables in back• 110‐punchdown block110 punchdown block• Connect cables with punchdown tool

Figure 6.10 A rack-mounted UPS

Figure 6.11 Typical patch panels

Figure 6.12 Punchdown toolFigure 6.12 Punchdown tool

Figure 6.13 Punching down a 110 block

Figure 6.14 66-block patch panels

• Patch Panel box (continued)– Label cable connections on panel

• Use a simple labeling scheme• TIA/EIA 606 is confusing

– Wide variety of configurations• UTP, STP, or fiber ports• 8, 12, 24, 48, or more portsUTP t h l ith UTP ti• UTP patch panels come with UTP ratings

Fi 6 15 T i l t h lFigure 6.15 Typical patch panels

Figure 6 16 CAT level on patch panelFigure 6.16 CAT level on patch panel

• Cables• Cables– Connect patch cables to ports on front of panel

• Short (two to five feet)• Short (two to five feet)• Premade UTP offer benefits

– Stranded rather than solid cable – Different colors to help organize– Reinforced (booted) connector

Figure 6 17 Typical patch cableFigure 6.17 Typical patch cable

Patch Panel box

Fi 6 18 N t k t ki hFigure 6.18 Network taking shape

• Work Area• Work Area– Wall outlet

• Female jack with CAT rating to accept cabling• Female jack with CAT rating to accept cabling• Mounting plate, and faceplate

– Connect PC to wall outlet with patch cableConnect PC to wall outlet with patch cable– Work area is source of most network failures

Figure 6.19 Typical work area outlet

Figure 6.20 Properly labeled outlet

• Structured Cable – Beyond the Star• Structured Cable  Beyond the Star– Cabling on one floor a single star topologyCabling an entire building more complex– Cabling an entire building more complex

– Most LANs connect to both Internet & telephone companycompany

Figure 6.21 25-pair running to local 66-block

Figure 6.22 Typical home network interface boxFigure 6.22 Typical home network interface box

• Structured Cable – Beyond the Star (cont )• Structured Cable  Beyond the Star (cont.)– Typical building‐wide network

• High‐speed backbone runs vertically• High‐speed backbone runs vertically• Backbone connects to multispeed switch on each floor• Dedicated telephone cabling backbone runs alongsidep g g• Demarc (demarcation point)

• More on Demarcs• More on Demarcs– Connection to outside worldDividing line of responsibility– Dividing line of responsibility

– Network interface unit (NIU)• DSL or cable modem serves as a demarc in a home• DSL or cable modem serves as a demarc in a home• Smart jack in NIU enables remote testing

Figure 6.23 Typical office demarc

Figure 6.24 LAN vertical cross-connect

Figure 6.25 Telephone vertical cross-connect

• Structured Cable – Beyond the Star (cont )• Structured Cable  Beyond the Star (cont.)– Connections inside the demarc

• Network and telephone cables connect to demarc• Network and telephone cables connect to demarc extension– Multiplexer for telephones– LAN switch for a network

» Connects to a main patch panel—a vertical cross‐connect

• Structured Cable – Beyond the Star (cont )• Structured Cable  Beyond the Star (cont.)– Main distribution frame (MDF) 

• Another name for telecommunications room• Another name for telecommunications room

Installing Structured Installing Structured CablingCabling

• Getting a Floor Plan• Getting a Floor Plan– Key to proper planningDetermine potential locations for– Determine potential locations for telecommunications rooms

– Locate physical firewalls– Locate physical firewalls– Gives an overall feel for scope of jobIf no floor plan create one– If no floor plan, create one

Figure 6.26 Hand-drawn network floor plan

• Mapping the Runs• Mapping the Runs– Determine the length of cable runsDetermine the route of cable runs– Determine the route of cable runs

– Determine location of each cable drop

• Mapping the Runs (cont )• Mapping the Runs (cont.)– Talk to users, management, etc.

• Determine future plans• Determine future plans• Add extra drops

– Begin to determine costBegin to determine cost– Decide if cable runs will be inside or outside wall

• Raceways install outside wallsRaceways install outside walls

Figure 6.27 A typical raceway

• Determining Location of Telecommunications• Determining Location of Telecommunications Room– Distance no more than 90 meters from drops– Distance no more than 90 meters from drops– Power requirements of equipmentHumidity– Humidity

– CoolingE d bilit– Expandability

Figure 6 28 An A/C duct cooling a telecommunicationsFigure 6.28 An A/C duct cooling a telecommunications room

• Pulling Cable• Pulling Cable– Requires two to three peopleStart in telecommunications room and pull to– Start in telecommunications room and pull to drops

– Open drop ceiling and string via hooks or cable– Open drop ceiling and string via hooks or cable trays

– Have correct toolsHave correct tools

Figure 6.29 Cable trays over a drop ceiling

• Pulling Cable (cont )• Pulling Cable (cont.)– Good cable management important for fast networksfast networks

– Follow local codes, TIA/EIA, and NEC– Vertical drops most difficult– Vertical drops most difficult– Install a low‐voltage mounting bracket to hold faceplatehold faceplate 

– Use cable guides to help organize equipment closetequipment closet

Figure 6.30 Messy cabling nightmareFigure 6.30 Messy cabling nightmare

Figure 6.31 Nicely run cables (image is vertical in the book)

• Making Connections• Making Connections– Connecting the work areas

• Crimp wall jack to wire• Crimp wall jack to wire• Mount faceplate• Fit jack into faceplatej p

Figure 6.32 Cutting a hole

Fi 6 33 L ti d d llFigure 6.33 Locating a dropped pull rope

Fi 6 34 I t lli ti b k tFigure 6.34 Installing a mounting bracket

Fi 6 35 E d f bl id d t kFigure 6.35 End of cables guided to rack

• Rolling Your Own Patch Cables• Rolling Your Own Patch Cables– Use stranded UTP cable matching CAT level of horizontal runsof horizontal runs

– Use special crimp for stranded cable• RJ‐45 crimper with built‐in stripperRJ 45 crimper with built in stripper• Pair of wire snips• Follow great instructions on Page 114 in Chapter 6

Figure 6 36 Crimping a jackFigure 6.36 Crimping a jack

Fi 6 37 C i d iFigure 6.37 Crimper and snips

Figure 6.38 Properly stripped cable

Fi 6 39 I ti th i di id l t dFigure 6.39 Inserting the individual strands

Figure 6 40 Crimping the cableFigure 6.40 Crimping the cable

Fi 6 41 P l i d blFigure 6.41 Properly crimped cable

Figure 6.42 Adding a boot

• Connecting the Patch Panels• Connecting the Patch Panels– Incorporate good cable managementPlastic D rings– Plastic D‐rings

– Finger boxesO i t i th l t f t k– Organize to mirror the layout of network

Figure 6.43 Bad cable management

Figure 6.44 Good cable management

• Test the Cable Runs– Verify each cable run can handle network speed– Advanced network testing tools are $5,000‐$10 000$10,000

– Lower‐end tools work for basic network testing• Length of cable• Length of cable• Broken wires• Location of break• Wires terminated in correct place• Locate electrical or radio interference• Test for crosstalk• Test for crosstalk

• Tools to use• Tools to use– Cable tester

• Verifies cable and terminated ends are correct• Verifies cable and terminated ends are correct• Low‐end are continuity testers• Better testers run wire map test to pick up shorts, p p p ,crossed wires, etc.

• Multimeter tests continuity

Fi 6 45 C ti it t tFigure 6.45 Continuity tester

Figure 6.46 Multimeter

• Tools to use (cont )• Tools to use (cont.)– Time domain reflectometer (TDR) (medium priced)

• Tests continuity• Tests continuity• Wiremap• Additionally tests length of cable and location y gof breaks

• Most come with loopback device

Figure 6.47 A typical medium-priced TDR g yp pcalled a Microscanner

• Tools to use (cont )• Tools to use (cont.)– High‐end testers (cable certifiers)

• Crosstalk• Crosstalk– Near‐end crosstalk (NEXT)– Far‐end crosstalk (FEXT)( )

• Attenuation• Microtest OMNIscanner

Figure 6.48 CrosstalkFigure 6.48 Crosstalk

Figure 6.49 Near-end crosstalk

Fi 6 50 F d t lkFigure 6.50 Far-end crosstalk

Fi 6 51 A t i l bl tifi Mi t tFigure 6.51 A typical cable certifier – a Microtest OMNIScanner (photo courtesy of Fluke Networks)

• Testing Fiber• Testing Fiber– Termination process is more involved

• Stripping polishing end of tiny fiber cable gluing• Stripping, polishing end of tiny fiber cable, gluing, inserting connector

• Requires lots of tools and skill

– Problems both like and unlike those of UTP cabling• Fiber does not experience crosstalk• Fiber does break – test with optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR)reflectometer (OTDR)

Figure 6.52 Older fiber termination kit

• Testing Fiber (cont )• Testing Fiber (cont.)– TIA/EIA has complex requirements for testing fiber runsfiber runs

– Fiber certifiers test for• Attenuation – diffusion of light distanceAttenuation diffusion of light distance• Light leakage – occurs when fiber is bent too much

• Modal distortion – unique to multimode fiber‐optic cable

Figure 6 53 An optical time domain reflectometerFigure 6.53 An optical time domain reflectometer (photo courtesy of Fluke Networks)

Figure 6.54 Light leakage – note the colored glow at the bends but the dark cable at thethe bends but the dark cable at the straight

Teaching TipSummarize the section on Installing Structured Cabling by using the last paragraph on Page 121. This chapter does not prepare studentsTeaching TipSummarize the section on Installing Structured Cabling by using the last paragraph on Page 121. This chapter does not prepare students

NICsNICs

• Recognize different types of NICs on sight• Recognize different types of NICs on sight• Know how to install and troubleshoot NICs

• UTP Ethernet NICs• UTP Ethernet NICs– All use RJ‐45 connectorCable runs from NIC to hub or switch– Cable runs from NIC to hub or switch

Fi 6 55 T i l UTP NICFigure 6.55 Typical UTP NIC

• Fiber‐optic NICs• Fiber optic NICs– Come in a wide varietyMultiple standards use same connector types– Multiple standards use same connector types

– Must see documentation to determine what standard card supportsstandard card supports

• Buying NICs• Buying NICs– Recommend name‐brand NICS

• 3Com or Intel• 3Com or Intel– Better made– Easy to replace missing driver

– Recommend multispeed NICs– Stick with same model for all systems

• Physical Connections• Physical Connections– Physically install the NICMany computers have built in NICs– Many computers have built‐in NICs

• Physical Connections (cont )• Physical Connections (cont.)– Expansion Slots

• Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI)• Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI)• PCI Express (PCIe) – PCIe x1 and PCIe x2• USB

– Convenient– Limited to max speed of 480 Mbps

– Carry one in toolkit to test for failed NIC

• PC Card only on laptops

• Drivers• Drivers– Insert driver CD when promptedOS may have a driver but CD has extras– OS may have a driver, but CD has extras

– Verify driver install• Windows Device Manager• Windows Device Manager• Linux Administration menu Network applet• Macintosh System Preferences Network utilityMacintosh System Preferences Network utility

• Bonding (link aggregation)• Bonding (link aggregation)– Doubles (or more) speed between machine and switchand switch

– Add two or more NICs to computers– Use identical NICs switches– Use identical NICs, switches

Figure 6.56 Typical fiber NIC g yp(photo courtesy of 3Com Corp.)

Figure 6.57 PCI NICFigure 6.57 PCI NIC

Figure 6 58 PCIe NICFigure 6.58 PCIe NIC

Figure 6.59 USB NICg

• Link Lights• Link Lights– UTP NICs have LEDs for state of linkOne to four link lights per card– One to four link lights per card

– Lights give clues about what’s happeningCh k li k li ht h t bl h ti– Check link lights when troubleshooting

– Many fiber‐optic NICs don’t have lights

Fi 6 60 M tt li ht !Figure 6.60 Mmmm, pretty lights!

Figure 6 61 Multispeed lightsFigure 6.61 Multispeed lights

Fi 6 62 Li k li ht it hFigure 6.62 Link lights on a switch

Figure 6.63 Optical connection testerg p

Diagnostics and Repair Diagnostics and Repair g pg pof Physical Cablingof Physical Cabling

• Diagnostics and Repair of Physical Cabling• Diagnostics and Repair of Physical Cabling– Diagnosing Physical Problems (in order)

• Remove software network issues• Remove software network issues– If one application fails, try another

• Resolve hardware issues– “No server is found” error– No computers visible in Network app in Windows– Multiple systems failing to access the networkMultiple systems failing to access the network

• Diagnostics and Repair of Physical CablingCheck your lights (if available)– Check your lights (if available)

– Check the NIC itselfL k f t k t t i i th N tifi ti– Look for network status icon in the Notification Area in WindowsCheck for failed switch– Check for failed switch

Figure 6.64 Disconnected NIC in Vista

• Diagnostics and Repair of Physical Cabling• Diagnostics and Repair of Physical Cabling– Check shared resources (servers)Visually check cabling– Visually check cabling

– Plug system into a known good outlet• If this works, suspect structured cabling running from drop to switchIf this works, suspect structured cabling running from drop to switch• Confirm with continuity test

• Diagnostics and Repair of Physical Cabling• Diagnostics and Repair of Physical Cabling– Check the NIC

• Detect bad NIC with operating system utility• Detect bad NIC with operating system utility• Use available NIC diagnostic software• Loopback test on NICp

– Internal only checks circuitry– External (with loopback plug) tests connector

Figure 6.65 Loopback plug

Fi 6 66 L b k l i tiFigure 6.66 Loopback plug in action

• Diagnostics and Repair of Physical Cabling• Diagnostics and Repair of Physical Cabling– Cable Testing

• Most problems occur at the work area• Most problems occur at the work area• After eliminating work area problems, go deeper• Use a time domain reflectometer (TDR)( )• Check problems in telecommunications room

– Start at one end, placing stickers to track progress– Power concerns– Temperature concerns

Fi 6 67 A ll t lt t dFigure 6.67 An excellent voltage event recorder (photo courtesy of Fluke Networks)

• Diagnostics and Repair of Physical Cabling• Diagnostics and Repair of Physical Cabling– Cable Testing

• Toners• Toners– Trace cable runs– Two separate devices

» Tone generator» Tone probe

– Fox and Hound by Triplett Corporation– Advanced toners include phone jacks for communication

Figure 6.68 Fox and Hound

Figure 6.69 Technician with a butt set