Structured Cabling Systems: the Fact File

To better understand the benefits that SCS brought to this industry, we need to properly understand how the premises networks were constructed and deployed prior to the SCS concept.

First, there were different network topologies. We will consider just three for the sake of simplicity: bus, ring and star.

In a bus topology, terminals are connected sequentially at different points of a linear network cable. Even Ethernet was initially supported over a bus network.

The ring topology can be considered a version of the bus topology where the line is closed, forming a loop.

These two topologies seem to make sense when trying to optimize the total length of cable, but imagine how difficult and cumbersome it could be to alter the layout of the network in a real-life building—or simply to add a new terminal.

The physical star topology, though admittedly less efficient in terms of cable runs, is much more flexible and can accommodate the bus and ring networks also.

Many of the computer systems more commonly used in the 1980s and 1990s (IBM Systems 34/36/38 and AS400, IBM 3170/3270, Token Ring, Wang…) used specific transmission media (Type 1, Twinax, coaxial) with its own connector types (not the current and omnipresent RJ45) and topologies that were not interoperable with other networks. That is, if you changed your computer vendor, most likely you would need to deploy a new cable into your building, often without removing the old one.

Twinax connector

A structured cabling system unifies different connectivity systems, including the following:

The complete structured connectivity solution can be divided into six discrete subsystems. Each subsystem provides modularity and flexibility; changes and rearrangements usually take place in just two of the subsystems. Configurations for different types of connectivity, for new applications or for new standards, may also involve just a few subsystems. When linked, the following six subsystems provide a complete, integrated connectivity system:

 

1. Work area subsystem

2. Horizontal subsystem

3. Backbone (riser) subsystem

4. Equipment subsystem

5. Campus backbone subsystem

6. Administration subsystem

Designing a structured cabling system is a complex, expert task, for which specific training courses are recommended (such as CommScope’s own training modules) but there are a few fundamental principles of design that broadly apply to most structured cabling installations:

• IT rooms should generally be big enough to accommodate racks for cabling and equipment, with space for growth, and be equipped with the right facilities such as security, lighting, HVAC, etc.
• The backbone/riser between telecom rooms should be properly dimensioned, with space to accommodate growth. It’s very common to use fiber on the backbone to ensure the support of high-speed future applications or to create links over 90 meters.
• All copper outlets should be at a cable length of 90 m or less from the telecom closet
• Information outlets should typically be available in all the possible rooms. Even a storeroom may be converted in the future into an office; and, since you don’t want to rewire because of that, it’s advisable to install information outlets in such spaces as well—as you would do with the power outlets.
• All copper elements should be of the same category, given that the system performance will be matched with the lowest category element.

Use the interactive diagram below to find out more about the different applications and connectivity products used in a modern connected building.

Intelligent buildings bear that label for more than one reason. On a literal level, the networked connectivity between a building’s systems makes it possible for the enterprise within to automatically regulate security, environmental conditions, lighting, communications, and other factors—helping maintain a welcoming atmosphere conducive to the work performed there. These networks of systems have become more critical to the efficiency, effectiveness, and economy of an enterprise’s operations. Using a broader definition, intelligent buildings are also an effective means for an enterprise to increase efficiency, reduce costs and streamline operations. This is a “smart” approach to reducing operational expenses and facilitating a flexible growth model.

As enterprises embrace the efficiencies of intelligent buildings, three key needs are emerging:

1. The need for mobile connectivity within the enterprise, as fewer employees are bound to desks but need ubiquitous wireless coverage
2. The need to lay a future-ready infrastructure foundation for the still-evolving, ever-growing internet of things (IoT)
3. The need to converge many disparate or proprietary networks onto a single, unified IP over Ethernet physical network layer

Learn more about smart buildings in our ebook: Smart building connectivity

Smart building connectivity eBook

The intelligence of today’s smart buildings is in the integrated communications infrastructure that powers and connects. Learn the strategies and best practices of creating the network infrastructure needed to realize your smart building’s potential. 

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Data centers are one of the most complex network environments where a structured cabling approach can be most helpful—or even indispensable. Given the many pieces of active equipment that need to be interconnected, a point-to-point methodology for linking those elements could quickly become unmanageable.

Data center cabling standards provide more detail around the physical media and define the channel that supports the applications. There are three main cabling standard bodies: TIA, EN and ISO.

Each of these groups has a general standard that defines structured cabling, as well as a standard specifically for data center applications to reflect the need for higher speeds, increased density and an array of architectures. While there are differences between these standards, there is agreement around the minimum recommended cabling categories and connector types.

 

In addition to EN50173-5, CENELEC has developed the EN 50600-2-4 standard “Telecommunication Cabling Infrastructure.” It focuses primarily on design requirements for the different DC availability classes with strong emphasis on migration and growth.

Fiber pathways

Since the data center may need thousands of fiber connections between the different areas, it’s important to properly route all those fiber cables.

Fiber raceway systems have revolutionized the protection and routing of fiber. The main objectives are to gain flexibility, reduce the installation time and maintain the proper fiber bend radius.

The typical requirements for such a raceway would be:

• All components to provide maximum fiber protection
• Maintain a minimum of 2-inch bend radius throughout 
• To offer a wide variety of components for system flexibility 
• Scalability—ideally to support systems of 400 to 25,000 patch cords 
• Not all data centers are equal, so a variety of sizes is desirable: 2x2, 2x6, 4x4, 4x6, 4x12, 4x24 
• Variety of exit styles and sizes 
• Vertical and on-demand fiber management systems
• Availability of a configuration tool that allows users to import layouts into a web-based tool, design desired raceways in a 3D format, and export detailed drawings and BOMs used for easy installation and ordering

For further information on data center cabling:

With the Ethernet’s overwhelming success in the networking world, power over Ethernet (PoE) has emerged as a preferred technology for delivering remote power to connected devices.

As more networked devices—such as IP security cameras, Wi-Fi access points, in-building wireless, building management systems, and LED lighting—begin using remote powering, the opportunity to save on infrastructure costs by powering them over existing structured cabling continues to grow.

To ensure consistent PoE performance, in 2003 the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) set a standard² of 15.4 watts to be supplied from the power source. Today, as enterprises demand more from PoE technology, work was completed to create a new standard (IEEE 802.3bt) that supplies up to 90 watts from the power source. This standard, also referred to as 4-Pair PoE or simply 4PPoE, enables the remote powering of a broader range of connected devices. It will also increase the effects of cable heating as power is dissipated from bundled cabling.

Useful references:

• TIA TSB 184-A Guidelines for Supporting Power Delivery Over Balanced Twisted-Pair Cabling
• ISO/IEC TS 29125 Information Technology—Telecommunications cabling requirements for remote powering of terminal equipment
• CENELEC CLC/TR 50174-99-1 Information technology—Cabling installation—Part 99-1: Remote powering
• NEC NFPA 70 Code
• TIA 569.D-2 Additional pathway and space considerations for supporting remote powering over balanced twisted-pair cabling
• ISO/IEC 14763-2 revision including remote power planning and installation is in development

Typical cabling topology

Useful resources:

PoE implementation guide

White Paper: Laying the groundwork for a new level of power over Ethernet

PoE Calculator

² IEEE 802.3af-2003

Network infrastructure, specifically cabling, is often not publicly recognized for its value because it remains hidden: out of sight, out of mind and out of the way. Most industry talk today is of wireless (either in-building cellular or Wi-Fi) and its increasing ubiquity. By its very name, wireless suggests “using less wire.” But the main advantage of wireless is not to save money by replacing wire. There is still a lot of wire in wireless.

In fact, there will be a need to “wire more to wireless,” as wireless networks transform to smaller and smaller cells to achieve the capacity and coverage users and devices require. And, with the much-heralded advent of the internet of things, the number of connections required is only expected to increase.

Regardless of the talk of a future wireless world, such a place would presumably still be highly dependent on a network infrastructure based on cables, albeit a large part of it probably being optical fiber rather than wire. As such, all infrastructure considerations must begin with a structured approach to cabling. Structured cabling is the accepted way of dealing with the proliferation of interlinked electronic devices. Because a single type of copper and/or optical fiber cable is able to meet a variety of communications needs, the wide adoption of structured cabling will continue as applications expand from voice, data and video to include building automation systems, security systems and other control networks. However, different cabling types have restrictions on their applications and specific capabilities. Design teams will need to evaluate the choice carefully with the building use and longevity in mind.

Hopefully, very few building developers today would dream of specifying a new office without adequate vertical ducts, generous floor-to-ceiling heights or access floors. Also, simpler design strategies for rehabilitating older buildings are becoming routine. Designers are finding ways to achieve simpler, cheaper and neater architectural solutions to problems associated with accommodating networks. Also, it is now far more common for clients, IT specialists, facilities managers, and all the many and varied members of building design teams to “be on same page” during the design and building process.

Presumably, the process of diffusing networks throughout organizations is not—nor ever will be—complete. Wherever, whenever and however connections arrive, there always will be some trouble and change associated with the novelties. There is no doubt, however, that most organizations are nowadays increasingly dependent on communication networks and, therefore, the relationship between networks and building design is viewed as simply far too important to the survival of many organizations ever to be forgotten or ignored.

Find out more about the importance of wired infrastructure behind wireless in our fact file on in-building cellular networks.

In the 1990s, local area networks (LANs) were booming, but future application demands were driving the need for more bandwidth than Category 5e copper twisted-pair systems could provide. Crosstalk in the ubiquitous RJ45 modular connector was a key electrical impairment that held back increases in usable bandwidth. The development of Category 6 connectors, matched with complementary Category 6 cables and cords, solved this problem.

Additionally, in 1997, SYSTIMAX introduced improved twisted-pair connectors which incorporated breakthrough technology called multi-stage compensation. This new compensation technique enabled connectors with drastically reduced crosstalk levels that, when coupled with improved cables and cords, doubled the usable bandwidth of the cabling system. The structured cabling industry later standardized these improved levels of performance as Category 6, Class E systems in U.S., European, and international standards.

Key to the breakthrough was placing multiple stages of compensating crosstalk in precisely controlled locations to substantially overcome the negative impact of offending crosstalk. These further enhancements led to even higher performance levels introduced to the market in 2004 and later standardized by the industry as Category 6A, Class E_A. CommScope obtained patents on the noted compensation methods and lead frame designs.

Multi-stage compensation facilitated the realization of Category 6A cabling, and a whole family of related patents on compensation methods, jack design and lead frames arose from this initial innovation. To enable industry growth, CommScope licensed its patented technology to others in the industry.

Category 6 systems enabled modern LANs with robust support for network speeds of 1 Gbps. Category 6A systems enabled 10 times that speed—up to 10 Gbps. Category 6 and Category 6A are the most commonly used cabling solutions in the market today.

 

 

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• Find out more about copper cabling technology
• Find out more about fiber cabling technology

To get the best use from SCSs, standards need to be ratified and observed. The IT industry has recognized the important role structured cabling provides and has developed standards that encompass the capabilities and functions of these solutions, including the following.

In the telecom, intelligent building and cabling industries, standards development organizations demonstrate considerable cooperation by providing viable solutions for growing communication needs. There are always numerous new and updated standards in development. For example, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) recently published the first international standard for automated infrastructure management (AIM).

CommScope is very active in standards organizations and currently has employees chairing committees, providing technical expertise, and helping progress standards to successful publication and deployment. Several CommScope associates have even been recognized with awards for their service to the IEC, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA). It is important for our customers that we stay on the cutting edge of network technology evolution.

In the Connected and efficient buildings e-book, CommScope gives an overview of the organizations most involved in cabling and connectivity standards for intelligent buildings.

CommScope’s SYSTIMAX solution meets or exceeds the above standards.

Embracing the digitalization of the enterprise is a competitive imperative nowadays. Modern applications are evolving quickly to take advantage of a wide array of services and new technologies that provide quicker time to value for new applications, and scale and scope with the goal to serve your customers whenever and wherever they connect with your business. New design tools are required to speed the design and planning phase—and to keep pace with the capacity and performance demands while delivering optimal infrastructure ROI.

To address challenges such as these, CommScope offers a suite of tools that can simplify the design, deployment and ongoing expansion to support the high-speed migration of fiber connectivity. For example, the SYSTIMAX® Performance Specifications define channel topology limits specific to SYSTIMAX cabling solutions for a wide range of applications. Additionally, the SYSTIMAX Fiber Performance Calculator provides the attenuation calculations for a proposed cabling channel while simultaneously determining which applications the channel will support. CommScope stands behind the Performance Specifications (available on the CommScope website) and the Fiber Performance Calculator analysis with warranty* assurance for all the supported applications. Not only do the above tools allow rapid design exploration, they form the basis of our unique SYSTIMAX Application Assurance. Under the terms of CommScope’s 25 Year Extended Product Warranty and Application Assurance, CommScope guarantees the cabling will meet specification and that the applications will operate in accordance with the Performance Specifications—in many cases, beyond the distances and channel complexities specified in the standards. The System Warranty provides the details of the terms and conditions of our Application Assurance.

See our application guide below for an overview of these tools, along with practical examples that illustrate how they can be used to plan application performance over a specified channel using SYSTIMAX fiber cabling. The result is verified application support, validated installation performance and an end-to-end Application Assurance backed by CommScope and its extensive PartnerPro® Network of certified installation partners.

The benefits of using a structured network infrastructure include lower material and labor costs, a single installation force for cabling, a single point of contact for systems integration, reduction in physical space requirements, lower relocation expenses, reduced maintenance and administration costs, and the ability to migrate to new technologies with greater ease, less risk and lower costs.

The ideal structured network infrastructure is not just the use of particular category of cabling product (Category 5e, 6, 6A, etc.) in the building. In fact, an infrastructure could have a mixture of twisted-pair and fiber-optic cabling, but also important is the design, installation and ongoing management. The concept is to wire once.

The extra material cost and labor expense incurred in implementing a true structured network infrastructure is minimal compared to the higher labor expense involved in upgrading and re-cabling at a later date.