What is Structured Cabling?

This video provides a basic description of Structured Cabling design. This includes a broad overview of the cabling systems we specify within buildings, from the IT room to the data drop.

Fiber 101

This video gives us a good understanding of fiber optics, the main type of backbone cabling we specify in large buildings.

Ethernet Cables, Cat.5 vs. Cat.6

This video provides a description of “Category” cabling (Cat.5, 5E, 6, etc.) which is the main type of horizontal cabling specified in buildings. Category cabling is used in-wall from the data drop back to the IT room and used as patch cabling to connect devices to the data drop itself.

What is a Patch Panel?

We specify patch panels within IT racks to allow for a complete point-to-point cabling system that is terminated at both ends. This video describes the basics of patch panels.

Additional Articles From The Internet

Basics of Structural Cabling

Backbone vs. Horizontal Cabling, distance limitations and cable types

Active Equipment

Hub, Switch and Router Explained

The equipment used to connect your computer to other computers and the outside world, creating a network.

What is a Server?

The basics of servers, the devices that manage a network, store data and direct the flow of information.

Wireless Access Points

The basics of wireless access points, the devices used to connect your phones and computers wirelessly to the building’s network.

What is a VLAN?

Virtual Local Area Networks are used to partition data between different users within the same building or same company. This video goes over the concepts of VLANs.