Concept Exercise Chapter 8 Name:
Date: Class:

Cisco Exercises - Semester 1 - Networking Fundamentals
Chapter 8 Design and Documentation


Introduction

Of all the organizations mentioned here, the EIA/TIA has had the greatest
impact on networking media standards. The EIA/TIA standards were developed with
the intent of identifying minimum requirements that would support multiproduct
and multivendor environments. Moreover, these standards were developed so that
they allow for planning and installation of LAN systems without knowledge of
the specific equipment that is to be installed. Thus, the EIA/TIA standards
allow the LAN designer options and room for expansion. Specifically, the
EIA/TIA-568B standards for technical performance of the networking media have
been and continue to be the most widely used. The EIA/TIA standards address six
elements of cabling for LAN systems: horizontal cabling, telecommunications
closets, backbone cabling, equipment rooms, work areas, and entrance
facilities.

EIA/TIA-568B defines horizontal cabling as a networking medium that runs from
the telecommunications outlet to the horizontal cross-connect. This element
includes the networking medium that is run along a horizontal pathway, the
telecommunications outlet or connector, the mechanical terminations in the
wiring closet, and the patch cords or jumpers in the wiring closet. In short,
horizontal cabling describes the networking medium that is used in the area
extending from the wiring closet to a workstation.

Once you have successfully run cable in a horizontal cabling run, connections
must be made in the wiring closet. A wiring closet is a specially designed room
used for wiring a data or voice network. Because a wiring closet serves as a
central junction point for the wiring and wiring equipment that is used for
connecting devices in a LAN, it is at the center point of a star topology.
Typically, the equipment found in a wiring closet can include patch panels,
wiring hubs, bridges, switches, and routers.

Generally, the wiring closet must be large enough to accommodate the equipment
and wiring located in it. Naturally, this varies with the size of the LAN and
the types of equipment required to operate it. Equipment required for some
small LANs might take up as little space as a large filing cabinet, whereas a
large LAN could require a full-fledged computer room. Finally, the wiring
closet must be large enough to accommodate future growth.

Concept Questions

Demonstrate your knowledge of these concepts by answering the following
questions in the space provided.

EIA/TIA standards govern the type of networking media that can be used in the
horizontal cabling of LANs. What type of networking media can be used with
horizontal cabling?



Any time you install cable, it is important to document what you have done. How
would you document the kind of cable used in a network?





A wiring closet is a specially designed room used for wiring a data or voice
network. What attributes are necessary for a working wiring closet?





The IEEE and the EIAMA have established standards that allow you to evaluate
whether your network is operating at an acceptable level after installation has
been completed. What are some of those standards?





Cable testers can perform tests that measure the overall capability of a cable
run. Cable testers use a feature called wire map to indicate which wire pairs
connect to what pins on lugs and sockets. Describe how you would use a cable
tester to measure the capability of the cable run.



If not properly addressed, AC power line noise can present problems for a
network.
Why does the noise cause problems for the network?



The problem of sags and brownouts can best be addressed through the use of
UPSs.