The term structured cabling is used frequently but what does it mean? What exactly is structured cabling? This path can lead to a lot of extended and very technical language, but if that’s not what you’re looking for, let’s go over some structured cabling basics.

What is structured cabling (in simple words)?

Structured cabling is defined as the telecommunications cabling infrastructure of a building or campus consisting of several smaller standardized (structured) elements.

If there is a well designed and installed fabric cabling system that can provide a cabling infrastructure which in real terms has predictable performance and has the flexibility to adapt to moves. Besides there are additions and changes; maximizes system availability; provides redundancy; and the sustainability of the cabling system’s usability.

This definition gives you a better idea of ​​what structured cabling is and its purpose.

What does structured cabling look like?

To sum up, shortly we can use the word organization. Structured cabling is an organized and specific approach to cabling infrastructure. While this might seem like a setback, to fully understand this concept, it’s easier to see what structured cabling isn’t. This method routes patch cables (or “bridges”) directly to and from the equipment requiring connectivity.

To make a structure, there is a different type of series of patch panels and junctions used that allows hardware ports to connect to a patch panel at the top of the rack. With the help of the trunk this patch panel is then connected to another patch panel it is a multi-fiber assembly designed for transport at the MDA.

Structured cabling vs. conventional point-to-point cabling

Below are diagrams of a structured cabling and point-to-point cabling solution. The diagrams describe the basic wiring approaches. Viewing these two cabling approaches side-by-side shows how these two systems differ and how structured cabling solutions provide various benefits.

What are the advantages of structured cabling?

Again, the organization is the keyword here. With an organized, structured cabling system, the advantages are:

• Moves, additions, and modifications are much easier because they are done at the MDA rather than running long patch cords from equipment racks.
• The potential for downtime is reduced as the potential for human error is greatly reduced through this organization.
• Time-saving; Tracing cables and ports becomes a much easier job with a structured cabling system. This logical and organized approach not only facilitates changes but also saves you time.
• Aesthetic; since changes are made to the MDA from the hardware, the hardware can be wired and untouched in most cases. This allows the wiring in front of the switch to remain aesthetic.
• With a cluttered and disorganized cabling infrastructure, mistakes are common, such as disconnecting the wrong ports or, worse, messy cabling. Trying to pull a single cable out of a large, tangled mess can stress other cables. This constraint can cause network and channel errors in hardware that are very difficult to trace.
• Airflow – If a point-to-point method is used, the front and potentially the switch sides are obstructed by loose wiring. This prevents the airflow that the switch needs to operate.

With these structured cabling basics you should have a good understanding of what it is. If you are ready to speak to an expert about how structured cabling can help your business contact Sentry Communications and Security at 1-866-573-6879.