Overview of structured Cabling

Over time, developers of wiring systems and standards recognised the need for computer communications in addition to the telephone systems, the original driving force. The EIA/TIA 568 series of standards and ISO 11801 are generally recognised as the controlling documents for building structured wiring systems. We have come full circle.

Advantages of Structured Wiring

A structured wiring system offers something never possible when Ethernet was first developed:
a stable wiring infrastructure capable of supporting high-speed LAN communication, with:

• Controlled electrical characteristics of the cables and wiring system.
• A star-wired topology, with dedicated media for each device.
• Every cable terminating in a wiring closet, in which LAN hub and cable interconnection equipment can be placed. Telephone systems have used star wired topologies for more than one hundred years, with good reason. while formal specifications for structured wiring that is compatible with both high-speed LAN’s and digital telephone systems have emerged only recently, the advantages of a star-wiring topology are clear. - Ease of executing moves, adds, and changes to the configuration. This is unquestionably the primary advantage of a structured wiring system. In most organisations,there is a constant need to add users, shift users from one location to another. With a bus or daisy-chain topology (as used in coaxial Ethernet systems), any change to the configuration would require rewiring (including climbing into ceiling voids or removing permanent walls to access the cables) and network disruption (while devices are added). With a structured wiring system, every work location is prewired, thus eliminating the need for new wiring when users are added. More importantly, the configuration of the network is done at a patch panel in the wiring closet and does not require access either the user’s end of the connection or the horizontal cable itself. In this manner, reconfiguration, even asextensive as a wholesale move of an entire work group, can be executed quickly, in one location, without disrupting other users of the network.

1) ATM - B6 & 100 base T
2) 10 Base T - B8
3) Token Ring - B9
4) Unshielded Twisted pair,
UTP is a media of choice where the Environment does not contain a high level of ambient noise such as factrory and electro magnetic interface (EMI) sensitive environments such as labs.  
CAT 5 cable with 4 individually twisted pairs is recommended for horizontal section of SCS. This comprises of cable to the wall plates or surface blocks near the work stations.  
CAT 5  UTP has proven itself as the universal medium that will carry all of our current communications applied such as Voice, RS 232, Token Ring, 10 BaseT, 100 & 1000 BaseT ATM.

Essentially Structured Cabling System is a simple physical link between active components, and is comprised of unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cable or Optical Fiber Cable or is a combination of both the cables. However to facilitate the day to day operations of a normal office environment, the link must enable the user to make Moves, Adds and Changes, whenever and wherever possible without disturbing the network. This is possible with Structured Cabling System. Further more Structured Cabling System is also universal in its ability to carry a wide variety of applications from voice and low speed data to image and high speed LAN applications.