Structured cabling: the medium of transport for communications in LAN networks.

In the information age, transporting large volumes of data is a basic necessity, both for personal and professional activities. Nowadays, we can't imagine working in an office without a connection.

One of the most common ways to access the internet is through LAN (local area network) networks. To ensure efficient and secure communication in these networks, it is essential to have the right physical infrastructure.

Have you ever wondered how data is transported in LAN networks? This is where structured cabling comes in: it is one of the preferred methods for this task. But what is it and how does it work?

What are the main data transmission mediums?

Before diving into structured cabling, we need to understand the transmission mediums that exist. These pathways or routes through which data travels can be wireless, intangible mediums, such as air. Information is transmitted through these mediums using signals, such as microwaves or radiofrequency signals.

On the other hand, we have guided or wired mediums. These are tangible physical mediums through which information travels in the form of electrical or light pulses. Structured cabling is one of these mediums and is the most commonly used in LAN networks.

What is structured cabling?

Structured cabling is a set of elements and standards that allow the management and use of connectivity in LAN networks. It is a physical infrastructure that enables the efficient and secure transport of information.

Components of the system

The structured cabling system consists of the following elements:

Entrance facilities

It is the point of entry for external communication services, such as the internet.

Telecommunications closet

It is the place where the central communication elements are gathered, such as the telephone switch and the core of the network assets.

Equipment room

At this point, all equipment related to the central management of the network is concentrated, such as servers or storage devices.

Vertical cabling

It is the cabling that serves as communication between the main communication point (MDF, for its acronym in English) and the secondary points (IDF). Generally, optical fiber cables are used for this connection.

Horizontal cabling

This cabling originates from the IDF and connects the workstation or device to the network. The cable used is copper, and among the various types, the most common is UTP (unshielded twisted pair).

Work area

It is the area where the user connects to the network, typically using a cable that is yellow or white.

Categories and transmission parameters

Within structured cabling solutions, there are different categories of cables, both copper and fiber optic. The transmission capacity that we can offer to the network depends on the cable's category.

Imagine that the cables are a route through which information will travel. The more space that route has (bandwidth), the greater the capacity and speed at which information can travel through it.

Standards and regulations: Why are they important?

For a structured cabling solution to be classified as such, it must meet certain norms and standards, such as those expressed in the ANSI/EIA/TIA.

This standard regulates everything from the type of connector to the characteristics that the conduits housing the cabling must have.

Compliance with these standards ensures the proper functioning of the solution and compatibility with the different components that make it up.

Thanks to these standards, today we can connect any network device to the structured cabling system without experiencing compatibility issues.