The six structured cabling subsystems

1. Entrance Facilities (EF). Telecom facilities entering a building or residence from the outside
-- from a local service carrier or private network -- pass through an opening in the exterior wall
via a conduit. This cabling enters a room where other devices are deployed, including network
connection points, patch panels, equipment racks, hardware connectors, power supplies and
protection devices for grounding, shielding and lightning protection.

2. Equipment Room (ER). The area where entrance cabling connects to the internal building
wiring infrastructure is the equipment room. It houses patch panels that provide connections for
backbone cabling, horizontal cabling and intermediate cabling. As this room may also house
network switches, PBXs, servers and other devices, it should be environmentally controlled to
ensure that temperature and relative humidity levels are maintained according to equipment
vendor specifications.

3. Backbone Cabling. Also called riser cabling -- as it typically is installed in vertical channels,
or risers, that connect to each floor -- backbone cabling links EF, telecommunications and other
ERs, and carrier spaces. Two subsystems have been defined for backbone cabling:

1. Cabling Subsystem 2 is cabling between a horizontal cross-connect and an intermediate

cross-connect (IC).

2. Cabling Subsystem 3 is cabling between an IC and the main cross-connect (MC).

The cable types used in backbone cabling include the following:

 100-ohm twisted-pair cabling: Cat3, Cat5e, Cat6 or Cat6a;

 multimode optical fiber cabling: 850 nanometer laser-optimized 50/125 micrometer

(recommended); 62.5/125 μm and 50/125 μm (permitted); and

 single-mode optical fiber cabling.

4. Telecommunications Room (TR) and Telecommunications Enclosure (TE). This

environmentally controlled area can be a dedicated room (TE) or part of another larger room
(TR), such as a general utility room. Hardware in these spaces terminate horizontal and
backbone cables. It's also where local cables, called jumpers or patch cords, are used on patch
panels to cross-connect different cables. ICs or MCs may be installed here as well to provide
additional connection resources.

5. Horizontal Cabling (Cabling Subsystem 1). Getting telecom resources to users at their
work areas or other rooms on a floor is the job of horizontal cabling. A typical cable run goes
from the user's device to the nearest TR on the same floor. The maximum allowed cable length
between the TR and user device is 295 feet, regardless of cable type.

Horizontal cabling includes the cable, connectors, patch panels, jumpers and patch cords in the
TR/TE. They may also include multiuser telecommunications outlet assemblies and
consolidation points to connect multiple devices or cables in a single connector.

The cable types used in horizontal cabling include the following:

 four-pair 100-ohm unshielded or shielded twisted-pair cabling in Cat5e, Cat6 or Cat6a;

 multimode optical fiber cabling, two-fiber (also with a higher fiber count); and

 single-mode optical fiber cabling, two-fiber (also with a higher fiber count).

6. Work Area (WA). The area from a connector, or jack, in a wall outlet to a user device using a
cable is considered the WA. It's the final destination of a structured cable system.

Structured cabling has greatly simplified the process of installing voice and data
communications equipment. Its continued use means new equipment, such as IoT systems, will
be easily supported.
What is Structured Cabling?

Structured cabling is a wiring system that helps organize and manage your network and low-

voltage cabling. It consists of several different components, including:

 Patch Panels
 Data Jacks
 Cross-connect Cables
 Cable Trays and Raceways

Each of these components works together to create a tidy and efficient network. Structured

cabling systems consist of overhead raceways or underground conduits that are used to route

the cables. This type of system is often used in commercial buildings, as it helps to keep the

cables organized and out of sight.

Structured cabling can also be used in homes and is becoming more common in new home

construction.

What types of cabling are included in a structured cable environment?

The types of cabling that are typically found in a structured cable environment include:

 Ethernet Cables
 Fiber Optic Cables
 Coaxial Cables
 Twisted Pair Cables
 AC Power Cables
 Special Data Transmission Cables

These different types of cables are used for various purposes.

 Ethernet cables, for example, are used to connect computers to the network.

 Fiber optic cables are used for data transmission.

 Coaxial cables connect devices like TVs and computers to the internet.
  Twisted pair cables are used for telephone lines, data networks, alarm systems, and

paging/music/pa systems.

Structured wiring refers to the building infrastructure designed to support the performance and reliability of

a network

SIX SUBSYSTEMS OF STRUCTURED CABLING

Per the ANSI/TIA-568 standards, six subsystems make up a structured cabling system. These six
components are the entrance facilities, equipment room, backbone cabling, telecommunications
room, horizontal cabling, and work area.

The telecommunications rooms are the middleman between Backbone and Horizontal Cabling and
should also be environmentally controlled. These rooms are typically a general utility room that hosts
patch panels and jumpers/patch cords, connecting to the horizontal cabling for Work Areas, where
you access the data connections from a wall outlet.
The Entrance Facility is the demarcation point where the telecom facilities from ISPs or Telephone
networks enter a building. The cables will enter a specific room from a conduit, known as
the Equipment Room, where other devices, such as connection points, patch panels, equipment
racks, and protection devices, will be set up. This room provides connections for the internal cabling
and must be climate controlled.

From the equipment room is Backbone Cabling, which is also known as riser or vertical cabling.
This cabling is the wiring that connects entrance facilities, Telecommunications Rooms, and
equipment rooms and typically is installed vertically to connect from floor to floor. Many different
types of wires can be used in this subsystem, such as twisted-pair or optical fiber cabling.

The telecommunications rooms are the middleman between Backbone and Horizontal Cabling and
should also be environmentally controlled. These rooms are typically a general utility room that hosts
patch panels and jumpers/patch cords, connecting to the horizontal cabling for Work Areas, where
you access the data connections from a wall outlet.
 Buying Ethernet Cable for your Network

If you are buying Ethernet cable for the first time, focus on these four features and
you'll make a good decision. Other factors are worth considering in certain
circumstances so if in doubt, read on.

1. Speed (Data Rate): the speed of a cable refers to the amount of data it can transmit per
second. 100 Mbps means the cable can transmit 100 million bits of data a second. In a
commercial network, speed is usually dictated by the equipment you are connecting (for
example, a network switch with Gigabit Ethernet ports). In the home, choose a cable that can
support the speed of your Internet connection, plus some room for speed upgrades in the
future. A cable's Category designation (e.g. Cat5e, Cat6, etc.) is an easy way to identify the
speed of a cable. See Table 1: Category Cable Summary for more information.
2. Shielding: some Ethernet cables are shielded to protect the cable's conductors from
electromagnetic interference (EMI) caused by power lines, large machinery and flourescent
lighting. Shielding also prevents parallel conductors inside the cable jacket from interacting
with one another. See Ethernet Cable Shielding for more information.
3. Cable Length: The maximum length of an Ethernet cable is about 295 feet (90 meters). Good
quality cables with shielding and thicker conductors can reach further but some trial and error
will be required. Keep in mind that cable runs are rarely straight so plan on extra cable for
some twists and turns. See Ethernet Cable Length for more information.
4. Installation Location: cable jackets are rated for fire safety. If you plan on running cable
through walls or between floors, choose rise-rated (CMR) or plenum-rated (CMP) cable.
See Jacket Ratings for more information.

Why Buy from Eaton?

We know you have many brands to choose from. On the surface, they may all seem
alike. It's what you don't see that makes the difference. With Eaton, you get solid
engineering, proven reliability and exceptional customer service. All our products
undergo rigorous quality control before they are offered for sale, and independent
testing agencies verify our products meet or exceed the latest safety and performance
standards. Our commitment to quality allows us to back our products with industry-
leading warranties and responsive customer service. It's the Eaton difference.

Ethernet Cable Categories

The "Cat" in Cat5e, Cat6, etc. is short for "Category." Network cables are divided into
categories based mainly on bandwidth (measured in MHz), maximum data rate
(measured in megabits per second) and shielding.

Cat1
For a time, this unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cable was the most common form of
wiring for voice telephone systems in homes and offices. It consisted of two insulated
copper wires twisted around each other and was designed for analog voice
communications.
Cat2
Category 2 cabling was capable of voice and data communications and was primarily
used during the 1980s for IBM Token Ring networks. It supported a data transmission
rate of 4 Mbps.

Cat3
Introduced in the early 1990s, Category 3 cabling had four twisted pairs and was the
first to support 10BaseT Ethernet networks as well as digital voice communications. It
is still found in older buildings but its 10 Mbps data rate is considered too slow for
modern networking.

Bandwidth vs. Data Rate

Bandwidth or frequency is a property of a cable and measures the rate at which a
signal will cycle each second. 1 MHz is equal to 1 million cycles per second. Cat5 can
handle up to 100 million signals a second (or 100 MHz). The cable category with the
highest bandwidth is currently Cat8 with 2 billion (2 GHz) signals per second, 20 times
as many as Cat5.

Data Rate and Bandwidth are related terms but they are not the same. Higher
frequencies carry more 1s and 0s, allowing more bits of data to be transmitted per
second. Cat5 cables have a one-to-one relationship between bandwidth and data rate:
100 MHz cable can transmit 100 Mb per second. Higher Category cables such as
Cat8 encode the data so more bits can be transmitted in the same amount of time.

Frequency (and therefore data rate) can be increased by increasing the gauge of the
conductor wires, adding more twists to the conductors, or adding shielding to each
pair of conductors.

Cat4
Like Cat3, Category 4 cable is typically found in older buildings where the cost of
complete replacement is prohibitive. It had a data rate of 16 Mbps and was primarily
used for IBM Token Ring networks.

Cat5
Introduced in 1995, Category 5 cable has a data rate of up to 100 Mbps. It is used for
standard 10BaseT and 100BaseT (Fast Ethernet) networks, and can distribute data,
video and telephone signals at distances up to 100 meters (328 ft.). Cat5e is not an
official designation but is used by manufacturers to describe an enhanced Cat5 cable
that is capable of speeds up to 1 Gbps. Its higher data rate is achieved by increasing
the number of twists, making it more resistant to crosstalk. Cat5e is recommended for
new sub-Gigabit network installations.

Cat6
In comparison to Cat5e, Cat6 cable provides greater bandwidth and data transfer
rates up to 1 Gbps over 100 m, the same as Cat5e. However, at shorter distances of
up to 37 m (121 ft.), Cat6 is able to achieve 10 Gbps speeds thanks to its improved
shielding and higher bandwidth. Cat6 includes a physical separator called a "spline"
between the four pairs to reduce crosstalk and foil shielding to reduce electromagnetic
interference. Cat6 cabling is backward compatible with the Cat5/5e standard.
Introduced in 2009, Cat6a is an "augmented" Category 6 cable with a bandwidth of up
to 500MHz.

Cat7
The Cat7 specification is a proprietary standard developed by a consortium of
companies and is not endorsed by IEEE or TIA/EIA. While substantially similar to the
performance characteristics of Cat6a, Cat7 cables features proprietary GG45
connectors and robust shielding. Cat7a (Category 7 Augmented) is a further
refinement of Cat7, capable of 40 Gigabit speeds over 50 meters and 100 Gbps up to
15 meters. The proprietary nature of the Cat7 and Cat7a standards and lack of
support from IEEE and EIA has resulted in a relatively small installed based for
Cat7/Cat7a.

Cat8
With a bandwidth of up to 2 GHz (2000 MHz) over 30 meters and a data rate of up to
40Gbs, Cat8 cable is ideal for switch-to-switch communications in a 25GBase T or
40GBase T network. Its conductors are wrapped in foil to virtually eliminate crosstalk
and enable higher data rates. The result is a heavier gauge cable that is quite rigid
and can be difficult to install in tight spaces. It still uses RJ45 connectors and is
backwards compatible with previous standards.

Category Max. Data Rate Bandwidth Max. Distance Usage

Category 1 1 Mbps 0.4 MHz Telephone and modem lines

Category 2 4 Mbps 4 MHz LocalTalk & Telephone

Category 3 10 Mbps 16 MHz 100 m (328 ft.) 10BaseT Ethernet

Category 4 16 Mbps 20 MHz 100 m (328 ft.) Token Ring

Category 5 100 Mbps 100 MHz 100 m (328 ft.) 100BaseT Ethernet

Category 1 Gbps 100 MHz 100 m (328 ft.) 100BaseT Ethernet, residential
5e
Category Max. Data Rate Bandwidth Max. Distance Usage

homes

Category 6 1 Gbps 250 MHz 100 m (328 ft.) Gigabit Ethernet, commercial
10Gb at 37 m (121 ft.) buildings

Category 6a 10 Gbps 500 MHz 100 m (328 ft.) Gigabit Ethernet in data centers
and commercial buildings

Category 7 10 Gbps 600 MHz 100 m (328 ft.) 10 Gbps Core Infrastructure

Category 7a 10 Gbps 1000 MHz 100 m (328 ft.) 10 Gbps Core Infrastructure
40Gb at 50 m (164 ft.)

Category 8 25 Gbps (Cat8.1) 2000 MHz 30 m (98 ft.) 25 Gbps/40 Gbps Core
40 Gbps (Cat8.2) Infrastructure