webpointmorpheus Network Info
Network Incidentals

     Overview      EIA/TIA      Connectors      UTP Cabling      Line Speeds      Color Codes      Cross-Over Cable

©2005 - material compiled by Bob Carnaghi, www.webpointmorpheus.com

Overview     Top of Page

This page is a repository of miscellaneous items that relate to computer networking and don't readily fit into the other pages in this series. Listed below are several cabling standards, as well as line speeds for various types of cable.

 

Horizontal Cabling is the term applied to the physical cable installation in a building -- Copper wire typically configured in twisted pairs or as a coaxial arrangement. Fiber-optic cable is composed of a thin strand of plastic or glass cable that is surrounded by a jacket.

 

If you have a difficult time with the acronymn drenched terms used in this document, check out the Network Definitions Page.

EIA/TIA     Top of Page

The EIA (Electronics Industry Association) and the TIA (Technology Industry Association) are standards setting organizations that have given a uniformity to the hardware, cabling, and other items used in computer networking today.

1. EIA/TIA 568 - establishes cabling configuration and performance specifications
2. EIA/TIA 569 - establishes standards for cable pathways and installation areas

• equipment room
• horizontal cabling
• work areas
• backbone
• building entrance
• telecommunication closets

Connectors     Top of Page

Listed below is a table of connector types and where they are most likely to be encountered.

Connector Types
Connector		Topology
BNC		10Base2
RJ Type	RJ11	Connector
	RJ12	10BaseT
	RJ45	10BaseT
DB Type	DB9	Connector
	DB14	10BaseT
	DB25	10BaseT
SC, ST		Fiber Optics

UTP Cabling     Top of Page

The table below lists typical cable categories and their applications.

Cabling
Category	Speed
Category 1	Analog Phones; no data
Category 2	Up to 4 Mbps
Category 3	Up to 16 Mbps
Category 4	Up to 20 Mbps
Category 5	Up to 100 Mbps
Category 5e	Improved 100 Mbps

Connection Speeds     Top of Page

Listed below are some of the rates at which data can be transferred through various protocols and standards.

 

Network Connection Speeds
Connection	Speed	Notes
ISDN	128 Kbps
T1	1.544 Mbps	24 Channels at 64 Kbps each
T2	6.312 Mbps	96 Channels
T3	44.736 Mbps	672 Channels
T4	274.176 Mbps	4032 Channels
E1	2.048 Mbps

 

EIA/TIA Color-Code Standard     Top of Page

(Electronics Industry Association/Telephone Industry Association)

Color Codes
Standard	Color	Pin
568A	Green/White	#1
	Green	#2
	Orange/White	#3
	Blue	#4
	Blue/White	#5
	Orange	#6
	Brown/White	#7
	Brown	#8

Cross-Over Cable     Top of Page

A cross-over cable can be used to connect two computers directly for networking purposes. They can be purchased pre-made, or by connecting wires #1 to #3, and #2 to #6.

Cross Over Cable
Standard	End #1 Pin	End #2 Pin
Crossover Cable	#1	#3
	#2	#6
	#3	#1
	#4	#4
	#5	#5
	#6	#2
	#7	#7
	#8	#8