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6
Port Connections
This chapter includes these sections:
◆
“Cable Labeling and Connection Records” on page 30
◆
“Copper Cabling Guidelines” on page 31
◆
“Power-over-Ethernet Guidelines” on page 33
◆
“Fiber Cabling Guidelines” on page 34
◆
“How to Connect to Twisted-Pair Copper Ports” on page 35
◆
“How to Connect to SFP Fiber Optic Ports” on page 36
Cable Labeling and Connection Records
When planning a network installation, it is essential to label the opposing ends of
cables and to record where each cable is connected. Doing so will enable you to
easily locate inter-connected devices, isolate faults and change your topology
without need for unnecessary time consumption.
To best manage the physical implementations of your network, follow these
guidelines:
◆
Clearly label the opposing ends of each cable.
◆
Using your building’s floor plans, draw a map of the location of all network-
connected equipment. For each piece of equipment, identify the devices to
which it is connected.
◆
Note the length of each cable and the maximum cable length supported by the
switch ports.
◆
For ease of understanding, use a location-based key when assigning prefixes to
your cable labeling.
◆
Use sequential numbers for cables that originate from the same equipment.
◆
Differentiate between racks by naming accordingly.
◆
Label each separate piece of equipment.