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| Making Network Connections
Cable Labeling and Connection Records
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100 MBPS FAST ETHERNET COLLISION DOMAIN
10 MBPS ETHERNET COLLISION DOMAIN
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.
Table 8: Maximum Fast Ethernet Cable Lengths
Type Cable Type Max. Cable Length Connector
100BASE-TX Category 5 or better 100-ohm
UTP or STP
100 m (328 ft) RJ-45
Table 9: Maximum Ethernet Cable Length
Type Cable Type Max. Cable Length Connector
10BASE-T Category 3 or better 100-ohm UTP 100 m (328 ft) RJ-45