4C: Explain Network Cable Types

• Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) cables have four pairs of wires twisted together with different twists per inch to reduce electromagnetic interference.
• Network Taps: A device that allows a network administrator to capture and analyze network traffic.
• Network taps are either: powered or unpowered
• passive test access point (TAP): a device that connects to a network switch and allows a computer to connect to a wireless network
• In a passive tap, no logical decisions are made, so the monitor port receives every frame and the copying is unaffected by the load
• Active Taps: powered devices that performs signal regeneration and amplification
• Some fiber link types may be adversely affected by optical splitting, such as single-mode fiber.
• Due to the active tap performing an active function, the tap becomes a point of failure if the power is off
• Installation of cable has to comply with the local building regulations and fire regulations.
• A specific cable type MUST be used in some installation scenarios
• Plenum space: A space in a building that is open to the exterior and is used for mechanical and electrical equipment
• Plenum spaces carry out heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems
• Building regulations require the use of fire-retardant plenum cable in plenum spaces
• Plenum must not: emit large amounts of smoke when burned, be self-extinguishing, and other strict fire safety standards
• General purpose (non-plenum) cabling uses: PVC jackets and Insulation
• Plenum rated cable uses treated PVC or Flourenated ethlyne polymer (FEP)
• DataNational Electrical Code cable rated for plenum use under national electrical code (NEC) is marked as either CMP or MMP on the jacket the
• General-purpose plenum cables are marked as SMG or MMG for PVC jackets and CM or MG for plenum rated cables
• Outside plant (OSP): The physical infrastructure that connects the network to the outside world.
• Aerial cable: A cable that runs between two buildings or towers and is used for telecommunications.
• Conduits: provides more protection for buried cable runs
• Direct burial cable: A cable that is buried in the ground and is not exposed to the weather.
• OSP cable types use special coatings to protect against UV and abrasion and are often gel-filled to protect against extreme and damp conditions
• light pulses are susceptible to interference and suffer less from attenuation
• Fiber optic cables can be installed using either direct burial, conduit, or aerial methods depending on the specific requirements of the installation.
• optical fiber consists of an ultra fine core of glass surrounded by a cladding of plastic
• A buffer is a protective coating that you would find on a cladding
• Fiber optic cables are contained in a protective jacket and terminated by a connector
• Fiber optic cables fall into two broad categories: single and multi-mode
• Single-mode fiber (SMF): a small core (8-10 microns) that is designed to carry a long wavelength (1,310 or 1550 nm) infrared signal
• Single fiber mode supports data rates up to 10 Gbps or better and cable runs of many kilometers (depending on the quality of the cable and optic.)  
• Multi-mode fiber (MMF): a larger cored (62.5 or 50 microns) designed to carry a shorter wavelength infrared light (850 nm or 1300 mm)  
• MMF is less expensive and less coherent LEDs or vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) and its less expensive to deploy than SMF  
• MFF doesn’t support high signaling or long distances so it's more suitable for LANs and not WANs  
• The core of a fiber optic connector is a ceramic or plastic ferrule that ensures continuous reception of the light signals  
• 1. Straight tip (ST): push and twist locking mechanism mostly used on older multi-mode networks  
• Subscriber connector (SC): A connector that connects a subscriber to a network.
• Subscriber connectors uses a push/pull method for better insertion and removal
• Subscriber connectors can be used for both single or multi-mode
• Lucent Connector: small form factor connector with a tabbed push/pull mechanism that has higher port density