Cabling conundrum

NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: JEFF CARUSO ON HIGH SPEED LANS
07/28/05
Today's focus: Cabling conundrum

Dear networking.world@gmail.com,

In this issue:

* Standing at the crossroads of copper, fiber and wireless
* Links related to High Speed LANs
* Featured reader resource
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Today's focus: Cabling conundrum

By Jeff Caruso

Several factors are coming together in the LAN world that are
going to push cabling in one direction or another, but it's
unclear - to me, at least - what will win out.

The universal standard LAN connection for desktop computers
these days is Category-5E unshielded twisted-pair wiring, which
was developed mainly as a conduit for Gigabit Ethernet over
copper. In this respect, it has been quite successful, and
Gigabit Ethernet is well on its way to being the de facto
standard for desktop connections.

However, if you're considering the next step, if you believe
that 10 Gigabit Ethernet may one day be desirable on desktop
computers, Category-5E may not cut it. You're probably in for a
wiring upgrade to Category-6 cabling, at the very least.

And if you're going to have to put in all new wiring anyway,
perhaps you'd go with fiber-optic lines instead and avoid the
"Category-Whatever" upgrade path altogether.

In the midst of this dilemma comes wireless LAN technology,
which keeps getting faster all the time. There's a good chance
you're already running some WLAN (or "Wi-Fi") in your home
network because it makes things so much easier. It's easy to
install and it gives you freedom of movement within your home.

Granted, the 54M bit/sec that you might be getting is a heck of
a lot less than the Gigabit Ethernet or 10 Gigabit Ethernet that
is available, but the industry is working on increasing that
speed to triple digits. And for the vast majority of us, that's
plenty.

It's also plenty for the vast majority of office workers, which
would imply that WLANs would be the way to go for many offices
as well, provided that environmental interference is dealt with.

So it seems like we're approaching a crossroads. Do we use WLANs
for our desktops and upgrade the access points as faster speeds
become available? Or do we wire with Category-6 cabling to plan
for eventual 10 Gigabit Ethernet, knowing that we won't get much
beyond that? Or do we finally take the plunge into fiber?

The answer may be one of the above, or it could be all three.
Let me know what you think at <mailto:jcaruso@nww.com>

The top 5: Today's most-read stories

1. 2005 Salary Survey
<http://www.networkworld.com/nllan4008>

2. Cisco nixes conference session on hacking IOS router code
<http://www.networkworld.com/nllan4009>

3. Verizon joins managed security game
<http://www.networkworld.com/nllan3836>

4. Schools battle personal data hacks
<http://www.networkworld.com/nllan4010>

5. VoIP security threats: Fact or fiction?
<http://www.networkworld.com/nllan3837>

Today's most forwarded story:

The ROI of VoIP
<http://www.networkworld.com/research/2005/071105-voip.html>________________
______________________________________________
To contact: Jeff Caruso

Jeff Caruso is managing editor of online news for Network World.
He oversees daily online news posting and newsletter editing,
and writes the NetFlash daily news summary, the High-Speed LANs
newsletter and the Voices of Networking newsletter. Contact him
at <mailto:jcaruso@nww.com>
_______________________________________________________________
This newsletter is sponsored by Tacit Networks
Network World Executive Guide: Staying Focused on the Moving
Target that is Storage

Keeping pace with evolving storage strategies, architectures,
and trends is not unlike keeping pace with your organizations
underlying capacity needs. From ILM strategies to SAN management
to the threat of those USB memory sticks, this Network World
Executive Guide will help you stay focused on the moving target
that is Storage. Register now and get a free copy of Network
World's Storage Executive Guide.
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=108888
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FEATURED READER RESOURCE
SIX TIPS FOR GETTING WHAT YOU DESERVE

Before you go in for your next annual review or promotion
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