Next steps for copper cabling

NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: JEFF CARUSO ON HIGH SPEED LANS
08/18/05
Today's focus: Next steps for copper cabling

Dear networking.world@gmail.com,

In this issue:

* Category-6 wiring and beyond
* Links related to High Speed LANs
* Featured reader resource
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Today's focus: Next steps for copper cabling

By Jeff Caruso

Readers had a lot to say in response to a newsletter last month
that asked questions about the future of LAN cabling. As I
mentioned last time, readers were fairly dismissive of wireless
LANs - at least for widespread desktop deployment - but they
were vocal about copper vs. fiber cabling. In today's
newsletter, we'll look at next steps for copper.

Right now, Category 5 and Category 5E unshielded twisted pair
wiring are fairly standard for desktops. With these copper
connections, desktops are pretty much set for Gigabit Ethernet,
and that's just fine for most every desktop application you
could think of today. But what if it became desirable at some
point to go to 10 Gigabit Ethernet, for some application that we
can't think of today?

One might assume that copper wiring would be the way to do it,
since it has brought us so far. As I've discussed previously,
the IEEE is working on a copper standard for 10 Gigabit
Ethernet, so at some point in the not-too-distant future 10
Gigabit Ethernet over copper to desktops would be theoretically
possible.

As it stands now, Category 6 cabling is likely to carry 10
Gigabit Ethernet - but as many of you pointed out, it would be
limited to 55 meters in the standard, well shy of the 100 meters
that users have come to expect from copper cable runs.

An augmented Cat 6 is in the standards pipeline to get 10
Gigabit to 100 meters - although two cabling vendors reminded me
that early versions of augmented Cat 6 are available today.

So now it seems you have several options if you're looking
beyond Gigabit to the desktop: install Cat 6 with a 55m limit
for 10 Gig, wait a year or more for standardized augmented
Cat-6, get an early version of augmented Cat 6, install Cat 7,
or go with fiber optics.

There's another option, which a couple readers suggested, and
I'll get into that next time before we revisit fiber to the
desktop.

The top 5: Today's most-read stories

1. Windows worm beginning to spread
<http://www.networkworld.com/nllan5443>

2. Cisco to juice 6500 switch
<http://www.networkworld.com/nllan5220>

3. Help Desk: Sniffing on a switch
<http://www.networkworld.com/nllan5444>

4. Zotob worm exploits Windows 2000 Plug and Play
<http://www.networkworld.com/nllan5445>

5. Google goes berserk
<http://www.networkworld.com/nllan5415>

Today's most-forwarded story:

Cisco to juice 6500 switch
<http://www.networkworld.com/nllan5223>
_______________________________________________________________
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 Nokia
Empower Your Mobile Enterprise

Nokia believes that business mobility will fundamentally change
the way work gets done-and for the better. To allow the entire
organization to get the most from this paradigm shift in
productivity, Nokia Enterprise Solutions focuses on delivering
increased efficiency through enhanced mobility. Learn more by
downloading this white paper today!
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=110452
_______________________________________________________________
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collaboration. Go now.
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FEATURED READER RESOURCE
WIRELESS LANS BUYER'S GUIDE: THE GOODS ON 185 PRODUCTS

We've compiled the largest buyer's guide ever on wireless LAN
equipment. Whether you're looking for an access point, PC Card
or trying to decide between 802.11a, b or g, take a look at the
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