Chapter 1
Network Hardware
IN THIS CHAPTER
Installing network cable
Attaching cable connectors
Figuring out pinouts for twisted-pair cabling
Installing switches
After you plan your network, then comes the fun of actually putting everything together. In this chapter, I describe some of the important details for installing network hardware, including cables and switches, as well as professional touches like patch panels and cable management.
Working with Cable
Most Ethernet networks are built using twisted-pair cable (also known as UTP cable), which resembles phone cable but isn’t the same. For more information about the general characteristics of twisted-pair cable, see of Book 3, Chapter 1.
In the following sections, you find out what you need to know to select and install twisted-pair cable.
Cable categories
Twisted-pair cable comes in various grades, or categories.
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