Week 4 - Installing the Physical Network

    This week, I will be touching on some basic concepts of installing a physical network.
    When installing a physical network, there are many factors to consider. Where will my network closet be located? How long will the runs be? What cables should I be using? These are some of the basic questions that should be asked. 
    It is important to locate your telecommunications room in a central location to achieve optimal data speeds, especially in large buildings. Also, you will need to consider how long the runs will be and whether a secondary closet is necessary due to the cable's limitations. Some other factors to consider for a telecommunications room are power, humidity, and cooling.
     For long, non-moving cable runs, use a solid-core Ethernet cable with a maximum length of 100m. Solid core is more corrosion-resistant than twisted pair and offers higher signal quality.
    Twisted pair offers greater flexibility and is better suited for workstations and patch cables.
    After you have your cables in place, it is important to test your cables. There are specialized testers for various cables that can be used to complete these tests. These testers can help determine signal loss.
    NICs are often overlooked as a networking issue. It is important to ensure the proper drivers are downloaded, and the NIC can utilize the signal it is receiving.
    It is common practice to utilize a floor plan and map your cable runs. Mapping the runs and proper documentation can help should you run into an issue down the road and need to troubleshoot a network connection.
    Many components come together to make a network function, and ensuring the proper hardware is paired with the proper drivers and signals is the most basic component to check.