Dumb question on Cabling

[Jamsan]

We're moving into our new building in a few weeks, and I in reading another post here, I just got to thinking about something...

All of our cabling was professionally done (from the keystones to the patch panels, we're patching the panels to switches and drops to hosts), so need for you guys to worry on that. Where my question comes in, is in the standards. Are we required to use the same standard patch cable that was used in the drop cable, or does it not make a difference?

Example: say all drops were done with the T568B standard. Does it matter if the patch cables on each side are T568A, or should it not make a difference? My assumption (hopefully not a bad one) is that only EACH cable, must be terminated the same on each side, and it doesn't matter what the rest of the cabling in the sequence is.

Thanks!

 

[kevnich2]

Your assumption is correct. Each cable has to be terminated on each side. As long as the pins are the same (568A to 568A or 568B to 568B) on each end, your good.

 

[spidey07]

You really need to follow the same standard and have the link and channel tested. Whoever installed this cabling MUST provide you with certification results and tests of each link and channel.

-edit-
I know I sound like a broken record but you don't screw with the physical layer. It causes something like 90%+ of all "network problems". The EIA/TIA is there for a reason, you can guarantee success if you follow it. ANY bid for cabling MUST include adherence to these standards, if the person doing the statement of work doesn't understand this then they should be fired. I'll go out on a limb here and say your installed cabling does not adhere to bonding and grounding.

To put it blankly if you do not you will pay somebody 250 bucks an hour to find and fix it. 20 hours minimum, just to tell you what you need to fix.

 

[Jamsan]

Originally posted by: spidey07
You really need to follow the same standard and have the link and channel tested. Whoever installed this cabling MUST provide you with certification results and tests of each link and channel.

-edit-
I know I sound like a broken record but you don't screw with the physical layer. It causes something like 90%+ of all "network problems". The EIA/TIA is there for a reason, you can guarantee success if you follow it. ANY bid for cabling MUST include adherence to these standards, if the person doing the statement of work doesn't understand this then they should be fired. I'll go out on a limb here and say your installed cabling does not adhere to bonding and grounding.

To put it blankly if you do not you will pay somebody 250 bucks an hour to find and fix it. 20 hours minimum, just to tell you what you need to fix.

I'm pretty confident in that work that was done with the wiring infrastructure throughout the building. The company came highly recommended, and is CAT 6 Install Certified (EIA/TIA certified) and Leviton CCS certified. They also do provide full documentation and testing results. Doing research on their site, it sounds like all of their installs are done using T568B-2.10.

All patch and host cables (purchased by us) are all Belkin CAT6. I can't seem to find if their cabling is 568A or B. Does anyone know if Belkin has a standard on what their cables are?

We're doing 3 footers in wiring closets, 7 ft to IP Phones and another 5ft to PCs.

edit - After doing a big more research, seems like Belkin is T568B.2-10 as well, so I think we should be good across the board.

 

[spidey07]

Jamsan, it appears you have a sound category rated installation especially if you have manufacturer warranty...normally 10 years.

 

[Jamsan]

Originally posted by: spidey07
Jamsan, it appears you have a sound category rated installation especially if you have manufacturer warranty...normally 10 years.

Warranty is 15 years.

Back to my original concern, are we OK with patch/host cabling if the standard used is different than the standard used in the drops? I'm confident they are the same, but I'm curious what the effects would be if they were different.

Thanks.

 

[ScottMac]

Yes, absolutely. Especially with Cat5e and beyond.

 

[drebo]

As long as the patch cables are terminated the same on each end (hint, that's what makes it a patch cable), it shouldn't matter how your in-wall cables are terminated. If it does, either your patch cable's not a patch cable or your in-wall cables aren't terminated the same on each end.

 

[Jamsan]

Originally posted by: drebo
As long as the patch cables are terminated the same on each end (hint, that's what makes it a patch cable), it shouldn't matter how your in-wall cables are terminated. If it does, either your patch cable's not a patch cable or your in-wall cables aren't terminated the same on each end.

That's pretty much what I figured, I just wasn't 100% certain.

Thanks all!