Whether you’re building a new office for your business, rearranging its layout, renovating, or even expanding your office space, it’s important to think about how to set up your network cables in the most optimal way.
Cable wiring is an integral part of having a solid network architecture in your office. It lays the foundation for your business’s internet connection, intranet connection, local area network, and even cable TV.
The cables that connect all these network assets have to be properly planned and implemented. There are some decisions you have to make early on, like what the setup will look like and what kind of cables you will need.
And to plan accordingly, there are a couple of things you have to consider.
1. Location
The nature of your business location is just as important as where it is located.
For instance, are you wiring a chemical plant or a building with hazardous materials? You would need heavy-duty and industrial-grade cables. Extreme environments can easily damage the outer sheath of cables, so you have to take your location into consideration.
You will also have to consider your duration of stay. Do you own the office space or the building? If so, professional cabling companies like CTC Technologies recommend that you think long term and get Category 6 cables, which generally have better transmission performance and have a bandwidth of 200 MHz.
If you’re just leasing the place, you might need a different setup, unless you’re planning to stay long-term at your current location.
2. Speed
How you set up your network infrastructure will also determine how fast your network can be — how fast you can transfer files, how fast your internet speed is, and how fast you can transmit data.
And yes, you might have the fastest server and switches but it will all be for naught if your cabling network can’t keep up.
So think about the technology speed you need in order to operate successfully as a business. For example, a standard cable like Category 5e might not be fast enough for you, since this just meets the minimum benchmarks.
3. Scope
Next, consider how many devices will need to be hooked up to the network. How many servers, networking components, and workstations need to be wired?
Don’t forget your office layout as well. How many floors does your office have and do all of them need network cabling? What kind of walls does your building have and will the material interfere with data transmission in any way? Is your server room optimally located for maximum connectivity? These are just some of the things you have to take into account.
Just to be safe, you might want to go ahead and get twice as many cables as you need. This will definitely save you a lot of time and money in the long run.
These are just some of the many things you have to consider when setting up a cabling network for your office. And remember: it’s better to invest in reliable cabling than deal with problems that may come up later on. Your cable infrastructure should meet your needs today and at the same time, anticipate the needs your business might have in the future.
Talha Ali is your tech generalist, covering a wide spectrum of topics within the ever-evolving world of technology. With a curiosity for the latest innovations, industry trends, and breakthroughs. Whether it’s hardware, software, emerging technologies, or the intersection of tech with daily life, Talha’s articles provide readers with a well-rounded perspective on the dynamic landscape of the tech industry.
