NWS CHa. 2-Networking Infrastructure and Documentation

STP (shielded twisted pair

) cable is a type of copper-based cable containing twisted-pair wires that are not only individually insulated, but also surrounded by a shielding made of a metallic substance such as foil.

n MLA (master license agreement)

) grants a license from a creator, developer, or producer, such as a software producer, to a third party for the pur- poses of marketing, sublicensing, or distributing the product to consumers as a stand-alone product or as part of another product.

MOU (memorandum of understanding)

)documentstheintentionsof two or more parties to enter into a binding agreement, or contract, and is sometimes used between an informal handshake and the legally binding signatures on con- tracts. The MOU can be helpful in pushing along contract negotiations and in defin- ing specific concerns of each party, but it is usually not a legally binding document, does not grant extensive rights to either party, provides no legal recourse, and is not intended to provide thorough coverage of the agreement to come.

VoIP telephone equipment—VoIP(VoiceoverIP)

,also known as IP telephony, is the use of any network (either public or private) to carry voice signals using TCP/IP protocols

rack diagram

These draw- ings show the devices stacked in a rack system and are typically drawn to scale. Rack diagrams are helpful when planning a rack installation. They're also invaluable for tracking and troubleshoot- ing equipment installed in a rack

VoIP PBX (private branch exchange)

This is a dedicated telephone switch or a virtual switching device that connects and manages calls within a private organization, and manages call connections that exit the net- work through a VoIP gateway.

patch panel

This is a panel of data receptors which can be mounted to a wall or a rack and which provides a central termination point when many patch cables converge in a single location.

verify continuity (cable mgmt)

Use a cable tester to verify that each segment of cabling you install transmits data reliably. This practice will prevent you from later having to track down errors in multiple, long stretches of cable.

MSA (master service agreement)

a contract that defines the terms of future contracts between parties, such as payment terms or arbitration arrangements.

fiber-optic cable

a form of cable that contains one or several glass or plastic fibers in its core and comes in two types: SMF (single-mode fiber) or MMF (multimode fiber). Copper-based cable transmits data via electric signals, and fiber-optic cable transmits data via pulsing light sent from a laser or LED

wiring schematic

a graphical representation of a network's wired infrastructure. In its most detailed form, it shows every wire necessary to interconnect network devices and the locations of those wires.

SLA (service-level agreement)

a legally binding contract or part of a contract that defines, in plain language and in measurable terms, the aspects of a service provided to a customer, such as the service provided by an ISP. Details spec- ified might include contract duration (minimum or maximum), guaranteed uptime, problem management, performance benchmarks, and termination options.

RFP (request for proposal)

a request to vendors to submit a proposal for a product or service your company wants to purchase. Key parts of an RFP include why your company requires the product or service, how the product or ser- vice will be used, how and when the proposals will be evaluated, and a list of items a vendor should include in its proposal

(SOW) statement of work

documents in detail the work that must be completed for a particular project, and includes specifics such as tasks, deliver- ables, standards, payment schedule, and work timeline. An SOW is legally bind- ing, meaning it can be enforced in a court of law.

network diagrams

graphical representations of a network's devices and connections. These diagrams may show physical layout, logical topology, IP address reserves, names of major network devices, and types of transmission media.

network documentation items

hardware, software, network config, contacts, special instructions. Complete table on pg 80

VoIP endpoints

might be telephones sitting at each user's location or applications hosted on a user's computer or other device. See Figure 2-7 for two sample VoIP network layouts

MDF (main distribution frame or main distribution facility)

—Also known as the MC (main cross-connect), the MDF is the centralized point of interconnection for an organization's LAN or WAN. In practice, the term MDF can refer either to the racks holding the network equipment or the room that houses both the racks and the equipment. The MDF and the entrance facility might be in the same data room, or they could be in separate rooms, depending on the layout of the building.

protect cables (cable mgmt)

—Avoid laying cable across a floor where it might sustain damage from rolling chairs or foot traffic. At the very least, cover the cable with a cable protector or cord cover. When possible, install cable through cable conduits and seal the ends of these pipes to reduce the risk of damage from pests or water.

bend radius (cable mgmt)

—Each type of cable has a prescribed bend radius, which is the radius of the maximum arc into which you can loop a cable without impairing data transmission. Generally, a twisted-pair cable's bend radius is equal to or greater than four times the diameter of the cable. Be careful not to exceed it

documentation

—Follow these guidelines to manage documenta- tion at your cabling plant: (pg 69)

changing management documentation (steps) pg 90

1-Submit a change request document 2-Understand and follow the approval process 3-The change is project-managed 4- Provide additional documentation

VoIP gateway

converts signals from a campus's analog phone equipment into IP data that can travel over the Internet, or which converts VoIP data from an internal IP network to travel over a phone company's analog telephone lines.

racks

—A large data center can contain rows of racks to hold various network equipment.

patch

—A software patch is a correction, improvement, or enhancement to software. It corrects a bug, closes a vulnerability, or adds minor enhancements to only part of the software, leaving most of the code untouched. The process of monitoring the release of new patches, testing them for use on networked devices, and installing them is called patch management

upgrade

—A software upgrade is a major change to a software package that enhances the functionality and features of the software, while also correcting bugs and vulnerabilities

wall jacks

—A work area often contains wall jacks. The TIA/EIA standard calls for each wall jack to contain at least one voice and one data outlet, as pictured in Figure 2-10. Realistically, you will encounter a variety of wall jacks

data room

—Also called data closet, data center, equipment room, or telecom- munications room, a data room is the enclosed space that holds network equipment. These spaces might have requirements for size, clearance around equipment, wall materials, and physical security (such as a locked door).

cinch cables loosely (cable mgmt)

—Avoidcinchingcablessotightlywithcabletiesthatyousqueeze their outer covering, a practice that leads to difficult-to-diagnose data errors

Nmap

short for Network Mapper, is a free, open-source tool for vulnerability scanning and network discovery. Network administrators use Nmap to identify what devices are running on their systems, discovering hosts that are available and the services they offer, finding open ports and detecting security risks

company standards and stock (cable mgmt)

—Besides adhering to structured cabling hierarchies and standards, you or your network manager should specify standards for the types of cable used by your organization and maintain a list of approved cabling vendors. Keep a supply room stocked with spare parts so you can easily and quickly replace defective parts

termination (cable management)

When terminating twisted-pair cabling, don't leave more than 1 inch of exposed (stripped) cable before a twisted-pair termination. Doing so increases the possibility of transmission interference between wires, a phenom- enon called crosstalk.

UTP (unshielded twisted pair)

a type of copper-based cable that consists of one or more insulated twisted-pair wires encased in a plastic sheath.

system life cycle

The process of designing, implementing, and maintaining an entire network

installation

—New software, such as CRM (customer relationship management) software for sales reps or a financial software package for accountants, must be installed on the relevant devices and incorporated with network resources.

TIA (Telecommunications Industry Association) and its for- mer parent company EIA (Electronic Industries Alliance). This standard, known as the TIA/EIA-568

. This standard, known as the TIA/EIA-568 Commercial Building Wiring Standard, or structured cabling, describes uniform, enterprise-wide cabling systems, regardless of who manufacturins or sells the various parts used in the system.he structured cabling standard describes the best way to install networking media to maximize performance and minimize upkeep. The principles of structured cabling apply no matter what type of media, transmission technology, or networking speeds are involved. Structured cabling is based on a hierarchical design and assumes a net- work is set up in a star topology.

punchdown tool

The precursor to the patch panel is another kind of termination point, the punchdown block. This is a panel of voice or data receptors into which twisted-pair wire is inserted, or punched down, using a punchdown tool, to complete a circuit. The type of punchdown block used on data networks is known as a 110 block. 110 blocks are more suitable for data connections than the older 66 block

secret to keeping track of devices

name them systematically; • Use names that are as descriptive as possible (without giving away too much information to potential hackers). • Only include fields that are absolutely essential in identifying the device. • Don't overcomplicate the name with useless or redundant information. • Pay attention to any established naming convention already in use by your employer. For example, existing acronyms for the various departments in your corporation are more recognizable for employees. • Think big-picture-down-to-details when designing device name fields, such as starting with the building name, then floor, then data room number, then rack number. If your company has national locations or international locations, cer- tain names may need to include codes for continent, country, state, city, and so on. Think in terms of "top-down" or "outside-in" and be consistent. • Consider any security risks from the details you might include in your naming convention. Make sure naming and labeling information is stored behind locked doors and inside secure databases. Don't use names that identify the location (physical or digital) of sensitive information that might alert an attacker to a highly desirable target, such as customer credit card information or protected patient data. When needed, use more obscure names that won't easily attract attention.

inventory management

the monitoring and maintaining of all the assets that make up a network. You might create your own documentation for this, such as a spreadsheet or a database, or you might use an inventory management application with features designed to simplify this process. The first step in inventory management is to list all the components on the network, which include: • hardware—Configuration files, model number, serial number, location on the network, and technical support contact • software—Version number, vendor, licensing, and technical support contac

rollback

the process of reverting to a previous version of software after attempting to patch or upgrade it.

demarc (demarcation point)

—For most situations, the device that marks where a telecommunications service provider's network ends and the organization's net- work begins (see Figure 2-3) is the demarc, or demarcation point. For example, an ISP (Internet service provider) might be responsible for fiber-optic cabling to your building to connect to your LAN. The device where the WAN ends and the LAN begins is the demarc. The service provider is responsible for its net- work beyond the demarc, and, in most cases, the organization is responsible for devices and services on the campus side of the demarc

plenum cabling (cable mgmt)

—Ifyouruncableintheplenum,theareaabovetheceilingtileor below the subflooring, make sure the cable sheath is plenum-rated, and consult with local electric installation codes to be certain you are installing it correctly. A plenum- rated cable is coated with a flame-resistant jacket that produces less smoke than reg- ular cable coated with PVC (polyvinyl chloride), which is made from a cheaper plastic that is toxic when burned. Figure 2-17, shown earlier, includes both a PVC cable and a plenum-grade cable, although the differences are not visibly obvious

avoid emi (cable mgmt)

—Install cable at least 3 feet away from fluorescent lights or other sources of EMI (electromagnetic interference), which is a type of interference that can be caused by motors, power lines, televisions, copiers, fluorescent lights, or other sources of electrical activity. This will reduce the possibility of noise (interference) that can affect your network's signals.

grounding (cable mgmt)

—Pay attention to grounding requirements and follow them religiously

IDF (intermediate distribution frame)

—The IDF provides an intermediate con- nection between the MDF and end-user equipment on each floor and in each building. Again, the term IDF can refer either to the racks holding the network equipment or the room that houses both the racks and the equipment. There is only one MDF per campus, but there can be many IDFs connecting internal portions of the network. The TIA/EIA standard specifies at least one IDF per floor, although large organizations may have several data rooms or closets per floor to better manage the data feed from the main data facilities. Con- nections from the IDF branch out to workstations in an extended star topol- ogy

backbone cabline

—The backbone consists of the cables or wireless links that pro- vide interconnection between the entrance facility and MDF, and between the MDF and IDFs. One component of the backbone is the vertical cross connect, which runs between a building's floors. For example, it might connect an MDF and IDF or two IDFs within a building. Especially on large, modern networks, backbones are often composed of fiber-optic cable. The cables can be thickly insulated and usually are run through flexible plastic sleeving or sturdier conduit, which are pipes installed overhead or through walls or sometimes underground

work area

—This area encompasses workstations, printers, and other network devices, and all the patch cables, wall jacks, and horizontal cabling necessary to connect these devices to a data room

entrance facility

—This is the location where an incoming network, such as the Internet, connects with the school or corporate network. For large networks, the entrance facility might be an equipment room or data closet. For small networks, it might simply be equipment and cabling mounted to the side of a building

cable trays (cable mgmt)

—Use cable management devices such as cable trays and brackets (see Figure 2-19), braided sleeving, and furniture grommets, but don't overfill them

patch panels (cable mgmt)

—Use patch panels to organize and connect lines. A patch panel does nothing to the data transmitted on a line other than pass the data along through the connection. But patch panels do help keep lines organized as they run from walls to racks to network devices, and they make it easy to switch out patch cables of variable lengths when devices are moved or changed.

rack dimensions

• height—Rack height is measured in rack units (RU or U) with the industry standard being 42U tall—about 6 feet. Half-racks are usually 18U-22U tall. • width—Equipment racks come in a standard 19-inch frame, meaning that the front is 19 inches wide. You might also come across 23-inch racks. • depth—Rack depths vary considerably between manufacturers

cable types

• patch cable—A patch cable is a relatively short (usually between 3 and 25 feet) length of cabling with connectors at both ends. • horizontal cabling—This is the cabling that connects workstations to the closest data room and to switches housed in the room. The maximum allowable distance for horizontal cabling is 100 m. This span includes 90 m to connect the network device in the data room to a data jack on the wall in the work area, plus a maximum of 10 m to connect the wall jack to a workstation. Figure 2-15 depicts an example of a horizontal cabling configuration.