Modern network infrastructure involves a lot of equipment. There’s network hardware, like routers and switches, and networking software. It also includes cables like backbone cabling and horizontal cabling.
Backbone wiring interconnects between telecommunication rooms, equipment rooms, and entrance facilities. It also runs between floors, whereas horizontal cabling typically only connects telecommunication rooms to work areas on the same floor.
Fiber Optic Cable
Fiber optic cables transmit data using light pulses instead of electrical currents. This means they are much less susceptible to interference that can negatively affect copper cables. This makes them a better choice for backbone cabling because they can travel long distances without losing their signal strength. In addition, they can handle more bandwidth than copper cables.
Unlike horizontal cabling, which connects endpoint devices, backbone cables are designed to transfer large amounts of data across long distances. To meet bandwidth demands, they must be capable of carrying multiple Gigabit Ethernet connections. Backbone cables typically use unshielded twisted pair (UTP) or multimode fiber optic cable with an OM3 or higher rating.
Backbone cabling connects telecommunication closets, equipment rooms, building entrance facilities, or ERs. The ER houses network equipment and backbone cables and provides connectivity to all other telecommunications rooms in the facility.
To provide the maximum level of availability and performance, horizontal and backbone cabling explained must be able to transport various services. These include broadband internet, multidrop networks for telecommunications and closed-circuit television, and PABX systems. These must all be able to reach telecommunications closets and other network switches within the same building or even between buildings. This is made possible by a system of backbone cables that includes primary and secondary routes and redundant configurations.
Copper Wiring
Copper is still a vital part of many network infrastructures. At the same time, fiber is the ideal choice for high-speed, long-distance transmissions; traditional copper networks still offer a reliable alternative.
Copper cabling is the foundation of every telecommunications system. It connects equipment rooms, telecommunications closets, and building entrance facilities. The network core provides high-capacity connectivity and allows multiple LANs to be connected through it.
The main reason to use copper wire is that it’s the most efficient electrical conductor – it has an exceptional current-carrying capacity for its diameter. Annealed copper conductors typically have a conductivity rating of 100%, the highest of any engineering metal.
Additionally, copper is very flexible. This means that if it must pass through a tight space, it can bend and flex without losing power and strength. This is important, as many wiring systems must accommodate the natural kinks in ceilings and walls.
There are several different types of copper cables, depending on the application. One of the most common is the balanced twisted pair, used in data and telephone applications. This cable has two copper wires twisted together, preventing electromagnetic interference (EMI) between them and other cables in the same cable run. Another type of copper cable is stranded, with multiple small strands of wire twisted together to allow greater flexibility.
Connectors
Backbone cabling must accommodate various user programs, from simple voice transfers and multimedia networks to high-speed data transmissions. Because of this, the backbone cable must have sufficient bandwidth to meet anticipated usage and anticipate future expansion by adding new devices. It is, therefore, important that the backbone system be planned with foresight, including an estimate of peak usage to help determine the amount of backbone needed and a strategy for future growth by adding more devices.
While backbone cabling is primarily used to connect equipment rooms and telecommunications rooms, it can also provide wired access to work areas on individual floors. Backbone cables usually run between building telecommunication rooms and sometimes between buildings, depending on the physical topography.
Backbone cabling can transmit data over long distances using copper or fiber wiring. Copper is typically used for short backbone runs, while fiber is often used for longer ones. The connectors and terminus points must be appropriately designed to ensure a quality signal regardless of the wire type. This will make the network more reliable and help ensure data can be transmitted consistently. Backbone and horizontal cabling are two different subsystems of structured cabling, but they both have an essential role in the overall network.
Termination Points
While backbone and horizontal cabling may look the same to a casual observer, they have significant differences. The primary difference is that backbone wiring runs vertically (like a spine) through a building, while horizontal cabling services work areas on individual floors of the same building.
Backbone wiring can run between equipment rooms and telecommunications closets on each facility floor in a multistory office building or another large facility. The cables used in backbone wiring are usually fiber optic, although copper wires can be utilized if the bandwidth requirement is lower than what can be achieved with fiber.
The backbone wiring is then connected to the switches in the telecommunications closets or equipment rooms using patch panels or connecting blocks. The cables connect to work area outlets through horizontal cabling from the telecommunications closets or equipment room into each work area on the same floor.
As network speeds increase, ensuring that your cabling infrastructure is up to speed becomes more critical. A substandard design or improper installation of your backbone and horizontal cabling system can lead to inconvenient and expensive problems for your organization. A qualified cabling contractor can help ensure your infrastructure is designed and installed correctly to guarantee optimal performance.