l a crimping tool, for pressing the cable andconnector together, andl a die for the specified cable/connection pair, tomake sure cable and connector fit properly.Installation tool kits that include the crimping tool,die, cable, connectors, and cable ties can be purchasedfrom manufacturers. These kits range in price from oneor two hundred to several thousand dollars.TOOLS FOR TESTING CABLES.— Voltmetersand ammeters provide readings of voltage and current,or amperage by tapping into the circuit and recordingthe electrical activity as it occurs. These recorded valuesmay or may not provide the details about what ishappening along the lines of the network.Scanners are much more sophisticated testing tools.Some of the capabilities of scanners include thefollowing:lllllCheck for faults in a cable.Test a cable’s compliance with networkarchitectures.Monitor performance and electrical activity,given the type of cable and architectureinvolved.Test the cable’s wiring sequence.Generate and print a summary of the informationobtained from the tests.A powerful scanner can test for cable quality, for thequality of the connections between cable segments, orbetween cable and device. A less poweful scanner willbe able to test for noise, crosstalk, signal attenuation,resistance, cable length, and so on.Software TestingDiagnostic software can be used to help anticipateor catch problems early and to help deal with theproblems once they have arisen. Network versions ofdiagnostic software may be expensive, but they cansave the system under some circumstances. Forexample, virus detection software can save hours ofreconstruction and reloading the system. Usingsoftware to test the hard disk can identify bad disksectors before data can be written to them and move anydata from bad sectors to a safe location.Another use of diagnostic software is performancemonitoring and analysis, which involves tracking thenetworks behavior. This will help to identify2-8inefficiencies and bottlenecks, so they can beelimated. While monitoring the system’sperformance, keep careful track of the following:llllOperating costsThreats to securityUser satisfactionUser productivityTrack these areas especially during the first fewweeks after the network is installed. Do not be surprisedif some of these measured indicators change drasticallyduring this period. For example, costs may dropdrastically after the startup period, while usersatisfaction and productivity may rise after the initialproblems are resolved.NETWORK PHYSICAL CONNECTIONSA network connection is a linkage between networkelements. Physical connections concern the cables andconnectors used to create the physical layout of thenetwork. When building a network, you must firstestablish the physical connections.NETWORK BACKBONESBackbone cable refers to the cable that forms themain trunk, or backbone, of a network. Individualnodes and other devices may be connected to this cableusing special adapters and a separate stretch of cable.Backbone cable is defined by the ElectronicsIndustries Association/Telecommunications IndustryAssociation-568 (EIA/TIA-568) committee as any“behind the scenes” cable; that is, cable running behindwalls, in shafts, or under the ground.The EIA/TIA-568 recognizes four types ofbackbone cable; they are listed in table 2-3.The use of a backbone network to tie together anumber of small access networks offers severaladvantages over the construction of a single large LAN.The various LANs connected to the backbone are ableto operate in parallel, providing greater processingefficiency. The multiple-network approach is also morereliable, since each individual LAN can continueoperating if one of the access networks, or even thebackbone, fails. The backbone network must also behighly reliable, since the greater distances covered maymake it difficult to locate and repair faults. The LANsthat connect to the backbone must be flexible and low-cost in terms of installation and user connection.
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