🚀 go-pugleaf

hillmanp@topaz.ucq.edu.au writes:


>We are constructing an information technology building on campus,
>and are unsure whether to use UTP level 5 cabling or to use Shielded
>twisted pair.
>Our existing network uses a mixture of utp level 4 in buildings and
>co-ax,with optical fibre in high noise envirionments such as enginneering
>department. Interbuilding links are fibre with sufficient fibres to 
>upgrade to F.D.D.I. in the future.
>We want to install wiring with C.D.D.I. (100 Mb ps) capability although
>initially we will only be using 10 Mbps Ethernet.
> I have heard that STP may not perform as expected at 100 mbps and it may
>be just as effective ( and cheaper ) to use STP.
>I am aware that with STP great care must be taken to avoid ground loops
>in the shielding.
>Can anybody who has experience with using stp or utp or both at 100mbps
>advise?


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>Peter Hillman,                                InfoPSI: p_hillman@ucq.edu.au
>Computing Services,                AARNet/Internet: p_hillman@topaz.ucq.edu.au
>University of Central Queensland,               Phone: +61 79 369410
>Rockhampton, Q 4702                             Fax: +61 79 361361
>Australia.                                    [DTE 050527372000077]
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I recommend level 5 UTP or STP, but the shielding aspects depends on your
application requirements.  FDDI over STP exists now, so you can travel
100Mb on the LAN.  However, you will need FDDI STP cards in your workstations,
which can get quite expensive per node.

100Mb over UTP should be introduced within 2 years, but the currect
pre-spec requirements are for Level 5 UTP.  We will be installing
Level 5 UTP here for a 635 node LAN, and we will use 10BaseT as the
present LAN topology configuration.  When 100Mb Ethernet comes out, 
all we have to do is change LAN cards at the workstation and concentrators
... the cabling will not have to be replaced.

We did not pick STP due to the complexity of shielding-grounding 
requirements.  We didn't want the electricians to start drilling
in the computer room floor.  --GIF