Wiring help?

[Robin Laing]

Dan Track wrote:
> On 4/3/06, Joel Jaeggli <joelja at darkwing.uoregon.edu> wrote:
> 
>>On Mon, 3 Apr 2006, Dan Track wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Hi
>>>

>>If you have two devices sitting right next to each other, you just connect
>>them with a jumper.
>>
>>
>>>Thanks for your patience
>>>Dan
> 
> 
> 
> Hi
> 
> Thanks very much for your advice. I appreciate it.
> 
> Could you elaborate on the stranded v non-stranded cabling. What are
> the key differences. Should I order stranded cabling to connect a
> switch and server?
> 
> Thanks again
> Dan
> 

Stranded cable has conductors made up of many strands of wires.  Solid 
is just that, one conductor.  The stranded cable is much more flexible 
and better for patch panels or equipment racks.  If you are just 
hooking up a few computers, then solid will do as it isn't changed 
often.  There is also a cost difference between the two for cable and 
the correct connectors.  Think of a wire in your walls and an 
extension cord.  Both can have the same electrical rated conductors 
but the extension cord is much more flexible.

FWIW, if you are looking at patch cables, in most cases it is cheaper 
to buy them than the cost of materials and labour to make them.  In 
these cases the cables should be stranded.  I have used both in both 
small and large installations.  I prefer stranded for patch 
connectors.  Even though I have lots of small pieces of cable and 
connectors, I still buy my patch cables.

The basic rule is if you have to follow Structured cabling standards, 
then there are specifics on what types of cables are used where. 
Heck, it can even get down to the colors of the cables used.

BiCSi is one organization that sets standards. - http://www.bicsi.org/

Of course if you are going to follow the standards, there are bigger 
issues than the type of cable you use to connect a server to a switch.

You can gather information on wiring standards from equipment 
manufacturers.  I posted the previous link to one pdf file.  Search 
Google for others.

-- 
Robin Laing