The Pros and Cons of Structured Cabling can be summarized simply enough, though they do not exist in an IT vacuum; instead, structured cabling must be evaluated in a case-by-case manner. It is with this in mind that the concept of structured cabling becomes pertinent, as cabling setup in this way carries with it a number of IT infrastructural advantages. There also exist challenges which bear keeping in mind when adopting the structured cabling route, but, if responsibly factored in, the benefits should firmly marginalize any potential impediments.
The Pros and Cons of Structured Cabling should be measured thoughtfully in relation to one another as well as in relation to the specific telecommunication/date transmission needs of a given operation. Computing and telephone systems vary widely throughout the U.S. economy, with everything from business size to operational complexity being deserving of consideration when deciding upon the cabling setup most consistent with one’s needs. The Pros and Cons of Structured Cabling are not static, rather, they are inherently dynamic and benefits/drawbacks carry with them the potential of being magnified/negated based upon the system(s) with which they are intertwined.
Everything You Need to Know About Structured Cabling
Thus, the list provided below is not so much a roadmap by which to traverse a fixed network of heavily-traveled roads, but a compass with which to guide oneself through the ever unique landscape of one’s particular structural information technology needs.
1. Structured cabling—Pro: Structured cabling is fairly cost-effective and allows for operations to function more freely than might otherwise be necessary within a more expensive infrastructural arrangement. As this cabling model is widespread and something of an industry standard, it is able to respond more quickly to changes within marketplaces and the overarching technology sphere itself.
2. Structured cabling—Con: Not particularly ideal for smaller server rooms, as structured cabling tends to make more sense when the solution is scaled for broader infrastructural needs. Rack-level management renders ToR (top of rack) alternatives more viable to networks of modest scale. An appealing aspect of ToR cabling is the degree to which it limits the need for structured cabling, which is a perfectly understandable limitation when outfitting leaner networks.
3. Structured cabling—Pro: Power efficiency ranks high in any reasonable assessment of structured cabling. In relation to ToR alternatives, a properly scaled and efficiency-conscious structured cabling network is hugely efficient in terms of power requirements. The difference, of course, comes down to switch requirements—structured cabling allows for broader and overlapping usage of existing switches to cover multiple servers, whereas alternatives intended for narrower connectivity needs often require a one-for-one ratio, or very near to it. In addition to limiting equipment needs, this difference drastically reduces electricity requirements without compromising system functionality. As organizational communication/data systems grow in complexity, power considerations are increasingly front of mind; adopting of structured cabling is a generally viable safeguard against soaring energy costs.
4. Structured cabling—Con: Designed with universality and device agnosticism in mind, structured cabling is not always capable of serving the needs of “boutique” or highly specific IT infrastructure needs. While structured cabling networks are, by and large, configurable and can be tailored to nearly any specifications conceivable. However, such configuring/tailoring is as likely to negate structured cabling’s cost-effectiveness as it is to elevate the format’s functionality. For elite operations looking to manage network connectivity in accordance with highly specific or narrowly-defined functionality, structured cabling may prove somewhat amorphous or loose in its capabilities.
With interconnectivity and device-agnostic networks quickly coming to define the U.S. economy, the broad, cost-effective, energy-efficient nature of structured cabling is certain to satisfy the IT infrastructural needs of many a larger operation. Of course, the above-listed pros/cons must be taken into account prior to embracing structured cabling for one’s own interconnectivity needs. That said, there is every reason to offer structured cabling due consideration, if only because of its universal qualities and promise of configurability.
There are limitations which are best weighted by IT experts, but these are easily placed into context, provided the pros and cons properly understood. Contact 21st Century Network Cabling today to answer any of your structured cabling questions.