Network Cable Labeling - DO IT RIGHT!!

A Case for Labeling

The critical -- but often neglected -- element of network cabling.

Too often cabling contractors simply do a piss-poor job labeling network infrastructure.  Sadly...less professional companies have never heard of TIA/EIA-606...the industry standard for network labeling...and their idea of a labeling scheme is 1V, 1D; 2V, 2D (V=Voice; D=Data).  Even though that labeling scheme is semi-adequate for very small networks and is simple...it does little to adhere to industry standards and more importantly sorely fails on larger projects.  It may not always seem so...but proper network labeling is a critical element for your voice/data/video network(s). A little time invested by a cabling contractor in a standard and logical scheme can pay huge dividends for you...the clients...now and in the future.

Properly Labeled Cables

The Network's Critical Role 

Networks today are more important than ever...experiencing a metamorphosis of unprecedented proportions.  What were once separate networks -- voice, data, video -- are now converging onto a single network, managed, maintained and even marketed as an integral resource for achieving strategic business objectives.  Add on security such as building automation...lighting controls and a host of other possible applications and we begin to see that the network infrastructure, i.e. the structured cabling system, is the fundamental factor in delivering these capabilities.

Industry analysts estimate that 95 percent of a businesses' network expense is for active components -- the switches, routers, etc. -- leaving only 5 percent for the infrastructure. Consider -- if that 5 percent is not functioning properly...the remaining 95 percent will not work at all...reinforcing the notion that the structured cabling system is integral to the success of your business.

The Benefits of Labeling 

Your business today is far from static...people move around to different locations within buildings and employees come and go quite frequently. The combined impact this has on the IT infrastructure is significant. Each time there is a change to a user...the network needs to be altered to some degree. We in the IT/Technology industry call these Moves, Adds or Changes (MACs).

For instance...if a patch cord needs to move from port 12 to port 48...there is a good chance it will not get done correctly when your network has not been labeled properly.  Proper labeling in the telecommunications room and at your work stations is integral to assuring the reliability of the connection and MACs are easily accomplished.

Or...if the cable from your work station terminating in the telecom room is mislabeled or not labeled at all...a technician must spend time (or waste time is a better term) toning that cable to see where it leads.  This is not to mention that most toners will NOT tone a 'live' cable creating a whole new set of problems that can only be solved by un-plugging cables one by one from the network to find the cable in question.

If just a few minutes of downtime can be avoided...the time spent properly labeling and documenting can more than be recouped.  Besides downtime, the time spent testing and toning unlabeled cables can add up to thousands of dollars in wasted labor costs.

There is also an intangible benefit of network cable labeling; the aesthetic value of the network is increased by properly labeling an network system installation. The way a system is installed is equally as important as the system itself.  Proper labeling by a cabling contractor demonstrates they are professional; take pride in their craft and care about the installation and system performance.

"Proper Labeling" 

But what really is "Proper Labeling"?  The TIA/EIA (Telecommunications Industry Association /Electronic Industries Alliance)...which is the governing/legislative board for telecommunications systems, has created a standard for properly labeling telecommunications infrastructures. Titled the TIA/EIA-606-A Administration Standard for Commercial Telecommunications Infrastructure, this Standard clearly lays out the rules for properly labeling or administering a network. Created by a committee of industry experts, this Standard is the "bible" for properly labeling a network. It's interesting that in addition to spelling out the nomenclature for labeling, it also advises that if you are labeling your network, you must use a mechanical labeling device and not a pen to do so like so many non-professional cabling contractors do.  Pens smear and smudge and can lead to many of the same problems of not labeling at all.

For example professional cabling contractors like Palmetto Cabling not only label the jacks & patch panel properly according to industry standards...we label the cable jacket itself on both sides...just in case someone removes the jack label.  Doing this very simple task saves countless man-hours on MAC.

Examples of Labeling

The below shows an example of TIA/EIA-606 Industry Standard Labeling as employed by Palmetto Cabling.

TIA/EIA-606 Standard for Labeling

In this example...

• 0047 - is the building number where the inter-connectivity terminates.
• 1A    - is the telecom room number for termination.  If there is more than one...then 2A etc.
• 1      - this number represents which rack in the telecom room the cable terminates to.
• A      - this is the patch panel designation & continues logically B, C, D,...
• 01     - represents the port number on the designated patch panel.
  

Labeling can be effectively be abbreviated as shown in the picture below.
If your network does not involve multiple buildings...labeling can easily be abbreviated to only include the Room, Rack, Patch Panel and Port as shown below.

Abbreviated Cable Label

In this example...the label tells us the cable terminates in Telecom room 1A...on Patch panel B and is port 1.  Generally...the absences of a number in front of the "B" is an implied "1" for Rack #1.  If more than one rack was present in the telecom room...it is always good practice to include the number.  

Conclusion

Network cable labeling is similar to ensuring everyone involved in your network speaks the same language and anyone who comes in to augment or service your network can easily understand the architecture.

If you like this blog and/or find it interesting...please share it with someone in the technology field.


For more information on Palmetto Cabling...visit our web page at:


http://www.palmettocabling.com

or our Facebook page at:


http://www.facebook.com/palmettocabling 


________________________________________________________________


Post Script:

Look for my upcoming blog on why your network infrastructure