Curs PC si internet cap 9.1 Project Planning

Overview A networks performance is closely linked to how good its connections, therefore, the focus of this chapter is standards for networking media that are developed and issued by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), the Underwriters Laboratories (UL), the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) and the Electrical Industries Association (EIA). The latter two organizations jointly issue a list of standards, and frequently you see them listed as the TIA/EIA standards. In addition to these groups and organizations, local, state, county, and national government agencies issue specifications and requirements that can affect the type of cable used in a LAN.In this chapter, you will learn how to use appropriate and recommended techniques for dressing and securing the cable, including using cable ties, cable support bars, wire management panels, and releasable Velcro straps. You will learn that when RJ45 jacks are used at the telecommunications outlet in a horizontal cabling scheme, the wiring sequence is critical for optimal network performance. Moreover, because a wiring closet serves as the center point of a star topology point for the wiring and wiring equipment that is used for connecting devices in a network, you will see how a wiring closet should be designed for wiring a data or voice network. Lastly, you will learn about the equipment found in a wiring closet can include patch panels, wiring hubs, bridges, switches, and routers. Note: In this chapter, you may need to convert units of measurements. A small utility to help you make the conversions is available here. You can access it from anywhere in this chapter via the Index button below. 9.1 Project Planning 9.1.1 Network installation safety procedures Instructor Note What is the project? The purpose of the structured cabling project is to allow students to apply individual skills learned in class to a real-world network installation. There are several ways to go about the project. First, you could work through chapter 9, skill-building for all the students simultaneously so they can do the individual components of a cable installation prior to the actual installation. This is the preferred method. Or you could teach the skills to a subset of the class and have one member of the group teach the others. Or you could teach the skills on an as-needed basis during the project. Only you can decide what will work best in your classroom.There are many ideas for projects. You could wire the back of your classroom, the area where the semester 2 routers and rack are located. If there is another room or wiring project within your school, you could get permission to perform that project. You could adopt a nearby school that needs wiring and do the work on a Saturday or after school. Or you could participate in local "Net Day" activities if they are available. It is not so much the actual project but the fact that the students do a project -- from start to finish -- that is so vitally important.When wiring in the real world safety must be a priority. First, you will need your principal's permission and possibly permission from the school district or local union representative. Second, you may need permission slips for the students themselves, especially if the project is off-site.Here are some electrical safety tips; you should brainstorm with your students the electrical safety rules you will follow during your installation. Never work on a device (like a hub, switch, router, or PC) with the case open and the line voltage (power cord) plugged in. Test electrical sockets with an appropriate voltage tester or multimeter. Be sure to find the location of electrical conduit and power wires before trying to install any networking cable. Properly ground all networking equipment. Take care never to nick or cut a live 120 VAC line. These are just some of the precautions you should take.There are also mechanical precautions. Whenever drilling or cutting, wear safety class. Be careful with bits and blades. Measure twice, cut once is an old saying; it means you should carefully measure before using a tool. Make sure you and your teacher have investigated what you are drilling or cutting into before you drill or cut; you do not want your power tools to come in contact with electrical wiring or other utilities in the wall. Follow practices of general cleanliness; for example, minimizing dust since you will be installing sensitive networking devices. If you must use a ladder, follow proper ladder precautions. Brainstorm with your students other mechanical precautions you can take.If proper precautions are taken, the structured cabling installation can be an extremely fun and rewarding project. But up front you must have strict classroom and team management, for there are plenty of potential hazards given the nature of the work. The process of installing a network requires constant awareness of safety procedures. You might think of building a network as the combination of activities performed by an electrician and a construction worker. In both cases, safety is the primary concern.Your instructor will inform you of the classroom safety procedures and general safety precautions that you must take while working with network building materials - both electrical and construction. You might also discuss these issues during one of your class sessions, so that you understand the reasons for the constant attention to safety. ElectricalThe following list describes some of the precautions you should take when working with electrical materials:Never work on a device (e.g. hub, switch, router, or PC) with the case open and the line voltage (power cord) plugged in. Test electrical sockets with an appropriate voltage tester or multimeter. Locate all electrical conduits and power wires before trying to install any networking cable. Properly ground all networking equipment. Never cut or nick a live 120 V AC line. Construction The following list describes some of the precautions you should take when working with electrical materials:Wear safety glasses whenever you are drilling or cutting, and use care when handling bits and blades. Measure carefully before you cut, drill into, or permanently alter construction materials. "Measure twice; cut once." Investigate along with your instructor, what you will be drilling or cutting into, before you begin. You do not want your power tools to come in contact with electrical wiring or other utilities in the wall. Follow practices of general cleanliness (e.g. minimize dust that can affect sensitive networking devices). Follow proper ladder placement and safety procedures whenever you must use a ladder. These are just some of the safety precautions you must take when working with network building materials. Discuss with your instructor and classmates other measures that you could take to ensure your safety and the safety of those people who will be working with you. Web Links Cabling Products Cabling Glossary Cabling Project Hints 9.1 Project Planning 9.1.2 Network documentation Instructor Note It is an old adage that you will get from your students what you expect of them. This appears to be true of network documentation. Many students and networking folks alike do not like documentation, but is an integral part of any professional structured cabling installation. It is best to develop a rubric around the following components: Engineering journal logical topology physical topology cut sheets problem-solving matrices labeled outlets labeled cable runs summary of outlets and cable runs summary of devices, MAC addresses, and IP addresses Your structured cabling project will be done at the request of a client who wants you to wire a room (or a school). Your responsibility as the designer will include written documentation, including fact-finding assessments, work-in-progress reports, and final reports and test results. Your very first task, as the network designer, will be to have your client specify, in writing, the desired outcome of the project. The following list includes some of the documentation that you should create while you are in the process of planning/designing your network: engineering journal logical topology physical topology cut sheets problem-solving matrices labeled outlets labeled cable runs summary of outlets and cable runs summary of devices, MAC addresses, and IP addresses You might also ask your instructor if there is any other documentation that is relevant to your project. Perhaps the most important part of the network design process is designing according to the ANSI/TIA/EIA and ISO/IEC industry standards. For an excellent introduction to these standards (with PDF downloads available), see the Siemon Company Guide to Industry Standards. Web Links Cabling Products Cabling Glossary Cabling Project Hints 9.1 Project Planning 9.1.3 Network installation teams Instructor Note The structured cabling project is ideal for group work. As always with group work, there is a balance between group and individual responsibility. One way to achieve this is to assign different group members different jobs, and give them both a group and an individual grade for their work during the project. There are many ways to create groups and group roles; one suggestion follows. Materials and tools manager: responsible for tool kits, cable, connector, testersCable Runner: responsible for planning and running cable, safely and according to specifications, and testing the cable runJack and Patch Panel Terminator: responsible for performing quality punch downs, jack installations, and testing themProject manager -- responsible for safety. Responsible for keeping other team members focused. Responsible for seeing that all documentation is performed. Responsible for communicating with the instructor.Take turns at each job so you can develop all of your skills. Networking professionals often work in teams and often have to perform very diverse tasks, so be flexible. One of the most efficient methods for working with a network installation team is to break the team into smaller groups consisting of one or more people. As a student, you might occasionally alternate/switch jobs with the other members of your installation team so that everyone in your team will have the opportunity to perform a variety of tasks. This is one way that you can develop the required networking installation skills, and at the same time learn how to work with others as a team member.The following list describes some of the tasks that may be assigned to the small teams:project manager - responsibilities include:implementing safety procedures ensuring the documentation of materials and activities keeping other team members focused on their tasks communicating with the instructor materials and tools manager - responsible for tool kits, cable, connector, and testers cable runner - responsible for planning and running cable, safely, and according to specifications, and for testing the cable runjack and patch panel terminator - responsible for performing quality punch downs, and for installing and testing jack installations Web Links Cabling Products Cabling Glossary Cabling Project Hints 9.1 Project Planning 9.1.4 Work flow Instructor Note A structured cabling project of any magnitude involves a complex sequence of events. Without proper planning on the part of you, the instructor, and the individual groups, you can have a lot of students standing around waiting for something to happen. This is, of course, a prescription for classroom management and safety issues. We recommend you assist the students in creating a timeline of what work they will be doing and who will be doing. After having worked through Chapter 9, and after having studied the site of the wiring job, students should have a reasonable expectation of the tasks and their sequence. This also leads right into a discussion of materials flow. To ensure that your project is done thoroughly, accurately, and on time, you should create a flowchart that includes each of the tasks that must be completed, and the order in which they should be tackled. Your flowchart should also include a timeline for each of these tasks. The flowchart should include the following tasks: installing outlets installing jacks running cables punching cables into patch panels testing cables documenting cables installing NICs installing hubs, switches, bridges, and routers configuring routers installing and configuring PCs You may not be performing all of these tasks as part of your structured cabling project, but it is likely someone (your instructor or the local network administrator) will have to complete the list. Web Links Cabling Products Cabling Glossary Cabling Project Hints 9.1 Project Planning 9.1.5 Scheduling materials flow Instructor Note So what will you need to do a structured cabling installation? Quantities will vary widely with the project you choose. One useful tool for estimated costs and quantities is the Academy Cost Calculator, a spreadsheet available on the community server. Also, we recommend two vendors who have recently partnered with the Academy Program: The Siemon Company (The Siemon Structured Cabling System) and the 3M Company (Volition Cabling Systems). Also, making personal connections with local network design and cable installation firms and professionals can be a great assistance with planning and executing your project. Here is a list of basic materials:Cat 5 UTP Plenum Cable (solid wire) RJ-45 Plugs (Connectors) RJ-45 jacks RJ-45 Flush or surface mounting boxes and related hardware to hold the jacks RJ-45 patch panels Cable ties Velcro Raceway, gutter, and/or conduit Tools you will probably need:Some form of cable tester -- Fluke 620 or equivalent Wire cutters/strippers RJ-45 Crimping Tool RJ-45 Punchdown Tool Hacksaw Key saw Vacuum cleaner Safety glasses In order to build a network, you need to use a variety of materials. This includes such things as tools, as well as the actual construction materials. You will need some of these materials at the beginning of the project, and some while the work is in progress. You should plan, and then gather, all the materials that you will need well ahead of the projected start date.Your plan should include the following:building and networking materials suppliers tools date and length of time tools required Web Links Cabling Products Cabling Glossary Cabling Project Hints