I am reading through the ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B standard from a link on the web. I have attached a pdf file of what I am reading so anyone can peak at my source. I am trying to understand the maximum cable lengths they mandate, but first must understand what they mean by some key terms.
What is a horizontal cross-connect? I picture a punch block where wires are terminated and short cat5e patch cables connect various wires on one side to various wires on the other side.
What is an Intermediate Cross-Connect? I cannot picture this. Please bear with me. I have experience in the IT field working with Cat5e cabling between routers, switches, and computers, but have only glanced at the room in back with all the phone wires, the T1 thing (that should give away my exposure), and the other mysterious black box.
What is a Main Cross-Connect? Have a picture much like a moonless night deep in the forest where I can't see my own hand in front of my face.
What does the standard classify a switch or router as?
Part of the stimulus for these questions and this self education is my current employer has an ad-hoc network. Often I am instructed to remove equipment using an Ethernet cable, then coil the cable, and lay on top of the drop ceiling tiles. I hate doing this. Also, there are runs where a cable comes off a switch in the basement, goes upstairs to another switch, then to a switch in a closet, and then finally a cable connects to a computer. How is a switch treated when considering maximum cable lengths? Is a switch a kind of cross connect? Once I understand this better, I may have more questions. I wish I could offer more than 500 points for this!
Really appreciate the guidance.
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