After troubleshooting a network issue and figuring out that it's a problem with the physical layer, have you ever found complete spaghetti in a telecommunications room? In our consulting practices, we see this all too often. Our clients then pay two to three times the regular consulting fees because it takes so much time to sort through the mess.
| Note | Network administrators should be judged by the neatness of their telecommunications rooms. |
To provide a standard methodology for the labeling of cables, pathways, and spaces, the TIA published the ANSI/TIA/EIA-606-A Administration Standard for the Telecommunications Infrastructure of Commercial Buildings. In addition to guidelines for labeling, the standard recommends the color-coding scheme shown in Table 1. This scheme applies not only to labeling of cables and connections but also to the color of the cross-connect backboards in the telecommunication rooms. It does not necessarily apply to the colors of cable jackets, although some installations may attempt to apply it.
Table 1: Color-Coding Schemes
Color Code | Usage |
|---|
Black | No termination type assigned |
White | First-level backbone (MC/IC or MC/TC terminations) |
Red | Reserved for future use |
Gray | Second-level backbone (IC/TC terminations) |
Yellow | Miscellaneous (auxiliary, security alarms, etc.) |
Blue | Horizontal-cable terminations |
Green | Network connections |
Purple | Common equipment (PBXs, host LANs, muxes) |
Orange | Demarcation point (central office terminations) |
Brown | Interbuilding backbone (campus cable terminations) |
Besides labeling and color coding, you should consider bundling groups of related cables with plastic cable ties (tie-wraps). Plastic cable ties come in a variety of sizes for all kinds of applications. When bundling cables, however, be sure not to cinch them too tightly, as you could disturb the natural geometry of the cable. If you ever have to perform maintenance on a group of cables, all you have to do is cut the plastic ties and add new ones when you're finished. Many companies make hook-and-loop (Velcro) type tie-wraps, and these are recommended over tie-wraps for both copper and optical fiber cables as they typically prevent over-cinching.
| Tip | While hook-and-loop cable wraps are more expensive than traditional thin plastic tie wraps, they more than pay for themselves by assuring that cables are not over-cinched; be sure to have plenty on hand. |
Whether you implement the ANSI/TIA/EIA-606-A standard or come up with your own methodology, the most import aspect of cable administration is to have accurate documentation of your cable infrastructure.
