Layer 1 design

Layer 1 design 
5.1.4 when going over the Layer 1 design. It cannot be emphasized enough that the term Ethernet refers to a whole host of technologies. For purposes of the case study, have the students consider 10BASE-T, 10BASE-FL, 100BASE-TX, 100BASE-FX, 1000BASE-T, 1000BASE-SX, and 1000BASE-LX. These are currently the most common Ethernet varieties. Each variety of Ethernet specifies the following:

• The data rate — the number in front of BASE, in Mbps
• The signaling method — all use BASEband as opposed to Broadband signaling
• The medium type — Category 5, 5e, 6, and 7 UTP, multi-mode and single-mode optical fiber
• The maximum length — which ranges from 100 m to several km

The best practices for teaching this TI include having the students do group work on the design activity, use Web research to check facts, prices, and other issues, and document their work in their engineering journals.

This page will teach students how to design the Layer 1 topology of a network.
One of the most important components to consider in network design are the cables. Today, most LAN cabling is based on Fast Ethernet technology. Fast Ethernet is Ethernet that has been upgraded from 10 Mbps to 100 Mbps, and has the ability to utilize full-duplex functionality. Fast Ethernet uses the standard Ethernet broadcast-oriented logical bus topology of 10BASE-T, and the CSMA/CD method for MAC addresses.
Design issues at Layer 1 include the type of cabling to be used, typically copper or fiber-optic, and the overall structure of the cabling. This also includes the TIA/EIA-568-A standard for layout and connection of wiring schemes. Layer 1 media types include 10/100BASE-TX, Category 5, 5e, or 6 unshielded twisted-pair (UTP), or shielded twisted-pair (STP), and 100BaseFX fiber-optic cable.
Careful evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the topologies should be performed. A network is only as effective as the cables that are used. Layer 1 issues cause most network problems. A complete cable audit should be conducted, when significant changes are planned for a network. This helps to identify areas that require upgrades and rewiring.
Fiber-optic cable should be used in the backbone and risers in all cable designs. Category 5e UTP cable should be used in the horizontal runs. The cable upgrade should take priority over any other necessary changes. Enterprises should also make certain that these systems conform to well-defined industry standards, such as the TIA/EIA-568-A specifications.
The TIA/EIA-568-A standard specifies that every device connected to the network should be linked to a central location with horizontal cabling. This applies if all the hosts that need to access the network are within the 100-meter (328 ft.) distance limitation for Category 5e UTP Ethernet.
In a simple star topology with only one wiring closet, the MDF includes one or more horizontal cross-connect (HCC) patch panels. HCC patch cables are used to connect the Layer 1 horizontal cabling with the Layer 2 LAN switch ports. The uplink port of the LAN switch, based on the model, is connected to the Ethernet port of the Layer 3 router with a patch cable. At this point, the end host has a complete physical connection to the router port.
When hosts in larger networks exceed the 100-meter (328 ft.) limitation for Category 5e UTP, more than one wiring closet is required. Multiple wiring closets mean multiple catchment areas. The secondary wiring closets are referred to as IDFs. TIA/EIA-568-A standards specify that IDFs should be connected to the MDF by vertical cabling, also called backbone cabling. A vertical cross-connect (VCC) is used to interconnect the various IDFs to the central MDF. Fiber-optic cable is normally used because the vertical cable lengths are typically longer than the 100-meter (328 ft.) limit for Category 5e UTP cable. 
The logical diagram is the network topology model without all the details of the exact installation paths of the cables. The logical diagram is the basic road map of the LAN which includes the following elements:

• Specify the locations and identification of the MDF and IDF wiring closets.
• Document the type and quantity of cables used to interconnect the IDFs with the MDF.
• Document the number of spare cables that are available to increase the bandwidth between the wiring closets. For example, if the vertical cabling between IDF 1 and the MDF is at eighty percent utilization, two additional pairs could be used to double the capacity.
• Provide detailed documentation of all cable runs, the identification numbers, and the port the run is terminated on at the HCC or VCC. 

The logical diagram is essential to troubleshoot network connectivity problems. If Room 203 loses connectivity to the network, the cut sheet shows that the room has cable run 203-1, which is terminated on HCC1 port 13. Cable testers can be used to determine Layer 1 failure. If it is, one of the other two runs can be used to reestablish connectivity and provide time to troubleshoot run 203-1.
The next page will discuss Layer 2 design issues.