Network Communications News (NCN) June 2016 | Page 17

choosing the right LAN Local hero F E AT U R E A PoE switch delivers power along the same Ethernet cable as data is transferred. The use of wireless devices in the office might be increasing, but the local area network (LAN) is still the heart of your wired and wireless communications infrastructure, and without it nothing is possible. Tony Kelsall at Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise (ALE) explains that in order to choose the right LAN you need to understand both the business needs and what network technology can offer. I t’s not unusual to see some confusion concerning the terminology used by suppliers when talking about networks and Ethernet LAN switches, but the key concepts and principles are actually pretty straight forward. When considering an update, expansion or even a totally new LAN for a business, there are six core ideas you will need to understand to make the right choice for the business’ needs. 1. Getting connected with the right cable category Before we even get to the switch, we need to look at how we will connect our IP devices. Servers, printers, computers, Wi-Fi access points, IP cameras, IP phones and internet routers all need to connect to the LAN network. Without this, IP devices will not be able to connect with each other – either inside or outside of the business. Each of these devices will connect to the LAN via an Ethernet cable. Since 1991 there have been four generations of copper cable, each with higher throughput and improved performance Category 5, 5e, 6 and 6A. Category 5 Ethernet cable was the first to enable interconnectivity for IP telephony, but today’s cable infrastructure is often at least Category 6. With Category 6A, the business will be better positioned to support current and future needs and will be able to sustain those bandwidth-intensive applications. 2. The switch at the heart of the matter The switch is the heart of the network and connects all IP devices. Ethernet LAN switches are typically designed to be set up in a standard ‘stack’ format. With a standardised height and width, it makes it possi