Network cables are essential networking hardware that connect one network device to others. Depending upon the physical layer, size and topology of the network, there are different cables to choose from like coaxial, optical fibre, and twisted pair cables. Let us explore in detail.
A network cable is a cable that connects or transfers information and data between computers, switches, routers, and more devices. There is a wide range of cables to choose from. Your selection should rely on the topology and structure of the overall architecture of the system. One of the most common types is twisted pair cable that is popular in office environments, copper communication cabling etc. An optical fibre cable, on the other hand, consists of a centre glass core surrounded by many layers of protective material. Its deployment is costlier than copper but at the same time, it also offers higher bandwidth and can also cover longer distances. Similarly, there is a lot to choose from. On this page, we will explain a few more details you need to know to buy network cable online in the UAE.
Buying a network cable is not as easy as it seems. There are different lengths, colours, and types you can choose from. To ensure the network cable is purchased for a system, you will have to research and get some information on various options available. Several aspects such as type, availability, quality, and more factors may affect your decision. For example, if you purchase ethernet cables, the common cables you will find include cat-5, cat-5e, cat-6, cat-6e and more. Cat-5 offer a speed of up to 100 Megabits/second and operate at 100 Mhz whereas offer speeds of up to 1 Gigabit per second and operate at 100 Mhz. Similarly, there is much more to choose from. Let us explore further popular networking cables.
The word ethernet cables originate from the word ethernet. Straight through and crossover cables are two popular types. Straight through connects devices like a computer to hub, computer to switch, and router to switch whereas cross over is required when you need to connect two devices that use same wires to send and receive data The most common ethernet cable is UTP i.e. unshielded twisted pair. You can find it in different grades and the most common form of this type is CAT5 cable. However, some of the cables are also STP i.e. shielded ones. Ethernet cables have seen a long history and progression from 10 to 100 megabytes. Later, it became 1 to 10 gigabytes. Some data centres have already reached 40 G and beyond.
It is any specific type of cable that helps in the process of computer networking. Its use is restricted to small distances though. The LANs generally use wired connections to make a link or access any data. Factors such as network topology and media characteristics will help you differentiate between different LANs. Network topology refers to the geographical placement of machines and also, the way a local area network gets a connection. Media characteristics is the physical connection of various devices to the network. Depending upon protocols, there are two main kinds of LAN cables that are client/server LANs and peer-to-peer LANs.
A crossover Ethernet cable is one of the popular Ethernet cables that is widely used to connect different computing devices together directly. It is not like the straight-through cable as it uses two different wiring standards. One end typically uses the T568A wiring standard, whereas the other end has the T568B wiring standard. You can find a wide range of cables out there in the market. However, the selection depends upon your network requirements. From the cheapest network cable to an expensive and advanced one, you can find many varieties. Different devices and connection may require different kinds of cables.
