Cabling
Structured cabling design and installation is governed by a set of standards that specify wiring data centers, offices, privet houses and apartment buildings for data or voice communications using various kinds of cable, most commonly CAT-5e, CAT-6, and fiber optic cabling and modular connectors. These standards define how to lay the cabling in various topologies in order to meet the needs of the customer, typically using a central patch panel (normally 19in rack-mounted) , from where each modular connection can be used as needed. Each outlet is then patched into a network switch (normally rack-mounted) for network use or into an IP or PBX telephone system patch panel.