The physical linkages responsible for carrying a company's data continue to be the most neglected components of the typical network—to the extent that nearly 70% of all network-related problems result from poor cabling.

In this third edition of a widely acclaimed resource, three networking experts share their extensive experience, teaching you the cabling skills you need to build a reliable, efficient, and cost-effective network cabling infrastructure. As you master these techniques, you'll learn to avoid common pitfalls and troubleshoot problems as quickly as they arise. Coverage includes:

• Choosing the right cables and components for your network architecture and topology
• Avoiding unnecessary and unexpected costs
• Understanding the current limitations of data communications and network cabling
• Understanding how laws and building codes constrain cabling
• Understanding the function and importance of universal cabling standards
• Determining when you have a cabling-related network problem
• Assembling a complete cabling toolkit
• Integrating voice and data on the same cable system
• Setting up an infrastructure in which desktops, printers, copiers, and other nodes share cabling
• Understanding issues of bandwidth, impedance, resistance, attenuation, crosstalk, capacitance, propagation, delay, and delay skew
• Working effectively with USB and Firewire
• Knowing when to discard legacy cabling and begin anew
• Documenting your cabling
• Creating an RFP and selecting a vendor