When we sit down with clients we often find that we need to start the conversation with this question. While many clients know a great deal about their communications infrastructure, we find that sometimes there can be gaps in understanding how the various parts of the infrastructure work together.
Do You Know What You Have?
Current data switches will support 10 gig to the desktop. If your switches are newer they likely will support 10 gig. But that does not mean that they are running 10 gig to your desktop. You need to consider what type of cabling is connecting those switches to the desktop.
Your desktop speed will only be as fast as what is supported by the cabling that runs to the desktop. If the cabling doesn’t support the speed available, you won’t run faster at the desktop. Cat 6A cabling supports 10 gig to the desktop. If you have Cat 6 cabling it will support 1 gig to the desktop. Other cabling will support slower speeds to the desktop.
Do You Know What You Need?
The answer to this question relies on the answers to several others:
- What are you looking to do?
- At what speed does your network need to perform?
- Are you in this location for the long-term? Or do you have plans to move or expand your space?
In our experience, a typical organization does not currently need speeds faster than 1 gig to the desktop. Therefore, Cat 6 cabling is quite adequate for normal data needs. 10 gig to the desktop is required in some very specific situations that require moving large amounts of data over your data network; areas like engineering, design, auto CAD or imaging (e.g. medical imaging) would require higher speeds for optimal performance. In these situations, the investment in Cat 6A is a worthwhile one.
How Can KTS Help?
Our experts on communications infrastructure will help your internal experts identify what you currently have for data cabling. We will help you determine what your needs are and how to best meet them. Investing in your communications infrastructure is vitally important for long-term success, but we strive to find the most cost-effective solutions for your needs. If, for example, you are planning a renovation or expansion of your facility, we can work with you to phase installation of new cabling as your projects proceed. We pride ourselves on the partnerships we create with our clients. Including KTS at the planning stage of projects allows us to offer our expertise and help you keep your communications infrastructure costs within your budget.
KTS would be happy to evaluate your data cabling and help you understand what you have, what you need and how we can help you achieve your goals. Contact us and let us guide you to the best and most cost-effective options to meet your data network needs.
