Network cables are commonly known as RJ45 cables and are used to physically connect servers and computers to allow the sharing of data. Data can be in the form of computers talking to one another or for specific uses such as VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol).

The network cables come in many colours, commonly blue, black, green, grey, orange, purple, white and yellow. The defacto standard for data is normally grey and many IT administrators use blue for voice data. Black is normally used for cross over cables. Cross over cables allow two computers to connect together without using a network hub. Which ever colouring sytem you use, it is important to stick to these colours so that other members of the IT team can understand at a glance the use of the specific network cable. Most IT departments will have strict codes which must be adhered to on what colour to use with the varying data types.

The network cables come in various lengths. Most commonly they 0.5m, 1m, 1.5m, 2m, 3m, 5m, 7m, 9m, 10m, 15m, 20m, 25m, 30m, 40m and 50m, the most common of these is the 0.5m network cables. The reason being is that they are used most in the connection of network switches. Have a look at the back of any large server and you will see row after row of these small network cables. Every now and again, you will see an imitation of spaghetti junction behind a server, where cables have been used that have not been in stock at the time. Whilst this will still make the system work, it is untidy and something that most IT administrators are meticulous about. Good housekeeping, properly used network cables.

Using RJ45 cables with gold plated plugs ensure a longer life for your network cable significantly reducing erosion and provides better contact.

There are various different qualities for each cable. Cat5e RJ45 cables are generally used for 10/100 networks (which are 10MBit and 100Mbit network card compatble, although they do work at 1GBit). Cat6e RJ45 cables are the standard cable for 1GBit networks and are well shielded to prevent data loss. Using a Cat5e cable on a 1GBit is not the standard network cable that should be used as it does not have the shielding.

From High street retailers to online suppliers you will see the price of a cable varies dramatically. Without question the high street stores put a large mark up on these types of cables. Mainly due to the low profit they get from their larger hardware items, hence increasing their profitability through peripherals. The cheaper cables of matching, if not better quality, can be found from the online suppliers who are solely dedicated to cable selling. Large savings can be made when buying in bulk from these online retailers.

Every IT department has a budget. Some budgets are large and some are small but it is very important for the upkeep of the computer systems that the correct quality RJ45 cables are used. And for precision it is also important to have the right length and keep to the colour standards defined by the head of the IT department.

By: Neil MacLeod