Compare Physical Interface and Cabling Types

Cables (coaxial, twisted pair, fiber optic, and telephone lines) are made up of various network hardware components, network adapters used in computers connected to networks (hosts), and concentrators or bridges used in networks. connect to physical networks where physical networks come in various sizes and hardware configurations. Local area networks (LAN) and wide area networks are the two most common types of networks (WAN). A local area network (LAN) is a network in which communications are restricted to a modest geographic area. A single office building, warehouse, or university, 1 to 10 kilometers (1 to 6 miles) in size.WAN is a network that enables data connections across geographical regions that are bigger than those covered by LAN, such as spanning an entire continent. There is also a middle class of networks known as metropolitan area networks (MANs). MANs are bundled with WANs in this guide and are not frequently distinguished. Standard Ethernet, IEEE 802.3 Ethernet, or token-ring hardware are frequently used in LANs for the physical network, while common carrier networks are used in WANs and asynchronous networks. In both situations, the operation of the physical network is typically governed by networking standards from organizations like the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) or the Electronics Industry Association (EIA) (ITU).

Physical Interfaces:

Modular switches

• Network switches that are constructed in medium-to large-sized chassis are referred to as modular switches. Thousands of Catalyst 6500 series were produced by Cisco. Black Diamond is one of Extreme’s series. For their 5400zl series, HPE is well-known. Arista’s high-performance 7504 and 7508 series are available. It is similar to choosing which drawers go into each slot in a large chest of drawers. Up until the introduction of stackable switches, these modular chassis switches dominated many corporate and data center cabinets and were produced in large quantities. In the early 2000s, the modular chassis was the main source of an annoyance since it was “large, cumbersome, expensive, and required a network cabinet with matching cooling system and hefty power requirements.”
• Many of these switches were used to power servers using side-of-rack wiring systems at distant data centers. 
• With the introduction of the stackable switch, the high demand for the modular chassis switch decreased. Why invest time, money, and space in these large classes when one can purchase conventional 24 and 48-port switches and stack them together was a common question among network managers.
• The benefits for any company that owns and manages a chassis switch are significant: flexibility, a wide range of functions, quick expansion, cheaper cost per port price, and an abundance of chassis and module options.

Ethernet:

• The basis for current connectivity and technology has been networking. Local Area Network is the key component of this networking phenomenon (LAN). A LAN is a collection of computers or other devices that connect to the main server through a shared communication channel, such as a wired or wireless link. They can connect their shared communication medium to a national transportation network that includes buses, trains, automobiles, and airplanes (computers or nodes). Information packets are sent and received using these communication channels (transport goods and services). The most used LAN technology is Ethernet.
• It establishes the technical requirements of connectivity devices, including the maximum number of connections allowed, performance standards, and the general structure governing data transfer (types of vehicles, maximum height, and speed limit). Consider the Ethernet as the corresponding land and air traffic regulations, each with a unique set of guiding principles based on the application. The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers is responsible for creating the Ethernet standard (IEEE). Networking hardware and protocols communicate more effectively when these standards are followed; they are referred to as the Ethernet standard 802.3.

Small Form-factor Pluggable Transceivers (SFPs):

Small, hot-swappable, input/output transceivers used in datacom and telecommunication networks are known as small form factor pluggable (SFP) transceivers. SFPs handle signal conversion between optical and electrical signals and serve as interfaces for communication devices such as switches, routers, and fiber optic cables. Communication technologies supported by SFP transceivers include Gigabit Ethernet, Fiber Channel, and Synchronous Optical Network (SONET)/Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH). It also enables the transport of E1/T1 streams over packet-switched networks and Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet LAN packets over time-division multiplexing-based WANs. Due to their small size and similar functionality to GBIC transceivers, SFPs are also known as Mini Gigabit Interface Converters (GBICs).

Unshielded Twisted Pair:

A twisted pair cable without an internal shield is called a UTP cable or an unshielded twisted pair cable. The outer insulating jacket shields the cable from physical stress and damage, but not from electromagnetic interference (EMI). Due to its low cost, flexibility, and high performance, unshielded twisted pairing (UTP) cable is the most common network cable in workgroup and departmental local area networks (LANs).

Concepts of POE (Power Over Ethernet):

With the help of the Power over Ethernet (POE) standard, Ethernet cables can carry both data and power over the same network wire. This enables networks and system installers to place powered devices in areas devoid of electrical infrastructure. Additionally, POE eliminates the cost of adding additional electrical wiring. This requires the use of qualified electrical contractors to ensure strict wire way regulations are met. Fiber optic cables made of glass or plastic fibers are abbreviated as “Fiber”. Fibers smaller than human hair have higher data transfer rates. Data is first converted into light pulses before transmission. On the other hand, light pulses are converted into electrical information by photocells.

• Single-mode and multi-mode fiber optic cables are the two most common types. Their diverse properties make them suitable for a wide variety of applications.
• The downside of glass cables is that they are very brittle and cannot be bent sharply. Broken fiber has problems transferring data. However, since light is transmitted instead of electric current, there is no interference from external elements such as radio frequencies or electromagnetic noise.

Single mode:

A single strand of glass 9 microns thick forms a single mode. A “mode” is the angle at which light enters a fiber. A straighter angle is preferable because less light bounces inside the cable. Single mode has only one space and is kept perfectly straight to reduce bounce. Because smaller light waves are used (for narrow glass), special illuminants are required, which can be more expensive than common solutions. Nevertheless, this type is characterized by high data rates and long distances. However, a single mode has the advantage of transmitting data up to 50 times longer than a multimode due to fewer jumps and less internal signal leakage. Single-mode fiber has many uses. Today they are mainly used in cable TV and telecommunications networks where long distances and high bandwidth are required.

Multi-mode:

A less expensive variety of fiber cables is multi-mode fiber. Its substantially thicker core enables the simultaneous transmission of many modes (or signals). However, this leads to a slight signal degradation across distance, which is not a problem in substations or other single-site applications. Multiple light bursts are sent out at various entrance angles to operate multi-mode fiber. The drawback is that because a lengthy connection is being used to transmit many short bursts of light, interference, and scattering effects cause the signal quality to deteriorate with time. Additionally, the variable travel times caused by the various modes’ various angles result in performance degradation.

• Multi-mode fiber is a less expensive form of fiber cable. A significantly thicker core permits the transmission of numerous modes at once (or signals). For substations and other single-site applications, this does result in a minor signal degradation beyond distance.
• To run multi-mode fiber, several light bursts are sent out at different entrance angles. The disadvantage is that the signal quality degrades over time due to interference and scattering effects because a long connection is being utilized to transmit numerous brief light bursts. Performance is further degraded due to the varied travel times brought on by the different angles of the various modes.