Benefits of Twisted Pair Cable
Gregory M. Dowell
CIS 175
Professor Blanson
November 3, 2013

Benefits of Twisted Pair Cable Ocper, Inc. is a company that currently has twenty employees connected in a peer-to-peer network. Over the next two years they are looking to double in size and are looking for a solution to their computer networking needs but are weary of any drastic changes. Currently all of their computers are connected using coaxial cable. Through this paper I will show the benefits of changing their network configuration, as well as replacing the coaxial cable with twisted pair or possibly fiber optic cable. My fist suggestion is to reconfigure their network from peer-to-peer to a client/server network in a star configuration. By doing so, there will be a central computer used as a server that would facilitate communications and resource sharing between the other computers on the network. With this server clients will be able to share data, data storage space, and devices such as printers. The users will still be able run applications and save data to their own computer, but will also have the option to save it to the server (Dean, 2009). Saving the data to the server will enable better security of the data since backups to the system can be scheduled every night. In addition, each client can be authorized only the access to the applications they need. In the peer-to-peer configuration each computer can communicate with each other and no computer has more authorization than another. This type of network is no very flexible when it comes to adding systems. This tends to become difficult. The security is not very good and data can easily be discovered by unauthorized users. This type of network is not practical since it is meant for smaller applications with just a few connections (Dean, 2009). One more drawback of this type network is that data saved is only to that particular system. If you wish to share documents or data it must be saved to an external source and brought to another system. By creating a LAN with a star configuration nodes can communicate directly with the other nodes that are relevant. Meaning different departments will be able to process necessary data to particular department they are intended for, i.e. payroll, supply ordering, and so on. Within a star configuration all nodes are directed by a central hub, router or switch which directs traffic. The advantages to this configuration is that performance is much better since data is being routed directly where it needs to go, easy to add or remove new nodes, centrally managed, and if one node goes down it does not take the whole system down ("Star topology: advantages," 2013). It does require more cost with adding a hub, router, or switch, but in the long run the cost will be irrelevant in regards to the better speed and efficiency, and less down time for troubleshooting and repairs. With the star topology a twisted pair cable or fiber optic cable is used over coaxial cable. Twisted pair cable is relatively inexpensive, flexible, easy to install, and can span significant distances without need of a repeater. Twisted pair can handle the faster rates that networks employ (Dean, 2009). Using an unshielded twisted pair cable would be less expensive and have less resistance to noise. I would suggest using a Cat 5e twisted pair cable. This has a higher quality copper with a high twist rate that uses advanced methods for reduced cross talk (Dean, 2009). This cable can support a signal rate up to 350 MHz. Another option which is more expensive would be fiber optic cable. With the use of a multimode fiber cable you can achieve an extremely high data rate transfer, a very high resistance to noise, excellent security, and the ability to carry signal for a much longer distance before requiring a repeater than that of copper cable. Though as stated before the cost is much higher since fiber optic NIC’s and hubs would be required. These can sometimes cost five times as much (Dean, 2009). Repairs can be costly since specialized workers and tools are needed. Barring the expense this is a much better cable especially if when dealing with video or audio conferencing (Dean, 2009). Using the internet to find prices I have found the a 500 ft. roll of RG58A cable would cost $95.99, UTP Cat 5e 350 MHz is $79.95 for a 1000 ft. roll, and 1000 ft. of multimode fiber optic cable is $368.00 ("Computer cable store," 2013). As can be seen the UTP cable is much less expensive and suitable for the application of a star network LAN. In observance of the fact that the owner is leery of major change, fiber optic cable would be cost prohibitive. In configuring their network in this configuration would not allow the use of coaxial cable which in fact is twice the cost of the UTP. In order to configure this company’s network to operate more efficiently a star LAN network would be best. Although there will be cost associated with the other equipment needed, the cost for the cabling would offset some of that. This type of network and UTP cable would replace the mistake that was made in the first place of having twenty computers hooked up in a peer-to-peer network. This type of setup is generally for a very small network of only a few nodes. Using the star will allow them to expand with relative ease and set up their network to perform to an optimal advantage, creating more efficient use of time, money, and resources.

References Computer cable store. (2013, November 01). Retrieved from http://www.computercablestore.com/ Dean, T. (2009). Network guide to networks. Mason, OH: Cengage Learning. Star topology: advantages and disadvantages. (2013, November 01). Retrieved from http://www.ianswer4u.com/2011/05/star-topology-advantages-and.html