Layer 1 An Overview

For those of you not fimilar Layer 1 refers to the first layer of the OSI model, the physical layer. This layer is technially where 1’s and 0’s cross a medium. But ask any IT professional sometimes just getting the right power or rack screws is hard let alone getting the right cable. I will quick cover some of the basics of the In most cases the medium used for communications is, Fiber Optics, Twised Pair Copper, and Radio Frequecy (Wireless).

Copper, Fiber and Radio Frequency (RF)

Copper

Twisted pair (4 pairs of twisted coper 8 cables total), CAT[5|5e|6|6a], or the more common name the Ethernet Cable. As mentioned above these cables poperly refered to as there approate Caterogy of cable, but in most cases the destion does not matter. However, I would ofcourse recommend using the newer CAT6 cables as they are rated for 10 Gbps use.

Other types of Copper cables are TwinAxel and Coixal cables

• Coax Cables, which most of us are fimilar with becuase it is how we get our home cable TV and likely internet. Coax cables are used for external wireless antennas, but in most cases have diffent connectors, like Type-N, and RPC.

• TwinAxel cables have two permently connected SPF[+] ends on them. They are typically much cheaper then buying a tradional 10G connection since you do not have to purchase the SFPs. The downside to TwinAxel is the cable diameter it much thicker then fiber, so it may not make the best choice for high desnity area.

Fiber Optics

Fiber Optics uses light (visible and non-visble) to transmit communication signels