Standards

This section is intended to provide an insight into some of the key standards and the many controlling bodies who regulate our industry. Please click on the links below to access the required information. Note: Use your browser "BACK" key to step back through the selections.

ORGANISATIONS | LAN | STRUCTURED CABLING

Organisations

Various worldwide organisations publish material and testing standards in an attempt to ensure standardisation and interoperability of the Network Infrastructure and Structured Cabling industry. A few of the organisations that have an impact on both the UK and Europe are listed below:

• ANSI American National Standards Institute
• BICSI Building Industry Consulting Service International
• CENELEC Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
• EIA Electronic Industries Alliance
• IEC International Electrotechnical Commission
• IEEE® Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.
• ISO International Organisation for Standardisation
• ITU International Telecommunications Union
• TIA Telecommunications Industry Association
• UL® Underwriters Laboratories Inc. ®

For further information on contact details for any of the above please send an email to organisations@netpar.co.uk

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LAN Standards

Overview | IEEE 802 Standards | Ethernet Naming Conventions

Overview

In February 1980, the IEEE initiated Project 802, specifically for the development of LAN standards. The protocols defined by IEEE 802 are primarily directed at the two lowermost layers of the OSI model - the Physical and Data Link Layers. This permits many higher-layer protocols for various network services to be developed without the need for new communications protocols to accompany each one.

The group overseeing the development of the IEEE 802 family of standards is formally referred to as the IEEE 802 Local and Metropolitan Area Network Standards Committee (LMSC).

The object of the LMSC is to develop standards that will be accepted by organisations using LANs as well as LAN hardware and software vendors. This encourages customers to ask for - and manufacturers to develop - standardised products, ensuring interoperability among products obtained from different vendors.

The original series of standards developed under Project 802 were subsequently adopted by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in 1985 as American National Standards, and by the International Standards Organisations (ISO) in 1987 as the 8802 series of international standards.

IEEE 802 Standards

802.1 | 802.2 | 802.3 | 802.4 | 802.5 | 802.6 | 802.7 | 802.8 | 802.9 | 802.10 | 802.11 | 802.12 | 802.14 | 802.15 | 802.16

The IEEE 802 LSMC is made up of 15 working groups and various study groups. The designation IEEE 802.13 is not used. A brief overview of each working group follows. For further information on how to obtain IEEE standards please send an E-mail to standards@netpar.co.uk.

802.1 - Higher Layer LAN Protocols Working Group

The 802.1 working group is responsible for developing standards and recommended practices in the following areas:

• 802 LAN and MAN architectures
• Internetworking among 802 LANs, MANs, and other WANs
• 802 Network Management
• OSI Layers above the Data Link Layer

This working group is responsible for the following standards:

• 802.1p - Traffic class filtering
• 802.1D - MAC bridges
• 802.1Q - Virtual LANs

802.2 - Logical Link Control Working Group

The 802.2 working group is responsible for developing standards and recommended practices for Data Link Layer protocols. These protocols deal with establishing, maintaining, and terminating a logical link between communicating systems.

802.3 - Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection (CSMA/CD) Working Group

The 802.3 working group is responsible for developing standards and recommended practices for access control and physical signalling in the CSMA/CD form of network communications. This group specifies the Physical and Data Link layer standards for LANs using a CSMA/CD access method and a bus topology. Such LANs include Ethernet, Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet.

This working group is responsible for the following initiatives:

• 802.3x - Specification for full-duplex operation
• 802.3y - Physical layer specifications for 100 Mb/s operation over two pairs of Category 3 or higher twisted-pair cable
• 802.3z - Specification for 1000 Mb/s operation over optical fibre cable
• 802.3ab - Specification for 1000 Mb/s operation over four pairs of Category 5 or higher twisted-pair cable
• 802.3ac - Ethernet frame extensions for VLANs

802.4 - Token Bus Working Group

The 802.4 working group is responsible for developing standards and recommended practices for access control and physical signalling in the token bus form of network communications. This group specifies the Physical and Data Link layer standards for LANs using a token passing access method and a bus topology. Such LANs include manufacturing automation control (MAP).

802.5 - Token Ring Working Group

The 802.5 working group is responsible for developing standards and recommended practices for access control and physical signalling in the token ring form of network communications. This group specifies the Physical and Data Link layer standards for LANs using a token passing access method and a star-wired ring topology. Such LANs include Token Ring Networks.

This working group is responsible for the following initiatives:

• 802.5r - Specification for dedicated token ring operation (switched token ring)
• 802.5t - Specifications for 100 Mb/s high speed token ring operation over two pairs of Copper cable
• 802.5u - Specifications for 100 Mb/s high speed token ring operation over optical fibre cable
• 802.5v - Specifications for 1000 Mb/s token ring operation

802.6 - Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) Working Group

The 802.6 working group is responsible for developing standards and recommended practices for access control and physical signalling in the MAN form of network communications. This group specifies the Physical and Data Link layer standards for MANs using a topology called distributed queue dual bus (DQDB). This topology consists of two parallel runs of optical fibre that link systems over a metropolitan zone - a span of at least 50km.

802.7 - Broadband Technology Working Group

The 802.7 technical advisory group is responsible for broadband LANs. This group provide technical advice to other groups on issues related to broadband networking, such as techniques for frequency allocation.

802.8 - Fibre Optic Technology Working Group

The 802.8 technical advisory group is responsible for optical fibre LANs and MANs. This group also provides technical advice to other groups on issues related to optical fibre technologies.

802.9 - Integrated Services LAN (IS-LAN) Working Group

The 802.9 working group is responsible for developing standards and recommended practices for access control and physical signalling when integrating voice, data and video traffic on other 802 LANs.

802.10 - LAN Security Working Group

The 802.10 technical advisory group is responsible for security provisions in all 802 standards. This group is responsible for a standard security model that can be introduced into all LAN technologies, incorporating both authentication and encryption mechanisms.

This working group is responsible for the following initiatives:

• 802.10c - Management of encryption keys
• 802.10h - Protocol implementation conformance statement (PICS) for secure data exchange

802.11 - Wireless LAN Working Group

The 802.11 working group is responsible for developing standards and recommended practices for access control and physical signalling in the wireless form of network communications. This group specifies the Physical and Data Link layer standards for LANs using spread-spectrum radio and infrared light for data transfer.

This working group is responsible for the following initiatives:

• 802.11a - Specifications for a high speed physical layer in the 5 GHz frequency band
• 802.11b - Specifications for a high speed physical layer extension in the 2.4 GHz frequency band

802.12 - Demand Priority Working Group

The 802.12 working group is responsible for developing standards and recommended practices for access control and physical signalling in the demand priority access method (DPAM) form of network communications. This group specifies the Physical and Data Link layer standards for LANs using a DPAM access method and a star topology. Such LANs include 100VG-AnyLAN.

This working group is responsible for the following initiative:

• 802.12d - Physical layer and repeater specifications for redundant links

802.14 - Cable Modem (Cable-TV) Working Group

The 802.14 working group is responsible for developing standards and recommended practices for access control and physical signalling to be used on networks operating over cable TV infrastructures.

802.15 - Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) Working Group

The 802.15 working group was established in early 1999 and is responsible for developing standards and recommended practices for wireless personal area networks (WPANs). WPANs are created using portable and mobile computing devices, which are defined as unobtrusive computing devices, networking devices and peripheral devices designed to be worn or carried by individuals.

The standards to be created by 802.15 will address the communications and interoperability requirements for PCs, personal digital assistants (PDAs), cell phones, pagers, and consumer electronic devices over a WPAN. The WPAN is expected to provide access within a range of 10m and at a data transfer rate of less than 1 Mb/s.

802.16 - Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) Working Group

The 802.16 working group was established in 1999 and is responsible for developing standards and recommended practices for BWA. The objective of 802.16 standards is to provide an alternative to wired network access links.

The recommendation to be created by 802.16 will focus on the standardisation of fixed BWA systems operating in a licensed frequency band near 30 GHz. However, the standard is expected to be broadly applicable to frequencies ranging from 10 to 66 GHz.

Ethernet Naming Conventions

A variety of IEEE naming conventions have been developed. To distinguish between them, a standard notation specifies three characteristics of the implementation:

• The data rate in Mb/s
• The signalling method used
• The approximate maximum cable segment length in hundreds of metres or the media type

Some of these IEEE 802.3 implementations and their characteristics are as follows:

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Structured Cabling Standards

TIA 568B | TIA 569A | ISO 11801 | EN50173 | EN50174

The main standards which influence structured cabling design and implementation are:

ANSI/TIA/EIA/TIA 568B - Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling Standard

ANSI/TIA/EIA/TIA 569A - Commercial Building Standard for Telecommunications Pathways and Spaces

ISO 11801 - Information Technology - Generic Cabling for Customer Premises.

EN50173 - Information Technology - Generic Cabling Systems

EN50174 - Information Technology - Cabling Installation

ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B

This American standard was published in 2001 and was developed from ANSI/TIA/EIA/-568-A with a specific intention of incorporating the following:

• ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-A-1, Propagation Delay and Delay Skew Specifications for 100-Ohm 4-Pair Cable
• ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-A-2, Corrections and Additions to ANSI/TIA/EIA-568A-A, 1998
• ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-A-3, Hybrid Cables, 1998
• ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-A-4, Production Modular Cord NEXT Loss Test Method and Requirements for Unshielded Twisted Pair Cabling, 1999
• ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-A-5, Transmission Performance Specifications for 4-Pair 100 Ohm Category 5e Cabling, 1999
• TIA/EIA TSB67, Transmission Performance Specifications for Field Testing of Unshielded Twisted-Pair Cabling Systems, 1995
• TIA/EIA TSB72, Centralised Optical Fibre Cabling Guidelines, 1995
• TIA/EIA TSB75, Additional Horizontal Cabling Practices for Open Offices, 1996
• TIA/EIA TSB95, Additional Transmission Performance Guidelines for 4-Pair 100-Ohm Category 5 Cabling, 1999

Most importantly, the significant changes addressed within ANSI/TIA/EIA/TIA-568-B are:

• Deletion of 150 ohm STP cabling as a recognised cable for new installations
• Removal of Category 4 specifications
• Deletion of Category 5 cabling as a recognised cable for new installations.
• Recognition of 100 ohm ScTP (FTP) cabling
• Recognition of 50/125µm multimode fibre cabling for both horizontal and backbone applications
• A minimum of Category 5e recommended at the first telecommunications outlet (TO) and a minimum of Category 5e required at the second TO or 50/125µm or 62.5/125µm multimode optical cable

ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B has been issued in three parts:

Part 1 - ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.1 Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling Standard - Part 1: General Requirements

This standard specifies a generic telecommunications cabling system for commercial buildings that will support a multi-product, multi-vendor environment

Part 2 - ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.2 Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling Standard - Part 2: Balanced Twisted Pair Cabling Components

This standard specifies cabling components, transmission, system models, and the measurement procedures needed for verification of balanced twisted pair cabling

Part 3 - ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.3 - Optical Fiber Cabling Components Standard (ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.3-2000)

This standard specifies the component and transmission requirements for an optical fibre cabling system (e.g., cable, connectors)

For further information on ANSI/TIA/EIA 568-B send an E-mail to standards@netpar.co.uk.

ANSI/TIA/EIA-569-A

As its title suggests, this standard defines the requirements of pathways and spaces in which telecommunications cabling and associated equipment are installed.

The main area's which are covered are by the standard are:

• Work Areas
• Equipment Rooms
• Telecommunications Rooms
• Interbuilding Backbone Pathways
• Intrabuilding Backbone Pathways

The 569A standard has four addendums, as follows:

• ANSI/TIA/EIA 569-A-1 - Addendum 1, 2000. Replaces Section 4.7, Perimeter Pathways, 1999
• ANSI/TIA/EIA 569-A-2 - Addendum 2, 2000. Replaces Section 6.3.3, Furniture Pathways, 1999
• ANSI/TIA/EIA 569-A-3 - Addendum 3, 2000. Revision to clause 4.3, Access Floors, 1999
• ANSI/TIA/EIA 569-A4 - Addendum 4, Poke-Thru Devices, 2000

For further information on ANSI/TIA/EIA 569-A send an E-mail to standards@netpar.co.uk.

ISO 11801

This standard is jointly produced by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) under Joint Technical Committee Number 1 (ISO/IEC JTC1). Its purpose is to provide a generic cabling specification for counties/continents that do not have their own specific cabling specifications

Differences exist between this standard and ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B, some of which are:

• ISO 11801 defines Link and Channel specifications as 'classes' whereas ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B specifies them as 'categories'. Whilst this may not seem particularly important initially, it is when specifying a cabling system.
• ELFEXT values specified in ISO 11801 are 0.4dB less stringent than those specified in ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B
• ISO 11801 permits attenuation in stranded cordage to be 50% more than the value of the horizontal cable, whereas ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B permits only 20%.

Other significant differences are available by sending an email to standards@netpar.co.uk.

EN50173

Produced by CENELEC, this standard has been generic cabling systems in Europe. The initial standard was produced in 1995 and was revised in 2000 and issued as Amendment 1.

EN50173 2nd Edition is to be released incorporating Class E and Class F use.

As with ISO 11801, differences exist between this standard and ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B, some of which are:

• EN50173 defines Link and Channel specifications as 'classes' whereas ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B specifies them as 'categories'. Whilst this may not seem particularly important initially, it is when specifying a cabling system.
• ELFEXT values specified in EN50173 are 0.4dB less stringent than those specified in ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B
• EN50173 permits attenuation in stranded cordage to be 50% more than the value of the horizontal cable, whereas ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B permits only 20%.

Other significant differences are available by sending an email to standards@netpar.co.uk.

EN50174

Produced by CENELEC, this standard addresses the specification, implementation and operational aspects of information technology cabling within the European Community. The standard is produced in three parts:

• EN 50174-1 Information Technology - cabling installation - part 1: Specification and quality assurance
• EN 50174-2 Information Technology - cabling installation - part 2: Installation planning and practices inside buildings
• EN 50174-3 Information Technology - cabling installation - part 3: Installation planning and practices outside buildings

The standard specifies the basic requirements for the planning, implementation and operation of information technology cabling using balanced copper cabling and optical fibre cabling. The standard is applicable to:

• Cabling designed to support particular analogue and digital telecommunications services including voice services
• Generic cabling systems designed in accordance with EN 50173 and intended to support a wide range of telecommunications services.

For further guidance and information on EN50174, please send an email to standards@netpar.co.uk.

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