While so many exciting technologies like the cloud or the Internet of Things are emerging and wireless network connectivity already exists, we surely know cabling won’t go away.
It is and will keep being an essential component of all IT environments.
And because cabling systems are what mostly stay longer in your home or business infrastructure, you must understand what differentiates different types.
Let’s see how these cabling methods (point-to-point cabling and structured cabling) compared to each other.
Point-to-Point Cables vs. Structured Cabling
Point-to-point cabling is a data center cabling system made of “jumper” fiber cables connecting a switch, server, or storage unit to another switch, server, or storage unit.
This is mostly the best option if you only need a small number of connections because point-to-point cabling lacks the flexibility needed for making additions, moves, or changes to the infrastructure when the number of connections in a data center increases.
End-user terminals of the first-built data centers are connected via point-to-point connections. Back then, growth or reconfiguration wasn’t considered a pressing reality. But in current times, where new computing equipment is always added, these result in complex and costly cabling chaos, therefore becoming a non-viable option for those who own more than two server cabinets.
However, with the use of Top-of-Rack (ToR) and End-of-Row (EoR) equipment mounting options, reliant on P2P cables, point-to-point cabling could survive for some time. But at what cost?
It’s still not as good as structured cabling, the currently most-used option. This is because it offers the flexibility, reliability, and manageability required for today’s networks.
With structured cabling, on the other hand, this network of cables, equipment, and management tools enables the continuous flow of data and wireless communications.
They use distribution areas to provide flexible connections between equipment. With it, you can connect switches to servers, servers to storage devices, or even switch to switches.
Structured cabling is designed to meet EIA/TIA and ANSI standards of design, installation, maintenance, documentation, and system expansion, to reduce risk and costs in constantly expanding, complex IT environments.
Have you ever thought about moving your business to a new location?
Fortunately, structured cabling is also easier to move or to add and change what’s on your business’ data center or server room.
Structured cabling can be dissembled and reassembled with more ease than point-to-point cables.
It’s not only its flexibility of transportation that makes structured cabling the best option for all growing businesses (especially those that already feel the growing pains of data network’s limitations), but also its considerable performance and support of future technologies.
So, on the whole, and in a few words, point-to-point cabling still exists for the smaller businesses that don’t need much of anything. While structured cabling offers more of everything… Of course, at a greater price.
If you consider how much it facilitates and improves maintenance, expansion, and performance, you shouldn’t think about the cost that represents now, but of how much you’ll save in the future.
Now that you know the differences between Point-to-Point Cabling vs. Structured Cabling…
Are you ready to make a choice?
We’re ready to answer any cabling-related questions and to help you with any connectivity issue you’re having.