* Think big and account for wired, wireless cabling; power; equipment
The current networking landscape reminds me of the homeowner’s perpetual condition. Usually, a home improvement here (say, new windows) drives still another one over there (say, siding). Often, doing two jobs separately costs more. And you might forfeit the polished, integrated look that results from having a single entity install the windows and siding together if you chop up the job.
The same situation exists in the networking business. There continues to be fusion between wired, wireless, personal and business networking, as well as seepage across traditional business disciplines (such as the facilities department and IT). As such, it’s now necessary to plan IT installations with a birds-eye view because one decision might have a far-reaching impact.
One example is cabling. Though wireless networking implies freedom from cables, over-the-air activity is happening mostly in the client access network. The wireless access points needed to build a Wi-Fi infrastructure require that you add more cabling (from APs to LAN switches and from LAN switches to wireless controllers, for example), as well as switch ports, power and cooling.
So as you plan your cabling plant, it pays to anticipate all your wireless-related needs, account for them and bundle them into your upfront cabling project. Or, if walls and ceilings are being opened up for a remodel job, think fast about any current or anticipated needs you have and piggyback them onto that project (under someone else’s budget).
Fortunately, with the advent of some predictive site survey tools, it’s easier to figure out what you need upfront than it used to be. Belden and its Trapeze Networks wireless LAN subsidiary have posted a paper on this topic that you might want to view that helps you itemize all the things you should be thinking about as wireless enters the mainstream enterprise IT picture.
Speaking of Trapeze, the company recently launched an 802.11n access point aimed at high-density environments. The challenge of such environments is a thorny one, and I’ll take a look at it next time.
