This article focuses on building a Cisco Catalyst Campus LAN infrastructure. We’ll explore planning, design, infrastructure, configuration, and implementation.
BLOG: Planning, Designing and Implementing a Cisco Catalyst Campus LAN Infrastructure
Usher in an era of light for campus networks by choosing fiber optics over copper
Traditional networks may seem adequate, but the exponential growth of data transfer is putting traditional campus networks to the test. In short, copper wiring limits speed and distance – and both are critical for an effective campus network. Copper only offers transmission speeds up to 1Gbps and reach of 100 meters; it will suffer signal losses and tremendous data slowdowns if they go beyond. Additional investment such as signal boosters or recabling are needed to maintain network performance if the site is particularly large.
Fiber Optics Usher in the Fully Optical Era for Campus Networks
The exponential growth of data transfer is pushing traditional campus networks to the limit. Compounding the problem is the surge in demand for high-resolution video streaming and intelligent applications — such as facial recognition systems — which add to the already high volume of video traffic from conferences, streaming, and VR devices. Finally, IoT applications, ranging from service robots and intelligent access controls to voice devices and sensors, are regularly deployed on campuses which increases the complexity of the network structure, creating an even greater burden on copper wire networks.
Fiber optics usher in an era of light for campus networks
The explosion in demand for high-resolution video streaming has also impacted the needs of campus networks. Intelligent applications, such as facial recognition systems, are emerging on campuses, adding to the already-high video traffic of video conferencing, media streaming, and VR devices. In addition, the Internet of Things (IoT) is leading to increasing deployments of service robots, intelligent access control, voice devices, and data sensing devices in campuses. While IoT is of significant value to campus networks, it makes the network structure more complex adding even more burden to copper wired networks.
