Industry Standards for Network Infrastructure Labeling

Question

Are there any current industry standards IEEE, ISO, ANSI.... available that state how a buildings physical infrastructure should be labeled at the rack and jack and how the documentation should be laid out? I know there is IEEE Std 200, but that is out of date, and I found a ASME standard for electrical stuff but I can't actually read it.

score 8 · Accepted Answer · edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:14

8

I don't know that there are industry standards, but there are plenty of options. Some have been discussed here:

https://serverfault.com/questions/64259/what-is-the-most-effective-solution-you-used-to-label-cables

https://serverfault.com/questions/127454/whats-the-best-way-to-label-cables-in-a-data-center

I think the "standard" is Pick a labeling methodology for your site. Document it. Follow it. Kill anyone who deviates from it in a grisly and public way as an example to those who would break from the one true path of cable identification.

edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:14

Community

1

answered Aug 16 '11 at 03:25

voretaq7

79,345
17
128
213

4

String the bodies up, using cables of the color that is documented to indicate heretics. – mfinni Aug 17 '11 at 16:51

score 5 · Answer 2 · answered Aug 16 '11 at 02:34

5

The standards you are looking for are the

TIA/EIA-568 Structured Cabling Standards

These standards determine everything from precise dimensions of peripherals to their physical properties to labeling criteria. It has various sub sections that deal with particular areas in a structural cabling topology like Horizontal cabling, vertical cabling etc.

answered Aug 16 '11 at 02:34

gokul varma nk

67
2
15

Does the TIA standard include labeling? AFAIK it only deals with the cables themselves, not how the hell you figure out what they are a year later :) – voretaq7 Aug 16 '11 at 03:20
1

It does not deal exclusively with cables but all aspects of structured cabling, ie, patch panels, punchplates, connectors, cable trays etc etc. It also places emphasize on the size, color coding of labels to be used and labeling systems to be used for structured cabling. Various subsections of TIA/EIA 568 deals with all these aspects. – gokul varma nk Aug 16 '11 at 04:30
1

I see Wikipedia confirms that this standard includes definitions for all aspects of inside wiring. I'd love to read the actual standard, but, since the TIA are a bunch of jerks that charge for access, I'll award the bounty if someone can link to a reasonable interpretation of the standard. I found this PDF ( http://www.usfsp.edu/computing/documents/network_wiring_standards.pdf ), but it looks like a very limited interpretation. – JakePaulus Aug 16 '11 at 12:53
2

Here are some links that you may find interesting (http://www.mohawk-cable.com/support/ansi-tia-eia-606-a.html) http://www.ense.be/PDF/2060.pdf – gokul varma nk Aug 16 '11 at 15:05

score 2 · Answer 3 · answered Aug 18 '11 at 17:56

It appears the most relevant standard is EIA/TIA 606-A. A summary of this standard can be seen here: www.flexcomm.com/library/606aguide.pdf

Since this standard isn't widely used/accepted, I'm awarding the bounty on this question to the highest rated answer.

score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Aug 17 '11 at 15:03

1

I've seen even the largest companies get away with "Building-Switch-Card-Port" type labeling. e.g. B1-S8-C3-P46

Which then patches over to your "Floor-Room" building wiring e.g. F4-R253

answered Aug 17 '11 at 15:03

Garrett

1,598
4
14
25

This is a pretty standard scheme and usually works out well. Not sure if it's "standardized", but it probably should be... – voretaq7 Aug 17 '11 at 17:22

Industry Standards for Network Infrastructure Labeling

4 Answers4