Installation

Installation

Naturally, different network types have different installation requirements. One major difference is the connector used. Apple LocalTalk connectors generally must be soldered during installation, a process that requires some practice and skill on the part of the installer. IBM Token Ring uses a so-called unisex data connector (the connectors are both male and female), which can be installed with such common tools as a knife, a wire stripper, and a large pair of pliers.

In many cases, installation can be greatly simplified by using prewired cables. You must learn to install the required connectors, however, when your installation requires the use of bulk cable.

Most connectors require two connector types to complete a connection. The traditional designation for connector types is male and female. The male connector is the connector with pins, and the female connector has receptacles into which the pins insert. In a standard AC wall outlet, for example, the outlet itself is female and the plug on the line cord is male.

These designations originated when electrical installation was a male province, so the terms male and female gradually are being replaced. A commonly used alternative is “pins and sockets.”

The IBM data connector is called a unisex connector because the connector has both pins and sockets. Any IBM data connector can connect to any other IBM data connector.

STP cable tends to be rather bulky. IBM Type 1 cable is approximately 1/2 inch (13 mm) in diameter. Therefore, it can take little time to fill up cable paths with STP cables.