Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) NetworkingNetwork AccessMedium
A network engineer is designing a new campus network and needs to select the appropriate Ethernet cable type for connecting switches within a data center rack over short distances (less than 10 meters) at 10 Gbps. Cost-effectiveness and ease of termination are also important considerations. Which cable type is BEST suited for this scenario?
- ACoaxial cable
- BCat5e UTP
- CCat6a UTP
- DSingle-mode fiber optic
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Cat6a UTP
Cat6a UTP cable is designed to support 10 Gigabit Ethernet over distances up to 100 meters, making it suitable for short data center rack connections. It is more cost-effective and easier to terminate than fiber optic cable, while Cat5e cannot reliably support 10 Gbps.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Coaxial cable is typically used for older network technologies or cable television, not modern Ethernet LANs at 10 Gbps.
- B. Cat5e UTP only supports 1 Gbps reliably and is not suitable for 10 Gbps speeds.
- D. Single-mode fiber optic supports much higher speeds and longer distances, but is significantly more expensive and harder to terminate for short rack connections.
Ethernet Cable Categories
Different categories of twisted-pair Ethernet cables support varying speeds and distances, impacting network performance and cost.
- Cat5e: 1 Gbps up to 100m.
- Cat6: 1 Gbps up to 100m, 10 Gbps up to 55m.
- Cat6a: 10 Gbps up to 100m.
- Higher categories offer better performance but can be thicker and more expensive.
Memory trick: Speed, Distance, Cost, Termination: Cable's Best Fit