Ethernet Cable Terminology Explained: A Beginner's Guide

Written by Don Schultz, trueCABLE Senior Technical Advisor, Fluke Networks Copper/Fiber CCTT, BICSI INST1, INSTC, INSTF Certified

Ethernet cable installers and technicians use terms they expect others that are “in the know” to understand. What about the average human? Typically the lingo is nothing more than liberal use of acronyms. This happens frequently with closely knit communities with the need to communicate advanced or mutually understood concepts quickly (the military is another example). Once you understand what the terms mean, then you will have a much better idea of what these folks are talking about. Now let's dive in!

Industry Associations and Standards Bodies

TIA. The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) is an ANSI accredited organization. The TIA TR42 Engineering Committee is the actual group of folks that develop the TIA 568 standards for telecommunications cabling infrastructure in commercial buildings, residential buildings, homes, data centers, and more.

BICSI. BICSI is a non-profit organization that provides classes, online content, and all sorts of helpful information about how to do things properly, according to the standard - which they have a helping hand in. Some BICSI standards are, in fact, a part of the TIA standard. BICSI classes lead to industry certifications for network designers and installers.

NEC. The National Electric Code which was published by the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), and happens to be 600 pages long and potentially confusing. Be aware of the electrical codes in your local area or locate someone who is. Codes are actual law, and these codes may or may not be stricter than industry standards and may differ from the NEC/NFPA 70 (National Electrical Code / National Fire Protection Act).

RoHS. RoHS is an acronym that indicates that a manufacturer has followed the Restriction of Hazardous Substances guidelines. Also known as the Directive 2002/95/EC, the RoHS standard originated in the European Union to restrict the use of specific hazardous materials found in electrical and electronic products (known as EEE). The purpose of this directive is to protect the environment and reduce exposure related health risks. RoHS was enacted in July of 2006 and updated in June of 2011 and November of 2017. Any products marketed in the E.U. are subject to RoHS compliance standards.

TAA. Products that are TAA compliant are those where all the components or goods are manufactured, or substantially transformed, within the United States or other TAA compliant countries. The primary purpose of the Trade Act Agreement is to promote relations with countries that align with us for the mutual benefit of both parties. The TAA certification ensures that both sides of international trade can trust the sources that manufactured the products.

AWG. The American Wire Gauge (AWG) is a system for quantitatively describing the diameters and cross-sectional areas of solid round wires.

Terms that Describe Ethernet Cable

Cat. Short for “Category,” this acronym means the kind of Ethernet cable specification. This term is not used by itself, but is usually expressed with an identifier such as 5e, 6 or 6A. The different numbers correspond to how the cable performs. The higher the number, the faster the cable. Common usage would look like Cat6. The Category of the cable does not refer to construction. Category is a performance definition. Learn more about the different types of category cable specifications in this article: How to Choose the Right Cable.

STP. This term is often misused and can end up generating confusion when used generically. It does not refer to motor oil! STP is a generic way of saying “shielded” cable. The thing is, STP means something specific to some people and is used generically by others to refer to any kind of shielded cable. STP technically means shielded twisted pair, and would indicate the individual pairs are foil shielded. That said, when STP is used generically it simply means someone is referring to shielded cable. So, unless someone specified what kind of shielding they are talking about, this term can actually mean F/UTP or U/FTP or SF/FTP too. A great example is the trueCABLE Cat6A Shielded Riser cable. In this case, the technically correct term is F/UTP. F/UTP means an overall foil shield but the individual pairs are not shielded. Now if the cable in question had those individually shielded pairs with an overall wire braid shield we would call it SF/FTP. How confusing is that?!

Shielded twisted-pair cable

UTP. When generically used, the term UTP simply means fully unshielded Ethernet cable. The correct way to refer to fully unshielded Ethernet cable is U/UTP. Technically speaking, UTP means “unshielded twisted pair.” If UTP is used in the context of a “/” in front of it, it will mean the individual conductor pairs are unshielded, but there could be an overall foil shield. F/UTP is an example. Read Ethernet Cable Shielding Types for more details.

Cable Jacket. An Ethernet data cable has an outer sheath protecting the interior wires called a jacket.  This jacket can come in many variations designed for different applications.

Riser. Riser historically meant vertical, but has come to mean cable rated for installation typically inside walls and between floors.
Plenum. Plenum means the spaces usually occupied by the HVAC system, found above and below floors. This empty air space is commonly used for moving air around with or without a dedicated duct.
CMR. Jacket designation for Communications, Riser. This cable is suitable for installation in non-plenum interior spaces.
CMP. Jacket designation for Communications, Plenum. This cable is suitable for installation in all interior spaces.

CCA. Copper Clad Aluminum. CCA cable is not approved for Ethernet networking usage by any regulatory body. Any supposed compliance claims are false. Only stranded or solid copper conductor cables are approved for Ethernet data cabling. Further, the National Electric Code (NEC) does not provide for the use of CCA Ethernet cable in commercial structures due to safety issues. Therefore, installations using CCA are flatly illegal.

Drain wire. A small bonding conductor that runs the length of a shielded Ethernet cable.

Termination of Ethernet Cable

8P8C. 8P8C stands for “eight position / eight conductor.” It refers to a type of modular plug normally used at the end of Ethernet patch cables, and when attached at the end of an Ethernet cable it is called a RJ45 8P8C plug. RJ stands for registered jack while the “45” refers to the listing number.

The common 8P8C Plug (aka RJ45)

RJ45. Probably the worst example of an incorrect term in wide use is “RJ45”. When someone refers to an RJ45 what they really mean is an 8P8C male connector plug. 8P8C stands for “eight position/eight contact”. At some point in time, the term RJ45 (which stands for Registered Jack #45) started getting used to describe the plastic connector plug found at the end of Ethernet patch cords. This is not correct, but the term RJ45 has stuck around. Just for clarity, I will often knowingly refer to 8P8C connector plugs as RJ45 to avoid lengthy discussions. 8P8C connector plugs are also incorrectly referred to as ends and crystals, but less frequently. For more on this, please see What is an RJ45 Connector?

T568B / T568A. The T568B or T568A are defined color codes to order your conductors when you terminate your Ethernet cable. Pick one or the other, but don’t use both unless you have a specific reason to. One is not easier or better than the other. I often use T568B because that is the color code I memorized first.

Punch down. This might give the visual of installers making downward punching motions with their fists. This is somewhat correct, actually. The installer will use an impact tool, or punch down tool, to terminate an Ethernet cable into a patch panel or tool-needed keystone jack. When this tool is in use it makes banging noises. This is because the tool uses kinetic energy from a spring inside which seats the individual wire conductor into a terminal, requiring minimal force from the installer. Punch down tools come in different tool head blade types, with 110 being most commonly used. Also seen are Krone, BIX, and to a lesser extent 66 styles.

Keystone jack. This is the spot where you plug in that patch cable. Keystone jacks are another way of terminating structured cabling, and come in tool-needed and tool-less varieties. Keystone jacks are typically mounted in walls with face plates, but can also be used to populate tool-less keystone jack patch panels too.

Keystone jack

Crimp. Many times an installer will refer to their RJ45 termination/crimp tool as a “crimp tool”. This is only half correct. During the process of termination with this kind of tool, a crimp is typically (but not always) applied to the cable jacket at the rear of the RJ45 connector. This holds the cable in place so the wire conductors are not easily pulled out, because that would totally ruin your termination! Installers will often swap the terms “crimp” and “terminate” and use the terms equally.

Terminate. All Ethernet cable must be terminated at both ends, at least if you want a cable that works at all. To terminate is the process of pressing the individual wire conductors into metal prongs so there is an electrical connection. This action is usually accomplished with a tool such as an “RJ45 connector termination/crimp tool” or a “punch down (impact) tool.” These tools are used when termination is to a patch panel or keystone jack (if the keystone jack is not tool-less). Termination is not technically the same as crimping, but sometimes the term “terminate” gets swapped with “crimp” in conversation.

IDC. IDC stands for Insulation Displacement Contact terminations that are found in keystone jacks, patch panels, and field termination plugs. IDC terminations pierce the insulated conductor from the sides preventing longitudinal shifting of the conductor wire under stress.

IDC termination. The prongs cut through the conductor insulation and then bite into the copper from right angles. This type of termination is EXCELLENT for mechanical/electrical stability. They don’t tend to shift under stress.

Terms that Describe Structured Cabling Systems (SCS)

Patch panel. The idea behind the patch panel is for cabling to terminate to a central place. The patch panel is used in conjunction with Ethernet patch cables to connect a network switch. The central location allows your IT department to keep a locked door on the expensive network switches and other gear. A patch panel provides flexibility. These things come in a couple of varieties. There is the keystone kind, and the traditional punch down kind. An impact tool is required for the punch down kind, where the keystone kind might not require tools to terminate the conductors. That whole tool-less thing, again.

Patch cable. Also known as a patch cord. This is a shorter, more flexible Ethernet cable that already has RJ45 connectors on both ends. It is used to connect a patch panel to a switch or your computer to a keystone jack in the wall (look by your leg). Of course it can be used for more, but these are two prime examples. The reason patch cable can tolerate repeated bending is due to stranded copper conductors. Technical note: Patch cables should not be used for long distance runs to other locations (known as drops). That is for solid copper structured cabling.

trueCABLE Patch cable

Permanent link. A permanent link is the permanently installed part of your overall communications channel. Typically, it is composed of the solid copper Ethernet portion of the installation and is terminated from patch panel to outlet, yielding a female port on either side to patch into with patch cords.

Channel. A channel is the entire end to end communications channel from switch to device, or switch to switch. This will include the permanent link above, plus any necessary patch cords to complete the connection.

Drop. A drop is a single Ethernet outlet at the end of a permanent link.

Horizontal. The term “horizontal cable” is applied to permanently installed cable that runs from a patch panel to wall plate outlets (where keystone jacks are mounted). Typically, horizontal cable is used on the same floor of a building or structure as opposed to going between floors--hence “horizontal”. The cable does not have to be physically horizontal however, and this leads to confusion to the uninitiated.

Backbone. This is another potentially misleading term. Backbone cable in a traditional installation runs between floors (vertical cable), but it does not have to run vertically. Conceptually, backbone cable is designed to interconnect multiple Ethernet switches (usually in separate telecommunications rooms) and those individual Ethernet switches are often connected to horizontal cable runs that serve floors or discrete areas. The backbone connects the various ribs of your network into a single network, in effect. See more in What's the Difference Between Backbone and Horizontal Cabling?

SCS. Structured Cabling System. A structured cabling system is basically what you get when you design, install, and certify a building’s complete telecommunications infrastructure in compliance with codes and standards from NEC, TIA, and BICSI.

OSP. Outside Plant. This kind of cable is running from outdoors to inside your building. It can be cable coming from our Internet provider or it could be cable that you installed between two buildings. Basically, OSP means outdoor cabling.

PoE. PoE means Power over Ethernet. This really cool idea involves running a single cable to a device to supply both power and data. Typical applications are WiFi access points, surveillance cameras, lighting, signage, and even Ethernet switches to extend your network further without needing an AC electrical outlet in an impossible location. See The Power of PoE for more.

Bonding. Bonding is the process of establishing a low resistance electrical path from one conductive object to another so that unwanted voltage has a path to ground. So, bonding is establishing a path to your existing AC ground. Getting super technical about it, for Ethernet cable shields, that path must be 100 milliohm (0.1 ohm) or less. Ohms are a measure of resistance.

Grounding. Grounding is also referred to as “earthing”. They mean the same thing. Conceptually, grounding is to establish a zero (0) volt reference potential to earth. The ground is between the earth itself and the AC electrical system inside your house. Its purpose is to provide an intentional path for fault current, and provide a path for ESD to drain off to. The idea is to equalize the earth’s potential with the electrical system potential, and all equipment or enclosures that are part of that system. Ground rods (called ground electrodes) and GECs (Ground Electrode Conductors) are used for this purpose.

Terms that Describe Networking

Ethernet. Ethernet is the most common networking protocol in use today.

NIC. Another acronym that stands for Network Interface Card. This often not seen, but critical piece of computer technology, is what allows you to access a network and possibly the Internet if you paid your last cable Internet bill. NICs usually, but not always, have an RJ45 female jack on them. That is what you plug your Ethernet patch cable into. NICs can also be WiFi in nature. In fact, you have a tiny WiFi NIC in your smartphone.

LAN. Local Area Network (LAN). Your LAN includes all wired or Wi-Fi devices at your site inside your own private network. Inside this network you typically find a cable modem, router, maybe a switch, smart phone, smart TV’s, printers, computers, Ethernet LAN cables, and more. The LAN, if it is working properly, assigns each device an address so that there is no confusion as to who is to get what data. These are called internal IP addresses so you don’t get junior’s children’s programming while trying to binge watch your favorite show. Your cable modem and router know something you might not...your Public IP address, which brings us to...

WAN. Wide Area Network (WAN) (usually, but not always) means the Internet. The Internet is a much bigger network. On this network, your cable modem and router know about your Public IP address. That is a unique address like your house address. It would not be good if those recipes you looked up ended up in Siberia, now would it? Well, unless you live in Siberia in which case all is good.

Just how does this LAN and WAN stuff not get confused? That’s what the router is for. Ok, for a “in a nutshell” example. Bear with me. It is actually far more complicated, but this should help:

You work in a really big company with an old style mail room.

The mail room delivers mail to you from inside AND outside the company.

The mail that comes from the outside of the company (that the US Postal Service delivered) to your mailroom first is handled by and routed to you by your mailroom.

The mail that comes from inside the company, that does not come through the US Postal Service, is handled by and routed to you by the mailroom.

In this scenario, the US Postal Service is the Internet. Your mail room is the router. You are the computer. Make sense now? If you are still confused, then please see WAN vs. LAN: What Is the Difference?

Conclusion

So there you have it folks. Now, the language of Ethernet cable installers has been deciphered and you can follow along. Better yet, now you have the ability to say:

“Hey...stop drinking excessive amounts of coffee and do your drops and punchdowns like you should so I can connect my NIC to the LAN to get work done!”

Please feel free to bookmark this page so you can easily access Ethernet Cable Lingo along your networking journey!

HAPPY NETWORKING!

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