Security, Policies & GuidelinesNetwork Connection Guidelines

Guidelines for Network Wiring and Equipment in NMSU Buildings

The following network specifications are required for all new NMSU buildings. Existing buildings will be wired as closely to the specifications as the building design will allow. Extensions of existing nets will not be allowed without prior approval from the Telecommunication & Networking Services' Data & Video Services group, a division of ICT.

NMSU Structured Wiring System:
All NMSU owned buildings will be wired in a manner to support a modern, high speed, computer network which is compliant with the EIA/TIA 568 - Standard for Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling. This horizontal cabling system will accommodate a number of different computer technologies, including 100 Mb Ethernet & asynchronous terminal devices. The wiring system would consist of a number of Integrated Communication Outlets (ICO), located in office areas. Each ICO would have a cable set which would run back to a central Area Distribution Center (ADC). The cable set between each ICO and the ADC would consist of two Category 5 data cables, one Category 3 telephone cable, and one RG-59 video cable. At the ADC, individual offices would be connected to the Active Equipment appropriate to the communication system being connected.

The following are basic guidelines; each building will be tailored as needed.

ADC (Area Distribution Center) Specifications:

1. ADCs shall be provided such that no cable run will exceed 90 meters in length. Multiple floors can be pulled to an ADC.
2. The ADC should be at a minimum 8'x8' if it is not shared with anyone else. If the closet is shared with other electrical systems, then we require at least 6'x8' of dedicated space. The telephone and video equipment will also reside within the ADC.
3. If multiple floors are to be pulled to one ADC, appropriate wire chases should be provided to allow easy access between floors.
4. ADCs will be interconnected with NMSU provided fiber through two 2" conduits. The exact ADC interconnection will be determined by the Data & Video Services group once the ADC sites have been located.
5. Each ADC will have two duplex 120V power outlets. These outlets should be run on a separate circuit to the breaker panel.
6. Each cable pulled into the ADC shall be clearly and uniquely marked as to origin.
7. Cables pulled will have 10' of slack left at the ADC.

ICO (Integrated Communications Outlet) Specifications:

1. It is recommend that each office have at least one ICO, with large offices and reception areas having at least two. Classrooms and labs should have at least two ICOs.
2. At each ICO location, a standard 2" x 4" wall box will be cut-in at the same height as existing electrical outlets.
3. The wiring installed will be two (2) NMSU provided Category 5, 4-pair cables, one (1) NMSU provided Category 3, 4-pair cable, and one (1) NMSU provided RG-59 coaxial video cable from each ICO, to the ADC.
4. All ICO cables shall be run from ICO to ADC in 3/4" conduit. ICOs will not be daisy chained.
5. Undercarpet cable will not be used. If an ICO must be installed in the middle of a room, it must be fed by conduit.
6. At each ICO, all cables will have 12" slack left.
7. All cable runs should be reflected in the As-Built diagrams. These As-builts must be filed with ICT.
8. Note that all manufacturer's requirements regarding the installation practices are to be followed. This includes ensuring that the minimum bend radius of installed wiring is maintained. Cables are to be routed so that no cable run is in excess of 90 meters in length. All installations will be done in accordance with the EIA/TIA 568 Commercial Building Telecommunication Wiring Standard. NMSU will provide all cable and complete all cable terminations.
   

Network Equipment Guidelines

Any network equipment, with the exception of computers, printers/plotters, scanners, and LocalTalk-to-Ethernet devices, must be approved by Information & Communication Technologies before they are attached to NMSU-Net. Examples of devices which must be approved are ethernet hubs, switches and routers. Ethernet switches which are added to the network must be a minimum 10/100 BaseTX compliant, have the ability to be connected to the fiber optic backbone, and be SNMP manageable. Any unauthorized network device will be removed from the network immediately.

Guidelines for Existing Networks

There currently exist on campus many building networks which do not meet the above guidelines. When additional network capacity is required in one of these existing networks a review of the system must be done to determine the best path to increase the network capacity. In most cases the recommendation will be to upgrade according to the current specifications. However, in some cases this is neither physically nor economically feasible and another plan using a variation of older technologies may be utilized. In all cases, these expansions must be approved by the Telecommunication & Networking Services' Data & Video Services group of Information & Communication Technologies.

Additional information and design criteria can be obtained from the Telecommunication & Networking Services' Data & Video Services group of Information & Communication Technologies at (575) 646-4244 or by e-mail at ict_data@nmsu.edu.