Specifically speaking about WiFi locations, we have been running two CAT5e since 2004. The reasoning then was the second cable to attach to the console port in case of an autonomous AP losing its config. Today we are still running two CAT5e since the cost of pulling a second wire is very minimal compared to labor to go back later. The intent now is for future proofing not just for WiFi but for other devices such as cameras that may be placed nearby. In the future we may not need dual uplinks, but an additional access point nearby. How many classrooms and auditoriums have had WiFi in the past but now need additional access points for density?
There are currently manufactures that do have dual uplinks. Aruba is one of them with their new 802.11ac wave one AP. In my opinion, I see vendors going both way, dual uplinks and 10Gbps at some point. I believe vendors will try to find ways to differentiate themselves from the others. One way to do this is to offer compatibility with existing wiring or a migration path such as dual links with one or both 10Gb capable. Not every location will need 10Gb either and as others have mentioned at this point we are bottleneck engineering. We are starting to look at CAT6a to see if it is time to switch but for now we are still pulling CAT5e even in new construction. -Jimmy -- James Helzerman Wireless Network Engineer University of Michigan - ITS Communications Systems and Data Centers On Fri, Feb 7, 2014 at 11:01 AM, Scott Allen <[email protected]> wrote: > We may also see some other frequencies come into play in the next few > years that could impact AP location and density. > -Scott > > > > On Fri, Feb 7, 2014 at 10:21 AM, Julian Y Koh <[email protected]> > wrote: > > On Feb 7, 2014, at 09:13 , Jerry Bucklaew <[email protected]> wrote: > >> > >> Well I guess we are the odd man out. We are pulling one cat6a and > will continue to so. > > > > Same here. Sorry you don't get to be odd man out. :) > > > >> I just do not see the point in pulling two. First off the wired > bandwidth is never the issue on the AP, I would bet most of my ap's run at > 100meg, gig will be fine for a very long time. > > > > That is our bet. > > > >> Second, I just do not see the AP vendors going to two ports with some > type of bonding. > > > > Well some vendors at least do support multiple wired ports already. How > they divide up traffic between those ports varies. > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > Julian Y. Koh > > Acting Associate Director, Telecommunications and Network Services > > Northwestern University Information Technology (NUIT) > > > > 2001 Sheridan Road #G-166 > > Evanston, IL 60208 > > 847-467-5780 > > NUIT Web Site: <http://www.it.northwestern.edu/> > > PGP Public Key:<http://bt.ittns.northwestern.edu/julian/pgppubkey.html> > > > > ********** > > Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent > Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/. > > > > -- > > Scott Allen > Director, Network Services > Georgetown University > [email protected] > mobile - 202-309-5739 > > ********** > Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent > Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/. > -- James Helzerman Wireless Network Engineer University of Michigan - ITS Communications Systems and Data Centers Phone: 734-615-9541 ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/.
