A light on a NIC that turns on when the card detects network traffic, making an intermittent flickering when operating properly

Generic term for two devices used together—a tone generator and a tone locator (probe)—to trace cables by sending an electrical signal along a wire at a particular frequency. The tone locator then emits a sound when it distinguishes that frequency. Also r

What occurs when the signal traveling on one pair of wires is picked up on other wires within a cable

The spreading of a signal, as in the light signal on a fiber-optic cable

A glow in a fiber-optic cable caused when the transmitted light on the cable shows through from the inside. This can occur when a cable is bent too much.

A powerful testing tool used to verify that a cable meets the TIA/EIA standards

A single piece of horizontal cabling

The weakening of a signal as it travels down a piece of wire. The longer the cable run, the weaker the signal

The physical location of a network or telephone connection from within a building to the outside world

Cabling that runs from the NIU to whatever box is used by the customer

A panel containing a row of female connectors that terminate the horizontal cabling in the equipment room.

A tester for fiber-optic cable that determines continuity and reports the location of cable breaks.

Cheap network tester that can only test for the continuity on a line

The practice of using multiple NICs for a single machine to double (or more) effectively the speed between a machine and a switch. Also called link aggregation

A device for organizing cable runs in a drop ceiling

A bundle of tiny wire strands

A single solid wire within a UTP cable

The location where the cable comes out of the wall

The connection of a cable to a patch panel

A test that sends data out of a NIC and checks to see if it comes back

The proper connectivity of wires in a network

A hardware device that inserts into a NIC’s port, taking the outgoing signals and looping them back to the incoming wire pair on the same NIC

Cabling that connects the equipment room to the work area

A metal structure used in equipment rooms to secure network hardware devices and patch panels

A special box in the communications room to which the demarc extension attaches