Glossary

Cabinets containing connector panels, patch panels, connectors, and patch cords to interface from inside the plant to outside the plant. The interconnect cabinet is used as an access point for testing and rearranging routes and connections.

A connection scheme that provides direct access to the cabling infrastructure and the capability to make cabling system changes using patch cords.

(1) Fiber optic: the interaction of two or more beams of coherent or partially coherent light. (2) Electromagnetic: interaction that produces undesirable signals that interfere with the normal operation of electronic equipment or electronic transmission.

A helical armor applied around a cable where the metal tape sides interlock giving a flexible, yet mechanically robust cable; specifically adds to the compression resistance in optical fiber cables and acts as an EMI/RFI shield in twisted-pair copper cables. The interlock armor can be made of either aluminum (more common) or steel.

A cross-connect between first-level and second-level backbone cabling. This secondary cross-connect in the backbone cabling is used to mechanically terminate and administer backbone cabling between the main cross-connect and horizontal cross-connect (station cables).

A metal rack (or frame) designed to hold the cables that connect interbuilding and intrabuilding cabling. The IDF is typically located in an equipment room or telecommunications room. Typically, a permanent connection exists between the IDF and the MDF.

The standards organization that developed the OSI model. This model provides a guideline for how communications occur between computers. See www.iso.org for more information.

The branch of the United Nations that develops communications specifications.

International standards committee that develops standards for interface and signal formats. Currently exists as the ITU-T.

The committee that oversees management of the Internet, which is made up of several subcommittees including the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA, which is now known as ICANN), and the Internet Research Task Force (IRTF). See www.iab.org for more information.

An international organization that works under the Internet Architecture Board to establish specifications and protocols relating to the Internet. See www.ietf.org for more information.

An international organization that works under the Internet Architecture Board to research new Internet technologies. See www.irtf.org for more information.

Involves connecting two or more computer networks via gateways using a common routing technology. The result is called an internetwork (often shortened to internet).

A communication channel of copper, fiber, or wireless media between two central offices. Often, IOF refers to telephone channels that can transport voice and/or data.

Form of distortion in digital communications systems. ISI is caused by multipath propagation and nonlinear frequency response of a channel resulting from not having enough bandwidth. ISI leads to BER and causes the loss of the channel to increase.