Introduction
Structured Cabling:
a system in which the main components of the system, once installed, do not
change. In its most basic form, a structured wiring system consists of
horizontal wiring and appropriate connecting hardware.
The two foremost
characteristics of a "non-structured" cabling system are:
- It is difficult or impossible to migrate from one computer system to another without replacing the entire cabling system, and
- To make moves, changes or additions, the cabling system has to be changed. In this sense, the cabling system has no real structure since it is constantly changing as user requirements change, hence the term "non-structured."
To overcome these problems, many companies are installing structured
wiring systems similar to the one shown below, in which the cabling, once
installed, rarely needs to be changed. Of the three topologies illustrated on
the Network Topologies
Page, the star is the most flexible, since all cable runs are brought to one
central location. 
By pre-wiring all possible locations in a new or existing
building in a star topology, all future moves, changes and additions can be made
quickly and easily by simply moving patch cables in a centralized wiring closet.
Also, by simply changing the attachment cables and devices at the equipment rack
and the workstation outlet, a structured cabling system can be adapted to a
variety of systems and interfaces.
