If your IT network isn't behaving itself, the cables that haywires its components together may be to blame. Here are some some cable failure points, and their solutions, from your Austin IT business support team at Gravity Systems.

Bad connectors – Hardwired IT networks typically rely on Ethernet cabling, with the end of each cable terminating in an RJ-45 connector. This tabbed connector is a critical interface – but, alas, it's also a cheap piece of plastic. If the lights next to the connector aren't lit up, we may need to replace that connector.

Cable strain – Hardware components are often shoved into some pretty tight spaces, leaving very little room for the connected cables. This can lead to the cables becoming crimped or bent at sharp, crazy angles, either right at the connector or somewhere down the line. When this happens, individual conductive strands inside the cable may break. Proper cable planning and IT system layout can help prevent this problem.

Inadequate capacity – Different categories of Ethernet cables are capable of different maximum bandwidths. An old-school Cat5 cable can pass a signal at 10/100mbs, while a Cat6a cable can keep the data flowing at 10 Gigabits per second (at least up to a certain distance). Maybe your network is getting slower and slower because your bandwidth demands are now surpassing what your cables can manage. Time to upgrade!

Building cable or cable box issues – If your network cabling seems okay, then it's time to expand your search to include your facility's Internet connectivity. If the building's cable box or main coax lines are failing, you won't get proper performance even out of the most pristine network setup. Your Internet service provider can check and repair these failures.

Need some expert network troubleshooting? Contact our experienced team so we can get you reconnected!

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