If you work within a building of even a modest size, chances are that it has a structured cabling system. Structured cabling is not something most people hear about often, but it is vital for the operation of any building network.

In this article, we go over the fundamentals of structured cabling systems. We discuss techniques used to equip a building with networking connectivity throughout, and we also explain the implications of using copper, fiber optics, or both.

Routing is a vital part of network operations, and employing it correctly is of utmost importance for any enterprise network.

In the context of networking, routing is the process by which data packets are directed to their final destination as they travel from node to node.  There are many aspects of routing design that can affect general network traffic patterns and particular network services. UC and VoIP services can be adversely affected if routing design does not take into account their special characteristics.

This article examines various aspects of routing implementation to see how it can potentially affect real-time services. We also look at what specific design aspects you should consider to ensure the proper operation of such services.

Grandstream continues to reinforce its reputation for innovation in network infrastructure with the introduction of the GWN7710R, an outdoor managed switch. Grandstream designed this versatile device for challenging environments exposed to the elements, whichis ideal for a wide range of outdoor network installations.

In this article, we take a closer look at the features of the GWN7710R and explore some of its most common and more cutting-edge use cases.

Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to dominate tech headlines, affecting many industries due to its incredible potential. Network infrastructure is one area where AI’s ever-improving technology has a significant impact.

In this article, we examine how AI-driven network infrastructure works to help you understand how AI and related tools influence network design, maintenance, and management. We also explore related principles specific to voice, video, and unified communications (UC), highlighting how AI-enabled infrastructure enhances these essential services.

Network engineers play a critical role in the design, upkeep, and smooth operation of the networks they manage. A key aspect of this responsibility is ensuring that network equipment receives reliable, well-managed power to maintain redundancy, ensure high availability, and meet capacity demands. Proper power management supports network performance and helps prevent costly downtime and equipment failures.

In this article, we explore the essential principles of network power management, offering best practices and strategies to help engineers optimize power efficiency while ensuring the resilience and reliability of their networks.

Network switches are essential to enterprise networks, offering various capabilities and functions. Some switches are configurable, and others are not. Some operate at layer 2 of the OSI model, while others function at layer 3.

With so many variations, comprehending switch capabilities can sometimes be overwhelming. This article simplifies these concepts to help you better understand how each type of switch can benefit your network.

Network services such as voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), unified communications (UC), video conferencing, and collaboration systems are fundamentally dependent on the quality and robustness of the underlying network infrastructure. When deploying an enterprise network, it is crucial to implement sound network design principles to guarantee optimal performance, reliability, and scalability.

Various aspects of enterprise network design work together to achieve high levels of network performance. This article focuses specifically on quality of service (QoS) and some best practices associated with it.

DHCP is best known as the protocol that automatically assigns IP addresses to hosts that connect to a network. It is one of those protocols that we don’t often think about because it functions in the background — users are completely oblivious to its operation, just enjoying its convenience and flexibility.

However, DHCP is about more than automatic address allocation, especially for VoIP and UC devices such as IP phones and video terminals. In this article, we explore the operation of DHCP and the specialized options it provides for VoIP and UC applications, some of which you might not know about!

Grandstream’s latest GCC Series of unified communications (UC) and networking convergence solutions offers a range of devices that deliver services, network connectivity, and security features all within one compact and cost-effective unit.

In this article, we review these devices and the capabilities they offer small to medium-sized businesses.

Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) is the successor to the well-established IPv4 network layer protocol. It is slowly but surely gaining ground worldwide on both internal corporate enterprise networks and on the internet at large.

But what does this mean for real-time audio and video communications applications such as VoIP and unified communications (UC)? How are VoIP and UC leveraging IPv6, and are there any issues that network admins must be aware of in this process? In this article, we answer these questions by examining the benefits and challenges of deploying such applications over an IPv6 network.