Today’s world is a wired world, where computers, smart phones, and similar devices are commonplace for leisure and work alike. Modern offices, in order to stay competitive and connected, make generous use of personal computers, data centers, secure Internet connections, and more, and an office employee will be expected to have some measure of PC competence. Wireless connections between devices exist, and are sometimes convenient, but other jobs call for the right physical cable to be used. Bulk USB cables are quite useful for connecting many different sorts of devices, and cell phone cables allow phone users to both recharge their phone’s batteries and set up data sharing between it and a computer. And that’s not all. A secure Internet connection involves Ethernet cables, which come in the category 5 (cat5) and category 6 (cat6) varieties. An office manager may buy cat5 cables when they purchase new computers, and ordinary homeowners may buy cat5 cables as well for their new laptop or PC. What can someone expect when they buy cat5 cables or cat6 cables?

At the Office

As mentioned earlier, today’s offices make generous use of technology, and an office large or small will feature a number of computers, a data center, and the cables to connect it all. For one thing, all of these computers will be plugged into what is called a data center. For those unaware, a data center is a dedicated room filled with PCs that are bound with countless cables to form a single, cohesive entity. These are not desktop PCs, though, and don’t even have keyboards or monitors. Together, they act as a giant computer brain capable of enormous storage and processing power. Desktop PCs plugged into it may share data with each other easily and enjoy a boost to processing power as well. At a typical office, many cables will link those data center computers, and other cables plug in desktop PCs to make use of it. That makes for a solid and secure connection, which is vital for using a data center and taking advantage of its power.

But there’s also the matter of the Internet. A data center is powerful, but it does not make for Internet access on its own. Rather, desktop PCs at the office will make use of category 5 or 6 Ethernet cables, which plug from the computer to the router, which in turn is plugged into the modem. This allows for a fast and secure Internet connection, and many office workers need the Internet for web design, research, sharing files with remote employees, and more. When an office is being set up with its computer tech, the manager may buy cat5 cables, along with USB cables and other hardware, to get everything set up. IT professionals will set up both the hardware and software of the desktop PCs and the data center, and thread cables through them all. Ethernet cables may even go through holes drilled in the floor, and should be arranged so that they are not a tripping hazard anywhere. Meanwhile, who else might want to buy cat5 cables?

Using Cables at Home

A person may buy cat5 cables or cat6 cables for home computer use too, either for work or leisure. Cat5 cables are the standard model, and while more costly, cat6 cables are tougher and can transmit even more data, and faster, than cat5 cables. Either way, though, someone at home may purchase Ethernet cables and plug one end into their router and the other into a device such as a PC, a laptop, or even a video game console. Many game consoles use the Internet for online gaming, streaming videos, and even an Internet browser. A home entertainment system may use USB cables and Ethernet cables alike to connect devices such as a game console, HDTV, a sound system, and more. And some office employees choose to work at home in home offices, so their computer will need a solid Internet connection too. This means Ethernet cables. This remote employee can’t plug into the data center from there, but they can certainly access their company’s private Cloud data storage online. Many offices combine their Cloud storage and data center into a single hybrid entity for convenience.