Build the Network

In this lesson you will place multiple copies of the cable symbol onto your drawing sheet, use the Connector ribbon to change their color, and then use your mouse to connect the various network components.

Click the Show Me   button on the SmartSketch Learning Center toolbar to view a demonstration of the tasks discussed in this lesson.

Connecting a Cable Inside the Rack

1. In the Symbol Explorer, open the Cables folder and locate the Power.sym symbol.
2. Click the Power symbol while pressing the Ctrl key; click twice on the drawing sheet to the left side of the rack to place two power cables. Right-click the mouse to reset the command.

Note

• Pressing the Ctrl key while selecting a symbol in the Symbol Explorer allows you to place multiple copies of the symbol onto your drawing sheet. 

3. Select both power cables, and click the Line Color   button on the Connector ribbon bar. Change the color of the power cables to Red.

Tip

• To select multiple objects, hold the Ctrl key and click on each object.

4. Select one of the cables so that it is highlighted.
5. Press the Alt key and drag the connector end point ( ) to the first of the two PowerHub 7000 Power Supplies. Release the connector when the drop point (red circle) and the M-Power Socket tooltip appear.

Note

• Pressing the Alt key while modifying or drawing connectors gives you full control of positioning vertices of a connector and also allows you to modify or draw the connectors diagonally.

6. Use the mouse to modify the other end point of the connector cable to connect to the first outlet of the rack mount power strip. Release the connector when the drop point (red circle) and the F-Power Socket tool tip appear.
7. Continue modifying the connectors until they resemble the cable connections in the following illustration:

Connecting the Cable from Patch Panel to Wallplate

1. Scroll the window to the left side of the rack.
2. In the Cables folder of the Symbol Explorer, click the Cat-5 Twisted Pair.sym symbol.
3. Click the symbol while pressing the Ctrl key. On the drawing sheet, click four times to the left side of the rack to place four cables.
4. Select all of the Cat-5 cables, and change their color to blue.

Tip

• Click the Line Color button on the Connector ribbon bar to display a color palette.

5. Use the mouse to modify each of the four blue Cat-5 cables so that one end point of each cable is connected to the 1100 CAT 5 Modular Patch Panel 32-Port, and the other end point is connected to the top mid-point (key point) of the wallplates.

Tip

•  Press and hold the Alt key while you modify the cables.

Connecting the Cable from Wallplate to MiniTowers

1. Scroll the window left and below the 3-port wallplate.
2. In the Cables folder of the Symbol Explorer, locate the Cat-5 Twisted Pair.sym symbol.
3. Click the symbol while pressing the Ctrl key. On the drawing sheet, click three times to the right side of the rack to place three cables.
4. Select all of the Cat-5 cables, and change their color to blue.

Tip

• Click the Line Color button on the Connector ribbon bar to display a color palette.

5. Click one of the blue cables.
6. Use the mouse to modify the end points so they connect from the 3-Port wallplate to the top mid-point (key point) of the three mini-towers. Release the connector when the drop point appears on the wallplate.

Tip

• Press and hold the Alt key while you modify the cables.

Connecting the Printer to the Tower Server

1. Use the mouse to modify the free end point of the Printer Cable to connect to the top of the Tower Server.
2. Continue modifying the connector until alignment appears correct.