Although structured wiring has been used to connect telephones for decades, for many years the practice of wiring between data equipment was largely unstructured and improvised to satisfy short term needs. However, with the increase in desktop equipment throughout the workplace, structured wiring has become a critical focal point of effective site planning.
Structured wiring offers significant advantages over unstructured wiring.
In a structured environment, this equipment is securely located in communication closets. Over the long term, structured wiring is easier and cheaper to maintain and upgrade. Earlier systems provided structured wiring reflecting vendor-specific products and applications. For example, Digital developed a wiring system for Ethernet and IBM for Token Ring. To manufacturers , by providing a cabling system which accommodates current products and provides a template for future product design.