4.4.2.2. Defining Media

A Cable Type contains additional helper objects - Media Definitions and Plugs. A Media Definition is used to describe and define the different characteristics of an individual conductor or strand of fiber that is contained within a cable sheath. The following section describes the process of defining Media for a particular Cable Type.

The Media tab in the Cable Type Properties dialog is used to define Media associated with the current Cable Type and is also used to identify how many individual media connections are supported by the specific Cable Type.

Select / Deselect all Copper / Fiber Media button

The Media material buttons are toggle buttons and can also be enabled/disabled, depending on the Media material the Cable Type contains.

For example, the Cable Type from the example screenshot contains only Copper Media definitions, so the first button (Select All Copper Media) is enabled and available for selection, while the second one (Select All Fiber Media) is disabled and not available for selection. If one of these buttons is clicked, all media definition(s) of the selected media material get selected in the Media definition grid. The button changes its function for de-selection, also remains enabled and selectable (as displayed below, the text changes to Deselect all copper media and the checkbox icon changes to x icon).

Note: IRM supports Cable Types that include copper, fiber and hybrid/mixed Media.

Media definitions grid

Displays the full list of all Media definitions for the selected Cable Type, along with their properties (listed and explained below) and action buttons. Not all fields are editable, some are predefined based on other field selection(s).

Binder Group - name of the binder group the media (wire) is assigned to. For easier connectivity management media pairs are often combined into binder groups. Usually, a group of wire/media pairs are bound together by color-coded plastic tape or thread. Each pair within a binder group is uniquely color-coded for further ease of management and has a name (numeric, in this example) and appropriate color defined (explained next).
Binder Group Color represents the color value of the binder ribbon/tape that attaches the group of wires in a cable. It depends on the selected media material, since each media material has a standard color code assigned, which defines both the value of the binder color and the media.
Media Material is used to define if the Media definition represents a Copper Conductor or Fiber-optic.
Number is an automatically assigned numeric value representing the number of the media in the Media definition for the selected Cable Type.
Displays the Name of each Media, which has the appended Media Number (numeric) value.
Gauge gives the diameter/size of the Media and depends on the selected media material.
Colorcode value depends on the selected media material, since each media material has a different set of standard color codes.

Delete selection button

Click on it opens the Confirm Action dialog asking to confirm the removal:

If Yes is clicked, the selected Media entry is removed from the selected Cable Type.

Edit action button

Allows editing the selected media definition entry. Click on it opens the Define Media dialog, same as for Add row selection.

Add row button

Allows a single additional Media entry to be defined, click on it opens the Define Media dialog.

Bulk add button

Allows multiple additional Media to be defined at one time, click on it opens the Bulk Add Media dialog, explained in detail in the following sub-topic.

Additional dialog buttons

Bottom of the dialog enables additional dialogs for related object types to be easily accessed:

Jack-Plug Compatibility Editor dialog, which lists all Equipment / Cable compatible pairs, depending on their specified Jack and Plug, enables editing, removing and creating new compatible Jack-Plug compatibility pairs.
Media Definitions Manager dialog, which lists all existing Media Definitions, enables editing, removing and creating new.
Plug Types Manager dialog, which lists all existing Plug Types, enables editing, removing and creating new.