|  | 9.7 | Range of Equipment for Testing Structured Cabling Projects
| 9.7.2 | Network operation testing
The IEEE and the TIA/EIA have established standards that allow you to test whether your network is operating at an acceptable level. If your network passes this test and is certified as meeting the standards, you can use this measurement as an established baseline. The baseline is a record of your network's starting point or newly installed performance capabilities. Knowing the baseline measurement is important. Testing does not end just because your network installation is certified as meeting the standards. You should continue to test your network on a regular basis in order to ensure that it performs at its peak. You can do this by comparing current measurements with recorded measurements that were taken when the system was known to be operating properly. If there is a significant change from the baseline measurement, it is an indication that there is something wrong with the network. Repeated testing of your network, and comparisons against its baseline, will help you spot specific network problems that may be caused by aging, poor maintenance practices, weather, or other factors.
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