Maintaining Neat and Orderly Cabling in the Datacenterwww.device42.com

If you are here… …and want to be here. Read on.

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We have reviewed a large number of existing structured cable enclosures.

Maintaining neat and orderly structured cabling in the datacenter can be challenging

If you are reading this, you have probably seen and/or dealt with bad cabling first hand.

Even well planned datacenter cabling can go from neat and orderly to messy and unmanageable.

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Here are the most common issues we’ve found:

Cable lengths, too long

Directly patching into the switch ports Lack of documentation

Lack of training, i.e.: dos and don’ts when patching in a new port

Cable lengths, too short

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These best practices are key to maintaining neat an orderly cabling:

Minimize or eliminate horizontal cabling into patch panel ports.

Order custom cable lengths with a factory installed patch panel.

Create a document of best practices and review them with the staff. When possible, do this “in the field” to demonstrate how to do things. No shortcuts.

Document patch panel and switch port connectivity.

Maximize your use of patch panels whether or not the device is in a rack. In particular, it is important that all connections to a switch are via a patch panel port

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In this image we see the built-to-order structured cable bundles. The other end of these cables are terminated (from the factory) in the rear of 24 port patch panels. Notice there is no plugging into, changing, or touching switch port patch cables. All patching is performed between patch panels.

Our approach…with pictures

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In this image, note that the remote end of the yellow structured cabling bundles are terminated directly into patch panel ports. The white cabling is from racks, offices, cubicles, etc.

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In this image we see the front of the patch panels. This is a key step in maintaining order. The yellow ports are the switch ports, and in between we see the remote ports, color coded and labeled. The far end of these ports, i.e.: rack, office, cubicle, etc. will have corresponding color and label. This design allows for utilizing 6 inch patch cables to patch the remote port into a switch port. This enables minimization of horizontal patching into these ports. Notice, however, that there is still some horizontal patching (red cables) that need to be eliminated.

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Thank You!