Maintaining neat and orderly structured cabling in the datacenter can be challenging...here are some basic tips for how-to keep your datacenter cabling neat and orderly… www.device42.com

1. If you are here…
…and want to be here. Read on.
Maintaining Neat and Orderly Cabling in the Datacenter
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2. Maintaining neat and orderly structured cabling in the datacenter can be challenging
We have reviewed a large
number of existing
structured cable enclosures.
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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3. Here are the most common issues we’ve found:
Cable lengths, too
Cable lengths, too short
long
Lack of training, i.e.: dos and
don’ts when patching in a new port
Directly patching into
the switch ports
Lack of documentation
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4. These best practices are key to maintaining neat an orderly cabling:
Order custom cable lengths with
a factory installed patch panel.
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
Document patch panel and switch
port connectivity.
Minimize or eliminate horizontal
cabling into patch panel ports.
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.
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5. Our approach…with pictures
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.
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6. 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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7. 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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8. Thank You!
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