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Hi,

I've been searching for cable management strategies for server racks,
and can't seem to find any specific guidelines. I presently have a
four-post server rack with several servers, a 48-port switch, and a 48
port patch panel.

Each of my rack mounted devices has a ~10ft patch cable running between
itself and the switch. This requires the patch cable to run from the
rear of the rack to the front. My question is, could I terminate the
network cables coming from the servers onto the patch panel, then run a
patch cable from the patch panel to the switch? I believe this will
allow me to better organize the cables, and not have them running
around the side of the rack.

Are there any problems with doing this? I haven't been able to find
any information on how cables are typically routed between servers and
switches/hubs in a single rack.

I would appreciate any advice.

Thanks,

Nick

Nick wrote:

Hi,

I've been searching for cable management strategies for server racks,
and can't seem to find any specific guidelines. I presently have a
four-post server rack with several servers, a 48-port switch, and a 48
port patch panel.

Each of my rack mounted devices has a ~10ft patch cable running between
itself and the switch. This requires the patch cable to run from the
rear of the rack to the front. My question is, could I terminate the
network cables coming from the servers onto the patch panel, then run a
patch cable from the patch panel to the switch? I believe this will
allow me to better organize the cables, and not have them running
around the side of the rack.

Are there any problems with doing this? I haven't been able to find
any information on how cables are typically routed between servers and
switches/hubs in a single rack.

There are a couple of problems. Lets to a cost/benefit analysis.


Cost Benefit

Buying a patch panel. Neatens up the rack.
Buying the cable.
Another thing taking up space in the rack.
Labor to install.
Additional point of failure.


The answer is obvious to me.

--Dale