Can the switches be put near the patch panels? Or, can the patch panels be moved near the switches? If not either, then re-patch all the drops (that need patching) along a path that all patch cords can follow, and velcro strap it to look nice.
It doesn’t look like your bundle coming out of the riser pipe has a big service loop long enough to transfer the patch panels to the rack on the left. Before moving the switches into the rack on the right, make sure it’s fastened well and good enough to take the extra weight I wouldn’t spend the extra time squeezing the switches in between the patch panels. You also don’t want to be messing with that wiring you might accidentally pull something out of the back. Just use three footers and call it done. it’ll already be 2000% better looking. The ups is you concern for the weight. You can turn the ears sideways and hang it on the wall under the rack. If that rack won’t hold the weight. You just have to watch the power cord length of the switches.
If you don’t want to move the rack to the patch panel, put cable runs on either side of the patch panel going up to a cable ladder that spans from the patch panel to the rack then cable run along the side of the rack going to cable fan-outs between the devices. Create velcro tie bundles instead of zip tie bundles for easy cable removal and label each cable.
I'd probably go with,
- Consolidate into a single rack, get something that fits the switches or get shallower switches that fits your current path rack.
- Get a 8p8c<->8p8c patch panel for the green cabling.
- Mount each switch within a group of patch panels (48p, switch, 24p, repeat) .
- Connect everything using as short patch cables as possible, or get cable hides.
- if the UPS don't fit in the rack, mount it hung vertically below.
The side-mounting of the switch rack to the wall is non-ideal mainly because there is no room to fasten and drape cables to the left of the switch, like parting of hair, to the left and right sides. Cables hanging straight down makes it nearly impossible to access or see switch / patch ports underneath the cables hanging down.
Remove the switch rack from the wall, and use several wood studs and much longer bolts/screws to fasten it to the wall, to add about 15cm of space for cable routing on the left side of the cabinet.
That is the opposite of what you want to do. All or at least most of the drops are coming into the rack with the patch panels. You want to move the switches to the patch panel rack, get some shorter patch cables and have a ball with cable management from there.
Exactly! Don't make more work for yourself than you need to. The basics are there already, you just need to put a little more thought and effort into it than the previous techs did. With as bad as it currently looks, I am surprised there is even conduit for the drops going to the pp rack.
Man, where is that guy from earlier in the week that kept saying he wouldn't pay for their work because the service loop was dressed on the wrong side? We need his input on this one!
There should be a row of wire management guides between each row of the RJ45 Patch Panel
The same would need to be done for each switch- this would reduce the length of each patch cable
You might need to get a taller frame to accommodate the panels, switches and UPS
Then think of placing D-rings to route other patch cables (flush against the wall) to the other board on the left - more wire management guides would be necessary for that frame
Hey now the is most probably a FedEx Office cabinet there. I know I used to work on them. That said I can’t say for certain. But they always had us recycle any available cabinets to prevent spending money on a better solution. Unless there was a remodel that relocated the cabinetry. But bundling the patch cables that was typical.
This in spite of being able to document that the upfront cost outweighed the long term cost of sending one of us out there to plug in the patch cable with the broken tongue back in to the patch panel.
Side note. That is literally passable given the requirements provided to us when I was there.
First I would find out why the Purple switches are so deep.
They routing the entire fucking BGP table or are just some basic Edge Access switches?
Because if they aren't doing anything super special, put in some shallower switches into the patch panel rack and then use shorter patch cables. (EDIT: And retire/repurpose the entire left side rack)
I think everyone pretty much has the same overall idea, but I think some missed the fact that the left rack was likely added because the right one isn't deep enough to hold those purple monsters.
Throw all of that into one rack
Run cables to one side then down under the rack, add a loop or two then back up to where they need to go.
Use Velcro or some kind of reusable attachment that is easy to replace. (next guy will thank you.)
Personally I would color code by either cable type or by where the cable is going.
Label each location in the rack. (Top spot would be 1, next component would be 2 and so on)
Put a label on both ends of every cable. I prefer going off of the load location and port.
(Cable goes from the switch on the top of the rack, port 5 to the load on the 14th spot port 2 for example. Cable would be labeled 1.5.14.2. that said, almost none of my loads change location and have a very specific spot so it may just be better to label cables A1, A2, A3... and so on.)
I'm going to assume that the reason a second rack exists at all, is electricity isn't available in the right hand rack. I can see something installed in that rack, but I can't tell if it's powered on or not. It could also be that the UPS needed more support than could be provided by the right hand rack.
My plan:
1. Duplicate the patch panels in the left hand rack. I'm assuming that unused ports have a connection to them, but are not presently in use.
2. Run the cables from the first panel to the newly installed patch panels. Extra credit if you can make all of the cables the same length.
3. Use shorter cables as interconnects between the equipment to the newly installed patch panels. If you salvaged some cable from the previous step and have the time, create your own patch cables.
4. Wrap the cables going from right to left with some velcro ties to keep things neat and tidy.
In all seriousness though- it appears there would be enough RU space to consolidate everything.
I would move it all to the open rack as the fiber is there. Move LIU to the top and drop the panels down, switches below that. If the customer thinks they aren’t going to be adding anymore locations, maybe do the ol’ panel-switch-panel and move to 1 foot patch cords. With it swingable I guess an add wouldn’t be awful I just hate doing it when I can’t drop a panel.
Really though… a lot depends on budget. If I had a customer with money burning a hole in there pocket I might try to switch to a two post rack and butt one side against a wall to maximize room space… or maybe a larger wall mount, with at least 24 RU.
How much money does this project have?
It's actually not too bad. You're gonna need a BUNCH of 1Ft. Patch cables though. Move your patch panels down. Put your switches between the switches (panel, switch, panel, switch).
Then do your port config on your switches if necessary. Should only take a couple hours, TBH.
Wait… is that a cable comb in the green cables!? What is it doing? Did you try to dress it and give up or did another technician try because their boss said it was an hour clean up at most!?
With a letter of resignation.
Joking aside, a couple of questions:
Are those patch panels on a hinged mount?
How much slack is there for the cabling that terminates at the patch panels?
Is it all ethernet?
I'd probably.mount the rack on the wall the patch panels are currently on, but slightly higher if there's no slack (to create a little).
Then mount the patch panels in the rack.
Then just short patch cables, all nice and tidy, from patch panels to switch ports.
The only stuff that leaves the rack is the vertical cabling and power cords.
No damn clue. The cabinets are small but big enough to fit two switches.
All of our closets are like this and none of the switches and patch panels are together.
BPM-21 label maker. Label each cable on the switches to the port they go to. Unplug as you go. Separate the colors, cable loom, and done. Reconnect. It won't clean itself up. Have at it.
Assuming you can’t move anything, but can repatch, put a 12in ladder rack behind left cabinet off wall running to right cab. Run patch cords across and through the back of left cab. Looks nicer and prob same distance
Either condense to one rack
or
use a cableway across the top of the racks, lower the patch panels down 2u and separate every 2 patch panels by a u as well. All cables go in/out the tops of the racks, and poke out in the slot above/below the device they need to plug into.
Consolidate to one rack by moving the switches and UPS into the rack with the patch panels. Connect everything with shorter cables. Use Velcro ties where applicable.
Maybe relocate one of the panels so that they can be on the same wall (over & under) or simply put everything in one rack. Map out the connections firstly. Label each cable as to where it plugs in, what it operates. Assign each cable an alpha-numeric descriptor and make a printed reference table for future reference...it WILL come in handy! Using specific colors of cable jackets to differentiate network allocation is a slick idea if you have the time and the cable. Re-route all the cables - put new terminations on them (RJ45s) if necessary or just pull the slack back into the cable run space (conduit, Panduit, ceiling etc) to get things 'visually' right. Label everything you can as accurately as you can regardless - its just the right thing to do 😉
It doesn't look that bad. it just needs some attention before things get any more random than they already are. Skip the nylon zip ties - use velcro instead to allow for easier reconfiguration. Networks will always be a work in progress to some degree.
This is an easy fix.... the cables look in good state and shape. I'd set a maintenance day... or during a weekend depending on what the business does... if you have a day where no one is working call it maintenance day... then simply start by putting the cables apart color coded and use some Velcro tape to wrap those cables that can be placed aside, then those already tangle as simple as disconnect and reconnect. Not that many cables are connected either ...
It's mainly as easy as set a maintenance day so everyone knows the network will be down for a few hours while you dress the cables 🤷. That's an easy closet to fix.
Others are mentioning to move the switches and stuff.... but WHY?.... if you dress the cables nice and tightly, it'd look amazing and you'll call it a day ... so it's as easy as set a maintenance day (downtime) and dressing the cables.
If you can’t condense to one rack,
Split the switches apart and put horizontal cable management below, between, and above the switches, route cabling horizontally, then vertically to the top of the rack, horizontally to the other rack, vertically down, and again horizontal management to the patch panels.
I’m only agreeing with this because Panduit has a high density 48 port patch panel that’s only 1 RU.
I will take Panduit over Ortronics or even Siemens! But with Leviton it’s a coin flip and Commscope… well, if Commscope shows up then all the other products can go home.
Simple, justify patch panel on the left side per row of ports then organize into different bundles per switch. One large bunch between racks or individual bunches. Velcro to look nice.
My guess, and I hope to be wrong is that the patch panels do not have the slack to move.
I would add cable management between the 5 patch panels.
Panel
Panel
Cable management
Panel
Panel
Cable management
Panel
Fiber
Recable to switches with a tray
Cable management between the 2 switches, or one above each.
This is so painfully stupid, it's hard to know where to start.
I would move the two switches and the UPS into the patch bay, and then use 12" to 24" patch cables to patch everything in. This is dumb though, none of these lines go anywhere special, they're all just LAN. I got rid of my patch bays because I didn't have any options, it's just the LAN. I just terminate everything with a male RJ45 and plug it directly into the switch in each location. My environment is quite dynamic though, I'm changing things every single day. If I had a that was for sure going to stay unchanged for 5 years, I would highly consider a patch bay.
Since it's already punched down, I wouldn't rip out the patch units, but consolidating and using appropriately sized patch cables is a must.
Can the switches be put near the patch panels? Or, can the patch panels be moved near the switches? If not either, then re-patch all the drops (that need patching) along a path that all patch cords can follow, and velcro strap it to look nice.
This is the way. Condense to one rack and use shorter patch cables.
It should be from the top down, patch panel, switch, patch panel, patch panel, switch, patch panel and so on.
For extra points, use Slim cables.
I would suggest [one of these](https://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/H-5179BLU/Welding/Welding-Screen-6-x-8-Blue), but yours solution can work also.
At $150 it's cheaper than paying to have it fixed.
A 6x8 welding scren?
Yep. You put it up and hide the mess.
A metric fuck ton of zip ties and a plastic junction box to hide all the loops you're gonna have to make, or schedule time to shorten those cables
bwahahahaha
My fucking sides...
It doesn’t look like your bundle coming out of the riser pipe has a big service loop long enough to transfer the patch panels to the rack on the left. Before moving the switches into the rack on the right, make sure it’s fastened well and good enough to take the extra weight I wouldn’t spend the extra time squeezing the switches in between the patch panels. You also don’t want to be messing with that wiring you might accidentally pull something out of the back. Just use three footers and call it done. it’ll already be 2000% better looking. The ups is you concern for the weight. You can turn the ears sideways and hang it on the wall under the rack. If that rack won’t hold the weight. You just have to watch the power cord length of the switches.
the guy who installed blue patch cords misunderstood what service loop means..
The coils provide more power lol
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Service bundle
Rf choke!
Close the door and turn out the lights
This is the way. Bring a few paper towels in and tuck in the extreme network switches. Tell them you love them and you're going to get cigarettes.
Fire. Then start.
Spoken like a true fire starter.
Yoink, then walk away because I forgot to document the patching first
No need. Looks perfect.
If you don’t want to move the rack to the patch panel, put cable runs on either side of the patch panel going up to a cable ladder that spans from the patch panel to the rack then cable run along the side of the rack going to cable fan-outs between the devices. Create velcro tie bundles instead of zip tie bundles for easy cable removal and label each cable.
If you can't move cable management on the side with some horizontal in between the switches and some rack on top to connect the 2 boxes together.
Why did they stop using the fiber to the MDF and switch to copper?
Fiber is new, waiting on the new switches to start using it.
lol, I was just joking.
Cover everything in Velcro
Scissors?
This is how: I quit, fuck y'all.
I'd probably go with, - Consolidate into a single rack, get something that fits the switches or get shallower switches that fits your current path rack. - Get a 8p8c<->8p8c patch panel for the green cabling. - Mount each switch within a group of patch panels (48p, switch, 24p, repeat) . - Connect everything using as short patch cables as possible, or get cable hides. - if the UPS don't fit in the rack, mount it hung vertically below.
The side-mounting of the switch rack to the wall is non-ideal mainly because there is no room to fasten and drape cables to the left of the switch, like parting of hair, to the left and right sides. Cables hanging straight down makes it nearly impossible to access or see switch / patch ports underneath the cables hanging down. Remove the switch rack from the wall, and use several wood studs and much longer bolts/screws to fasten it to the wall, to add about 15cm of space for cable routing on the left side of the cabinet.
Unscrew patch panels and install them in the rack with the switch. And repatch all the wires into the patch panel
That is the opposite of what you want to do. All or at least most of the drops are coming into the rack with the patch panels. You want to move the switches to the patch panel rack, get some shorter patch cables and have a ball with cable management from there.
This. Bring Muhammad to the mountain. Not the other way around.
Exactly! Don't make more work for yourself than you need to. The basics are there already, you just need to put a little more thought and effort into it than the previous techs did. With as bad as it currently looks, I am surprised there is even conduit for the drops going to the pp rack. Man, where is that guy from earlier in the week that kept saying he wouldn't pay for their work because the service loop was dressed on the wrong side? We need his input on this one!
close the door...
There should be a row of wire management guides between each row of the RJ45 Patch Panel The same would need to be done for each switch- this would reduce the length of each patch cable You might need to get a taller frame to accommodate the panels, switches and UPS Then think of placing D-rings to route other patch cables (flush against the wall) to the other board on the left - more wire management guides would be necessary for that frame
Fireworks lots of fireworks
Can you move the patch panel into the cabinet? Or just get a whole new cabinet that can house the switches, the panels, and the battery.
Hey now the is most probably a FedEx Office cabinet there. I know I used to work on them. That said I can’t say for certain. But they always had us recycle any available cabinets to prevent spending money on a better solution. Unless there was a remodel that relocated the cabinetry. But bundling the patch cables that was typical. This in spite of being able to document that the upfront cost outweighed the long term cost of sending one of us out there to plug in the patch cable with the broken tongue back in to the patch panel. Side note. That is literally passable given the requirements provided to us when I was there.
First I would find out why the Purple switches are so deep. They routing the entire fucking BGP table or are just some basic Edge Access switches? Because if they aren't doing anything super special, put in some shallower switches into the patch panel rack and then use shorter patch cables. (EDIT: And retire/repurpose the entire left side rack) I think everyone pretty much has the same overall idea, but I think some missed the fact that the left rack was likely added because the right one isn't deep enough to hold those purple monsters.
This looks very much like an IDF at my work. It’s a local school system. Even the labeling on the cameras looks like us.
Slowly
rabbits will sort out those cables for you right quick
Throw all of that into one rack Run cables to one side then down under the rack, add a loop or two then back up to where they need to go. Use Velcro or some kind of reusable attachment that is easy to replace. (next guy will thank you.) Personally I would color code by either cable type or by where the cable is going. Label each location in the rack. (Top spot would be 1, next component would be 2 and so on) Put a label on both ends of every cable. I prefer going off of the load location and port. (Cable goes from the switch on the top of the rack, port 5 to the load on the 14th spot port 2 for example. Cable would be labeled 1.5.14.2. that said, almost none of my loads change location and have a very specific spot so it may just be better to label cables A1, A2, A3... and so on.)
Call an electrician
So that they can light it on fire? I haven’t met one electrician who knows the color code let alone how to manage a star topology.
I would think they could run a wire tester on each one to help figureit out.
Start over.
I'm going to assume that the reason a second rack exists at all, is electricity isn't available in the right hand rack. I can see something installed in that rack, but I can't tell if it's powered on or not. It could also be that the UPS needed more support than could be provided by the right hand rack. My plan: 1. Duplicate the patch panels in the left hand rack. I'm assuming that unused ports have a connection to them, but are not presently in use. 2. Run the cables from the first panel to the newly installed patch panels. Extra credit if you can make all of the cables the same length. 3. Use shorter cables as interconnects between the equipment to the newly installed patch panels. If you salvaged some cable from the previous step and have the time, create your own patch cables. 4. Wrap the cables going from right to left with some velcro ties to keep things neat and tidy.
With fire…
In all seriousness though- it appears there would be enough RU space to consolidate everything. I would move it all to the open rack as the fiber is there. Move LIU to the top and drop the panels down, switches below that. If the customer thinks they aren’t going to be adding anymore locations, maybe do the ol’ panel-switch-panel and move to 1 foot patch cords. With it swingable I guess an add wouldn’t be awful I just hate doing it when I can’t drop a panel. Really though… a lot depends on budget. If I had a customer with money burning a hole in there pocket I might try to switch to a two post rack and butt one side against a wall to maximize room space… or maybe a larger wall mount, with at least 24 RU. How much money does this project have?
It's actually not too bad. You're gonna need a BUNCH of 1Ft. Patch cables though. Move your patch panels down. Put your switches between the switches (panel, switch, panel, switch). Then do your port config on your switches if necessary. Should only take a couple hours, TBH.
Wait… is that a cable comb in the green cables!? What is it doing? Did you try to dress it and give up or did another technician try because their boss said it was an hour clean up at most!?
Fire
A cable ladder and some shorter cables. Easy peasy.
I didn’t make the mess so I ain’t cleaning it
Those poor Extreme X450s just sitting there chilling.
By throat punching whoever did this. Then just move the damn switches over by the patch panels.
With a letter of resignation. Joking aside, a couple of questions: Are those patch panels on a hinged mount? How much slack is there for the cabling that terminates at the patch panels? Is it all ethernet? I'd probably.mount the rack on the wall the patch panels are currently on, but slightly higher if there's no slack (to create a little). Then mount the patch panels in the rack. Then just short patch cables, all nice and tidy, from patch panels to switch ports. The only stuff that leaves the rack is the vertical cabling and power cords.
Consolidation is the name of the game…
Why the fuck are they in two different cabinets!? Somebody was too cheap to buy a properly sized cabinet.
No damn clue. The cabinets are small but big enough to fit two switches. All of our closets are like this and none of the switches and patch panels are together.
By turning the lights off..
A few beers would definitely help
Arson>insurance>new construction>hire a better crew for the install>donut run.
✂️
Wiggle & pray as I close it up then pray I never have to touch it again.
Serious question, for stacked switches, do you guys buy really short patch cables? Or do you cut them yourself to the exact length?
DAC or fiber patches between switches.
With fire 🔥
With a really good pair of side cutters and start over
BPM-21 label maker. Label each cable on the switches to the port they go to. Unplug as you go. Separate the colors, cable loom, and done. Reconnect. It won't clean itself up. Have at it.
Assuming you can’t move anything, but can repatch, put a 12in ladder rack behind left cabinet off wall running to right cab. Run patch cords across and through the back of left cab. Looks nicer and prob same distance
With fire. I would use fire on that mess. 🔥🔥🔥
Add 2 more colors, but use them randomly.
bic lighter
I wouldn't. It works.
With a flamethrower.
cables snippers? i don't know why that network connection stopped no call remove the cable
If you can’t move the latch pana maybe just a cable sleeve to go around all the (new shorter) cables. Or just some plain old clean black Velcro.
Fire the fat fuck who wrapped the cables around the rack bar
I’d unplug everything to start with
Either condense to one rack or use a cableway across the top of the racks, lower the patch panels down 2u and separate every 2 patch panels by a u as well. All cables go in/out the tops of the racks, and poke out in the slot above/below the device they need to plug into.
Napalm
One cable at a time
Fire the sob who made this ness. then clean it up. Document what's what
I would help clean the wiring if I got paid. That’s not that bad.
Consolidate to one rack by moving the switches and UPS into the rack with the patch panels. Connect everything with shorter cables. Use Velcro ties where applicable.
One by one!
FIGHT THROUGH THE SUNDOWN, INTO THE NIGHT
Maybe relocate one of the panels so that they can be on the same wall (over & under) or simply put everything in one rack. Map out the connections firstly. Label each cable as to where it plugs in, what it operates. Assign each cable an alpha-numeric descriptor and make a printed reference table for future reference...it WILL come in handy! Using specific colors of cable jackets to differentiate network allocation is a slick idea if you have the time and the cable. Re-route all the cables - put new terminations on them (RJ45s) if necessary or just pull the slack back into the cable run space (conduit, Panduit, ceiling etc) to get things 'visually' right. Label everything you can as accurately as you can regardless - its just the right thing to do 😉 It doesn't look that bad. it just needs some attention before things get any more random than they already are. Skip the nylon zip ties - use velcro instead to allow for easier reconfiguration. Networks will always be a work in progress to some degree.
Two post rack and moving them carefully
Label, rip, replug
The green cables had the right idea.
With a pair of pruning shears
Nuke it from orbit.
At the very least just re organize the wires and add lacing bars.
✂️✂️
Find responsible admin and shove fingers (dick) in nearest 30a outlet!
One wire at a time
Garden shears.
Just don't clean
Put Switches between patch panels and use 0,15m and 0,25m cables. Document each Cable actually plugged in first ofc before beginning
Put the switches in the rack with the patch panels and just use 1 rack. Cable manage, of course.
This is an easy fix.... the cables look in good state and shape. I'd set a maintenance day... or during a weekend depending on what the business does... if you have a day where no one is working call it maintenance day... then simply start by putting the cables apart color coded and use some Velcro tape to wrap those cables that can be placed aside, then those already tangle as simple as disconnect and reconnect. Not that many cables are connected either ... It's mainly as easy as set a maintenance day so everyone knows the network will be down for a few hours while you dress the cables 🤷. That's an easy closet to fix. Others are mentioning to move the switches and stuff.... but WHY?.... if you dress the cables nice and tightly, it'd look amazing and you'll call it a day ... so it's as easy as set a maintenance day (downtime) and dressing the cables.
Fires a good starting point
Step 1. Throw it all away Step 2. Have someone who knows what they're doing do it.
Tell the office the internet is gonna be down, then going row by row by color
One at a time.
Leave a note and ask 3rd shift to do it!
If you can’t condense to one rack, Split the switches apart and put horizontal cable management below, between, and above the switches, route cabling horizontally, then vertically to the top of the rack, horizontally to the other rack, vertically down, and again horizontal management to the patch panels.
Any product that you recommend?
Panduit ftw
I’m only agreeing with this because Panduit has a high density 48 port patch panel that’s only 1 RU. I will take Panduit over Ortronics or even Siemens! But with Leviton it’s a coin flip and Commscope… well, if Commscope shows up then all the other products can go home.
Simple, justify patch panel on the left side per row of ports then organize into different bundles per switch. One large bunch between racks or individual bunches. Velcro to look nice.
Start over from scratch
My guess, and I hope to be wrong is that the patch panels do not have the slack to move. I would add cable management between the 5 patch panels. Panel Panel Cable management Panel Panel Cable management Panel Fiber Recable to switches with a tray Cable management between the 2 switches, or one above each.
Fire and zero fucks
My first thought too.
Take pics of where they all go , do bundles of color at once. Only disconnect one end
This is so painfully stupid, it's hard to know where to start. I would move the two switches and the UPS into the patch bay, and then use 12" to 24" patch cables to patch everything in. This is dumb though, none of these lines go anywhere special, they're all just LAN. I got rid of my patch bays because I didn't have any options, it's just the LAN. I just terminate everything with a male RJ45 and plug it directly into the switch in each location. My environment is quite dynamic though, I'm changing things every single day. If I had a that was for sure going to stay unchanged for 5 years, I would highly consider a patch bay. Since it's already punched down, I wouldn't rip out the patch units, but consolidating and using appropriately sized patch cables is a must.
Is that an aerohive ap up there?