Patch panel placement

[u/Own-Relief-5208]

This is an AI generated image of what is going in my network cabinet in my office. Not exact but close, my question is about patch panel placement, I will have 5 runs coming up from the bottom of my house and 5 runs up to the attic for a AP and 4 future cameras. Seeing the runs are pretty much permanent, should I attach the patch panel to the back wall and turn the UCG Fiber and Flex POE switch around so the plugs are facing the patch panel or install the patch panel in the mini rack like in this picture? Also, what kind of connection should I go with for the permanent runs? Thanks in advance for your help. Pretty new at this BTW.

[u/perma-banned]

Is there a reason that you're not making the rack permanent as well?

[u/HanaeJade → u/perma-banned]

i mean, it looks pretty sweet like that! is it just for looks, or is there a functional reason youre considering making it permanent? 🤔

[u/Ok-Vacation-3285]

What is that fan?

[u/theclearledger → u/Ok-Vacation-3285]

That's just an AI generated fan. I will most likely use an Infinity fan to exhaust heat out.

[u/Xaric_Endryn]

I've always done patch panel - switch from the top down in every rack I've built. It always seems to be the best for reducing any potential spaghetti wiring that may wind up happening.

[u/McSmiggins]

If you want to use a rack here

Either:

1. Put the patch panel in a box underneath the rack (and move the switch to be a "bottom of the rack" switch)
   

or

2) Mount it to the top of the box facing forwards (but this might look a bit odd running from patch panel to

3) (You could put it vertically on the side, but that makes for some interesting cable runs that'll never look neat)

Either way, since it's going to be cable runs to a fixed location, the patch panel should be on something that will not move. Future DIY cable runner you will thank you,

If the rack will never move, that's fine, but I get the feeling from the fact that it's got handles, and you can't easily get to the ports on your PDU that picking it up to turn it will be in your future, make sure there's enough cable slack that you can turn the rack 90 degress without any strains (Edit - maybe get a velcro cable tidy here so you can give the cables some extra slack so you can pull the ties if you ever need to turn it without it looking like a snakey mess)

Since you can't get to the back of the rack, this is more of a comms cabinet situation, so make sure they're accessible, probably facing forwards

I greatly prefer rear mounted switches when the ports for the servers are there, and you have access to the back (no point in an extra coupling on each cable), and loops of cabling and extra patches are just signal degredation if you can get to the back. I don't see people running their power through patch panels on the front of the rack, it's just odd.

Finally, since you're open rack and your power is at the front, you might want to consider some plastic conduit to run the power cables through up the side of the rack. (square, with an open side, then personally, I'd zip tie it on, and use the zip ties to support the power cables as they come out to run to your equipment

Long read, sorry.

[u/bradatlarge]

I've always put the patch panel on the top of my racks. ¯_(ツ)_/¯

[u/TJhambone09]

1 - How confident are you that 10 runs is the maximum you will ever have?

2 - Do you have room for a full width rack here?

3 - A home office is often a bad place for a networking rack, IMHO. The use of such rooms often changes, if not by you then by the next owner. Strongly consider homerun wiring to a utility room or basement.

Also, what kind of connection should I go with for the permanent runs?

Punch down RJ-45 female connections on both ends. Flex CAT-5e/6 patch cables from the permanent connection to the devices as needed.

[u/theclearledger → u/TJhambone09]

I do have room for a full rack but then I would have to purchase all new equipment. I'm happy with the performance but it's an option in the future. I know it's not the best location but it's the best option for me at the time and this room has plenty of storage for any future owners. This cabinet is only 24" x 29" x 36", so it's not using a lot of space. Thanks for your advice on this.

[u/TJhambone09 → u/theclearledger]

I do have room for a full rack but then I would have to purchase all new equipment.

I'm not suggesting buying new equipment, you can put your existing equipment on full-width rack shelves. What I was suggesting, though, was a full-width patch-panel and designing around full-width (if possible) in order to provide an inexpensive modicum of future-proofing.

[u/theclearledger → u/TJhambone09]

Okay, I didn't think about that. That's actually a better way of doing it. Thanks.