Small office structured cabling - quick question

RonnieD · 06-04-2007, 07:25 AM

Some simple questions that I just cant find the answer to on the wonderful internet - perhaps some of you technical people will know.

I have a small office, 2 floors and approx 30 users on each floor. We have a main computer room which contains our network equipment and also the patch frame. The intention, as I understand it, is to run the structured cabling out from the patch panel, under the raised floor and present 2 x cables at each desk. This bit I can see the logic in.

The bit that I don't really understand is the connection from the patch panel to the network switches, which are in the cabinet next door. As far as I am aware we just run small fly leads from the patch panel to the network switch (which has enough ports to handle all of our users). My question is this…..

Why do we bother running the structured cabling to the patch panel and then additional cables to the switch ? Could we not just run the cabling direct into the switch ? Is there anything obvious that I am missing ?

Forgive me if this sounds a little funny, I am not the IT man, just the person that runs the office but I like to understand the reasoning behind what we do and make sure it’s the most cost efficent method !

Thanks for your help

Chevy · 06-04-2007, 07:50 AM

Using a patch panel between your switches and your user runs helps keep everything organized. Cabling has a tendency to go "birds nets", and this is one way to prevent that - it separates your rack cabling from the external cabling.

On smaller networks (10 or so users), the cost isn't worth it. However, when you get to the point where you're using multiple switches, it's a whole lot easier on the IT staff.

johnwill · 06-04-2007, 07:57 AM

It also makes it easier to tinker with the network configuration should that become necessary.

RonnieD · 06-04-2007, 08:26 AM

Thanks guys. Have read similar answers on the internet but that still leaves me thinking....

- Why is it easier ? Surely if you go into a patch panel you then need to run individual cables from the patch to the switch ? So for example if you have 100 cables going to the patch panel then you need to take 100 cables from their to the switch ?

- Why not just label the switch cables ? Or just space out your network switches ? (guess thats same as above - amount of cables is the same either way !)

- From documentation i have read from the IT team we actually provide less ports on the switch than cables to the desk ? Is that just an educated guess at it is unlikely that everyone will use both their cables ? (Patch panel can accept all the cables but switch has 30% less capacity)

- how do you normally get the cables from the patch panel to the switch ? Down and under the raised floor and back up ?

Have looked on the web for this but can't find the answers so I appreciate your help :-)

06-04-2007, 07:25 AM	#1 (permalink)
RonnieD Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2 OS: XP	Small office structured cabling - quick question Some simple questions that I just cant find the answer to on the wonderful internet - perhaps some of you technical people will know. I have a small office, 2 floors and approx 30 users on each floor. We have a main computer room which contains our network equipment and also the patch frame. The intention, as I understand it, is to run the structured cabling out from the patch panel, under the raised floor and present 2 x cables at each desk. This bit I can see the logic in. The bit that I don't really understand is the connection from the patch panel to the network switches, which are in the cabinet next door. As far as I am aware we just run small fly leads from the patch panel to the network switch (which has enough ports to handle all of our users). My question is this….. Why do we bother running the structured cabling to the patch panel and then additional cables to the switch ? Could we not just run the cabling direct into the switch ? Is there anything obvious that I am missing ? Forgive me if this sounds a little funny, I am not the IT man, just the person that runs the office but I like to understand the reasoning behind what we do and make sure it’s the most cost efficent method ! Thanks for your help

06-04-2007, 07:50 AM	#2 (permalink)
Chevy Semi-Retired Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Notlob Posts: 5,161 OS: Vista Ultimate My System	Re: Small office structured cabling - quick question Using a patch panel between your switches and your user runs helps keep everything organized. Cabling has a tendency to go "birds nets", and this is one way to prevent that - it separates your rack cabling from the external cabling. On smaller networks (10 or so users), the cost isn't worth it. However, when you get to the point where you're using multiple switches, it's a whole lot easier on the IT staff. __________________ “My philosophy, like color television, is all there in black and white” -M. Python

06-04-2007, 07:57 AM	#3 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 30,171 OS: XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Small office structured cabling - quick question It also makes it easier to tinker with the network configuration should that become necessary. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

06-04-2007, 08:26 AM	#4 (permalink)
RonnieD Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2 OS: XP	Re: Small office structured cabling - quick question Thanks guys. Have read similar answers on the internet but that still leaves me thinking.... - Why is it easier ? Surely if you go into a patch panel you then need to run individual cables from the patch to the switch ? So for example if you have 100 cables going to the patch panel then you need to take 100 cables from their to the switch ? - Why not just label the switch cables ? Or just space out your network switches ? (guess thats same as above - amount of cables is the same either way !) - From documentation i have read from the IT team we actually provide less ports on the switch than cables to the desk ? Is that just an educated guess at it is unlikely that everyone will use both their cables ? (Patch panel can accept all the cables but switch has 30% less capacity) - how do you normally get the cables from the patch panel to the switch ? Down and under the raised floor and back up ? Have looked on the web for this but can't find the answers so I appreciate your help :-)