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Does your office cabling look like this? Badly organised cabling can make troubleshooting difficult and can even cause problems, with cables being bent or crimped. If you need a new phone or workstation, it’s hard to even know where to start with the cabling when it looks like this.
[/column] [column col=”1/2″] A neat and tidy data cabinet or rack is not just aesthetically pleasing to the eye; it is also easier to work on and with.
Ben from PDT Architects ( www.pdt.com.au ) asked our cabler, Tim, to arrange the cabling in his new offices and this is the result.
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[/column] [column col=”1/2″] A neat and tidy data cabinet or rack is not just aesthetically pleasing to the eye; it is also easier to work on and with.
Ben from PDT Architects ( www.pdt.com.au ) asked our cabler, Tim, to arrange the cabling in his new offices and this is the result.
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Following are some helpful hints and tips to improve yours.
When installing a rack, first you need to consider how many switches/routers are going to be housed and the number of cables that will be used. Detailed planning is essential.
Ways to avoid creating a mess-
- Map out what is needed – data, voice, printers, wireless, etc
- Smart use of cable trays. This not only group cables but also gives them a place be run. These can be horizontal and vertical. Sometimes known as Jumper Rings as well.
- Label both ends of your cables. Also label them in a way that will make sense in years to come even when you have replaced end points or have forgotten about the layout when first installed.
- Another way to label them is to use colour. Blue for computers, Yellow for your phones, Green for your printers, Orange for your wireless is just one example.
- Avoid labelling your cables based on their end points. These will change and be replaced and it will be a pain and time consuming to relabel.
- Use Velcro strips to tie up cables instead of cable ties. The Velcro can be easily undone to remove or add another cable and done back up to keep things neat.
- Buy correct length cables – it is always good to have the length where the cable can run to the side of the rack then either up or down to the level required and then run to the point where it is to be connected. The cable should have enough slack so that it isn’t pulled tight – extra 15-30cm as a buffer.
Benefits of keeping a clean and tidy data cabinet or rack –
- Simplifies any additions or changes and also helps should you need to relocate.
- Improves the troubleshooting process length. (eg – Printer problem – if they are all cabled with green cables then it is quicker to locate the relevant one)
- Gives more room so you can install other rack equipment (servers, switches, patch panels)
- Easy to follow should your IT person change.
If you have any cabling to be done, give our qualified cabler, Tim, a call on 1300 858 723 and book him in. You’ll be glad you did.
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