Any thoughts on 6 inch ethernet patch cables

cable-managementethernet

It seems like no matter how strict and careful we are in our closets when we set them up, they eventually turn into a giant knot.

In part I blame the fact that we've got a rather large number of people who go into the closets and move things around, but I can't really change that.

What I can change is the way we arrange our racks and patch panels and switches.

At the moment, we've got the patch panels in a group (with wire managers between them) and a feet below them we've got our switches.

I'd like to just pull out the cable managers and put the switches directly below the patch panels, and connect the switches to the patch panels with 6 inch cables.

Are there any problems with using 6 inch patch cables?

bad way to run a network

Best Answer

Personally, I try to put the switches as close to the patch panels as possible. Typically, I'll put a 48 port switch between 2 24 port patch panels. So it goes like:

Patch Panel
Switch
Patch Panel
Patch Panel
Switch
Patch Panel
...

Then, I use 6" patch cables to connect the panel to the switch. The benefit is that everything is nice and neat, and organized... Then, any infrastructure related cabling (connecting switches, etc) I run out to the side of the rack and then up/down to where it needs to go...

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