Comms cabinet

We can install patch panels and cabling to your requirements. Install and supply switches for your patch panel, and organise everything in a neat and tidy manner.

A 19-inch rack is a standardised frame or enclosure for mounting multiple electronic equipment modules. Each module has a front panel that is 19 inches (48.3 cm) wide. The 19-inch dimension includes the edges, or "ears", that protrude on each side which allow the module to be fastened to the rack frame with screws. Common uses include server, telecom, broadcast video, lighting, audio, and scientific lab equipment. 

Rack-mountable equipment is traditionally mounted by bolting or clipping its front panel to the rack. Within the IT industry, it is common for network/communications equipment to have multiple mounting positions, including table-top and wall mounting, so rack mountable equipment will often feature L-brackets that must be screwed or bolted to the equipment prior to mounting in a 19-inch rack. With the prevalence of 23-inch racks in the Telecoms industry, the same practice is also common, but with equipment having 19-inch and 23-inch brackets available, enabling them to be mounted in existing racks.

Servers and deep pieces of equipment are often mounted using rails that are bolted to the front and rear posts (as above, it's common for such rails to have an adjustable depth), allowing the equipment to be supported by four posts, while also enabling it to be easily installed and removed. 

Here are a few simple tips to keep your server racks and communications cabinets tidy. 

Try to run power cables down one side of the rack and network and data cabling down the other. Reason – Power and data cables don’t mix. These cables too close to each other can cause interference, re transmits and cross-talk.  

Use near to length patch leads 

Try to place your switches next to your patch panels so you can use short to length cables. 

The Future  

Here at G.K Data we can help you plan for the future, it is always advisable to leave room for extra patch panels in your server rack, as you never really know what the future holds, you should ideally plan for twice the amount of points as you need. After all the cost of running two cables is usually near enough the same as running one. Cable is cheap compared to labour. 

However, if you decide that this option isn't for you right now, we are on hand to return and update works when needed. 

Use Ties 

Using Cable ties can also help to keep messy cables in check. 

Colour coding 

Pick 4/5 colours and assign each to a category, hang a sign in your server room with the colours and what they represent and stick to it. As a guide; 

• Computers – Blue 
• Phones – Yellow 
• Servers – Black 
• WAN/Infrastructure/Other Switches – Red 

Try to keep the cabling colours the same at end user desks too. 

Labelling 

Here at DG Data Soultions, we can label any cables to make for a more complete and tidy cabinet, often labelling process can ruin a cabinet if they are not kept in the correct order. As part of our services we can tidy previous installed cabinets, using a number system to make it more accessible.  

Credits to: wiki, Mcconnells