Networking member gives free advice on comms cabinets

Category: Networking - Free Advice

Release Date: 24/04/2017

Members of ebn (effective business network) were given free advice when Ashley Webb of McConnells gave them tips on keeping a comms cabinet tidy.

Ashley shared tips aimed not only at keeping the cabinet tidy, but also making sure everything's ready for the Company to grow.

Ashley said: "Although not always possible, try to run power cables down one side of the rack, and network and data cabling down the other side. Reason: power and data cables don't mix. These cables too close to each other can cause interference, regarding transmits and cross-talk. This will also ensure that the equipment can be seen and accessed easily.

"Try to place your switches next to your patch panels, so that you can use shorter length cables. Using a one metre patch lead to patch a 30cm gap is going to cause a lot of slack cable and you will soon be in the same mess.

"Ensure that you have space in your rack for extra patch panels, as you never know when you will take on new staff. Plan for twice as many points as you have, because the cost of running two cables is usually near enough the same as running one. Cable is cheap compared to labour.

"Velcro cable ties allow you to run additional cables without having to snip and replace traditional cable ties; the last thing you want to do is accidentally cut a network cable. Velcro ties can also be easy to undo in those hard-to-reach places.

"Pick four or five colours and assign each to a category and hang a sign in your server room with the colours and what they represent, and stick to it – for example, computers use blue and telephones use yellow.

"Put yourself in the shoes of your IT department when trying to trace a fault. If you ask your data contractor to install new cables into an already populated comms rack, you should insist that the first number of the new installation follows on from the last number of the old installation. Labelling full patch panels at the time can save you valuable time and money in the future.

"For further information please visit www.mcconnells.uk.com "

Ashley is a member of the ebn Briantree Group, which meets every other Wednesday at the White Hart Hotel. More information on ebn Groups, including Braintree, can be found at www.ebn.uk.com.

ebn Managing Director Glenys Chatterley said: "ebn members not only build good contacts to help grow their businesses but also get regular, free advice from experts to help them meet both their business and personal needs."

ENDS

Notes for Editors

More information:

ebn Managing Director Glenys Chatterley on 07780 666726
Ashley Webb of McConnells on 07793 240646

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