Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Connectorized patch panels may be rated by category as with any connecting hard-
ware and should be properly marked. The actual internal wiring between the connector
and the jacks must be appropriate for the category of operation, such as Category 5e/6.
The manufacturer will normally provide testing and verification by an independent lab-
oratory, such as UL, to attest to their claimed category of operation. As with regular
patch panels, connectorized panels that are not marked or otherwise certified, should not
be used in any application that requires Category 5e or 6 performance.
Patch panels are usually designed to be mounted in 19-in relay racks.
They also mount on simple, freestanding mounting rails, in equipment cabi-
nets, and on wall mounts. You should carefully plan the location of your patch pan-
els, as you should all your connectivity hardware. If you choose to use patch panels,
rather than direct cross-connection, you will also have to plan for routing and dress-
ing of the patch cords from origin to destination jacks. If you route the cords using
wire management brackets and accessories, you will avoid the “cable curtain” that
sometimes infects patch panel installations.
As stated before, patch panels may be used for both the horizontal cable and
the equipment (hub) port connections. If you use patches for both, you will have to
provide a TR layout that brings the two types of panels conveniently together for
reasonable patch cord lengths. If your installation involves the frequent reconfigu-
ration of networks and workstations, you should definitely plan to have the two
panels as close together as possible. In large installations, each type of patch loca-
tion may actually be composed of several panels. You may want to place them on
multibay relay racks (side by side) so that patch cords can go directly across between
racks to make connections, rather than climb the rails in a route across the top of
the racks. Wire management accessories for adjacent racks are available to make
this job easier (Fig. 8.6).
If you terminate the horizontal cables in punchdown blocks and then cross-
connect to patch panels, you should plan the layout in such a way that you mini-
mize both the length of cross-connect wire and the length of equipment cords (or
patch cords) to the network hubs. You can easily mount punchdown blocks and
patch panels on wiring closet backboards (wall mount), but the hubs will probably
mount in an equipment rack, unless the installation is very small. This may increase
the length of the cords from the horizontal patches to the equipment connections.
Proper planning will minimize this distance.
You should carefully plan your TR installation, including the location of the
patch panels and hubs, to keep the total cross-connect and cord lengths within the
