Ethernet over HDMI and a question about Patch Panels

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Ethernet over HDMI and a question about Patch Panels

dymatrixnz

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#102648 18-May-2012 19:34

Hey guys.

Im getting involved with data centers and networking and I had a question around cable infrastructure.

From what I understand it is possible to run HDMI as your network. And Im reading posts about running HDMI using converters for CAT5e or greater.

1. Does that mean that you could have en entire datacenter using HDMI instead of catX and just use patch cables from a patch panel instead?

2. I dont quite understand how the cross over works on HDMI either. Can HDMI cables be used to patch into end user devices with the right converters?

Any direction on this would be greatly appreciated.

gregmcc

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#627480 18-May-2012 19:38

I think you have things around the wrong way cat5e is dirt cheap, thay are talking about running HDMI over cat5, getting a HDMI signal out of a set top box having a converter next to it and using cat5 to distribute the signal to another room with another converter near the TV.

sbiddle

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#627481 18-May-2012 19:39

HDMI isn't a replacement for ethernet cables.

You can carry HDMI signals over twisted pair cable though.

dymatrixnz

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#627484 18-May-2012 19:44

Ok that made things alot more simple in about 5 seconds. Thanks for that.

In that case theres no HDMI Patch Panel then?

haha...

chevrolux

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#627533 18-May-2012 21:08

HDMI cables are used for stacking switches some times. but never as a replacement for twisted pair cables.

dymatrixnz

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#627566 18-May-2012 22:19

Stacking switches? So linking them up on a rack through a single cable? or multiple? Kind of liek a daisy chain?

Zeon

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#627591 18-May-2012 23:27

chevrolux: HDMI cables are used for stacking switches some times. but never as a replacement for twisted pair cables.

Lol really, I've never seen that?!

Stacking switches is when you have many seperate switches but they all join into a common management domain where one of them takes over all the smarts and the others become managed by the master. Good where you need lots of ports but don't want heaps of management interfaces.

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dymatrixnz

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#627597 18-May-2012 23:55

Ah right so like with a controller card in a DSLAM or something similar?

My ultimate question was answered in this thread though Thanks heaps for that guys I feel more educated already!

chevrolux

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#627761 19-May-2012 18:29

Zeon:
chevrolux: HDMI cables are used for stacking switches some times. but never as a replacement for twisted pair cables.

Lol really, I've never seen that?!

Stacking switches is when you have many seperate switches but they all join into a common management domain where one of them takes over all the smarts and the others become managed by the master. Good where you need lots of ports but don't want heaps of management interfaces.

To be fair I have only seen it on the new Allied Telesis Layer 2 & 3 switches. Obviously it doesn't use the HDMI protocols but they reckon it gives 48Gbps bandwidth. I don't know if it works with any old HDMI cable but the plug is just the same.

WhiteRabbit

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#628455 21-May-2012 16:53

Also I will point out that you can indeed carry Ethernet over HDMI as of HDMI 1.4 its called "Ethernet channel"

OVM also make HDMI patch panels http://www.onevisitmedia.com/pphdmi-n24.html

You wouldn't use HDMI in a DC though because of cost, the limited number of cablers who could work with it and the fact that it offers no benefits that fibre cannot.