Redoing a business network cabinet, suggestions?

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lNomNoml

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#207336 19-Dec-2016 21:04

Does anyone have any helpful suggestions for redoing a network cabinet, one that is in serious need for a redoing in management and organisation.

Suggestions as in any time saving ways in going about it other than using explosives and or recommended gear other than a lan tester?

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

chevrolux

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#1692472 19-Dec-2016 21:51

I've redone a good amount of network cabinets and personally I always find the rip it all apart and start from scratch approach best.
As long as you understand how things were set up in the first place then it's just much easier to start from scratch than the "one at a time" approach.
One thing I guess is there any special voice cabling invloved? Ie digital/analogue phone system? Obviously important to make sure you put your extensions back where they were. But a quick audit of "pair and port" will sort that for you.

lNomNoml

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#1692568 20-Dec-2016 08:34

chevrolux: I've redone a good amount of network cabinets and personally I always find the rip it all apart and start from scratch approach best.
As long as you understand how things were set up in the first place then it's just much easier to start from scratch than the "one at a time" approach.
One thing I guess is there any special voice cabling invloved? Ie digital/analogue phone system? Obviously important to make sure you put your extensions back where they were. But a quick audit of "pair and port" will sort that for you.

Yes they have a huge voice telephone system in which I am actually considering leaving alone where possible, we are having a meeting with them today about this so will see the scope of the job at hand.

trig42

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#1692609 20-Dec-2016 10:10

I've migrated a few cabinets from a 24RU to a 40/42RU.

Most important thing is to document everything.

I use a spreadsheet, and have 24 columns across the top, then document where every cable in each row goes to. I colour Blue for LAN, Green for phone, Yellow for WiFi, Red for Infra. Others may be different.

As ours only have one 48 port switch per rack, and a seperate switch for a smaller network (with WiFi APs running over POE), our racks are quite simple. We do have a PABX (Nortel/Avaya) in each rack, but their outputs are also in the same format (ie. a patch rail) it is easy to map them.

My spreadsheet ends up cross-referenced, so as I do all the patch rails, and Phone rail they end up matching up (that way if I make a mistake noting down where a cable goes, it will be picked up when I get to the other end of that cable).

For Internet/outside connections, note down every port on the appliances (we have Vodafone OneAccess NTUs, connected to Cisco Routers - managed by telco, connected to the switch - I just note where each cable comes from and goes to).

When I do ours, it usually takes 2-3 hours, but I am not particularly fussy about making it look like a work of art. I'll make it 'tidy' by using correct coloured cables, that aren't too long but I do not use cable management rails. I ensure all power is running off the UPS, so that the cabinet only has one power cable going into it (the ones I have replaced have had all sorts of power cables and daisy chained 4-way powerboards). I use network managed PDUs for Routers, switches, NTUs/Modems and the server. All other power comes directly off the UPS to the device (like the phone system, video recorders, phone NTUs etc) or to a three-pin socket power distribution board (like this)

chevrolux

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#1692676 20-Dec-2016 10:49

lNomNoml:

chevrolux: I've redone a good amount of network cabinets and personally I always find the rip it all apart and start from scratch approach best.
As long as you understand how things were set up in the first place then it's just much easier to start from scratch than the "one at a time" approach.
One thing I guess is there any special voice cabling invloved? Ie digital/analogue phone system? Obviously important to make sure you put your extensions back where they were. But a quick audit of "pair and port" will sort that for you.

Yes they have a huge voice telephone system in which I am actually considering leaving alone where possible, we are having a meeting with them today about this so will see the scope of the job at hand.

Yep so if it is of decent size there is probably a voice tie panel which is then patched out to the outlets.

trig42 has the right idea. Do yourself a nice big spreadsheet and trace out the voice cabling to ensure that things get put back where they should be. Then just note down what ports have data in them - obviously worth noting if they have port-based VLAN's too. And finally any "special" ports like PoE, video extenders etc.

Then just rip it all apart and re-patch as required. Depending on size normally only takes a couple of hours, provided the audit is done well in the first place.

lNomNoml

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#1692975 20-Dec-2016 20:02

Thanks guys

webwat

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#1694949 25-Dec-2016 21:03

chevrolux: I've redone a good amount of network cabinets and personally I always find the rip it all apart and start from scratch approach best.
As long as you understand how things were set up in the first place then it's just much easier to start from scratch than the "one at a time" approach.
One thing I guess is there any special voice cabling invloved? Ie digital/analogue phone system? Obviously important to make sure you put your extensions back where they were. But a quick audit of "pair and port" will sort that for you.

But a fairly thorough audit will be better!

Also worth watching out whether routers and special LAN devices need a special VLANed port on the switch, whether any alarm wiring runs through the cabinet, and take care of your fibre patch leads after you pull them out of the switch (get them dirty and you need special cleaning toys). As you rework all the cabling, whatch out for any opportunity to simplify the maintenance for the next guy, because thats how it turned into a dogs breakfast in the first place.

Time to find a new industry!