What do I need to get a recessed network enclosure installed?

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › What do I need to get a recessed network enclosure installed?

siyuan

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#275665 2-Sep-2020 21:35

My place is currently being renovated and it's the perfect time to do structured data cabling. I plan to install a 28" box in the garage, but I still have a few questions about how things are supposed to be setup:

I learned that I could use a mounting bracket for installing a standard rack patch panel, is this the most recommended way?
How is power outlets provided inside the box? What accecessories do I need to purchase? Or is it something a sparky could/should sort out?
Can I fit a 16 port switch in there? How does one mount it vertically?
My ONT is currently located in a room on the other side of the hallway leading to the garage (about 5m away), how do I have it moved to the garage? All gib boards are off, so it's very easy to do wiring. I'm aware that Chorus has to do it, but the place is currently unoccupied, I'm not with any ISP at the moment, so can I contact Chorus directly to move it?

Thanks.

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#2555998 2-Sep-2020 21:46

If you will put a full size patch panel in there I suggest you get the 42" version at the very minimum.

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nztim

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#2556051 2-Sep-2020 22:15

I honestly suggest getting a 12U 450mm deep enclosure, it will give you so many more options in the future over a recessed shallow cabinet

@Wheelbarrow01 would be able to answer the question regarding moving an intact but not in service ONT

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Stu1

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#2556056 2-Sep-2020 22:26

I’m looking at same option but inside I got some great advise on this thread recently under network cabinet advice https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumId=66&topicId=273369

SomeoneSomewhere

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#2556070 2-Sep-2020 23:55

Recessed cabinets are a pain if you want any more than 8 ports, a router, and a switch.\

Power is also a pain as they generally don't have room to mount a power point so it can be used with an adaptor in any direction.

Get a 6-12U cabinet.

nickb800

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#2556086 3-Sep-2020 05:35

Recessed cabinets are fine as long as you acknowledge their limitations. It's only a home for the patch panel, switch, router and ONT. It's worth having a well cabled (e.g. 4 port) alternate spot like an office where servers and NAS can go in future.

In terms of patch panels, I'd recommend several smaller ones (e.g. 12 port) running horizontally rather than a big one vertically. Switches etc should have holes for mounting over a screw on the rear. Those dynamic in wall units have provision for power at the bottom - I'd suggest two double sockets - one horizontal and one vertical, to allow for different types of power adapters

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#2556089 3-Sep-2020 05:48

you need to work out how many Ethernet cables you plan on having terminate into the cabinet, then that will somewhat push you in the direction of what size cabinet and equipment you need to fit in there.

i think you could get away with 16 in a 28in cabinet, just use 2 of these: https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/CABDNX0354/Dynamix-HPP-1008-1SL-8-Port-Cat6-Slimline-Patch-Pa

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cyril7

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#2556104 3-Sep-2020 07:13

Hi, as many of you know I used to do lots of home data/AV work for a few years before my wife asked me to go get a real job again. Regardless I still get approached by builders and developers who I worked with to work on various jobs in my spare time, yeah right. Currently have three on the go.

Anyway, IMHO upto 16 outlets in a 3bed house is about the magic number of sufficient but not over the top, roughly 2per bed (6), 2per 2x AV location (4), 2-3 ceiling WAPs(3), 2 in Office/study(2) (15 all up). For most folk they only want the one in at least two of the beds as long as there is good wireless, so you can get by with less. In AV and office areas if you need more outlets its way more flexible to use a 5port switch to expand.

Therefore I have found the 28" (725mm internal cavity) inwalls are sufficient for this, if you want 24 outlets then I suggest move to another solution such as a 6 or 9ru cabinet or even a 4ru wall frame.

My typcial layout based on the above is top 200mm is reserved for the ONT, it actually requires only 170mm but with air space at the top. The reason for putting it at the top is the installers are under orders to allow the wifi antenna to be fully unfurled, God knows why they bother its in a faraday cage and whilst I am installing multiple controlled ceiling waps in a house why would I want their wireless solution. But if you put it at the top at least it can unfurl over the patch panel. Obviously as soon as they have left the building its tucked back up and away.

Next is 2x 8port slimline Cat6 patch panels across the cabinet, this takes the now current usage from the top to 200+50=250mm

Next a 16port switch just as the OP posted is approx 180deep and 295-300 wide so mount that vertically with the ports facing across the cabinet, we are now at 200+50+300=550 from the top, that leaves approx 175 for power supplies and POE injectors at teh bottom although I normally place the POE injectors on the side walls around the switch region, this seems to work well.

As for the router, as many of you know I am a Mikrotik fan, but if you are going down this route you will want a decent router and a Mikrotik (HexS or RB4011) will easily fit in the lower region wiht the Power supplies, although I have taken recently to poping the top off the switch and drilling two holes for screws in the top for the router to mount on the top of the switch.

Edit: I should also add routers such as the EdgeRouter are also great options that are similar small foot print

Finally you will say, so where is the RG6 coax, well in a cabinet this size I recommend you leave all the coax terminations in the roof space, passive splitters are fine in the heat up there, if you need amplification then go for a mast amp and remotely power it from one of the outlets.

My 2c

Cyril

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#2556107 3-Sep-2020 07:30

SomeoneSomewhere:

Recessed cabinets are a pain if you want any more than 8 ports, a router, and a switch.\

Power is also a pain as they generally don't have room to mount a power point so it can be used with an adaptor in any direction.

Get a 6-12U cabinet.

Agree, I have a UPS, my Sky Box is distributed is also in my cabinet which distributes it to all rooms a recessed cabinet just wont do it for me but each to their own

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nztim

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#2556108 3-Sep-2020 07:33

cyril7:

As for the router, as many of you know I am a Mikrotik fan, but if you are going down this route you will want a decent router and a Mikrotik (HexS or RB4011) will easily fit in the lower region wiht the Power supplies, although I have taken recently to poping the top off the switch and drilling two holes for screws in the top for the router to mount on the top of the switch.

I am with you on the Mikrotik.... people just need to make sure they are properly configured - I.E if you are on a gig connection don't have your LAN and WAN on ether1 and ether2 as that is a single 1G connection to the CPU have it on 1 and 6 or use the SFP port to the WAN which is a dedicated path to the CPU

Also they are can be insecure, especially if the MAC server and Neighbour discovery are visible on the ONT port- Tie these things to your LAN only (or disable them completely once router is configured)

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siyuan

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#2556112 3-Sep-2020 08:00

Thanks for all the great advice, much appreciated.

I actually had a 6RU cabinet in mind originally, but because of the small size of the single garage, I started thinking about using a recessed cabinet.

Here's the original plan:

How is the ONT normally mounted in a wall mount cabinet? Is there a bracket that could hold the ONT? The ONT is currently in the study, I guess I don't really mind leaving it there, it's just that I thought since there's going to be a data cabinet, might as well move it there.

If I put a 1RU power board in the cabinet, from your experience, would plugs and power adapters for a switch/ONT/router fit on the front (and still be able to close the door)? By the way, I have an EdgeRouter ER4 if you were wondering what kind of router I have.

chevrolux

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#2556116 3-Sep-2020 08:22

Just a second for the 450mm deep cabinets. They are just right in a house. 6 or 9 RU's should be plenty.

Just FYI, Dynamix have their "Lite" range which is just a tad cheaper and doesn't have all the built-in fans. http://www.dynamix.co.nz/RSFDSL6

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cyril7

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#2556124 3-Sep-2020 08:37

siyuan:

Thanks for all the great advice, much appreciated.

I actually had a 6RU cabinet in mind originally, but because of the small size of the single garage, I started thinking about using a recessed cabinet.

Here's the original plan:

How is the ONT normally mounted in a wall mount cabinet? Is there a bracket that could hold the ONT? The ONT is currently in the study, I guess I don't really mind leaving it there, it's just that I thought since there's going to be a data cabinet, might as well move it there.

If I put a 1RU power board in the cabinet, from your experience, would plugs and power adapters for a switch/ONT/router fit on the front (and still be able to close the door)? By the way, I have an EdgeRouter ER4 if you were wondering what kind of router I have.

Hi, so your showing 12 outlets, so I would go wtih a 28" inwall as per my post.

As for the ONT mounting, what model do you have currently, regardless the Gen200 model the back plate justs gets screwed to the rear of the inwall cabinet (you will need to drill holes), and the ONT clips to that, for the current Gen300 model, there is a fibre splice containment that is approx 120wide 100high and 35mm deep, this is screwed to the rear of the cabient, the ONT clips onto that, the total depth of both splice containment and ONT is around 70mm, so easily fits.

Cyril

siyuan

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#2556127 3-Sep-2020 08:45

cyril7:

Hi, so your showing 12 outlets, so I would go wtih a 28" inwall as per my post.

As for the ONT mounting, what model do you have currently, regardless the Gen200 model the back plate justs gets screwed to the rear of the inwall cabinet (you will need to drill holes), and the ONT clips to that, for the current Gen300 model, there is a fibre splice containment that is approx 120wide 100high and 35mm deep, this is screwed to the rear of the cabient, the ONT clips onto that, the total depth of both splice containment and ONT is around 70mm, so easily fits.

Cyril

Thanks for confirming that the 28" would work for me. To answer your question about the ONT, I have the Gen200 model.

sbiddle

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#2556143 3-Sep-2020 09:21

You need to have an RSP to move an ONT and they need to be the ones to facilitate this for you. Chorus have no way of billing you directly for this work otherwise.

cyril7

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#2556147 3-Sep-2020 09:31

sbiddle:

You need to have an RSP to move an ONT and they need to be the ones to facilitate this for you. Chorus have no way of billing you directly for this work otherwise.

Correct, I think Chorus reps on here have indicated that to move it a small distance in the same or adjacent room can be handled by fibre feild staff and typically costs around $200, but dont quote me on that. Major moves to other side of the house or significant distance requires a designer check it out and quote and a specialist team do it, can cost a bit more.

Cyril

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