Using the Patch Panel to Deploy a Neat Cabling Network

Although most of Ethernet networks are deployed in a wireless manner, the wired network is still strongly recommended for those who want to have fast network speed that is much closer to the promised maximum. Are you enjoying the wired network? Or do you have any plan to set up a wired network for the high speed network? If the answer is yes, then you may lack a kind of patch panel that enables better cabling management. Are you familiar with this kind of functional unit applied in the wired network? In this paper, it will describe the basic knowledge of the patch panel and instruct you to fast and correctly install the patch panel for a simple, neat and easy-to-manage cabling network.

What Is the Patch Panel?

The patch panel, a crucial unit in the wired network, serves as a central location for monitoring and connecting circuits, which allows for the cable termination and plays an important role in transmitting the signals to the final destination. If the patch panel is not used in your network or there is something wrong in the patch panel, your network would hardly work. Hence, it is also called the “nerve center” for a cabling network. Since the patch panel offers single location for each input jack, it can work well for connecting a variety of devices, thereby usually used in the industry that requires extensive sound equipment.

Nowadays, there are various patch panels published and available on the market, including 24 port cat5e patch panel, 48 port cat5e patch panel, 24 port cat6 patch panel, etc. To get a visual knowledge about the appearance of patch panel, here offers a figure that shows an example of 24 port cat5e patch panel.

How Does the Patch Panel Work?

From the figure above, you can easily find that there are multiple network ports together in one patch panel for connecting incoming and outgoing lines—including those for local area networks, electronics, electrical systems and communications. Once using the patch panel in a LAN, the computer can be connected to another computer in the LAN or to the outside lines. Meanwhile, it also enables the LAN to connect to wide area network or to the Internet. Is it very convenient? Just plug and unplug the appropriate patch cords to the patch panel, then you’ll get a smooth wired network and easily manage the patch cords in the network. In addition, as the patch panel offers single location for each input jack, the troubleshooting problem of the network can be done fast and simply.

What Should Be Noted in Installing the Patch Panel?

Although the installation of the patch panel seems to be relatively easy, professionalism and carefulness are required indeed to ensure a correct installation and an effective connection. Therefore, here list several notes that you should pay attention to in the patch panel installing process. Firstly, the terminations are sometimes very tight that may cause a difficult cable management, thereby a particular technique is needed to manage the cables. Secondly, you should ensue that the grass in the fiber is not excessively moved in the installing process, or the signals in adjacent fibers would be affected. Thirdly, the bend radius is another important factor that you should attach importance to when installing the fiber optic cables to the patch panel.

Conclusion

The patch panel, the “nerve center” of a wired network, is a highly functional unit that allows for the cable termination and plays an important role in transmitting the signals to the final destination. Knowing about its basic information, its working principle and the notes for patch panel installation would instruct you to make a simple, neat and easy-to-manage cabling network. Do you want to set up a high speed wired network as mentioned above? You can get the related equipment like cat5e patch panel, cat6 patch panel from FS.COM.