About Ethernet Cable Management, IT technicians, network engineers, and installers often find themselves busy performing network maintenance, updating, and installing ethernet cables under strict regulations and tight deadlines.
An unorganized and rushed ethernet cable installation can be a red flag for future network issues, such as fires, overheating, data transmission errors, downed systems, outages, etc.
Moreover, tangled ethernet cables in your server room can jeopardize the entire network, which will require you to fix the issues sooner or later.
But why risk when you can take little time to plan, organize, and manage your ethernet cable system?
This guide discusses everything you need to know about ethernet cable management.
Table of Contents
- Reasons for organizing your ethernet cables
- The methods of ethernet cable management
- Commonly used tools and accessories in ethernet cable management
- Tips for ethernet cable management
- Conclusion
Reasons for organizing your ethernet cables
There are many advantages of organizing network cables.
Safety
Nobody would want to enter a data center or server room with ethernet cables tripping the network lying around.
Tangled ethernet cables can result in overheating, which may sometimes cause a park and thus lead to a fire outbreak.
Ease of use
Organizing ethernet cables makes it easy to manage the network cables for companies and their employees.
For instance, you need to easily access your ethernet cables and see the server and devices connected to them.
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting your Ethernet network during downtimes or failures is one of the most vital things network engineers and admins do.
Sometimes, network failure is caused by the physical layer(ethernet port or cables) and not the network or data layer. Therefore, organizing ethernet cables properly makes troubleshooting easier.
Modern interior of a server room
The methods of ethernet cable management
Proper organization and management of network cables can significantly increase your efficiency.
Besides, organizing racks, color coding, and labeling ethernet cables are all vital to having an efficient network.
Horizontal ethernet cable management
Horizontal ethernet cable management is the most popular network cable management method.
In this design, all ethernet cables inside your rack run to one location: the center, bottom, or top of the rack, from which you can then bundle the cables together.
Besides these locations, a network cable organizer tool is placed horizontally within your rack.
Every ethernet cable enters the port or device while joining with other ethernet cables running to the sides of your rack.
Horizontal ethernet cable management
Vertical ethernet cable management
The orientation of vertical ethernet cable management is different from that of horizontal network cable management. This method is ideal for the enclosures and racks organized.
You only need to install a vertical manager within the rack and arrange the ethernet cables bundled and running up and down until they exit your network rack.
This ethernet cable management method allows network cables to bend safely when they leave the rack. You can even run them toward other equipment.
Vertical ethernet cable management
Commonly used tools and accessories in ethernet cable management
Here are the most popular ethernet cable management tools and accessories that you can use;
Cable ties
Also called zip ties, cable ties are the most common tools in ethernet cable management. And you can use them to organize and bundle your network cables finely.
Cable lacing bars
Cable lacing bars are also called strain relief bars that you can use in standard 19-inch network racks.
Racks
Racks are among the basic building blocks of ethernet cable management. They house your IT appliances, servers, and network devices. The three main types of network racks include the following;
- Wall mount rack
- Rack frame enclosure
- Open frame racks
Wire ducts and cable managers
Wire ducts and cable managers are useful where ethernet cables are prone to torsion or flexion.
They are made with circular knockouts at the sides to establish nearby branch connections with assistance from the corrugated or rigid conduits.
Printers and cable labels
Printers and cable labels are essential to keep ethernet cables labeled and organized for maximum efficiency.
They allow users to experience less downtime because they help in quickly troubleshooting and identification of cables in the right way.
Tips for ethernet cable management
Every part of ethernet cable management, from velcro to cables to racks, can significantly impact everything.
Therefore, you ought to maximize your uptime and profits by doing everything right initially.
Measure twice and cut once
Generally, the length of the ethernet cable matters in network cable management.
For instance, too long ethernet cables are one of the critical causes of ethernet cable management problems that appear like a spaghetti monster.
Besides being a waste of the cable, the additional food of ethernet cable can easily result in a tangle.
Therefore, we recommend using the correct cable length, and you should measure everything twice and cut once.
Be the terminator
You should wiggle your ethernet cables after installing them, and if a connection is lost, we recommend redoing the termination.
However, you should terminate properly and avoid rushing the process to save time because it will cost you more money, effort, and time in the long run.
Cable termination is one of the most important keys to having efficient ethernet cable management.
Therefore, you should terminate your ethernet cable properly and carefully and test the terminations as you do the installation.
This is essential in preventing “coming back again” to the termination process.
Avoid sharp bends
While ethernet cables may appear tough, sharp bends are often their worst enemies. This is particularly common when you are short on space or adding components.
This shortcut should not tempt you. You should avoid crimping, bending, or twisting ethernet cables because it can cause irregular behavior, speed loss, and data loss.
Uptime, data volume, and speed are the data center’s most significant challenges.
Therefore, bending ethernet cables may not be an ideal method to compromise the three challenges.
Cheap is not often the best solution
While every person loves saving money, cheap ethernet cables are not often affordable.
Cable manufacturers often reduce production costs by compromising cable strength, diameter, sheathing, etc.
So, while you may save cash in the short term, the long-term cost will be huge.
Cheap ethernet cables are not often the solution, as they will cause other problems in the long run.
We also recommend buying ethernet cables by brand and shopping from a reputable supplier.
At Clooms Tech cable products, we often strive to supply the longest-lasting, most reliable, and best ethernet cables to ensure you get the best results.
Just my type
We highly recommend isolating ethernet cables by type because;
- It makes connections easier to troubleshoot and trace.
- It prevents interference with other types of ethernet cables. For example, the isolation of power cables may result in electromagnetic interference with ethernet cables, which may cause severe problems in the long run.
- It makes access easy.
- It can also prevent the typical spaghetti mess and tangling.
Conclusion
Ethernet cable management is an essential part of the data centers.
Therefore, you should have a plan and organize everything from the start, whether you are building or expanding your data center.
Do you need a trustable ethernet cable supplier or have questions about ethernet cable management?
Contact Clooms Tech today, whose experts will love to have a conversation about meeting your ethernet cable needs.
