#037: The Chamber of Cable Blunders (from Florida)

FiberNinja39 minutes read

The messy network room in Florida posed challenges for maintenance and efficiency, with disorganized cabling and chaotic power setups causing potential damage and hindering access. Technicians worked on reorganizing the room, prioritizing cable management, secure mounting, and strain relief to prevent damage and ensure future efficiency.

Insights

  • The network room in Florida is currently disorganized and poses significant challenges for maintenance, troubleshooting, and upgrades due to messy cabling, unstable power setups, and equipment placement issues.
  • To address the room's problems, a comprehensive reorganization plan was implemented, focusing on securing power setups, relocating cables for better accessibility, and utilizing cable management techniques like D-clips, J-hangers, and zip ties to ensure stability, safety, and efficiency in the network room.

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Recent questions

  • Why do technicians avoid the messy network room in Florida?

    Due to liability risks from potential damage caused by the disorganized setup.

  • What challenges does the disarray in the network room pose?

    Challenges for maintenance, troubleshooting, and upgrades.

  • How was cable management addressed in the network room cleanup?

    Using D-clips, J-hangers, zip ties, and wire shelf fabrication.

  • What equipment was removed during the cleanup of the network room?

    Abandoned and unnecessary equipment cluttering the space.

  • What was the final outcome of the network room cleanup?

    Secure mounting of equipment, power management, and optimized cable organization.

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Summary

00:00

Disorganized Florida Network Room Requires Reorganization

  • The network room in Florida is messy, with a backboard, three rack sets, and cables draped haphazardly.
  • Technicians avoid the room due to liability risks from potential damage caused by the disorganized setup.
  • The room's disarray poses challenges for maintenance, troubleshooting, and upgrades.
  • The power setup in the room is chaotic, with consumer-grade outlet strips prone to accidental shutdowns.
  • Critical equipment like routers and DVRs are powered by unstable power bricks, risking disconnections.
  • Cabling blunders include power bricks dangling loosely and cables running haphazardly.
  • Equipment placement issues, like a server floating without screws, hinder efficient operations.
  • Cables are draped between equipment, causing potential damage and hindering access.
  • The network room requires reorganization, including securing power setups and relocating cables for better accessibility.
  • Future setups should prioritize cable management, strain relief, and secure mounting to prevent damage and ensure efficiency.

18:44

Efficient Cable Management Solutions for Equipment Setup

  • Abandoned equipment was removed from the floor and room, including switch equipment repurposed for a temporary Unify system setup.
  • Legacy and unnecessary equipment cluttered the space, prompting a cleanup effort spanning three to four days.
  • Cable management was addressed using D-clips and J-hangers, with plans to fabricate a wire shelf for cable conveyance.
  • A solution for poor cable management involved securing power supply cables with zip ties for stability and safety.
  • A temporary setup with new Ubiquiti equipment was established, including a PC for Unifi software control.
  • A wire shelf was planned for cable conveyance above equipment to prevent floor clutter and potential flooding damage.
  • A patch panel design with detachable strain relief bars caused issues during cable management, necessitating a rebuild.
  • Short patch cables were cautioned against due to hindering panel removal for cable access, emphasizing the importance of accessibility.
  • Proper cable routing was demonstrated to avoid difficulties in accessing and managing cables within patch panels.
  • Traditional patch panel layouts with pairs arranged vertically were preferred for ease of access and maintenance, contrasting with flat layouts causing accessibility challenges.

35:42

Efficient Cable Management Techniques for Neatness

  • Strain relief prevented punching down connectors on one side, leading to the creation of loops in cables for neatness.
  • Work was done on a live system without bringing circuits down, emphasizing the importance of designing systems to handle such tasks.
  • Cabling was mostly off the floor, with temporary stragglers, and inner communication between a rolling cabinet and a rack.
  • Equipment on the bottom shelf required strategic placement for future access, considering the need to lay a server flat.
  • Cabling was dressed up horizontally overhead to manage slack, a common practice in fiber cable cleanups.
  • The room was completed with secure mounting of equipment, power management, and cable organization.
  • A flexible umbilical was created for a rolling cabinet, with added security measures and power management.
  • Cable management techniques included vertical winding and horizontal dressing to handle excess slack and tangles, optimizing floor space.
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