Category Archives: Cable Management

Understanding the Modular Patch Panel

Cable management is a significant part of a network which is designed well. Managing cables have contributed to maintaining the essential function of data centers and protect devices from airflow blockages caused by unorganized and disordered cables. Therefore, users usually solve cabling problems with fiber patch panel, splicing fiber enclosure, server rack and other cable management methods. Among them, fiber optic patch panel is an economical, efficient and easy-to-use cable management solution for the modern data center. However, depending on different standards, there are different types of patch panels. Today, our topic is one kind of patch panels: the modular patch panel.

modular patch panel: cable management

What Is Modular Patch Panel

The modular patch panel, or unloaded patch panel, is a kind blank fiber patch panel without pre-loaded built-in ports. But the modular patch panel has reserved holes. The empty slot allows users to install different ports according to his needs, such as CAT5E/CAT6 insertion module. Therefore, these panels can terminate different cables when different connectors are required to be installed. In addition, a modular patch panel can connect multiple types of cables. Generally, the modular patch panel is installed in the high-density 1U rack. It can be easily installed on the standard racks, cabinets or wall brackets. All empty ports are also numbered in advance to facilitate connection and identification.

Flat and Angled Modular Patch Panel

According to the style of design, the modular patch panel includes two types: flat modular patch panels and angled modular patch panels. I’ve once seen the jokingly stated that the difference between the flat panel and angled panel is the aesthetic difference. In fact, the most essential difference between the flat modular patch panel and angled modular patch panel is indeed the shape, the former is straight, and the latter has a “V” angle.

Flat modular patch panels help horizontal cable managers organize and route cables to vertical managers. The angled patch panels facilitate cabling improvement. They are substitutes for management and do not require horizontal management of rack space. The angled patch panels increase the rack density and manage high-density applications in a quarter of the area required for conventional cable management systems. However, due to the requirement of front depth, the angled patch panels are not conducive to the installation of cabinets.

Conclusion

The modular patch panel is useful for eliminating cable clutter, leaving enough room for airflow, and maximizing the performance and scalability of the data center. Today’s data centers need a reliable, scalable, and manageable cabling infrastructure, and then patch panel cable management solutions address these trends and promote high-density data center cabling efficiency. By the way, when buying patch panels, there is no single solution that meets all cable management needs. We hope you can get a little knowledge of patch panel cable management technology to successfully deploy cables in the data center. FS.COM can provide you with not only many kinds of fiber patch panels, but also fiber enclosures and server racks which support your cable managing work.

Cable Management Bar: What Role It Plays In Rack Cable Management

I think it’s safe to say that in most data centers or server rooms, cable clutter is an annoying issue that’s hard to ignore. In recent years, more and more data centers and server rooms feature high density and large capacity, usually accompanied by a large number of copper cables or fiber optic patch cables to connect the entire network. If you want to ensure the performance of the entire network, then there is no doubt that links to patch cable cannot be wrong. Any incorrect cable management will directly lead to cable damage and network failure, resulting in data transmission errors, performance problems, and system downtime. Today, our topic is cable management bar, a super important tool in rack cable management.

cable management

Rack Cable Management

Our commonly used cable management solution is rack cable management. Rack cable management is an economical cable management solution, suitable for the daily use of telecommunication room, computer room and laboratory space. The five main cable management solutions are horizontal rack, vertical rack, cable hanger and pallet, data wiring rack and fiber optic wiring rack.

As well known that rack mount enclosure, cable rack (such as copper and fiber distribution frames), cable lacing and J-Hook can achieve better cable management in high-density networks. In addition to these tools, are there other tools needed to achieve good cable management? The answer is the cable harness and cable management bar. Here, let’s look at the cable management bar. It is very important for rack cable management.

cable management panel

Figure 1: Cable Management Panel

What Is Cable Management Bar

Cable management bar is made of metal, which is designed to be installed above, below, behind, or in front of your rack, so as to facilitate placement between racks (between switches and wiring racks) or cabinets. With the support of the bar, the pressure of cable connections will be greatly relieved. The installation of the cable management bar is pretty easy. Users only need several screws to fasten each end of the bar onto the rack.

cable management bar

Figure 2: Cable Management Bar

Advantages of Cable Management Bar

What makes the cable management bar so widely used to manage patch cables? What are the advantages of the bar when it is compared with other cable management tools?

  • First, if we use the cable management bar to manage patch cables, we can save a lot of space. Because it uses less than 1U of space. Or if installed in front of or behind a rack, cable management bar does not take up any space. Therefore, we can save valuable space for installing other network devices.
  • Secondly, using a cable management bar can reduce the strain of the cable. When users install large amounts of cables in the rack, cable stress will increase accordingly. Using the bars can relieve cable stress and avoid pulling cables when routing them from one side of a rack to the other. This plays an important role in the high-density cabling network.
  • Third, the cable management bar can promote the bending radius of patch cables, thereby reducing or even avoiding risks such as slower data transmission rates or damaged patch cables.

Conclusion

As we move to more and more complex networks, cable management plays an unprecedented role. Cable management bar has the edges of reducing the pressure caused by cable connection, increasing the bending radius of patch cables and saving space. It is an ideal choice for efficient and tidy cable routing, and it is also an important part of the rack cable management. Therefore, if your network features high density and large capacity, it is best to select the appropriate type of cable management bar to manage your patch cables. If you have any other questions or need patch panel, cable management bar, rack mount enclosure, etc., please visit www.fs.com.