Category Archives: Cable Management

What Is Patch Panel?

Nowadays, the application of integrated wiring system is becoming more and more widespread. The patch panel is indispensable in the integrated wiring system. It has played a management role in the connection, distribution and adjustment of the cable, and can also reduce the fault. Since the patch panel is so important, do you know what is patch panel?

what is patch panel

Figure 1: patch panel

Patch Panel Definition

Patch panels are socket groups that connect incoming and outgoing lines together in communication and electronic systems, so one end of the panel is plugged into incoming lines, while the other connects to outgoing lines using short patch cables. Also known as patch bays, patch fields or jack fields, patch panels are commonly used in radio and television.

Patch Panel Types

At present, patch panel comes in various types on the basis of different classification standards. Generally speaking, there are fiber optic patch panel and copper patch panel.

  • According to the number of port: generally, it has been classified into 12-port patch panel, 24-port patch panel and 48-port patch panel, of which 24-port patch panel has been used frequently and widely.
  • According to the classification of shielding layer: patch panel can be classified into the shielded patch panel and the unshielded patch panel, in which the unshielded patch panel has been used widely.
  • According to the types of cables: the copper patch panel is generally classified into two kinds: Cat5e patch panel and Cat6 patch panel. The Cat5e patch panel is used to manage the components of the Cat5e network cable, while the Cat6 patch panel is used to manage the components of the Cat6 network cable. Besides, single mode patch panel and multimode patch panel are also available, which is used to interconnect single mode or multimode fiber patch cables. For example, there are OS2/OM3/OM4 LC or SC fiber patch panel used to connect LC/SC fiber cabling.

Benefits of a Patch Panel

There is no doubt that the patch panel is an indispensable part of the cabling systems, because it provides a simple, tidy and easy-to-manage solution. No matter how big or small your business infrastructure is, the patch panel is essential. So what are the benefits of the patch panel?

    • Available network bandwidth and network performance are increased
    • A decrease in packet collisions
    • Anti-interference against electronic jamming
    • Makes one computer have access to multiple LAN’s

What to Consider When Choosing Patch Panel

When choosing a patch panel, you will see that you have many different options in terms of the number of ports in the panel. Choosing the right one for a given project typically involves many points:

    • looking at how many connections you require today
    • whether or not additional connections will be needed in the future
    • consider the design of the height and layout of the frame

Conclusion

All in all, the patch panels is indispensable in the enterprise or home network to organize cables. Just imagine that you’re putting together a home or business network, can you finish the job without patch panels? Besides, the advantages of patch panel is stretching across a wide range of constructions. With competitive price, FS.COM can provide high-quality patch panels mentioned above. Please contact us if you have interest.

Patch Panel Labels

Data centers are the repositories in today’s online world, and they’re also regarded as the heart that may pump the lifeblood of one’s business. Inside the data center, numerous issues may break the center, so if anything goes wrong, so does the business. Wrong cabling is one of the issues that may be ignored by most people. But with patch panel labels, technicians can simplify troubleshooting and increase management efficiency.

Label Standard

Clear labeling is the groundwork of a professionally installed network system. There is a set of standards named TIA/EIA-606 that aims at fully addressing the administrative demand for telecommunication equipment, cabling system, and other telecommunication infrastructure. For example, the original TIA/EIA-606-A have defined the general administration, but haven’t had specific needs of data center’s design and installation. Another version, TIA/EIA-606-B is backward compatible with the traditional version A, with a purpose of being a universal labeling standard that applies to all types of premises. And in the set of standards, they have explicitly stated that in one building especially the multiple telecommunication spaces, hardware like patch panels, IDC blocks, and copper or fiber cables should be labeled and recorded.

Importance of Patch Panel Labels

Achieving traceability is the main reason for using patch panel labels. Within one server rack, fiber optic patch panel is commonly used for horizontal cable management that acts as the unit to connect and route circuits for monitoring, interconnecting and testing. Patch panel labels include the patch panel identifier. If practical, each port of a patch panel should be labeled. Using patch panel label accelerates the traceability of the relevant cable links. It helps when the technicians need to find the specific cables.

Labels on Patch Panel

Labels can be used for all patch panels. Here is an example, 24 port blank keystone patch panel on FS.COM, which permits users to create a mix connection of voice, data, and video. The empty design of this Ethernet patch panel makes it possible to accommodate various snap-in jacks, so the users can insert cat5e or cat6 adapters based on actual needs. Beyond the empty port, there are white plates where you can paste the adhesive labels to mark the cables. Users can quickly find the specific cable that needs to change or upgrade, increasing working efficiency. Some adhesive labels are also available in FS.COM: P-type and winding type cable label.keystone patch panel

P-type Adhesive Label

FS.COM provides P-type cable adhesive label paper in red color. It’s a simple identification that is resistant to water, oil, and scratch. Besides, it will not generate debonding in a low-temperature environment and easy to peel off.

patch panel labels

Winding type Adhesive Label

Winding type cable label from FS.COM uses an easy wrap-around design, providing a clear and simple identification. With the design of non-slip, it can be pasted on patch panels for cables records and placement instructions. For the best practice, all labeling should be visible especially doing the maintenance.

winding type patch panel label

Conclusion

Patch panel labels are the effective-cost solution to solve network operation breakdown. When it comes to modifying, repairing and upgrading anything, labeling makes it convenient for your job. For more input on the data center, get in touch with the experts at FS.COM.