Cable Management Software

[MasterofNone]

Not sure if correct section but....

Currently working on a client site who uses excel spreadsheets (seperate sheets per rack/desk)to document all networking/patching information:

Servers in racks
Switch port connections
Voice frame jumpering
Desk port connections

This obviously cross casts (i.e. route of switch to desk pc) but has become so large it is now almost unweildy. Given the number of staff changes, explaining a very long, complex and luborious task is becoming harder and harder

I now need to start looking at management software (client thinking about deisging a DB to manage) so end to end cabling can be document, but moves, adds & changes don't become a pain.

Have googled and found iTracs (anybody have experience of this product?), but not sure if this is okay without the iTracs compatible patching.

Rough requirements are:

Switch port port info (vlan, speed)
Desk port info (basic info, pc, voice, etc)
Server info (servername, make, model, NIC info)

All easily search and corss-cast. Being able to view the end to end patching info a must. Anybody have any ideas?

Any info greatfully received

 

[phannah]

How many ports are you looking to document?

 

[MasterofNone]

3 x Sites, each roughly

300 x Racks (Servers & switches) min 24 ports per rack. Switch racks contain est 200 ports.
Roughly 400 ports per floor (voice/data, x 5 floors).
Plus fibre patching
Plus voice frames in 2 x sites

So as you can see, spreadsheets are now overloaded with information

 

[franklin97355]

I would go with a database to store the data. Most of the manufacturers of panels will also have something they will sell you.

 

[Jtodd]

We use Planet Associates IRM software (

http://www.planetassoc.com).

It's runs on an SQL or Oracle database, and is quite large. Research it well and plan before leaping at it though.

There use to be one from Textron/Tempo called docIT that was of a slightly smaller scale, but I have not been able to find it.

As for the ITracs, i don't believe it works without the hardware (Patch Panels and patch cords). ITraces also OEM's their product to several connectivity manufactures. There is also another OEM vendor that I can't think of right at the moment, who also licences to connectivity manufactures. And Systimax has their own. Again though, I dont' think they work without the hardware.

Systimax did also have a CMS solution, but they discontinued it late last year.

And found this link from the Fluke website, know nothing about it...

http://www.theclearedge.com/

Justin T. Clausen
Physical Layer Implementation
California State University, Monterey Bay