Networking Solution - Extending Cables

[maximusimo]

HI,

I have a number of cables coming into an office where the server is situated into a switch. Now, both the server and switch are being moved about ten feet and the cables coming into the switch are not long enough to move so at the minute the switch is sitting in its original place with cables all over the place. I want to know if someone can tell me what the best way would be to extend the cables to where i want to put the switch. I could use a couple for each cable but guess there is a better way?

 

[skip555]

terminate the cables to a patch panel at the existing location . use 10'-15'patch cords from the patch panel to the new location

 

[AndyP007]

Hi,

when you say that the cables are coming into a switch do you mean, the cables are terminated into a Patch Panel and the switch is patched in using a patch lead ?

 

[maverick2689]

Are the cables in ceiling, or a raised floor? I've been in positions where I have punched cables on a 110-block, ran new horizontal, and made the 110 a permanent patch (or consolidation point).

Done correctly, there's no signal loss.

 

[ISDNman]

If the cable terminated with just a plug then this was poorly done. The good news is that you can actually improve the overall system when you do this.

Terminate the cables on a patch panel.

Then use high quality facotry patch cables or custom patch cables made by soemone that knows what they are doing (check the archives for the great patch cable debate).

Best of luck.

 

[maximusimo]

OK,

i think i may not have explained properly.

Check out:

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j300/maximusimo/cables.png

it might show what i mean.

I want to move the Netgear FS516 to beside the servers A, B and C. Unfortunately the cables going into the Netgear FS516 arent long enough to track around the wall and if I put the Netgear into the shelf i want to the cables will be lying across the floor. I want to extend these cables so i can track them around the wall to reach teh shelf the netgear FS516 will be on.

Does this make sense / do the same answers above still apply?

 

[skip555]

so the cables just have plugs crimped on the ends and plugged into the switch ?

best would be punch them to a patch panel at the existing loction then use factory made patch cords to extend around the room

 

[maximusimo]

Yeah have just plugs crimped on the ends and plugged into the switch.

So you're saying to just put a patch panel in the existing location and then further patch cords to the switch?

 

[ISDNman]

Yep, that is the "right" way to do it.

 

[ISDNman]

PS- one reason this is "right" is that patch cable sshould be stranded since the are more likely to be flexed where as the permananet wiring should be solid (less loss but must not be flexed).

 

[maximusimo]

flexed, permanent ??

could you elaborate?

 

[ISDNman]

Every time you replace your switch (or a computer) the cables will get flexed/bent.

Cat. X cable used for backbone wiring is made of solid copper and will only flexc so many times until conductors break.

The cable used for patch cable has stranded conductors. Just like the cable used on cables to telephones it is meant to be flexed. It will eventually fail, but is much more durable.

Why not use strandd everywhere? It has mor eloss. Therefore the standards call for using solid except for patch cables. The standards also limit the total amount of patch cables to keep the loss controlled.

Anyway, follow the advice above and you'll actually be improving your installation!

 

[wires]

Options:

1. The existing (too short) cables have solid conductors.

A. Cut off the existing plugs and terminate the existing cables to a patch panel. Then use patch cords to go from the new patch panel across the room to the switch and server location.

B. Cut off the existing plugs and terminate the existing cables to a 110 block and run extentions using solid conductor cable across the room to the new switch and server location. Ideally you will install a patch panel at the new switch and server location and use proper patch cords for connections. One advantage to this is that you could locate the 110 block above the ceiling grid (if there is one) to cut down on "wall acne". Be sure the 110 block stays accessable and note it's location in a permanent way at the new patch panel.


2. The existing (too short) cables have stranded conductors. You are hosed if you want to do the job correctly since it is already FUBAR.

A. Rerun all cables and do the job properly.

B. Use couplers to extend the cables with longer patch cables. Here is a link to some couplers:

http://www.compunettech.com/category.aspx?categoryID=10

What ever you do be sure to test and label all of your work. At the least you test with something like this:

http://www.compunettech.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=NETWORK-TESTER

Disclamer: I know nothing about compunettech.com. They just popped up on a Google search and had nice pictures and fairly short URLs.