Summary
Organizing cables in network racks and behind computers is necessary to make distinctions about which cable connects to what. This distinction helps IT professionals access a situation faster, leading to faster solutions. Labeling ensures that a cables purpose is clear and colored cables communicate what the cable is doing as well.
What is cable organization?
Cable organization is the act of making it clear what each cable connects to and having it properly arranged. When an IT professional walks into your server room or takes a lot at a wired device, it should be immediately clear what each cable is doing. It’s important to also plan out the placement of equipment around how much cooling it needs. Organization also decreases the amount of cables that aren’t attached to anything or are improperly connected, reducing potential failures. The objective of cable organization is to reduce the amount of hardware failures and potential downtime.
How to organize cables.
If possible, color coding cables can help identify which cable is which. Little flags or markers should be attached to cables for identification if color coding is not possible. These two methods help immediate identification from a distance and helps in making a distinction. Labeling is very important as it labels both ends of the cable and also helps identify which type of cable it is and its number. Labeling is important to track inventory and what port the cable is connected to. Cable raceways or rings bundle cables together tight to prevent loose cables being everywhere, which hinders IT professionals. While it may seem like overkill, these methods help lessen the amount of time spent trying to figure out cabling.
Benefits of cable organization.
The benefit of cable organization is quick access and understanding of the cables. If something were to go wrong with a piece of equipment, IT professionals are able to quickly determine if it’s a cable issue. Reducing redundant checks speeds up the diagnosing process, when a system is down, ideally it should be solved as quickly as possible. Proper cable organization allows for more airflow as bundled up cables block airflow and proper organization reduces this problem.
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Source:
CablesAndKits’ article about cable organization and network racks