I decided a quick post on a pet peeve was in order. Most server/telecomm racks and rack-mount equipment will support cable management, but in many cases the time and effort hasn't been taken to perform this necessary part of an installation. Usually when new racks and equipment are installed an initial effort is made, but as the pace of installation for additional hardware or density of said hardware increases, this task is forgotten as the image from one of my old data centers can attest.
While this mess may not interfere with normal equipment operation, the first time you try to move or find something in a rack, you may be in trouble. Also, a messy rack can impede airflow and your ability to keep the equipment cool, which is a big deal. If cables aren't routed properly, you may not even be able to close the rack doors which could be a security risk and again impact proper airflow/cooling. This article from L-com was pretty good at describing the importance of airflow.
The article from Techworld.com primarily discusses cable management as it relates to network connections, but the section on ritual beatings for those ignoring cable management was pretty funny. It's never too late to go back and retrofit the rack/equipment for proper cable management, although it may require some downtime, especially if you don't have redundant network or power connections to the equipment.
So, remember the importance of cable management:
- Rack-mount equipment on moveable rails almost always includes a cable management arm. Use it to route all cables (fiber, KVM, network, power, video, etc.) from that equipment so moving the equipment on the rails doesn't result in a disconnect.
- Most rack enclosures allow cables to be routed into the cabinet through openings at the top and bottom. Use these so you can actually close the doors on the rack. This will likely improve airflow, keep the equipment cool and provide extra physical security to the equipment.
- Most rack enclosures will include accessories to support better cable management, such as cable ladders/organizers/trays, D-rings and even Velcro ties. Spend the money and use them.
- Keyboard/Video/Mouse (KVM) switches can reduce the number of in-rack consoles (monitor and keyboard trays) required. Most new switches use UTP cables and dongles to avoid using heavy three-part cables for KVM.
- You may be able to use network switches or patch panels in the rack to minimize long, messy runs from the equipment straight back to a central/core switch.
- Rack-mount Power Distribution Units (PDUs) are a great way to cleanup the power cable mess. Make sure they match your power needs (input & output) and will fit in your rack.
Comment Preview