Network closet installation hardware

[PhaZe]

Hello all,

I'm getting ready to order the things I need to wire my home with Cat 6. I have terminated network cable before, but am new to running cable through the attic so that will be an adventure.

Currently, I'm in a 2 story house that has coax and phone line cable ran to the locations where I need cat 6, so I will use those pre-existing runs to know where to crawl in the attic. All of the coax cables meet in the attic where the comcast cable comes in from the outside, and the same with the phone lines.

I want to do something similar, except I want to route all of the cat6 into a storage closet that is practically empty, which is near the front of the house on the 2nd floor. Plan my is this: Purchase a 24 port (just to have extra) patch panel, and a 24 port unmanaged switch, and install that in the storage closet. How do you guys mount this on the wall? I was thinking of just buying a 4' wide and 2' height ply wood (half inch thick?) and mount that on the wall using some lag bolts. From there, I can mount the patch panel, switch, dsl modem, and wireless router onto the plywood. That way I only make 4 holes in my wall, instead of 2-6 per device.

I'd like any input that you guys have to offer.

Thanks in advance

 

[wpd7]

Closet = no ventilation = heat = dead switch and everything else you put in there.

Just FYI.

1/2" plywood should be fine- are you sure that you will be hitting wood(stud) on the other side of your drywall? If not a good sized molly and screw combo should do it.

 

[PhaZe]

Thanks for the heads up. I guess I need to reconsider because this closet doesn't have a vent. The closet is against the front side of the house so at least that side of the closet should have studs, the other sides may not like you mentioned.

My closets in my bedroom have ac vents..I guess I would have to do a lot of crawling around up in the attic. I don't know where else, I am in TX so we don't have basements. My garage has space but is not ventilated so I'd have the same issue. I am not sure what a molly is wpd7, I'll do some googling.

 

[skyking]

If you can handle the look, trim the bottom 3/4" off the door and install a small grille at the top. It will promote a natural circulation with the warm air exiting out the grill and drawing the cool air in under the door. you can also put the grille near the ceiling or somehow mask or minimize the appearance. This is what I have done in the past in your situation.


here is something to hang the switch and patch panel(s) in.
http://www.deepsurplus.com/Network-...ounting-Bracket-for-7-12-24-Port-Patch-Panels
If you purchase a switch that is less than 12" deep, this will make for a very clean professional installation.

 

[PhaZe]

Thanks for the link skyking, and for the suggestion on the ventilation. Unfortunately I am far from handyman so trimming doors may be over my head (no tools).

This may be a little off topic, but would nailing down plywood in my attic to help me move around hurt the insulation efficiency? I'm not wanting to completely floor the attic, but a plywood here and there (zig zag pattern) would help me move around a lot easier. I am curious because my attic has that spray on stuff which you can move around.

 

[skyking]

how high is it above the joists now?

 

[indamixx99]

How big is the closet? If its big enough, I dont think a 24port switch, modem, and router will generate enough heat to cause an issue here. Although, i'm probably wrong...

 

[PhaZe]

@skyking: The spray insulation is not perfectly even through out, but in most areas it is probably 6 inches or more above the joists. It's a combination of the regular pink insulation, and topped with this spray on stuff. The good thing is that the spray on stuff is easy to move around. I think I'm going to nail a few boards here and there just to be able to step on and not fall through.

@indamixx99: It's is actually a decent sized closet. It would a good location because it seems like I can access it easier than any other closet. I will post the dimensions tonight.

I may put a grille above the closet door (with one that matches or looks similar to all of my AC vents for consistency), but I am not sure how to trim the bottom of the door.

 

[skyking]

yeah, you do not want to mash it down if it has several inches of loft.
The door gap may be enough already at the bottom. If not you need to take the door down, tape the door to prevent or minimize splintering, and saw with a very sharp crosscut skilsaw blade from the backside. Use a guide clamped to the door for a nice straight edge and set the blade to barely penetrate to the front side, say 1/4" or so through.

 

[PhaZe]

The closet measures about 5 and half feet deep, and a little over 4 feet wide. I was up in the attic and damn, it is tight in there. I nailed one board up there , just to let me stand and give me a better look. It's hard to see exactly where the current cable drops go because of the spray on insulation. I can just see the cable go downward and into the insulation.

Is there a way to run this cable without actually having to crawl all the way to the wall on which the wall plate is going on? I'm new to this There's gotta be some tools or something right?

I bought a digital thermometer from walmart, I'm gonna leave it in the closet to see how hot it gets without any vents.

 

[skyking]

Is there a way to run this cable without actually having to crawl all the way to the wall on which the wall plate is going on?

I'm sorry, no. It is a real PITA and you quickly figure out the you REALLY NEVER need a drop on an outside wall by the eaves
Tools? A fiberglass rod to fish the wire down to the hole. Helpers, at least two of them. One to feed the wire and another to grab the rod and pull it down, with the wires taped to it.

 

[kornphlake]

I'm sorry, no. It is a real PITA and you quickly figure out the you REALLY NEVER need a drop on an outside wall by the eaves

LOL, Just like I quickly figured out I didn't really want a patch panel next to my computer, it is next to an interior wall, but right above the main trunk for the furnace. I couldn't hardly get a single cable through, let alone a half dozen. I ended up finding a better location in the garage. I did all my wiring in the crawlspace, I'm not sure which I detest more, crawl spaces or attics.

I finally figured out that dust masks keep the dust you'll inevitably stir up from getting into your lungs. If you don't already have one you might consider picking up a package of painter's masks for a couple bucks.

Get one of those flexible shaft auger bits, it will make things alot easier, Harbor Freight has them for less than 10 bucks.

 

[Paperlantern]

Closet = no ventilation = heat = dead switch and everything else you put in there.

I have had my Server, cable modem, firewall, wireless router, printer, and UPS in a closet for 3 years. No problems with any of them.

 

[Strych9]

I used a 15u rack to mount a patch panel, 24 port switch, router, wap, firewall, cable modem, and whs server. I vented my closet by installing a fan setup from coolerguys in the wall above the door. Works great.

http://www.rackmountsolutions.net/Wall%20Mount Relay Rack.asp

http://www.coolerguys.com/840556089735.html

 

[PhaZe]

I went ahead and bought the 7U wall mounting bracket, from deepsurplus. I should be getting 1000ft of Cat 6 today, which I ordered from firefold because monoprice is down.

@Strych9, I was thinking of doing something very similar, but with a white vent grill that would match my walls and other ac vents. I may be able to get by without actual fans.

Now I'm in the market for a 24 port switch. I'm looking at the HP procurves, but they seem to be a little more than the others (netgear, dlink). I also bought the fish tape from home depot. This will be fun.

edit: How exactly do you use those flexible shaft auger bits? And damn, I purchased the mounting bracket, and forgot to add the patch panel to my cart. doh!

 

[PhaZe]

I've hit a roadblock My main goal was to run cable to my living room for my dish receiver, bluray player, lcd tv, and wd live (all network capable), which are all wall mounted right above a telephone outlet. I was planning on using that telephone line as a pull cord , and I finally put boards up in the attic to get near the cable drop.

I'm in a 2 story, and the attic space is really tight. I was able to get near the telephone line that goes to my living room, but it seems like the cable (which is actually cat5e) is stapled down to the wood throughout the insides of the walls. I pulled on it and it didn't move at all. I wish I had a camera to show you guys how tight the space is. Even if I'm able to route cable from the top of the second floor, I'm sure it will get stuck somewhere when going from the 2nd floor to the first, since I have no way of seeing where the hole is.

I think for the living room I will buy some cable raceways and put them above the shoe molding, or maybe as crown molding as I've seen in some pics. The upstairs bedrooms I should be able to run cable inside the walls I hope.

I've been looking at http://cableorganizer.com/cable-raceway/

 

[skyking]

Do you have a crawlspace? If so, find a good route all the way down to the crawlspace and go down, over, and up to the proposed locations on the first floor.
Much easier.
Often closet spaces are stacked in a home, and you can even run the wire in the back corner of a closet on the surface.

 

[PhaZe]

No crawspace Texas construction....

 

[Emulex]

the newer hp switches are fanless - less stuff to fail.

 

[Strych9]

@Strych9, I was thinking of doing something very similar, but with a white vent grill that would match my walls and other ac vents. I may be able to get by without actual fans.

I just spray painted mine to match the rest of the grills in the house.

 

[MedicBob]

I just ran two Cat6 cables basement to attic in a two story house. PITA, but thankfully I have a laundry chute. Ran them next to it so it wasn't too bad.

The drops into the bedrooms are interesting. My house, like yours, has roll insulation and then 12 inches of blown in. Step carefully and move the blown in insulation to areas you do not compress it. Wear a dust mask at all times, fiberglass sticks to EVERYTHING.

I actually gave up on finding drops and just put my cables where I wanted them. Almost all of my upstairs is wired from the floor not the attic.

Take your time and remember, drywall can be patched/painted.