Patch Panel and New house

[JimKiler]

I read the sticky about Ethernet and am still confused about a patch panel. I am building a new house soon and i have a router with 4 port switch and a 8 port switch.

per the sticky

A patch panel resembles a simple panel with many keystones in it. They normally can accept any where from 4 to 48 cables and are designed to be in any place where a large number of cables need to be centralized. Some will come with all of the ports filled and not be alterable. Others will come only with holes that keystones are designed to be installed in. If you get an empty panel, be sure to buy the proper keystones to lock in to the patch panel. Patch panels follow the same basic rules as the keystones. They are category specified and should match the cable being installed. They are typically marked for 568B termination but may include 568A as well. Some are tool-less and other require a 110 Punch to install. The patch panel will provide the RJ45 connection to plug your pre-built patch cables into that then get plugged in the network switches.

I am still confused about the patch panel versus a switch. Does the patch panel at as a switch or do I need both? I am confused and do not understand the best way to setup my home network in the future house.

 

[freegeeks]

you need both, a patch panel is the preferred way to have flexibility in your cabling. I have a simple 8 port patch panel at my place and it works great. Normally all your UTP cables will come in one central place. Terminate them on your patch panel. You will need a punchdown tool to connect the pairs to the patch panel. On the front you will have a rj45/rj11 connector. From there you can simply patch into your switch or other networking devices. I have something like this

http://csimg.koopkeus.nl/srv/NL/000024641239/T/340x340/C/FFFFFF/url/desktop-patch-panel-cat6.jpg

punchdown tool

http://csimg.koopkeus.nl/srv/NL/00002464464/T/340x340/C/FFFFFF/url/lsa-punch-down-tool.jpg

 

[notposting]

A patch panel is simply a collection of jacks at a central location, each then goes to the individual locations at the other end. You then need to plug in a patch cable to whatever device you are using to connect the network together with (switch). Just like at the other end, you plug in a patch cable to the pc or whatever.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...d=1051402&p_id=7310&seq=1&format=1#largeimage

So you punch down the cables on the rear of it, then in the front you can patch the ports to whatever device you want. Hope this helps...

edit: basically, you use it a termination point for the permanent cabling...you don't just put a plug on the end and start plugging it into devices, you use jacks at either end of the permanent install and then patch cables.

 

[imagoon]

To add to the above you use short patch cords to connect the RJ45 on the patch panel to the RJ45 on the switch. You do not put mod ends on the cable then cable that right in to the switch.

 

[JimKiler]

thanks guys, so I get it to have a clean installation in my utility room where i want to have my switch.

Those monoprice patch panels for Cat6 look like they are only for a rack, if I want something to stick in a utility room any suggestions? I can check the local Home Depot and see what they have too.

 

[imagoon]

You buy something like this guy:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10516&cs_id=1051602&p_id=8627&seq=1&format=2

That mounts to the wall and the patch bolts to it.

This guy:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10516&cs_id=1051602&p_id=8625&seq=1&format=2

Is a bit easier to work with since it has a swing arm.

 

[notposting]

I use a Cat5e panel like this at home: ebay link

Doesn't take up much room, then you can just mount a small shelf to hold modem, router, switch, ups, server, etc (okay might need more than a small shelf :hmm.