For a visually pleasing and clean work environment, cable management is absolutely necessary. Investing in high-quality cable management solution can provide you and your employees easy access to not only the cables themselves but to the devices that they’re connected to. While unorganized and disordered wires can cause clogged airflow, tangled Wires or Cables can test your patience as it can take a significant amount of time to untangle. With a proper cable management system in place, you can also skip fire hazards as tangled and unorganized wires and cables can lead to sparks and even fire. A simple task like troubleshooting can become complex if the wires are not properly managed.
In data centers where thousands of connections and meters of cable are connected to numerous ports within a facility, a lack of structured approach in terms of cable management can quickly lead to potential outages, poor connectivity and slow responses to requests.
What are Patch Panels?
Patch panels are effective and flexible networking devices that connect various IT devices. Used within IP-networks, patch panels can keep your data center or server room organized where you can move easily or manage your cabling infrastructure smoothly. It has several ports for connecting and managing incoming and outgoing LAN cables or fiber/copper cables that provide a simple, neat and easy-to-manage solution.
Types of Patch Panels:
In a data center infrastructure, there are mainly two kinds of patch panels – Fiber optic panels and Ethernet patch panels. Fiber optic patch panels are loaded with LC/SC/MTP adapters commonly used as the intermediate connection between the backbone and patch cables. Ethernet Patch Panels come with the feed-through and punch-down designs that are designed for both shielded and unshielded copper cables like Cat5e, Cat6 and Cat6a Ethernet cables.
Patch panels come with either fiber or copper cabling. Though fiber is much faster than copper, there are hardly any significant performance differences between them.
Fiber Optic Patch Panels:
Nexconec NGX High-Density Frame accepts up to 6 NGX Modules for a total of 144FO with LC configuration per 1U space. Modular fiber patch panel for multi-application with MPO System, Pre-terminated custom modules, Patch-Thru, Next-Gen Transition modules 40G-10G, or conventional splicing.
High density modular sliding patch panel accepts up to 4 HD Modules or HD pass-thru adapter plates for a total of 96FO with LC & 48FO with SC configuration. HD optical fiber modular panel for multi-application with MPO System, Pre-terminated cables or conventional splicing.
Easy front access with hinged cable management bar which provides protection of the patch cords as well as labelling.
Nexconec LGX fibre sliding patch panel accepts 3 LGX pass-thru adapter plates for a total of 72FO with LC configuration. Modular panel for multi-application with MTP/MPO System, Pre-terminated cables or conventional splicing. Easy front access with hinged cable management bar which provides protection of the patch cords as well as labelling.
Nexconec High Density MPO/MTP to LC breakout Patch Panel offers an expandable deployment, for implementations in 40G/100G networks, in the meantime, providing greater protection to the installed patch cords in main, horizontal and equipment area of data centre. Up to 144 Fibers in only 1U space.
Nexconec Breakout Patching Panel is designed to provide housing for connections from an incoming preterm or trunks from the rear of the panel to patch cords on the front. The Open frame allows for quick and easy installation. The Open frame allows for quick and easy installation. It accepts up to 144FO with LC.
Nexconec sliding patch panel accepts 24 adapters SC Simplex or LC Duplex within 1U space. The sliding fibre panel can be pre-loaded completely with the required adapters or pre-loaded with pigtails and splice accessories. The tray is locked by 2 plastic latches and lowers to a 45deg angle when fully extended. Installation and labelling are simple and easy.
Nexconec High-Density 1U Rotary panel fiber is designed to accept up to 48 SC Simplex footprint adapters. Angled adapters route exiting patch cords directly into the cabinet side management. This innovative 1U high density pivot patch panel can pivot up to 90° and this gives an easy access and a smooth installation or rework that guarantees no disturbance to existing connections.
Ethernet Patch Panels:
Nexconec 1U 24 ports unloaded shielded keystone patch panel allows flexibility for the users during installations. It gives you the benefits of only using ports required by installing the desired number of jacks into the frame.
Advantages of Patch Panels:
Patch panels are relatively simple and the oldest forms of network device that make them worth the investment. Some of the advantages are:
- They simplify your cable network management.
- They provide more flexibility when it comes to re-running cables or swapping equipment in case of any damage or replacement.
- They are typically located closer to the actual equipment allowing you to use shorter cables. Shorter cables lower the cable cost which makes them cost-effective.
- Patch panels are easy to maintain.
