Tag Archives: patch panel

Cheap Server Rack for Home—Building Your Own Home Server

The continuous development of IT and communication equipment has made computers or storage devices an entirely new look. Server rack cabinet also has evolved. In the network industry, a set of standards has been published successively in order to provide a criterion of racking and mounting size for users. Today, in data center of server room, there are various types of computing or networking equipment installed in wall mount server rack or ground standing type. But for home use, we need a home server rack to build our own home server. Here we’ll focus on cheap server rack for home.

Why We Need Cheap Server Rack for Home

As we know, server rack is a cost-effective solution and is important to one’s business. Because it provides a space for vital equipment like fiber optic patch panel that is crucial to the survival of your organization. However, for home use, what is the exact reason.

First, with the technology develops, our homes also become smarter, more and more families consider to use a home server rack to build a more secure and storage network for the IoT in the home. Therefore, they can manage the electronic equipment more efficiently.

Second, people like professional gamers, videographers, designers and others who require substantial processing power want a home server rack to set up a home network for information transmission at a higher and safer path.

How to Choose Cheap Server Rack for Home

Here are some suggestions for choosing a cheap server rack for home.

  • Size. Traditional server racks are just with large metal frames like server rack 42U type. That’s fine in a professional environment. Unlike the data center or server room, server rack for home don’t need such large type. Small server rack like 9U—24U is preferred for home use.

  • Price. Price is always an important factor when buying anything. Luckily, due to the small design, home server racks are much cheaper than the ones in a large data center. But for the people who want a small server rack just for studying or hobby but don’t have enough money, then a used server rack is the right one for them.

Where to Buy a Cheap Server Rack for Home

Finding the right home server rack for building a home server, from reliable quality to the right price may be tricky. Here, FS.COM is the reputable source to buy a home server rack. Because not all installation sites at home are enough, so I recommend you a wall mount server rack.

cheap server rack for home

Figure: Home Server Rack

This 9U wall mount network rack lets you mount your equipment of 19 inch to the wall, in a secure enclosure. It supports 4 post mounting and is designed with a vented glass front door. Made of high quality SPCC cold roll steel material with black coated, it can support a total load capacity of up to 60kg. This wall mount rack makes it easy to install your equipment such as 24 port patch panel or a server rack shelf.

Conclusion

I think the above article will help to choose a cheap server rack for home so as to build your own home server. At FS.COM, you can find lots of different types of server racks. If you need help with picking, welcome to contact us via support@fs.com.

How Much Do You Know about 1U Horizontal Cable Manager

1U horizontal cable manager is the ideal solution to manage cables on the front and rear of each 19 inch server rack. Because with the emergence of high density rack-based IT server installation, data communication and cabling that must be processed within the tight rack space. Horizontal cable manager is regarded as the horizontal cable organizer, which can avoid cable damage and failure, ensuring the network operation.

Why Do We Need 1U Horizontal Cable Manager

1U horizontal cable manager is one tool of cable management that matter the whole network system health. It offers a neat and simple way to manage the cables, and simplifies network maintenance and costs. This is the main reason that makes it popular in the data center.

For the technicians who want a clean and orderly work area, they can make the cables go through the 1U horizontal cable manager, creating a clean look for the rack.

For the technicians who have a desire for easy maintenance and low costs, the cable manager can help them protect the cables radius bend and reduce the wear and tear, which decrease the cables expenses in some sense. Besides, it provides easier access to internal rack components, performing easy move, adds and changes to connections, which can greatly save time and money.

How to Select 1U Horizontal Cable Manager

FS.COM offers some styles of 1U horizontal cable management tools with different options of cable support. Choose the appropriate cable management device based on your actual needs.

1U Horizontal Cable Manager With End Rings

This cable manager uses a sturdy SPCC metal construction with a max cable capacity of 70. Due to the design of four D-type rings on the panel and two rings on both sides, it can manage vertical and horizontal cabling at the same time. In addition, the rings can provide cable strain relief for more reliable connections.

1U horizontal cable manager with end rings

1U Single Sided Horizontal Cable Manager With Finger Duct

It’s a solid little cable manager with flexible fingers on the front, which can offer a proper bend radius protection. Although the manager is made primarily from plastic material, it’s extremely tough and has excellent wear resistance. The max cable capacity of this single sided horizontal cable manager is 44. Furthermore, there is a detachable cover on the fingers that can protect the cables from the dust and give you a more professional rack looking.

1U single sided horizontal cable manager with finger duct

1U Blank Rack Mount Fiber Patch Panel With Cable Management Panel and Lacing Bar

It has five rings stand vertically on the front panel. The lacing bar is dismountable that allows users to put it on the front or back of a server rack according to their cable management demand. With the black metal design, it tends to be highly durable which reduces the equipment spending.

1U blank rack mount fiber patch panel with cable management panel and lacing bar

If you want to house the vertical and horizontal cables simultaneously, 1U horizontal cable manager with end rings is an economical choice. If you are in favor of a dustless environment, 1U single sided horizontal cable manager with finger duct can satisfy your requirement. If you want a more flexible cable solution, then choose 1U blank rack mount fiber patch panel with cable management panel and lacing bar.

Manage cables in the server rack with FS.COM 1U horizontal cable manager. These cable management devices are made from the highest quality materials to provide an unique method for the cross connect.

Patch Panel Installation Guide

It’s well known that network technology is changing, but the critical aspect can’t be changed or replaced—patch panel cable management. If the key component is missing, the data transmission will be interrupted and fail to arrive at the destination. Patch panels, as the nerve center of a network system, can ensure the signal to work in ordered and friendly way. But how to install patch panel? And what’s the patch panel installation guide? This article will give you several suggestions.

Types of Patch Panel  

Patch panels are available in copper and fiber cables. And designed with different port types and uses, patch panels from FS.COM are divided into 24 LC fiber port patch panel, 24 port SC fiber patch panel, 48 port LC fiber patch panel and so on, and copper patch panel can fall into 24 port cat6 shielded/unshielded patch panel, 24 port cat5e shield/unshielded patch panel and 24 port blank keystone patch panel. Here, we will take the 48 port LC fiber patch panel as the example to explain the patch panel installation.

48 Port LC Fiber Patch Panel

With the size of 19”×1.73”, this fiber optic patch panel is suitable for installing on the 19 inch server rack. It has duplex LC adapters that allow a two-way data transmission between the connecting devices. The 48 port LC fiber patch panel uses C.R.S powder coating, which is fully in line with national environmental standards, can be placed indoors. High density port design makes it connect 96 OM3 or OM4 fibers at most, which is much more than the 24 port patch panel.

48 Port LC Fiber Patch Panel

Patch Panel Installation Guide

Only follow the right steps can achieve a reliable network. There are two aspects of patch panel installation guide for your reference.

  • Planning. A successful work starts with a good planning. You should figure out the issues, the network speed, distribution location, and cables length. Make sure you know the specification and design of the patch panel installation.

  • Preparation. Preparation work can reduce disconnect time. Prepare the main tools, 1U rack mount fiber enclosure, 48 port LC fiber patch panel and screws. Check the cable length for ensuring the cables that could be long enough to pull. And label the ports to identify different cables, in order to guarantee the technicians to have clear information on what they need to do.

Installation of 48 Port LC Patch Panel in a Server Rack

First, we should install the 48 port LC patch panel in the 1U rack mount fiber optic enclosure. Remove the front panel of 1U rack mount fiber enclosure, then install 48 port LC patch panel and fasten the screw.

Second, fix the equipment in the server rack. And leave some space between the patch panel and other devices, for cables management and future change.

Patch Panel Installation Guide example

Third, try to connect OM3 or OM4 cables to the patch panel in one pull, which helps to protect the bend radius. Comb and bundle the cables, and put them into the patch panel trunking, then cover it with top panels.

Last, don’t forget to clean the work area when you finish the patch panel installation, because the optical fibers are sensitive to dust and dirt. Therefore, try to keep clean when working with fiber optic cables to make them achieve their full performance.

FS.COM offers a vast selection of patch panel installation products and accessories that meet the international standards for supporting your network needs. For more details, please contact us via sales@fs.com.

Difference Between ODF and Patch Panel

At present, fiber optic connection is becoming more vital since it can transfer data among a large number of sources. In addition, due to the increasing demands of bandwidth and storage, the number of fiber optic cable of data center has surged than ever. With the continuous development of bandwidth requirements, technicians are relying on optical fibers that can support data transmission speed at 10Gbps or even higher. Here comes the problem, how to deal with the plenty of fiber optic cables? For many years, technicians have adopted ODF or patch panel as the means of cable management. The two methods are the highly reliable and easy ways that allow simultaneous high-speed communications among servers and data storage systems via fiber optic cabling. However, what’s the difference between them? This article will help you find the answer.

Overview of Patch Panel

Commonly, patch panel is installed in racks or enclosures to organize connections between a cable and an optical communication device. It can be used in fiber and copper cabling systems and serves as a terminal for cables that laid in vertical or horizontal direction. Patch panel works as a passive networking device that can bundle multiple ports together for connecting incoming and outgoing lines.

patch panel

Overview of ODF

ODF is short for optical distribution frame, which is an important part of building a safe and flexible environment for optical network. This equipment is widely used in optic communication room, fiber optic connecting devices and it can function as the protector of optical cable termination and line transmission.

ODF

Difference Between ODF and Patch panel

Though optic distribution frame and patch panel are both the ideal solutions for cable management, there are several differences lie in the aspects such as design, types and so on.

  • Design

A typical patch panel contains four parts, enclosed chamber, adapter panels, connector adapters and splice tray. The product 1U Rack Mount HD Fiber Enclosure unloaded with a dimension of 1.73″×17.64″×18.41″ provided by FS.COM, is designed to accept up to 4 series MTP modular cassettes or fiber adapter panels within a 1U space. This product adopts the new design parallel sliding drawer, which can be pushed or pulled more stably as well as faster.

Optical distribution frame is a modular design with siding type trays. And it can be preloaded with different optical adapters and pigtails. The size of the indoor equipment could be very big or small just like patch panel boxes. FS.COM 19″ ODF with a dimension of 480mm×250mm×1U can offer a flexible cabling access, expandable frame design and comprehensive cable management.

  • Types

There are fiber and copper patch panel available. Copper patch panel is suitable for shielded and unshielded copper cables such as CAT5e, CAT6 and CAT7. In addition, due to different design, patch panel can be divided into rack mount and wall mount patch panel for different uses. FS.COM provide 12 ports, 24 ports and 48 ports of 1U high fiber patch panel.

ODF is usually divided into floor mount, rack mount and wall mount ODF for users’ different choices. FS.COM offers various types of optic distribution frames, such as 1U 12 fibers type, 2U 24 fibers type, 3U 48 fibers type and 6U 96 fibers type.

Conclusion

FS.COM offers many kinds of ODF and patch panels, and all are the cost-effective solution for your application. Due to the difference between them, you should choose one based on your actual demand.

2x 24-Port Patch Panels or 1x 48-Port Patch Panel?

Patch panel is a passive networking device that bundles multiple ports together. It is a simple and organized solution frequently used in connecting different computers, telecommunications devices, and external hardware to others. Though wireless internet connections is becoming more popular, the use of a patch panel can actually optimize the internet speed especially in data center. Using a patch panel to arrange the circuit, users just need to plug or unplug the proper patch cords. According to the numbers of ports, patch panels can be divided into 12-port patch panel, 24-port patch panel and 48-port patch panel. They are designed in accordance with specific cable type, such as Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6a and Cat7 cables.

What Are Patch Panel Ports?

The port, as a part of patch panel, is the connection point that allows data to enter or leave the panel. Each port is connected via an ethernet or a fiber cable, then sends signal to an outgoing port location. On market, most patch panels are equipped with 24 ports or 48 ports. Selection of different patch panels should be based on one’s actual need. In addition, the port number is limited by the room for placing but not other factors. For example, the requirement of port number must be confirmed when someone designs a LAN network, so as to use the suitable panel size.

24-Port Patch Panel

FS.COM produced the product high quality 24 Ports Cat6 Shielded feed-through patch panel. It is made for optimum performance with black color and materials of SPCC+ABS plastics. The design of high density 19-inch 1RU panel can make it convenient for being mounted in any standard 19-inch rack or cabinet, accommodates top, bottom or side cable entry. Viewed in another aspect, the high density format also can save valuable space in the rack. Here is a video you can see 24-port patch panel clearly.

48-Port Patch Panel

The 48 ports blank keystone/multimedia patch panel, manufactured by FS.COM, is made of SPCC CRS material with advantages of molding in one, sturdy and durable. The design of 48 ports can accommodate all keystone jacks, including RJ45 Ethernet, HDMI audio/video, voice and USB applications. In addition, the high density 19in wide, 1U High, panel design will save valuable space in the rack.

48 port panels

2x 24-Port Patch Panels or 1x 48-Port Patch Panel?

Both 24-port patch panels and 48-port patch panel can serve ethernet networks, fast or gigabit Ethernet networks. However, due to their individual designs and materials, the price varies. This is a big factor when people buy patch panels. At FS.COM, the price discrepancy between 24-port patch panel and 48-port is slight. As a result, buying two 24-port patch panels is definitely more expensive than buying one 48-port product. Besides, the space for installation should be another consideration. Thus, considered in these two ways, chose the 48-port patch panel is better. And we must realize that network is always developing, so why not staying up to date and ahead of the curve by utilizing the benefits of 48-port patch panel rather than trying to keep up with the pace.

Conclusion

The two types patch panels are the cost-effective and easy-to-use cabling solution for modern data center. Choose 2x 24-port patch panels or 1x 48 port should based on your own need. FS.COM is your source for high quality patch panels covering different ports including 12-port, 24-port, and 48-port options.

Things You Need to Know About Patch Panel

Nowadays how to achieve efficient cable management is an essential aspect of network cable installation. Patch panel, as a crucial element of an interconnected network cabling, is able to realize the connection, allocation, and scheduling of cable links easily. This post will introduce some information about patch panel which can help you get a further understanding of them.

What Is a Patch Panel and How Does It Work?

Patch panels, also called jack fields and patch bays, are network parts held together within telecommunication closets that connect incoming and outgoing local area network (LAN) lines or other communication, electronic and electrical systems. If engineers want to set up a wired network which contains multiple wall ports in various rooms, patch panel can offer a simple, neat and easy-to-manage solution. There are various patch panels based on the number of ports like 12 Ports, 24 Ports, 48 Ports, etc.

patch panel

When patch panels are deployed in network systems, its major function is to bundle multiple network ports together to connect incoming and outgoing lines. For example, when patch panels become part of a LAN (local area network), they can link computers to outside lines. And those lines, in return, allow LANs to connect to wide area networks or other Internet. With patch panels, engineers just need to plug and unplug the corresponding patch cords to arrange circuits, which improve efficiency greatly.

The Importance of Patch Panel

As we all know, patch panels are typically attached to the network racks, mostly above or below the network switches. They consist of ports to quickly connect cables. Available in different sizes and configurations, patch panel can be customized to fit different network requirements. But all patch panels have a similar feature that they are important for networks to configure new equipment or phase out old components.

Patch panels from main links are to collect data and route it to where its destination. They are so critical to a system that if anything goes wrong with them, the entire system may fail. That means that patch panels are very important to the network system.

Furthermore, although there are no physical limits existing for a patch panels’ size, many of them have ports from 24 to 96. And for a larger network, hundreds of ports may be needed, which is another important factor—as the network grows, more ports mean the ability to accommodate ever-expanding demand.

Besides, patch panels also help electricians and network engineers by offering convenient, flexible routing options. Because a patch panel has numerous ports in close proximity, cables can be routed, labeled and monitored easily and efficiently.

Copper or Fiber Patch Panel?

There is no doubt that patch panels are extremely important in cabling systems. And they are one of the few components used in both copper and fiber cabling networks.

copper patch panel vs. fiber patch panel

The copper patch panel is typically made with 8-pin modular ports on one side and 110-insulation displacement connector blocks on the other side. Wires coming into the panel are terminated the insulation displacement connector. On the opposite side, the 8-pin modular connector plugs into the port which corresponds to the terminated wires. With the copper panel, each pair of wires has an independent port. And fiber patch panel needs two ports for a pair of wires, one for the transmitting end and another for the receiving end. Fiber panels tend to be faster to operate than copper ones. Of course, they are also more expensive.

Therefore, when it comes to the copper patch panel, each pair of wires has a port. While fiber patch panel requires two ports, but it is easier to be installed. What’s more, some professionals think there is no real difference in the performance and construction, while others have different opinions. They maintain that the fiber patch panels are better, even though they are more expensive than the copper counterpart. However, no matter what type of patch panels you choose, they must be based on practical situations.

Summary

As the growing demands for more effective cabling, patch panels also get more development. Manufacturers are now trying to produce more convenient patch panels such as front-access panels, which allow users to terminate and manage cables from the front. Getting a further understanding of patch panel can help you choose the suitable patch panel for your networks.