Dressing Ethernet Cables into

Patch Panels
• A potentially confusing part of installing an Ethernet structured
cabling system is how to handle the “head end” of the
installation, which is to say the part that includes the patch panel.
• The patch panel is typically found in a telecommunications
room (TR), in a business, or mounted out sight in a home
(enclosure or backboard in the basement, for example).
Ethernet cable installations typically involve more than one
(sometimes thousands) of cable all running back to this central
place. The result can resemble a spaghetti monster. In order to
maintain your sanity (and the sanity of the next person who has
to work on the installation) this whole thing needs to be labeled,
organized, and set up for success.
 What is a Patch Panel?
• The original term patch came from telephone and radio
studios, where standby equipment could be quickly
patched in if something failed using patch cords and patch
panels like those used in telephone switchboards. Although
modern-day patch panels don’t work in quite the same
way, they have the same overarching role and don’t look
entirely dissimilar to those earlier patch panels, either.
• A modern patch panel works a little like a network switch,
but instead of being a stand-alone device with internal
networking hardware, they are merely a conduit for the
cables to connect to other connections and other networks.
They are commonly used to organize in-wall Ethernet cable
runs, with cables running from Ethernet wall jacks to patch
panels housed in central server rooms.
What is a Patch Panel?
• The panel itself is made from blank ports on one side, and a termination
point or keystone jack on the other side. That lets you change which
devices are connected to what network or what other device by simply
changing which cables are plugged in where. This can be particularly
useful if you’re managing multiple LANs and want to change which
devices, PCs, or servers are connected to each, or if you want to connect
different devices to certain audio visual equipment.
• Patch panels are usually designed to be fitted into standard 19-inch
racks, with particular mounting hardware on the left and right-hand
sides allowing for easy installation of one or multiple patch panels one
on top of the other. They come with a range of port options, from six
right through to 24 or more. As long as you have the physical space for
them, there’s no reason you can’t mount as many patch panels in your
rack or wall mount as you want, making them near-infinitely expandable.
 Patch Panel Closet/Rack

• In an enterprise setting,
patch panels are typically
located in wiring closets
which can provide easy, but
protected, access to the
networking hardware,
allowing for quick re-routing
of cabling, or cable
replacement as necessary.
Why a Patch Panel?
• When customers ask questions about designing an
Ethernet cable installation for their home or small
business, we advise them that the best performance,
reliability, and flexibility result from installations
consisting of “permanent links.” Cables are routed
through walls and ceilings so that they are concealed
from view, and also protected from physical damage.
The patch panel organizes those permanent links and
can greatly increase performance and stability.
Patch Panel Front and Rear View

Front view of a wall mounted punch-down shielded patch panel.

Rear view of a wall mounted punch-down shielded patch panel.

Note the grounding wire and the IDC contacts for connecting the
conductors. Both shielded and unshielded cable can be
accommodated by this panel.
Parts of a Patch Panel
 A view of the rear of a
telecommunications rack in a
commercial setting equipped with
multiple punch-down patch panels.
This rack uses horizontal cable
managers between panels instead of
lacing bars attached behind the
panels. This picture was taken as
part of a survey of a site’s network
infrastructure prior to an upgrade.
There are several clues that this is an
older installation, such as the large
amount of conductor that is
untwisted at the punch-down
locations, the large, combed cable
Types of patch panels
• Patch panels can be categorized by the number of ports they
contain, with 48-port, 24-port and 12-port panels being among
the most common. The most common types of patch panels are
the following:

coax patch panel

Fiber patch panel

Ethernet patch panel

Ethernet / Twisted-pair copper.
• These panels are designed for specific twisted-pair
copper specifications, like Cat5E, Cat6, Cat6A and Cat7 cables.
There are specific patch panels for unshielded twisted-pair
(UTP) and shielded twisted-pair cables, depending on the
type of environment the network is operating in. For typical
office environments, UTP is used. If, however, the operating
environment is in a manufacturing plant with higher levels of
electromagnetic interference, shielded cabling helps
protect against any external interference that can adversely
affect the operation of the link. RJ-45 jacks are used to
terminate Ethernet-based connections, while RJ-11, RJ-14 and
RJ-25 are commonly used for legacy voice devices.
Fiber optics
• Patch panels are available for both single- and
multimode fiber cabling. Depending on the age of the
installed fiber, the patch panel connector type could be
any of the following:
• LC (Lucent Connector or little connector);
• SC (subscriber connector);
• ST (straight tip);
• FC (fiber connector);
• MT-RJ (Mechanical Transfer Registered Jack); or
• MPO/MTP (multi-fiber push on/Multi-Fiber Pull Off -- MTP is a
trademark of US Conec, a vendor of optical hardware
products).
Coax
• Coaxial cable is most commonly used for AV
installations. Coax patch panels connect devices such
as television media players and video cameras to
centralized AV switching and mixing systems. AV patch
panels and network patch panels often coexist within
the same wiring closet or data center.
Patch panels come in fixed or modular form factors. A fixed patch panel has connectors that cannot
be changed or altered. Modular patch panels can swap out the connector types, enabling increased
flexibility when it comes to terminating different types of twisted-pair copper, fiber optic and coax
cabling.
Terms You Need to Know
• Patch panel: Place(s) where you terminate and organize all of the
structured solid copper cabling that is running through the walls,
ceiling, floor, etc. Think of it as the head of an Octopus. They come in
various flavors and sizes.

• Permanent link: Solid copper Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6A, or Cat8 Ethernet

cable that is terminated to a patch panel on one end and directly to a
keystone jack outlet on the other for residential or smaller commercial
installations. Larger commercial installations may also have patch
panel to patch panel permanent links between telecommunications
rooms, known as back bones. Permanent links have a maximum run
distance of 295 feet (100 meters). Keep in mind that permanent links
are subject to length derating if temperatures exceed 68℉.
• Patch cord: Patch cords, also known as patch cables,
are short factory pre-made cable with 8P8C (aka RJ45)
connectors already installed on the ends. Patch cords
are meant to be used from the patch panel to your
Ethernet switch(s) on the “head end” and also used
from the keystone in the wall to your destination device
on the remote end. The patch cords you select should
match the Category of the permanent links you have
installed, and should also be shielded if your permanent
links are shielded. Keep in mind that the gauge of the
stranded patch cords you use can and will affect your
overall channel length, just like temperature can. The
thinner the gauge of the patch cord, the less length you
can use.
• Keystone jack: Keystone jacks are used to terminate solid copper
Ethernet cable and can be used at both ends of your installation. A
good example is a keystone jack patch panel and then keystones
mounted in wall plates in your remote rooms/offices. Keystone jacks
are far superior to RJ45 plugs due to their Category rating and much
more secure mechanical design. Keystone jacks provide a “female”
port to plug into.

• RJ45: RJ45s are actually 8P8C (8 position, 8 contact) “male” modular

plug connectors that should already be installed onto both ends of
factory pre-made patch cords. It is strongly recommended to not use
hand terminated RJ45s throughout your installation, especially with
solid copper Ethernet. If you do need to put on a male connector,
please consider using a Field Termination Plug instead. In some cases,
you MUST put on a RJ45. It happens. In that case, it would be at the
device end for a PoE access point or camera. The other end of the
cable should still be a keystone termination. Keep in mind that RJ45
selection is critical.
• Service Loop or Service Slack: For residential
installers, pull approximately seven additional feet more
than you need to store as extra cable above your patch
panel for adds/changes/moves/mistakes. Two feet will
be removed during the dressing and termination
process, leaving five feet of actual extra cable. For
commercial installations, TIA recommends pulling
enough additional cable to reach from one side of the
TR to the other plus the height of the TR. Remember to
not pull so much service slack that you violate the
Ethernet cable length limitations! Each install is
different, so common sense and planning all play a role.
Here is a graphic that will help
demonstrate some of the terms:

At the device end, the keystone jacks are

supported by faceplates mounted to the walls in
the workspaces
Patch Panel vs. Switch
• While a patch panel and switch may look the same on the front with their
rows of ports that is where their similarities end, as each component
serves a different purpose in a telecommunications room.
• A patch panel is a passive component that compliments the switch. The
panel is designed to group multiple network ports in a single location
which helps organize the wiring. Labeling the cables connected to a
patch panel makes it is easier to identify signal flow as well as diagnose
and troubleshoot any technical issues.
• In contrast, an Ethernet switch is an active component that receives,
processes, and forwards data to multiple devices such as computers,
servers, as well as other Ethernet IP devices such as security cameras.
Devices can be networked together by connecting them to the switch
through the patch panel. A switch is required in a local area network
(LAN) whether a patch panel is used or not.
Patch Panel vs. Switch
 Patch Panel Size
23"
Half 19" full
extende
rack rack
Typical d rack
Rack size size
number size
space width x width x
of ports width x
height height
height
(inches) (inches)
(inches)
12, 16 or 10.000 x 19.000 x 23.000 x
1U 24 ports 1.719 1.719 1.719
32 or 48 10.000 x 19.000 x 23.000 x
2U ports 3.469 3.469 3.469
Not a
common
10.000 x 19.000 x 23.000 x
3U telecommu
5.219 5.219 5.219
nications
rack size
10.000 x 19.000 x 23.000 x
4U 96 ports
6.969 6.969 6.969
Materials and Tools:
1. AT6 Ethernet cables
2. CAT6 patch panel
3. 110 punch down tool
4. Cable stripper
5. Wire cutter
6. Screwdriver
7. Labeling materials (optional)
8. Cable ties or Velcro straps (optional)
Steps for Installing a Patch
Panel and Switch
• Step 1: Plan Your Network Layout Before you begin, plan
your network layout to determine how many ports you'll
need on your patch panel. Identify the locations where you
want to install network outlets and how they'll connect to
your patch panel.
• Step 2: Install the Patch Panel
1. Choose a suitable location for your patch panel,
preferably in a network distribution point or equipment
rack.
2. Use a screwdriver to mount the patch panel securely
to the wall or rack. Make sure it's at a comfortable height
for easy access.
• Step 3: Prepare the CAT6 Cables
1.Measure and cut CAT6 cables to the desired length, leaving a little
extra for slack.
2.Use a cable stripper to remove the outer insulation from each cable,
exposing the twisted pairs.
• Step 4: Terminate the Cables
1.Untwist and straighten each pair of wires within
the cable.
2.Arrange the wires according to the T568A or
T568B wiring standards. You should choose one
standard and stick with it for consistency.
3.Trim any excess wire with a wire cutter.
4.Insert each wire into the corresponding slot on
the patch panel's punch-down block. Use the 110
punch down tool to secure the wires in place.
Ensure a snug and consistent connection.
Double-check the color-coding to ensure you've
followed your chosen wiring standard.
• Step 5: Label Your Cables
(Optional) Labeling the cables can
help identify connections more easily.
You can use label stickers or write
directly on the cables themselves.
• Step 6: Organize and Bundle Cables
(Optional) Use cable ties or Velcro
straps to bundle and secure the cables.
This helps prevent tangling and makes
it easier to manage the cable mess.
• Step 7: Test the Connections Before
you complete the installation, it's
essential to test each connection. Use a
network cable tester to ensure that
each cable is correctly terminated, and
there are no connectivity issues.
 Cable Management
• Horizontal Cable Management
With the use of horizontal cable management, horizontal
pathways are created for patch cords to be routed cleanly
and easily. Examples of horizontal cable managers
include finger ducts, rings, lacing bars, and d-rings.
• Vertical Cable Management
Using vertical cable management can help facilitate a
proper bend radius for the cables as they run down the
rack vertically. Examples of vertical cable managers
include finger ducts, channels, and rings.
• Cable Ties & Cable Labels
Cable ties can help with cable management as they can
help with bundling cables. Compared to nylon cable ties,
VELCRO® Brand cable ties have an additional benefit as
they are reusable and can eliminate waste. Cable labels
can help IT professionals in administrating system
maintenance and troubleshooting.
Steps for Installing a Patch
Panel and Switch
• Step 8: Complete the Installation Once you've
tested and confirmed that all your connections are
working correctly, tidy up any loose cables and secure
them to the rack or wall using clips, hooks, or cable
management systems.
• Step 9: Document Your Setup It's crucial to
document your cable patch panel setup, including which
cable corresponds to which port. This documentation
will make troubleshooting and future changes more
manageable.