BassTech Posted March 11, 2015 Posted March 11, 2015 We're looking to upgrade our network next year, but I want to make sure our infrastructure is all set-up and working correctly before then. Does anyone know a company that does complete network cabinet re-wiring/tidy-ups? 90% of our cabinets are a complete mess of cables, very few of which are labelled or colour coded. I've found a few 10m cat5 cables used for patching in a network point in some of them! The previous NMs before me didn't really keep on top of it and it's gotten out-of-hand over the years. EDIT: Preferably based in the West Midlands
StevieM Posted March 11, 2015 Posted March 11, 2015 We've used Stack Interconnect in the past and they've been good. Merseyside-based, though, not Midlands. 1
mcoyne Posted March 11, 2015 Posted March 11, 2015 Don't be put off by the web site, but this company are really good - used them a lot for everything networking, cabinet tidies and they do other things as well, AV installs and whatnot. They're not from from you - Leicester. Ask for Tom Yates, nice guy: HOME - avanddatasolutions 1
pcstru Posted March 11, 2015 Posted March 11, 2015 Possibly a little south but I believe they do travel : Lynx Networks. 1
Gaz Posted March 11, 2015 Posted March 11, 2015 Interesting topic. Is this something that you cant/don't want to do your self?
BassTech Posted March 11, 2015 Author Posted March 11, 2015 Interesting topic. Is this something that you cant/don't want to do your self? I wouldn't be confident I had the right equipment/knowledge to find out where all of the cable runs go back to, or the time to re-cable all of it. I've been in the NM job about 2 years now, and since back in the day it hasn't been looked after - it's literally 25-30 years of neglect. Just looking at some of the cabinets is enough to put me off doing it myself. I found one cable run where someone had literally used plastic cable-clips to run this cable OUTSIDE, around some brickwork, through a blocked drain (submerged in water) and back into the school(!) This was the backbone of one of our biggest switches, and if it had gone offline it would've been a nightmare! It's now been re-done properly, but that's just an example of the state it's in. 1
Gaz Posted March 11, 2015 Posted March 11, 2015 I was just curious. That sounds like a shared cabinet that I've got, the mess wasn't caused by me either and when they replaced one of their switches they could have taken the time to tidy the cabling up too Its the kinda job that I love doing though! getting stuck in and then it all looks nice and you feel very satisfied when as you get a sense of achievement.
sted Posted March 11, 2015 Posted March 11, 2015 I wouldn't be confident I had the right equipment/knowledge to find out where all of the cable runs go back to, or the time to re-cable all of it. I've been in the NM job about 2 years now, and since back in the day it hasn't been looked after - it's literally 25-30 years of neglect. Just looking at some of the cabinets is enough to put me off doing it myself. I found one cable run where someone had literally used plastic cable-clips to run this cable OUTSIDE, around some brickwork, through a blocked drain (submerged in water) and back into the school(!) This was the backbone of one of our biggest switches, and if it had gone offline it would've been a nightmare! It's now been re-done properly, but that's just an example of the state it's in. excel is your friend here start a new sheet and write port numbers along the top so if the patch bars are 24 ports write 1 - 24. follow the cable from the port and under that number in your spreadsheet write Under that leave space to write sw1 port 3 etc its time consuming but not a bad thing to have anyway
BassTech Posted March 11, 2015 Author Posted March 11, 2015 (edited) I'd have a go at it if I had the time, but I just don't atm, department and budget cutbacks have made me one very busy person! Also we are a Grade II listed building, so all the ceilings are VERY high here, so this means a lot of these cabs are a good 10ft + from floor level. @Gaz - You're welcome to come and sort all of our cabs out - I will pay you in biscuits and coffee Edited March 11, 2015 by BassTech
Chris_ Posted March 11, 2015 Posted March 11, 2015 https://learningtech.entrust-ed.co.uk/Pages/e-Infrastructure_Solutions.aspx Entrust offer this sort of service. They're based in Staffordshire. 1
LeeN Posted March 11, 2015 Posted March 11, 2015 Entrust is a JV with Capita. They will likely sub contract it to a cabling firm - better to go direct to one. 1
Joanne Posted March 11, 2015 Posted March 11, 2015 Ooof, if I lived closer I would be all over this!! Sorry that doesn't help AT ALL... 1
Gaz Posted March 11, 2015 Posted March 11, 2015 Perhaps some fellow edugeeks in your area could donate some time over summer to help you. The way I plan for the bigger summer jobs is to do little bits of preparation over the term ready for the actual job. 1
ForgotMyPassword Posted March 11, 2015 Posted March 11, 2015 We use Geode Networks (both at my current school and my previous one) and they've been GREAT. Worth dropping them a line, here are their details - I have no commercial links with them bar being a happy customer. Nikki Randall Geode Networks Tel: 0845 505 0103 Fax: 0845 505 0104 1
BassTech Posted March 11, 2015 Author Posted March 11, 2015 Thanks for the info all - I feel slightly guilty for not doing it myself now
Nibiru Posted March 11, 2015 Posted March 11, 2015 We're looking to upgrade our network next year, but I want to make sure our infrastructure is all set-up and working correctly before then. Does anyone know a company that does complete network cabinet re-wiring/tidy-ups? 90% of our cabinets are a complete mess of cables, very few of which are labelled or colour coded. I've found a few 10m cat5 cables used for patching in a network point in some of them! The previous NMs before me didn't really keep on top of it and it's gotten out-of-hand over the years. EDIT: Preferably based in the West Midlands Ive got our main cabinet full of the 10m cables. Some half wit decided to use them instead of getting proper length ones! All the same colour too - 15 years its been like that as no-one wants to go anywhere near it whilst it all works. I reckon theres 2-3 days of solid tedium sorting it out for one person. That person would of course be me & Ive got better things to do so it can stay like it is.... 1
MatthewL Posted March 11, 2015 Posted March 11, 2015 That used to be a Saturday morning job in my last place, I love this stuff. If I was working for myself I would come and do this, should see some of the mess I have cleared up over the years including replacing a full 42U cab and rebuild in less than 6 hours! Biggest key is to tracing what goes where and then swapping for shorter cables. 1
Joanne Posted March 12, 2015 Posted March 12, 2015 Thanks for the info all - I feel slightly guilty for not doing it myself now Don't be silly... if you don't have time, you don't have time! 1
Michael Posted March 12, 2015 Posted March 12, 2015 It's probably only necessary to buy in support for specific cabling problems, rather than tidying a cabinet. The illustration above is a good example where it's been poorly thought out. It's a small cab, so it's better to have: Patch Panel Switch Patch Panel Switch This then reduces the need/requirement to have such long patch leads and improves air flow. If it needs to be done this way, then a large/wide, flooring standing cabinet is the way to go, so the patch leads can be organised at the sides and not in front of the switches.
hallb15 Posted March 12, 2015 Posted March 12, 2015 One of the benefits of doing it yourself is that you will know how its been done and it could save you loads of time fault finding in the future. Beware of getting someone else in as they will do it their own way and this may or may not be how you would like it. Before I worked at one school, they had a new ICT suite and the 'professional' company that did the wiring took all the possible shortcuts you can imagine including only putting 28 of the requested 32 cables in, not labelling any of the 28 cables at the patch panel end, not patching ANYTHING in to a switch etc... On the other hand, the electrician who did the wiring in our extension here was brilliant. Unfortunately he was from a local company contracted via the building firm so I don't have his details to give to you. My point is though, if you are getting someone in, make sure you get a few references from previous customers and don't be frightened to ring them up and speak to them to get real opinions.
BassTech Posted March 12, 2015 Author Posted March 12, 2015 I've took a couple of snaps, these 2 are probably amongst the tidiest of them all but still quite messy. A lot of them have POE injectors that power our Ruckus wireless system, so that definitely doesn't help either! I just wish I had the time to do it - this summer and next summer are already looking to be extremely busy.
Michael Posted March 12, 2015 Posted March 12, 2015 I've took a couple of snaps, these 2 are probably amongst the tidiest of them all but still quite messy. [ATTACH=CONFIG]29611[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]29612[/ATTACH] A lot of them have POE injectors that power our Ruckus wireless system, so that definitely doesn't help either! I just wish I had the time to do it - this summer and next summer are already looking to be extremely busy. If you're Midlands based I'll come and do it during a holiday. Keeps me out of trouble! It doesn't look too complicated to be honest, but I'd put money on it that you have 2m patch cables in there!
JRowley Posted March 12, 2015 Posted March 12, 2015 Yeah first port of call really would be to look at cable lengths in my view, just having the right length of cable makes a big difference.
Michael Posted March 12, 2015 Posted March 12, 2015 I think my record was something like a 3m or possibly 5m cable - absolutely ridiculous and all wrapped up as well.
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now