Patch Panels and Cables?

ProFamousProFamous MemberMember Posts: 63 ■■□□□□□□□□
in Network+
So I am not really understanding patch panels/cables. So is the stranded core wire ran from the computer to the wall, then solid core from the wall to the back of the patch panel where it is punched down. And then patch cables connect to the front of the patch panel to a switch. Is this all correct? Trusty ol' Google can't explain it to me this time. Thanks!
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  • OfWolfAndManOfWolfAndMan Roaming teh Bytes Member Posts: 923 ■■■■□□□□□□

    That is pretty accurate. Here's a few patch panels with some decent cable management.
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  • Armitron77Armitron77 Senior Member Member Posts: 134 ■■■□□□□□□□
    OfWolfAndMan wrote: »
    That is pretty accurate. Here's a few patch panels with some decent cable management.

    Is the patch panel from a Main Distribution Frame (MDF) or from a Intermediate Distribution Frame (IDF)?
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  • Techie19Techie19 Member Member Posts: 88 ■□□□□□□□□□
    I've been on the job for three months now. Getting a lot of hands on experience and learning a lot. Helping to see all I've been studying for the Network+ first hand, in the field. At work we use Cat6 cabling. T568B terminations. We use Panduit brand cables. From the device being connected to the wall plate we use Black color cabling. Then the backbone cabling from the wall plate to the punch down patch panel it's Orange. Then from the patch panel to the switch is Blue. This is the standard we follow set forth by the company.
    As far as MDF/IDF: MDF has the circuit (smart jack) where the T1 line is coming in through. This line plugs into the router via a CSU/DSU. Then from the router to the switch. IDF connects to the MDF through fiber, usually multimode SC/LC. From what I've seen, main distinguishing factor between the two types of distribution frames are that in a MDF there is ways a router. Where as a IDF doesn't have a router.
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  • ProFamousProFamous Member Member Posts: 63 ■■□□□□□□□□
    @Techie19, I am taking the Net+ in about 2 weeks or so and that really helped strengthen my weak points. Thank you.
    I do not have job experience to help me so real world scenarios can really help. Thanks again.
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  • SimridSimrid Senior Member Member Posts: 327
    You will have cables coming from each wall for example and you will terminate them into a back of a patch panel using a punch down tool meaning the cable coming in the back does NOT have an RJ45 connector on it. A patch panel is a dummy device which doesn't have any intelligence other than to replicate the data to be passed through.

    So why do we use them? - If you need to move your switch to a different location, imagine manually running 48 new cables to wall jacks. It allows us to be more flexible and make life easy for ourselves.

    From this, we then can patch in using a normal straight or crossover cable between the patch panel and the switch.

    Any questions, shoot me a PM :)
    Network Engineer | London, UK | Currently working on: CCIE Routing & Switching

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