Server Cable Build-out TimeLapse!

Recently I built out a new server rack at my job with 16 new servers. This Time-lapse shows the process I go though to make everything neat and easy to work on. This is around 15 hours of work shot over multiple few hour sessions.
A few notes:
1. The spacing was determined by another internal group, i typically would not leave spaces between servers.
2. Only the Ethernet cabling was cut to length. I did not get to order Fiber or Power cables, our internal group sent only on size.
The 2 big secrets to making cabling look good is Cable Combs, and some sort of material to hold your bundles together. I HIGHLY suggest Hook and Loop cable straps!
**Intro Music: Tobu Hope [NCS Release]**
Music:
Tobu - Colors
Tobu - Candyland
/ tobuofficial
Released by NCS / nocopyrightsounds

[@scheimong]

RGB cables! Literally.

[@RomLabs]

Yep! It just so happens those were the colors i needed for this rack! We have 5 or 6 different colors for specific uses. In this case, Red is lights out management, Blue is “Production” Traffic, and Green is “internal management”

[@RaphaelBaron]

For some people it's ASMR. For us, it's this channel. Awesome work

[@insertstupidserialnumberhe2727]

Legends say people that have handled servers before can feel the weight of this video.

[@superpiyok]

I'm a System Administrator here in Singapore and what an amazing job you got there. You completed this task beautifully mate. I missed my datacenter days, we do arranging UTP and fibre cables the same way you do. Fall in love with your creation :) you know what I mean. Keep it up, mate! (1 subscriber here)

[@krappa]

Just wait until somebody who is not even supposed to be in the server room wants some additional connection to their machine and run their 10m tp-cable over the rack, making sure to tangle it on as many other cables as they can. Then when you ask if you can move it they say the connection is crucial and must not be temporarily broken under any circumstances. Hopefully your good wiring is still holding up!

[@RomLabs]

The good news is this is in one of the offices i manage, so i get to control access! This rack is still nice and clean, but I’m still working though 15-20 years of old wiring that needs to be cleaned up and removed from other racks! Thanks for watching!

[@herrmutz]

Haha, you forgot to mention that the cable is also 50 % too long for its intended use and the most nasty and sticky cable the person could find... of course its not labeled.

[@mika2666]

wait 192 subscribers? thats should be 192k! well atleast you're at 193 now ;)

[@RomLabs]

I Honestly have no idea whats happening, but I'm over 400 now! Maybe 192ks not such a crazy goal! Thanks for watching!

[@JeSuisUnePatate]

@@RomLabs - KZbin showed this vid in my recommendations. Great job. +1

[@scinorandex]

@@RomLabs Dude you make amazing videos, and seems like youtube is giving you the push to 1k. Wanna see more content from you, all the best

[@kaushikgupta08]

Well everybody starts some where...the thing is, he's gonna go a long way!

[@toasty2438]

700 subs now !

[@ColinCKOV]

Very gracious and professional of you to say "hook and loop tape."

[@RomLabs]

What can I say? FIRST drilled it into me! I also label ALL the cables so don’t tell HQ! ;)

[@timtjtim]

Is that what I would search for online? It seems to be giving me sticky back Velcro, which I don’t want, I’m after double sided Velcro strips / tape.

[@RomLabs]

@@timtjtim It seems the correct name is "Cable Strap". This is the exact stuff I used: www.harborfreight.com/3-4-quarter-inch-x-35-ft-roll-hook-and-loop-cable-strap-96215.html

[@rudydiaz2488]

Excellent video I like the comment where you say "WORK WITH WHAT I HAVE" some technician tend to argue and get piss off instead off getting it DONE!!!

[@rudydiaz2488]

Thanks

[@RomLabs]

Working with what I have and getting the job done are key. Is it "Perfect"? Far from it, and I'm always looking at ways to improve, but at the end of the day, I'm happy how this rack came out! Thanks for Watching!

[@rudydiaz2488]

Excellent work I am the same way with building Racks placing the equipment and wire management. I have clients and employers ask me the trick on doing right. My honest response is always PRIDE AND SATISFACTION WHEN IT ALL COMES TOGETHER!!!

[@rudydiaz2488]

@@RomLabs We have the same work ethic keep it up!

[@GER-Thorgs]

Great video and good job with all the cables. I can feal the pain from terminating all the RJ-45 :P

[@RomLabs]

My fingers hurt every time I think about doing more. Just something about that particular cable makes it rough to terminate. I do have some ideas for either a 3D-printed or milled finger and thumb thimble to make it easier to do.

[@dionrowney]

Check ez-crimp. Makes terminating childs play. Ps, didn't see you test and verify cat6 lines with any sort of cable tester. Assuming this was done later or off camera :). Just getting a link doesn't guarantee a quality connection.

[@theonewithin609]

I don't understand why he didn't just buy premade patch leads? What he showed is illegal in Australia lol. Plus not tested as above... Where as manufactured leads are. Stupid IT people.

[@MrFerrariF360]

@@theonewithin609 Or you know you can test and certify cables in place, like every single fiber job or any structured cable job. Haha and it's ILLEGAL to self terminate cables in your own premise? Get bent lazy know it all.

[@RomLabs]

Testing and Certification was done off camera with a Fluke Cable IQ meter. I have trouble getting custom length premade jumpers due to departmental budgets. They would not even get me different standard length power cables! Also, I was unaware you could not self terminate low voltage cables in Australia, kinda interesting!

[@Eric-mg6yr]

The quickest I've seen a big person move. Wow man!

[@RomLabs]

The power of time-lapse!

[@JeffLongley]

Nice work; similar to what we do, but we also colour code power cables for A + B feeds.

[@RomLabs]

This was also something I asked for but got shot down. I'm working with my management to make it part of the standard!

[@wanderfritzy]

I also work as IT administrator in our office, and I admire your work. Have my subscription

[@RomLabs]

Thanks for Watching!

[@Eliastaye6]

We need more of this ...this is euphoria.

[@cheif10thumbs]

This was my job from 1995-2005. Nice clean job! Well done! that was fun to watch.

[@RomLabs]

Thanks for watching! I got mad respect for the people who have done this for years and can make it look even better than I can!

[@alphaprot2518]

Wow - that was truly mindblowing to watch despite being only a few 1U servers in a single rack with 1U for ventilation, but it was awesome to see such a clean and tidy built. There are actually two things which prevent me from having such a beautiful order in my serverrack as well: 1) Not many servers means not many cables 2) Money - as always :) But as a personal effort I try to make the little stuff I have also tidy and good looking, because good CM keeps you from uneccassary struggles and raging in anger once something goes wrong :)

[@AshboDev]

As someone who works in a data centre, this is satisfying. Excellent job, keep it up, and so glad you used Velcro ;) We also colour code our cables, velcro everything etc. One thing I would suggest (As a human, and someone who does remote hands for clients..) colour code your power cables. I use White and Orange myself, however some of our clients user red/blue, black/white etc. Of course one colour is connected to one PDU, the other to another. It makes life lot easier, believe me!

[@aaronfisher7159]

This reminds me of my old job at an IBM data center. Whenever we’d build out a new row we’d have hundreds and hundreds of individual eth cables going to each rack. We used to have to run them individually like you’re doing here, but eventually we started ordering custom made RGB bundles that were already cable managed and cut to size and mounted on the side of the rack as one piece. HUGE time saver... except for when we were building a custom row for internal servers. Still had to run each fiber cable individually though....

[@010falcon]

You are absolutely awesome, these things do take forever, and are hard to do properly, but any person in the future will thank you from the bottom of their hearts Greetings (I myself love soldering, i also love the rj 45 connector, its awesome in my opinion)

[@RomLabs]

RJ-45 is a really versatile connector! You see a lot of network equipment use it for the serial console connections as well, but now more is going to Micro USB. I deal with so many messy racks i tend to over compensate by making sure everything i do is as clean as i can make it. Thanks for watching!

[@010falcon]

RomLabs well yeah i had a messy server rack at work once I myself dont work in this sort of a area, so i had no idea how to do it Some cable had a problem, i had to replace it, after 2 hours my boss came in and told me to just put a new cable through and leave the old one INSTEAD OF FIXING IT (I work as a so know laboratory physicist (Physiklaborant in german), its like the guy who makes measuring equipment and fixes literally everything(from changing lamps, to measuring special sensors, to cleaning up our production), i try to make all my projects as clean as possible, and when i see this, my god it looks awesome)

[@010falcon]

RomLabs i have never seen or heard that a micro usb connector gets used on servers tbh. Interesting

[@RomLabs]

I'm seeing it more and more on newer networking equipment. Typically they are building the USB to serial adapter into the switches now.

[@ufoludek]

Finally THANK YOU youtube algorithm for reccomending me this!

[@RomLabs]

Thanks for watching! Its getting a lot of algorithm love right now!

[@datashed]

Definitely would love to see more cabling vids! Always looking for ideas for cable management.

[@RomLabs]

Thanks! After the response this video received, I'll definitely be doing when I wire up a new switch stack!

[@itwithmike]

Great work you’ve put into getting the rack neat and tidy. Those cable ties with Velcro are a miracle for us ❤

[@itwithmike]

I subbed❤

[@frankboy221]

idk why but i keep coming back to this video. as im watching the video im making my own patch cables

[@phamnhuthai6847]

I’m a programmer, i started building my homelab with a lot of servers and messed it with my cabling skill, just found this video and it’s very helpful! I will start it again tomorrow :) Thanks for sharing your experience

[@evyatarse]

Hey there , you did an A-M-A-Z-I-N-G job! Loved it!

[@jwschannel19]

I very like this job wiring cable and laying the internet cable

[@DaveChimny]

Great work - that's a true piece of art. I even struggled with cable management in a small rack of the ad agency I'm working for. One Idea I had to clean this up a little bit more: The 1 unit spaces could be filled with those brush panels to hide the wire rings behind them.

[@qshad]

I also work as an IT-specialist in system integration. I do that nearly daily. 🤯😅

[@todayonthebench]

I generally prefer to either buy cables of correct length, or make them to order myself. Calculating cable length is usually not too hard and getting 5-10 cm extra isn't unwieldy in most cases. And I like making the cables outside of the rack, since then we can skip the shortening procedure at 3:30. Cable isn't particularly expensive, but cutting off 20-30cm with each cable one makes quickly adds up. Not to mention that it still is a resource that could have been used more efficiently. From an environmental standpoint, our first rule of recycling is "Reduce", and I see a lot of people doing network cable management that throws out literal tons of "extra" cable for the sole reason that they wanted to save 30 seconds worth of calculating the length correctly. One can fairly trivially just make a spread sheet for it. Account for depth of the device in the rack, how far in on the rack it is, and how many rack units we need to traverse. And that is now the length of the cable, trivial. Add a bit of extra as buffer just in case. Works every time with 0 waste.

[@nanomage]

As far as not getting custom length fiber or power cables I'd say reterminate them too, all it takes is a little bit of know-how and the right tools for the job, if either or both are lacking that's a chance to develop your work skills or workplace equipment. Neither being all that expensive. All in all, great job.

[@stbdrone6148]

Amazing video dude! Met you on reddit and now im definitely subscribing!! More cable management like this please

[@RomLabs]

I'll do what i can! Thanks for watching!

[@carrotcheese2850]

God of cable management.

[@DiscountLowVoltage]

You killed it!! 🍻I will post this on the company FB page, good job dude!

[@RomLabs]

Thanks!

[@brando5541]

the music fits the build very well

[@lornebooker8956]

How impressive! Looks great.

[@NeelNarayan]

Please do a video on proper Cat6 termination. & labelling as well.

[@RomLabs]

Can do! this has been added to the list!

[@DarkDroidOSRS]

This video is amazing. Talk about satisfying!!!! I could watch this all day!

[@RomLabs]

Thanks for watching! I got more videos to come!

[@kierenhudson6331]

Those power strips are amazing for a big data cabinet as that one

[@FiberNinjaStudios]

FiberNinja approved!! Bravo my man!!

[@RomLabs]

Wow! I Just want to say i really enjoy your content! I subscribe to you on my personal account! Thanks for the comment!

[@aure_eti]

Yes ! This is the kind of recommendation that I want

[@RomLabs]

I’m hoping to do more “Recommendation worthy” content! Thanks for watching!

[@aure_eti]

@@RomLabs Also this looks so beautiful ... better than a cable mess

[@augurseer]

Well done

[@Wilksey37]

There is some pride gone into that work, good job!

[@ProfezorFirdaus]

This is ultimate satisfaction

[@tyg3rpro]

Kudos on a super organized cabling, most of the people Ive dealt with that had to wire a rack of some sort just make it look like a giant spaghetti monster in the back which annoys the hell out of me

[@RomLabs]

I have so many racks I need to clean that are messes of spaghetti, Its why i put such an effort into new builds and any rewiring i do, Its MUCH easier and quicker to work on when everything is clean and properly ran!

[@tyg3rpro]

@@RomLabs yes indeed, especially with my line of work (I relocate servers for companies) and a vast majority look like they'd be better to get a jar of ragu rather than me to move them lol

[@galenhutcherson6140]

Imagine all the satisfying ethernet cable clicks

[@RomLabs]

Probably one of my favorite parts was plugging everything in!!

[@aanesijr]

1:11 I’ve done that and after about 30 or so your fingers feel like they’re about to fall off. Props man.

[@RomLabs]

I have to take pretty frequent breaks. I'm considering trying to 3D Print something like a thimble to make it easier to do.

[@crimemastertoto]

Amazing job, looks beautiful

[@Lobstersarefabulouz]

God tier cable managment :D I want to have that skill!!!

[@RomLabs]

It just takes pratice, time, and a lot of cables! I Personally think its easier to make large runs look good since you can form them eaiser.

[@KnurdMonkey]

This is art!

[@tuppers7211]

Thing of beauty!!

[@chrismoore9997]

Very nice, clean build. I would let you clean up my server room.

[@llNATEDOGGll]

I wish I could do this. Tedious af, but the end result makes it all worth it.

[@schism8286]

So clean.

[@bigta1982]

Looks nice. We are not supposed to use Velcro anymore at my place. Wax string for everything.

[@nellermann]

always easier when you are working in an extra wide and deep cabinet.

[@darthnael]

Amazing! Just finished patching three switches totaling about 466 ports to patch panels. No custom length cables just 6ft, 10ft, and 15ft pre-made CAT6. Balancing slack and neatness for that many runs is interesting and challenging! Also, big fan of hook and loop. Lacing is very cool, but not something I've ever used.

[@RomLabs]

Lacing is an art-form in and of itself, Even I cant make it look as good as others I work with. Also i feel for you patching that many ports! I did about half that while doing a new build out for a college dorm and it was a pain to get it to look good!

[@ridakr9473]

Amazing and beautiful work ,i hope i will work on big station laike this

[@carsonlight_lapse6394]

Such cable management is killing me Too good for me

[@donkey-fart]

It's its own art form! Great video!

[@mithleshprasad3066]

Man!!! that was Awsome video i mean that whole Wiring was way beautiful!!!! Yeah make another project just like these one!!!!!

[@RomLabs]

Thanks for watching and I got some more large projects coming up!

[@stenapproved8285]

God this was so satisfying

[@thenoid5131]

Fantastic work my friend

[@bhimgrg05]

Amazing !!!! Respect LAYER 1 always !!!!

[@RS250Squid]

Beautiful. There are two kinds of students on my uni course: The ones who cable racks with exquisitely bundled, routed and tied-up cables, and the ones who just plug one port into another and leave six feet of cabling dangling from the rack. I'm one of the former so this video brought me good vibes :D.

[@RomLabs]

I work with a LOT Of messy cables (More to be shown in future videos!) so I tend to overcompensate and go as clean as possible on any new builds or things I work on! Thanks for watching!

[@RacoonAndres]

this was satisfying to watch

[@valgardurhalldorsson4006]

Great work, very neat and organized.

[@MeizanoAM]

It's beautiful.

[@andyhunter4850]

I could totally get into doing stuff like this! Nice Job!!!

[@brentwilliams191]

Nice work, very cool job

[@zdzisio583]

That's beautiful. :)

[@pancakes1983]

Nice work, but you didn't leave enough slack on the cat6 cables if the techs want to move the servers out on the rails

[@frankjobs7113]

i agree

[@MalcolmCrabbe]

Well spotted. But how often would you pull a server to work on it without powering it down and removing it from the network

[@pancakes1983]

Malcolm Crabbe true, but you really don’t want to be unplugging cables every time to get into the machine whether it’s on or off. Plus he’s doing complete custom cables, then would be the time I’d be planning all of this out

[@MalcolmCrabbe]

@@pancakes1983 I agree that it's inconvenient having to unplug it all, and that with a little more thought he could have included enough loop of cable to allow the server to be pulled without the need to unplug it

[@RomLabs]

The department that “Owns” these servers is OK with downtime since they are clustered together. That being said, it something I’ll think about in the future. Thanks everyone for watching!

[@MichaelBartonMTS]

Looking good!

[@kestonmendez4290]

This snap just looks so sexy.... "Love it" Great job and thanks for the vid.

[@rildobisarria]

Well done! , congrat's

[@RomLabs]

Thanks for watching!

[@overclocking4805]

You know what I love Zip ties

[@sloner999]

Great! Hello from East Siberia! )))

[@vrox2306]

Wow thats perfect !

[@wiecaszekpawel]

Awesome job man! You're a Pro!

[@RomLabs]

Thanks for watching!

[@jucaroni]

nice job

[@123garong]

This is art

[@Calvin420GetRektM8]

Nice Juniper EX Switch platform... They are soo expensive, but very nice.

[@wisico640]

Amazing job!

[@nananmunawar]

nice share and great job 👍

[@420bran]

Great job!

[@dionrowney]

Since your 10gb switch was in the same rack was there a reason you didn't just use a DAC cable?

[@RomLabs]

The department that "Owns" this rack specified fiber for the uplinks. In general we are much better equipped with Fiber and SFPs in case something goes bad. We don't use many DAC Cables in our offices unfortunately.

[@m.imraniqbaal6912]

Great work main

[@Enazel]

People are suprised when I colour code cabling for what traffic is on them, Makes life so much easier when quickly chasing minor issues.

[@Renville80]

David Millington we did that at my previous job... one slight issue is they insisted on regular office moves every few months as people got shifted from position to position, and that beautiful system became a burden to maintain.

[@irenovati]

awesome Work, Congratulations!

[@AlanDias17]

Satisfying

[@thelineofthelife]

Besides the choice of music the video is great! congrats!! ^^

[@girlmastergeneral]

Looks awesome man! Would love to see more!

[@RomLabs]

You got it! it may be a month or two, but I'm running around 150 runs for a project soon!

[@karen-7057]

Great job dude! This rocks

[@chrisbiggers4017]

Very neat work!

[@zyxel2012]

Наверное хорошо вспотел пока монтаж делал :о) я за патч корды с магазина. Прошли у меня те времена когда я вручную обжимал в таких количествах.

[@komrad40]

Thank you Sir.

[@emiledesrosiers2132]

Dude, you are a monk !

[@ThenaonaoTNN]

Awesome

[@muhdbunahmad]

Neat and clean.

[@aguyandhiscomputer]

4:42 Looks like a good way to store the excess fiber cable. At least each rack will look the same.

[@RomLabs]

It worked for that rack, but I'm still trying to figure out best practices for it right now. Thanks for watching!

[@aguyandhiscomputer]

@@RomLabs If you skip a slot like you did with this rack, what about a 1u cable holder? www.google.com/search?q=1u+cable+management&safe=off&client=ms-android-verizon&prmd=sivn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjk7PHj9ujhAhVMLK0KHXIJD18Q_AUoAnoECAoQAg&biw=360&bih=612

[@RomLabs]

We have some, most of our fiber is in various forms of stuff like that. Ill keep it in mind for future builds!

[@ABDESSAMADTESLA]

yes good job i like what you did

[@conorlburns]

Wow this is trending nice job! You deserve the subs😊

[@RomLabs]

Im still amazed! Thanks for watching!