Learning Network Cable Management - A Small Business Open Frame Rack Build

In this video I build an open frame network rack from scratch, explaining along the way the each step and the reason I am doing it the way that I am. This is intended for a small business network, not a home residence. I made this video for first time builders, so I try not to assume that you have built a lot of these and that you are looking for some general guidance. With an open frame rack, taking control of the giant pile of wires you end up with is more important than ever - both on the front of the rack and the rear where the cables are entering.
Below are the items I used in this video - these are Amazon links that help me out, but of course you don't have to use them.
Navepoint 15U Open Frame Rack (Uses cage nuts) - amzn.to/46dTCvA
TrendNet 48 Port Blank Keystone Panel - amzn.to/3XdrXqg
Ball Grip Cordless Screw Driver - amzn.to/3nF48KP
2U Neat patch - amzn.to/447oCwa
All in One Crimp Tool - amzn.to/3KZn8ez
Crimp Tool Cat6 Jacks - amzn.to/3LlllBQ
My toolbag, and its contents:
Bag - amzn.to/3QMyV4m
Punch tool - amzn.to/3DYWoaW
Crimper from vid - amzn.to/3P2KanS
A better crimper - amzn.to/3shOOFS
Construction Pen - amzn.to/45dOg2m
DeWalt Jab Saw - amzn.to/3O8ec9T
Low Voltage Cutout - amzn.to/3pELzXP
Voltage Sensor (Always-on version) - amzn.to/3LUrO5W
Tape Measure - amzn.to/3QHYEea
Cordless Screw Driver - amzn.to/3nF48KP
All in One Crimp Tool - amzn.to/3KZn8ez
Needle Nose - amzn.to/3slXhYs
USB C Flashlight - www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08...

[@ihateyoutubehandles]

No obscure/fancy schmancy gear, decent cable management, calm/confident voice and clear footage. You sir deserve more than a subscription but that will have to do for now! :)

[@muhdbunahmad]

Absolutely.

[@hmiranda12]

I’m a network engineer and I always admire this type of work. For me, this is art! Keep the good work and, please, upload more content! 🔥🔥

[@lucascarman2578]

Yeah, same. I work on these switches and router remotely but I always kinda envy the guys who go in there and just get to work quietly and cleanly. In my internship, I got to do a little bit of installing gear and I had a great time. I'd put my headphones on and just vibe out while running cables or whatever.

[@TechnoTim]

So many great tips here, thank you!

[@angelsv]

In college, part of my networking class assignment was to create our own RJ45 cables using the crimper tool, at the end of the exercise my fingers were absolutely roasting and cramping, Big respect to this profession.

[@Damicske]

Yeah making your own patch cables or just terminating is a b...., I started using tool less RJ45 connectors (if needed) so I'm done quicker, yes they're more expensive then the normal ones but no pain in fingers :D

[@ronaldnaeyaert3653]

In my experience having done 3000 drops, never make you own patch cables. Complete waste of time and prone to problems down the road.

[@parakidd]

The beginning of this video gave me anxiety with the chaos that was looming in the ceiling. But as the video progressed and I saw how you methodically went through the entire process it made me want to watch more videos like this.

[@Kunstentech]

I been in the field for a long time but I appreciate your explanations and you have amazing skill organizing, looking forward to more videos

[@tciproductions]

Very kind of you to say, thanks!

[@lincolnkarim1]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Please note' Connectorized - A raw cable end on which a connector was installed. Termination - The placing of a connectorized cable in its final destination. Exception: When a raw cable end is stripped and permanently punched down on a block without a detachable connector.

[@ChingizKhalafov]

This channel is my favourite channel since now.

[@nuttyox]

You are an absolute machine, I've done my fair share of network racks but I love the little tips you give that I will absolutely use in my future racks! Thanks

[@hackoomb]

just clean, and I like the way it works, delivering a clean work area as well.

[@Speedsk8kayak]

Got to give you props on the video. It will be one I point my new techs to as it is simple straight forward and we follow the same management ideas. You answered my one question with the link to the screwdriver.

[@k2par]

Great videos, thank you! I ended up watching them all and thank you for posting the links for all the tools you use

[@terrenceboylanjr]

So we'll done. A refreshing video and attitude towards work.

[@LukasEragon]

thanks for the tips....I can see your EXPERIENCE in this videos, you've clearly been doing this a while and know what works and what to avoid. Thanks!

[@Mitchkp]

Absolutely love these types of videos you post, can you do more of them

[@pawpaw7646]

Excellent video, good information. Especially useful were the pointers and explanations along the way and your calm demeanor. I'll look for other videos in your channel for different types of network racks to compare with the less than optimal open rack you had to work with this time. Thanks!

[@MalumeOmega]

Nice work. I love that tip with the screws for mounting gear on the rack.

[@Acheron.426]

Very satisfying to watch. If I was a young kid I wish I could have apprenticed under you.

[@wizsc]

Thank you for the content. I’m about to rebuild my home network and this time it will be done properly.

[@rjbraun]

This video is amazing! Just what I'm looking for right now!

[@blueeyeswhitedragon6385]

Your attention to details makes me happy...but when you cleaned up your own mess, I knew then you were a gentleman. Thumbs up and subscribed.

[@tciproductions]

This comment is appreciated :)

[@chrisparker8539]

Another great video. Very informative and you stick to the topic.

[@thantsintun100]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience.

[@user-eg7hp5fg5m]

Great job. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@seantellsit1431]

Very interesting. Makes a lot of sense for how you combed, routed, and punched down the cable. I'm not a fan of using cable managers butted up against switches as if one needs to do any maintenance, those connections are a pain to get out, and usually one then needs a flat head screw driver (or need nose plyers) to release the tab. I'm more of a fan of split loading the switches so that cables don't cross. In this instance, you could have used a 24 port patch panel on top, and a 48 port patch panel on bottom. As for firewalls that aren't normally mounted in a rack, yes, they are a pain, but until manufacturers start making rack ears with the appropiate models, those adapters at aleast let the firewalls stay racked, and not just flopping on a shelf like I've seen a 1000 times with the ISP modem. Props to you for sharing your work. We need more installers doing this.

[@tciproductions]

I appreciate the sentiment, thanks. I will have many more variations in future efforts, I'm hoping to explore different layouts each time so that folks learn something new from each vid.

[@austinreeves5221]

as a cable guy this hurts my brain but good work

[@some______guy]

I love a pro. In anything really. Competence is really compelling

[@billybob8646]

I like the neat patch solution when the space is available. made it look sharp

[@tciproductions]

I think you and I are the only ones, neat patch gets a lot of hate :)

[@Darkk6969]

Nice setup. For our setups I don't use cable storage or management racks as it gets in the way and makes the cabinet too large. I put the switches right next to the patch panel and use short patch cables. Makes troubleshooting alot easier vs digging through the cable bundles. I also use different color patch cables to identify them as trunk cables. I.e. Red cable form modem to firewall, yellow cables from firewall to switches. Blue cables would be your standard client access.

[@tciproductions]

If I have complete control over the job scope I can sometimes work it out differently. If I can build the layout consistently with the same sized panel and switches all the way down I would probably skip the horizontal cable manager and move to a vertical manager instead and use that to hide the uplinks. Each build tends to be unique based on the restrictions I am working under. Highly agree about chasing the cables, I often label them if there is time, I will try to include that in the next one.

[@venoltar]

@@tciproductions This is a great example of perfection being the enemy of good. These were some really helpful tips on how to efficiently adapt and approach the problem when your installation is not the priority on site (Which is most of the time IMHO). As the guy who usually has to come in after this stage to complete the setup, I really appreciate this approach and it helps with understanding what led to those decisions.

[@michaelgarcia8271]

Beautiful install. Great video.

[@js-ict2855]

Very interesting. Looking forward to more of this content.

[@guillermourquizo516]

Wow que gran trabajo, felicitaciones

[@heyallenify]

Thank you for this, it's going to help tremendously as I build out my home network in the near future. I've done full racked network and server setups previously, but was never happy with how the cabling came out, falling far shy of the neatly combed out runs that I strove for when doing wiring on job sites (with free standing frames and ladder rack overhead.)

[@captjack5169]

Great videos, no loud music, no circus hard to follow bullshit. Straight to the goods.

[@osiepafy]

Thank you for keeping it real @3:23, really inspiring.👍🔥

[@rahulchavan6186]

Great elaboration on end to end to cable management, Thanks.

[@DWA86]

This called an art

[@paulvancyber1979]

Pretty nice Job Mate!!!! you need to do more videos like this one!!! nice voice!

[@tciproductions]

Thank you! Almost done with the next one

[@Rico1455]

That's a beautiful job.

[@cemalmetan]

nice workmanship and nice video

[@mjellings]

Nicely done, we typically do things a bit differently, we have 24 port patch panel, then a 48 port switch then another 24 port patch panel. The top patch panel goes into the top row of the 48 switch with short cables and likewise the patch panel under the switch goes into the bottom row using short cables. Keeps things nice and tidy too but each to their own, good work, nicely laid out :)

[@tciproductions]

Thanks, I appreciate it. I will show more ways to do the switches and panels in future vids.

[@jareeq]

nice stead work - like someone said - no fancy tools. I was to ask why a heck those cable managers - but considering what you told about - it was 100% reasonable.

[@Hazmatguy117]

I used to do this for a few years before becoming a sys admin. This looks amazing! So many people will totally trash a network room because it’s out of site. Only thing I ever did different was add more slack in the back as a “service loop” just in case.

[@KK10155]

that was a delight to watch

[@michaelduke4500]

I currently do not work in the IT / Network field, but I find this oddly satisfying. I guess it't the neat and tidy look at the end of the vid.

[@GSM2C]

Excellent video, keep up the great work and helpful videos for newbies like me.

[@tciproductions]

More coming soon!

[@Zaleskee]

Thank You for the Master Class!!

[@Joshua.02.06.]

You sir have unlocked a core memory of mine when I was 16yrs old. I'm 33 now lol

[@ronaldnaeyaert3653]

Great job.

[@muhammadimranzahid5763]

Awesome Buddy Keep It Up!!!

[@wrighte02]

My new #1 source!!!!

[@muhdbunahmad]

Straight to the point.

[@Ricardordz11]

This job was incredible thank you for sharing

[@tciproductions]

Very kind of you to say, thanks!

[@grantlarmstrong]

Enjoyed the video very much.

[@leetrix2]

Very nice. Job beaultiful

[@chinonjoku4298]

Magnificent absolutely magnificent!

[@GoreGamer]

Hell yea! Bad ass vid. About to do this on a mini scale at my new house. The Builder gave us an included PoE switch that is garbage and they only ran one line per room. Will be following this method. Ill also be adding a rack mounted PC running Unraid.

[@AbdullahDarwish]

Great Video, Thank you MR

[@Oomtet]

Nice neat work..

[@raykamarivero]

You deserve all the money you’re paid and more

[@user-xp8qz1cc8z]

What an artist!

[@jimsvideos7201]

Have you considered voice work? You have notably good diction.

[@graffix3001]

Nice work. I really like the pattern on those cable concealers.

[@toddmcgowan9449]

Great job!

[@69UHF]

Amazing work!

[@chrisquash8453]

very wonderful video

[@CapsLock33]

thanks, i learned something new from this video.

[@thereefaholic]

Nice job. I am gonna share a tip that has changed my network rooms forever. 6” jumpers…. All our switches are now installed between 1RU patch panels and 6” jumpers hu up and down from the 48 port switches with no cable management needed. Not only is installation faster and cleaner, maintenance is faster as well. For the occasional off cable that must transition from one rack to another, we use the 6” jumpers as a chase for that horizontal run. This works so well that the cabling vendors we use now recommend this to all their customers.

[@mrmotofy]

But as he said he had no idea what switches would be used...so longer is better

[@thereefaholic]

Well I guess there are switches out there that are bigger then 1 RU.

[@damcama]

Great video, thanks for the content!

[@clarkkent6083]

Expert Level!

[@michaelbyrd4004]

Excellent! Thanks for the video.

[@JasonsLabVideos]

Nice work, glad to see you use the SFP+ ports to link the switches together.. the TZ400 is EOL, but it works.

[@Herlander25]

good filming

[@Multitechei]

Good job bro, amazing

[@francismori7]

More videos like this, please.

[@Moeunvanlong]

The best prepared and managed the network cable in the rack.

[@ZoranvonderHeide]

Great video. You remind me to Shawn Michaels "The Heartbreak Kid".

[@Sam4921]

I like those Rack builds!

[@BionicEdit]

I love this.

[@sunplussoftware]

Nice explanation.

[@Saturn2888]

I use chase-pipe at home, but I have no clue what you bought. My pipe is that white 4" plumbing pipe from Home Depot. We also used a 45 degree bend radius to make sure everything could fit. It's 23 CAT6 wires with 5 fiber runs. Not too many, but we put them in the house ourselves. Any drops for the second floor are done through the attic, so they didn't need a pipe.

[@cdinnetz]

Nice work!

[@reinierodioruiz3964]

good job

[@user-ho7qm6sf3o]

Neat, Good Job.

[@danieltwodevs]

just magic - thanks

[@jadziedzic]

Thanks for an excellent instructional video. FYI the rack shown in the video appears to be an ECHOGEAR 15U model, NOT a Navepoint model; the ECHOGEAR has horizontal cross members on the rear, while the Navepoint models do not.

[@TheRealJohnMadden]

You know you're a nerd when you can lovingly watch a video like this enjoying the incredibly calm man speaking and the chill vibes. Amazing video my friend!

[@FrankSiler]

Great content, thanks!

[@TheMchip]

nerves of steel ❤

[@DozIT]

Amazing! Generally, I try to avoid daisy-chaining switches (reduces network disruption when updating/maintaining), but with only 2, and the router you were working with, I would have done the same thing!

[@luiswoodstock]

nice California cable management, I support

[@thegreatdeconstruction]

beautiful work even with the longer cables. instasubbed

[@sleeharvester]

Very nice video, was having an existential crisis watching you patch the router into port 47 on the switch... love the work mate

[@emorysmith197]

Excellent!!!@

[@ragtop63]

I had to do something similar for a production house in Vegas about a year ago. Someone had already started the process before me and did a really horrible job of matching the drops to the patch panel in any sort of logical manner. I wanted really badly to redo their horrible work but I ended up just doing my part and moving on.

[@CayroproductionsAdan]

I wanna do this so bad looks amazing working alone and using ur brain that’s all for me

[@user-gw6or1gt1k]

It's MA first time seeing someone using a "neat patch" cable management

[@edc2517]

love from Italy man

[@tciproductions]

back at you from Hawaii!

[@ovarb12]

Pretty damn good video. Thanks for your thoughts and philosophies. Been doing the it thing for sometime and rarely is there anyone who can setup a patch panel. The real ones akways look like shit.

[@aDifferentJT]

Very neat, my only difference is that I find rack studs much easier than traditional screws.