[Tfug] Cabling

[Bexley Hall]

Hi Louis,

On 12/1/2013 7:11 AM, Louis Taber wrote:
> Would mounting a switch or two under the benches help keep the confusion
> down?

That's what I have, currently.  Previously, a pair of 8 port switches
now replaced by a single 16 port.  The "uplink" from the switch
leaves the room via one of the RJ45's in the wall.  (most traffic
is *within* the room though some of the printers are in another
room so need a way *out*)

My work area resembles a large "U" -- ~6.5' "tall" and ~11' "wide".
The tables are 32 in deep (front to back).  So, there's about 4.5'
between the "uprights" of the U -- which is where I sit.

Quick math shows the outer perimeter is ~24 ft (6.5+11+6.5) while
the inner is about 12.5 ft.  (this is important as it affects
the placement of kit and wire)

The equipment below the tables must all be accessible from that
12.5 ft of "front exposure".  Network cabling hangs from the
*back* edge of the tables (so you don't have to reach *past*
it as you grope around under the tables -- and, don't have
wires peeling off the bundle in front of kit!).

Not counting the switch, there are 14 drops in that 12.5' span.
Of course, some are on top of the tables while others beneath.
So, there are lots of different cable lengths involved/required
(if you don't want to have "slop" dangling somewhere).

Originally, I had run the cabling on the floor, along the walls.
But, this just leaves a big snarl of wire -- all the network
cables that are trying to get to the switch (which is why I had
two smaller switches, previously -- split the "congestion").

Plus, the power cords that feed the various outlet strips and
UPS's.

Plus the video cables that connect machines (below) to displays
(above).

Plus the SCSI cables that connect to external drives, transports
and scanners.

Plus the serial cables for EPROM programmer, digitizing tablet,
motion controller and a few "serial consoles" for headless boxen.

Plus the USB cables for keyboards, mice, scanners, camera and printers.

And, the few audio cables to tie in PMP, etc.  (don't forget how
many of these devices have wall warts or bricks!)

Letting *everything* sit on the floor just made it impossible to
plug/unplug *anything* -- power, comms, etc.

So, it was relatively easy to get the power strips mounted to the
undersides of the tables.  Then, select short power cords to
eliminate "pools" of power cabling on the floor behind machines.

Network cable was similarly easy to get fastened above.  Both of
these tend to see the most "need for access" so getting them out
of the ratsnest was a quick win.

The remaining cables are too "specific" to do much about.  E.g.,
there's no slop (allowed) in a SCSI cable so it's pretty much
point to point -- put host *here*, peripherals 18 inches away!
Monitors gotta go where monitors gotta go so no real choice
there.  I've tried to route individual serial devices to fixed
locations even though it means I have to access the associated
device from a particular machine, etc. (e.g., the EPROM programmer
is tethered to my "engineering" workstation; serial console for
database server hangs off an X terminal, etc.)

Problem is trying to make an Engineering *Department* fit in a
single *office*!  :<