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Ask Slashdot: Clever Cable Management?

Posted by Soulskill on from the bartering-with-entropy dept.

sooth... writes "What clever ways have network administrators found to cleanly sort varying length patch cables within IDFs, BDFs, and MDFs or simply wiring closets? Pictures or examples are welcome." Since not everyone is a network administrator, let's expand this to include efficient or clever management of other cables. How do you route your computer cables (internal or external), your entertainment center cables, or any other corded setup?

3 of 374 comments (clear)

  1. Velcro! by IversenX · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I found a solution which I'm pretty happy about.

    Take a good piece of double-sided velcro (that will bond to itself), about 10-20cm. Get a short, screw with a large, flat head. Put the screw through the middle of the velcro strip, and screw it onto the underside of your table, somewhere out of sight. Rinse, repeat.

    Now you have velcro loops that can carry all your wires really neatly, with infinite and easy reconfigurability.

    (Initially, I tried gluing / velcroing the velcro strips on. It never lasted, so I went with screws instead. That really works!)

    --
    With great numbers come great responsibility!
  2. Loads of cable ties! by SplatMan_DK · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I think cable ties are a great way to reduce the chaos in a pile of spaghetti-style cables.

    Some people dislike them, but I think they are just not accustomed to using them. Proper use of cable ties means you are not afraid to use a LOT of them, and also not afraid of cutting them open when you need to change someting. I keep a cheap diagonal cutter and a bag of assorted cable ties in every desk drawer in my house (3 "kits" in total).

    Its easy to work with, extremely flexible, and best of all: cheaper than most of the fancy "solutions" you can buy.

    Just stop being afraid of cutting them open when you need to!

    - Jesper

    --
    My security clearance is so high I have to kill myself if I remember I have it...
    1. Re:Loads of cable ties! by JustinOpinion · · Score: 4, Interesting

      My solution is to use a whole bunch of solutions:
      - Instead of cable ties, we mostly strips of double-sided velcro. It's faster to reconfigure. (Hint: Buy "Velcro Plant Ties" instead of cable ties... it's the exact same stuff but much cheaper.)
      - Also use cable ties and twist-ties liberally.
      - CableDrop (or similar) when you want to hold a cable in position but be able to move/remove it frequently.
      - AnthroCart cable management accessories. They are optimized to work with their line of desks, but some of the accessories are just generally useful for group cables.
      - Medium-length runs of multiple cables can be grouped together using a split tube (e.g. this). Ikea used to sell some dirt-cheap split-tube for cable management, but I can't find it anymore (they do have these, though).
      - For some runs, braided sleeving (or even just solid PVC tubing from any hardware store) can be useful. You can unplug all the cables from both ends, and move it as a unit to a new span.

      So I guess my advice is to have a mixture of solutions on-hand. For any given task, use the one that feels right!