Ask Slashdot: Clever Cable Management?

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?

Comments

My 3 step process

[Anonymous Coward]

1) No cat5, I use wireless only.

2) When I do need to run cable, such as telephone wire for my fax machine, I put the cable in the middle of the room. Then I buy a big rug, and place it over the top of the cable.

3) When it's something complicated, like using a ladder, I always call a professional installer. The satellite company always send the most knowledable folks available.

Re:My 3 step process

[indeterminator]

+1, Proper Use of Rugs.

Re:My 3 step process

[catmistake]

+5 if it really ties the office together

Re:My 3 step process

[DeBaas]

2) When I do need to run cable, such as telephone wire for my fax machine, I put the cable in the middle of the room. Then I buy a big rug, and place it over the top of the cable.

so 5 cables later you've got 5 rugs piled up?

Re:My 3 step process

[dna_(c)(tm)(r)]

2) When I do need to run cable, such as telephone wire for my fax machine, I put the cable in the middle of the room. Then I buy a big rug, and place it over the top of the cable.

The pro's call that a ruggedized setup.

Velcro!

[IversenX]

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!)

Re:Do not forget Plastic Spiral Cable Wrap!

[Anonymous Coward]

FYI, don't use lmgtfy in links. The WHOLE POINT of links is to assist people in locating information, and you're kind of being a dick who can't use the web by NOT providing that assistance (no offense, it applies to us all). So providing that assistance indirectly, with a slow, tedious lmgtfy link is almost as bad.

Re:Cheap cable ties

[turbidostato]

"In more permanent setups, plastic non-reusable cable ties are an even cheaper alternative"

There has to be a law somewhere in the lines of "the more permanent you think it's going to be your setup, the more times you'll need to reorder it".

In other words, there's no such a thing as a "permanent setup". Unless you are a sociopath don't make the one that follows to hate you and use velcro.

There's also something I'm surprised no one mentioned yet: self signaling cables. They can be color coded and their core glass fiber (well, plastic) makes a breeze to find end points:
http://www.patchsee.com/

Loads of cable ties!

[SplatMan_DK]

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

Re:Loads of cable ties!

[JustinOpinion]

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!

toilet paper rolls

[Maglos]

Saw this on reddit a little while ago: http://www.shelterness.com/diy-cable-organizers-of-toilet-paper-rolls/

Re:Pastels! We need pastels!

[optimism]

Google the make/model of your hard drive and "TVS diode".

In most cases you can remove the hard drive from the external case, find that diode on the drive itself (near the connector), clip it off with flush cutters, and you're good to go for drive recovery.

Just make absolutely sure you use the right power supply after removing the TVS.

Re:The usual way

[Deadstick]

I worked for years in a big operation with raised floor. The neatness up top degenerated into horror when you lifted a tile and looked underneath...raised floor doesn't eliminate the mess, just hides it from the CEO.

Whenever a guy lifted a tile and climbed down to route a cable, I'd say "Don't you bother my pet rattlesnake!" The reply would often be a bit nervous -- especially since we did indeed have rattlers at least twice.

rj