Blog

No cable management

There is only one place to begin, and this is with a lack of cable management altogether. If you do not manage your cables properly, you cannot expect solid network performance. You need to make sure that your cables are labeled correctly and organised in a manner that makes them easy to access. If you don't, you're only going to experience a wealth of hurdles and problems along the way.

Failing to remove cables that are no longer used

When a patch cable is no longer used, is there any reason to keep it connected? This is only going to complicate maintenance at both the logical layer, i.e. a link on the switch port is going to be shown as down, and the physical layer, as no one will dare to take out a patch cable that is plugged into the patch panel. Plus unused cables can easily become tangled, causing a big mess!

Overlooking distance limits

Another mistake that businesses make when it comes to network cabling is overlooking distance limits. In most cases, 100 metres will be the limit for the length of each cable. However, do remember that the path leads is included within this distance. Plus, all cables are different; they all have their own limits. Therefore, you need to be mindful of the cables you're using within your network.

Failing to provision for maintenance and replacement

All setups are great while they're working, yet the true test of your network setup is going to be when the time comes for some repair and maintenance. There are a number of different mistakes that businesses make in this regard. This includes failing to implement and provision cable management rules in sections that are non-critical, resulting in long-winded troubleshooting processes when disaster happens. Another error is not leaving enough room for cables to be removed, meaning other equipment must be moved before any maintenance. Running cables through areas that are challenging to service or access is another mistake that needs to be avoided.

Not testing your network prior to activation

The final mistake a lot of businesses make is failing to test their network before activation. Once you are happy with the layout and everything has been set up, testing is critical. This will ensure you catch any mistakes you may have missed and address any issues concerning safety and data transmission.

If you need any assistance with network cabling at your business, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our team of experts today for more information.