Suggestions for wiring up a rack

[aniruddha23]

lol

We have this rack for our small business which will be housing around 12 servers all of them 1U. Each server has 3 to 5 wired going into it.

Basically
1 for Ethernet. sometimes 2.
1 For power
1 for KVM

I tried setting it up and the results were horrendous. There are wires all over the place and it?s impossible to tell what goes where.

Then I saw some professionally wired racks like the one shown below

Good Wiring
And I was like wow. Now that?s a good job.

So I have two options now.

1 Find some dude who can do this. Obviously very expensive and something I would like to avoid.

2 redo the whole rack with a proper plan. for this I will need
a. An article which describes step by step how to do this
b. What hardware is needed such as fasteners cable holders etc
c. any other tips and suggestions.

A year or so down the line these servers will be used for a production install and it is very important that it be done right.

What do you guys suggest?

 

[bobsmith1492]

Wiring's easy. Just get some zip-ties and sticky pads and route the wires along the edges of things and you're set.

 

[ViviTheMage]

can we see what you are working with?

area, servers, etc?

zip ties are great too, but if you get the right rack you can hide everything really well.

 

[aniruddha23]

Originally posted by: ViviTheMage
can we see what you are working with?

area, servers, etc?

zip ties are great too, but if you get the right rack you can hide everything really well.

I know I have the pix some. Am gonna try and dig em up.

 

[aniruddha23]

found one pic but thats from the front.

Text

Have better pics of the mess at the back in my camera at home.

Will upload them later today.

Any links to a guide or procedure for doing this properly?

 

[Mogadon]

Firstly, this is a rack for business, the aim is not to hide the wires just to organise them.

There is no way you should consider hiring a professional to do this, it just takes a little time, patience, common sense and judicious use of cable ties ... and really that's about it.

Here's an example. If all your wires need to leave the rack from the bottom then start by wiring the server at the top of the rack. Decide which side you want the wires to follow down. Group the wires from the top server using common sense and cable ties, directing them to the side of the rack you chose in the earlier step. Cable tie these grouped wires to the rack moving downwards until you get to the level of the next server. Now group the wires from that next server using common sens and cable ties, direct them to the appropriate side of the rack, group with the wires from the above server and attach to rack. Rinse and repeat until you get to the bottom of the rack.

 

[aniruddha23]

Originally posted by: Mogadon
Firstly, this is a rack for business, the aim is not to hide the wires just to organise them.

There is no way you should consider hiring a professional to do this, it just takes a little time, patience, common sense and judicious use of cable ties ... and really that's about it.

Here's an example. If all your wires need to leave the rack from the bottom then start by wiring the server at the top of the rack. Decide which side you want the wires to follow down. Group the wires from the top server using common sense and cable ties, directing them to the side of the rack you chose in the earlier step. Cable tie these grouped wires to the rack moving downwards until you get to the level of the next server. Now group the wires from that next server using common sens and cable ties, direct them to the appropriate side of the rack, group with the wires from the above server and attach to rack. Rinse and repeat until you get to the bottom of the rack.

Great feedback

So
1 All wires for any single server should be tied together as one group.

Questions

1 How do I leverage the wire at the corner of the server. e.g. If I have a wire coming out of the Ethernet port. I stretch the wire to the right end of the server and then take it up. How does it hinge to the right end so that it stays there. Are there any hooks or some other things available commercially or do you have nay other techniques.

2 What?s the best way to handle extra length. In my setup all wires are purchased from a store and have fixed length. In most cases the wires are longer than what is needed to connect two endpoints. Should I reduce the length and crimp them again? I just am not too sure about reliability of wires which I manually crimp. I can test them but am not sure if they are reliable enough in the long run. Or is there anyway in which the extra part can be tied up? Most of the confusion is being caused due to this extra length.

 

[d3n]

I just thought I'd point out the key to the wiring photo you posted is the horizontal bars that the wires are zip-tied too. I would order a couple from CDW or your prefered cabeling vendor. Maybe around 4-6 and use those to help organize. Nothing fancy needed.

 

[d3n]

Also for excess let the wires drape down the sides of the rack. Dont zip too much becuase the first problem all of those ties will get cut and they'll never get put back.

 

[aniruddha23]

Heres some more pix of the back.

As you can see its a complete mess right now.

Rear 1
Rear 2
Rear 3
Rear 4
Rear 5
Rear 6
Rear 7

 

[aniruddha23]

Originally posted by: d3n
I just thought I'd point out the key to the wiring photo you posted is the horizontal bars that the wires are zip-tied too. I would order a couple from CDW or your prefered cabeling vendor. Maybe around 4-6 and use those to help organize. Nothing fancy needed.

What do I search for? You have any links to this product.

would be great if you can review the pix I posted and let me know if they will fit.

 

[Tazanator]

well to do my racks i spent the time and money this way ..

1 remember each server will need space between for cooling ... so place a empty plate or "filler plate" peteew each server and wire tie the cords to that as they come out and accross to the side of the rack.

run the wires up to the distribution device (KVM switch or what ever) cut and terminate the wires so you have only the wire length needed.

 

[aniruddha23]

Originally posted by: Tazanator
well to do my racks i spent the time and money this way ..

1 remember each server will need space between for cooling ... so place a empty plate or "filler plate" peteew each server and wire tie the cords to that as they come out and accross to the side of the rack.

run the wires up to the distribution device (KVM switch or what ever) cut and terminate the wires so you have only the wire length needed.

AFAIK the servers dont have any vernts on the top or the bottom and are built to be mounted without any space between them. Thats how most professional server setups are.

Termination for the KVM sounds like a great idea since its a non critical element.

 

[imported_nunya]

I would cut the extra length out of the cables, especially if they are considerably longer than needed, but I'm kinda anal about it. Get yourself a cable tester and a GOOD crimper, not one of those cheapies, and you won't have anything to worry about. I agree with everyone else, do it yourself, it's good for you If you're worries about having to fix mistakes buy those velcro ties.

 

[aniruddha23]

Originally posted by: nunya
I would cut the extra length out of the cables, especially if they are considerably longer than needed, but I'm kinda anal about it. Get yourself a cable tester and a GOOD crimper, not one of those cheapies, and you won't have anything to worry about. I agree with everyone else, do it yourself, it's good for you If you're worries about having to fix mistakes buy those velcro ties.

I think the crimper I have is pretty good. Problem is that it also kinda flattens out that tab which hinges the cable into its slot.

Thant kinda make its a loose fit in the jack. Kinda scary.