DescentBB

I would hate to be the network tech who would have to find a problem here.

If it's all documented properly, it might not bee that bad to work with.

It's called \"job security\"

Isaac wrote:If it's all documented properly, it might not bee that bad to work with.

"IF"

No, it would still be terrible to work with even if properly documented.

There's no way that is documented.

Heretic wrote:

Isaac wrote:If it's all documented properly, it might not bee that bad to work with.

"IF"

That can't be good for airflow

Grendel wrote:It's called "job security"

x2

*drops his jaw*

I have a degree in computer network support.

Even if there was incredible documentation with that, I would still be extremely hesitant to so much as touch that pile of spaghetti.

There are so many things wrong in that picture already, that having great documentation would hardly matter. Those cables look dense enough to restrict air flow to the equipment. They are all the exact same color. They are of varying length. There does not seem to be any thought given to an overall physical topology. I also highly doubt that each cable is given an identifier either on the jack its connected to or the connector terminating each end, which will make rewiring everything that much harder.

My solution: redesign the topology completely, send everyone home for the week if at all possible, unhook EVERYTHING, reposition all routers, switches, and patch boards to require a minimum of cabling, and then use as short of cables as possible to rewire that mess. If the cabling is still going to be complicated, use different colored cable for different run types. Build in space for a predicted five to ten years of growth.

In short, throw it all out, start from scratch, and make it look like this.

That must be Microsoft's Bing.

Are you sure those wires actually do anything? Maybe they're just trying to imitate a mozzarella topping...

Sirius wrote:Are you sure those wires actually do anything? Maybe they're just trying to imitate a mozzarella topping...

Yeah, is it possible that the networking folks were really that lazy? They just add cables and never remove?

Definitely a good picture to show new networking techs what is NOT good!

Do you think the cables are picking up noise from each other? How will it affect network performance?

Wow.... the first time I saw that... I thought I was looking at a bale of hay. And yes, I agree with Avder... I was an installer for about a full year and a PC repair tech for about 2-3 years as well before I had to move. I worked a lot with wiring and I am going to start working toward a degree in networking this coming Spring so yes... I confirm that, THAT is a nightmare. I would get rid of all the wires, buy color coded wires or at least label them and bundle them up so that they make some sort of sense and organize all of the equipment underneath a LOT better.

It doesn't take someone with a network degree to know a mess of a wires like that is hideous.

The last building I was at for work, we didn't have a patch panel. They just ran everything into a router (granted, it was only like 30 cables), but it was a big enough pain to track. Now we label every cable on a patch panel, and have a map of the building showing were each cable comes out.

Zip ties would do alot for that mess!

Heretic wrote:Do you think the cables are picking up noise from each other? How will it affect network performance?

I doubt it. Noise immunity is the point of twisted pairs. If they are quality cables, they may also have an overall shield. Finally, noise emitted by a cable is related to AC current running through the cable- since all of the signals are very low current, I don't think that the cables themselves emit much noise. Really, the time that you worry about noise is when you have something like a motor wire (high current, usually really spikey, too) running next to a signal cable.

Heretic wrote:Do you think the cables are picking up noise from each other? How will it affect network performance?

I doubt it, but the way they are wired, it wouldn't surprise me that the connectors were crimped wrong, the wires have been twisted such that the pairs no longer twist as required to self-negate interference, or they're just plain bad, cheap cables that muck everything up.

That's probably the MS india server room

I honestly don't think it's that bad. You should see the backs of the telephone switching crossbars at this museum...

As long as you have proper documentation, processes, and test equipment, something like this isn't that bad to deal with.

Lothar wrote:I honestly don't think it's that bad. You should see the backs of the telephone switching crossbars at this museum...

As long as you have proper documentation, processes, and test equipment, something like this isn't that bad to deal with.

"It's a small world, but I wouldn't want to paint it"