How do the network cables transition into/outof individual equipment
racks in data centers?-a Presumably, through the floor?
Regardless, how is the transition managed, physically -- is it just
a suitably sized *hole*?-a With lengths of cable that span the distance
to a patch panel inside the rack?-a Is the service loop stored in the
rack or allowed to clutter outside (beneath) the rack?
How do the network cables transition into/outof individual equipment
racks in data centers? Presumably, through the floor?
Regardless, how is the transition managed, physically -- is it just a suitably sized *hole*? With lengths of cable that span the distance to
a patch panel inside the rack? Is the service loop stored in the rack
or allowed to clutter outside (beneath) the rack?
On Fri, 17 Apr 2026 00:59:30 -0700, Don Y wrote:
How do the network cables transition into/outof individual equipment
racks in data centers? Presumably, through the floor?
Regardless, how is the transition managed, physically -- is it just a
suitably sized *hole*? With lengths of cable that span the distance to
Yes, a floor panel is not installed along the line of racks, this permits >cable management and airflow - traditional method of raised floors.
Non raised floors have also need used for decades, but more prevailent in >recent years and use cable trays from above into racks, easy as racks
also come with overhead cable management access.
a patch panel inside the rack? Is the service loop stored in the rack
or allowed to clutter outside (beneath) the rack?
not usually any patch panels - unless the customer supplies one for their >local network there, usually the fibre (or 2+ if multi homed - footnote:
if leasing rack in an internet exchange, they usually REQUIRE you to run
BGP and take a peering feed with them) is dropped inside the rack with >plenty length, and you connect it direct into your border router, since >space and power is limited inside leased racks, its not worth using patch >panels, go from server to switch direct usually with cat6 (6a is
pointless over the barely 2 metres from any server position to your
switch) and usually fibre from switch to router, but often that bit can
be ethernet, its up to you as its inside your part of network.
Cheers
On 17/04/2026 08:59, Don Y wrote:
How do the network cables transition into/outof individual equipment
racks in data centers?-a Presumably, through the floor?
Regardless, how is the transition managed, physically -- is it just
a suitably sized *hole*?-a With lengths of cable that span the distance
to a patch panel inside the rack?-a Is the service loop stored in the
rack or allowed to clutter outside (beneath) the rack?
In the two data centres that I have visited the cables are all single-
mode optical fibres.-a There is often a coil of excess fibre in the
bottom of the rack just above the hole in the floor where they
enter.
On Fri, 17 Apr 2026 00:59:30 -0700, Don Y wrote:
How do the network cables transition into/outof individual equipment
racks in data centers? Presumably, through the floor?
Regardless, how is the transition managed, physically -- is it just a
suitably sized *hole*? With lengths of cable that span the distance to
Yes, a floor panel is not installed along the line of racks, this permits cable management and airflow - traditional method of raised floors.
Non raised floors have also need used for decades, but more prevailent in recent years and use cable trays from above into racks, easy as racks
also come with overhead cable management access.
a patch panel inside the rack? Is the service loop stored in the rack
or allowed to clutter outside (beneath) the rack?
not usually any patch panels - unless the customer supplies one for their local network there, usually the fibre (or 2+ if multi homed - footnote:
if leasing rack in an internet exchange, they usually REQUIRE you to run
BGP and take a peering feed with them) is dropped inside the rack with
plenty length, and you connect it direct into your border router, since
space and power is limited inside leased racks, its not worth using patch panels,
go from server to switch direct usually with cat6 (6a is
pointless over the barely 2 metres from any server position to your
switch) and usually fibre from switch to router, but often that bit can
be ethernet, its up to you as its inside your part of network.
On 4/17/2026 1:27 AM, John R Walliker wrote:
On 17/04/2026 08:59, Don Y wrote:
How do the network cables transition into/outof individual equipment
racks in data centers?-a Presumably, through the floor?
Regardless, how is the transition managed, physically -- is it just
a suitably sized *hole*?-a With lengths of cable that span the distance
to a patch panel inside the rack?-a Is the service loop stored in the
rack or allowed to clutter outside (beneath) the rack?
In the two data centres that I have visited the cables are all single-
mode optical fibres.-a There is often a coil of excess fibre in the
bottom of the rack just above the hole in the floor where they
enter.
OK, the cable acting to carry the traffic for EVERY host in the rack
to/from a "main switch", elsewhere.
A switch inside the rack to handle the fan-out to the hosts INSIDE
the rack?-a (that switch effectively acting like a patch panel
for the rack)
I suspect the "hole" is just a lifted floor tile, if the optical
cable is "stored" in the rack?-a This (hole and service loop) not
being an eyesore because:
- it's hidden inside the confines of the rack
- it's a data center and not expected to be aesthetically pleasing
-a (err on the side of serviceable)
On 17/04/2026 14:05, Don Y wrote:
On 4/17/2026 1:27 AM, John R Walliker wrote:
On 17/04/2026 08:59, Don Y wrote:
How do the network cables transition into/outof individual equipment
racks in data centers?-a Presumably, through the floor?
Regardless, how is the transition managed, physically -- is it just
a suitably sized *hole*?-a With lengths of cable that span the distance >>>> to a patch panel inside the rack?-a Is the service loop stored in the
rack or allowed to clutter outside (beneath) the rack?
In the two data centres that I have visited the cables are all single-
mode optical fibres.-a There is often a coil of excess fibre in the
bottom of the rack just above the hole in the floor where they
enter.
OK, the cable acting to carry the traffic for EVERY host in the rack
to/from a "main switch", elsewhere.
A switch inside the rack to handle the fan-out to the hosts INSIDE
the rack?-a (that switch effectively acting like a patch panel
for the rack)
I suspect the "hole" is just a lifted floor tile, if the optical
cable is "stored" in the rack?-a This (hole and service loop) not
being an eyesore because:
- it's hidden inside the confines of the rack
- it's a data center and not expected to be aesthetically pleasing
-a-a (err on the side of serviceable)
A lifted floor tile would be much too big a hole.
Its a small hole
cut into a floor tile.-a Maybe 10 or 15cm diameter.
-a Optical fibres
are thin and a couple of power cables don't take much space.
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