Reddit mentions of TRENDnet 24-Port Cat5/5e RJ-45 UTP Unshielded Patch Panel, TC-P24C5E, Wallmount or Rackmount, 100Mhz, Cat 5e Krone Connectors, Color-Coded Labeling, Cat5/Cat5e/Cat4/Cat3 Compatible, 1U Rackmount

My original plan was to build a small Ryzen server to run some VMs on. That plan eventually turned into looking at small racks and deciding I want to run ethernet throughout the house, so naturally I need it all to come together at one location. I bought a 6u rack (can technically hold 8u), a pdu, a tplink patch panel, and I got a free switch poe from Aerohive that I plan on using to power some security cameras. I found a 3u short rack mount computer case that can be mounted "backwards", which helps with air flow in these short racks and allows easy access to all of the io ports.

My Ryzen idea turned into a Theadripper build because of some crazy deals I got, and ended up being its own stand alone build. So I still don't really have a machine setup in the 3u case. I have a Dell board installed with an i7, but the psu has some weird proprietary connectors and the cables are too short for where the psu mounts, so I'll just look into replacing the board and psu at some point in the near future. I then plan on running proxmox and having this run part of a test lab, and maybe eventually act as a router.

I really, really like the pdu, but it's way over kill for this thing, so I'll probably just replace it with a nice surge protector, which will plug into an external battery backup.

I installed two exhaust fans into the top of the rack which run directly off the pdu. I could mount the patch panel 1u higher but the cables running into it would clash with the extra long screws the fans came with, so I will probably Dremel those screws in half when I get time.

The rack itself isn't bad. I had to get the first one replaced because it got destroyed during shipping. Other than having to tighten a few screws on the second one, works very well and came in great shape. I like this rack because it can be mounted on a wall or you can mount wheels to the bottom, which is comes with, and it looks nice while not weighing a million pounds.

Parts I'm using so far:

• Rack: V7 RMWC6U-1N
  
• Patch panel: TRENDnet 24-Port Cat5/5e Patch Panel
  
• PDU: CyberPower CPS1215RMS Surge Protector
  
• Fans: AC Infinity Axial 1225
  
• 3U case: PLINKUSA RACKBUY 3U
  

You probably should punch down those ends on a "better" patch panel like this:

https://www.amazon.com/TRENDnet-Unshielded-Wallmount-Rackmount-TC-P24C5E/dp/B00008AWL3/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1466713111&sr=1-3&keywords=patch+panel

It doesn't have to be the exact one, it's just for reference. Keep in mind to keep interference down that can mess with your transfer rates that you will want to keep the amount of wiring that is untwisted to a minimum. Once you are punched down you can get a ton and probe kit, relatively cheap to check that you punched down the wire correctly and that it is terminated correctly on the other end as well, presumably in a keystone jack for a wall. This will also allow you to find which wires go where in your house. Also, you will have to determine which standard for wiring was used, T568A or T568B. You can check this before punching anything down by taking a wall plate out and investigating how the cat5e was terminate at the wall plates.

You can get a cheap line tester like this that will do the job fine.
https://www.amazon.com/Tonor-RJ45-Network-Cable-Tester/dp/B00OUFX38W/ref=sr_1_18?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1466713437&sr=1-18&keywords=tone+and+probe

I've actually used this exact one at home when I've left my commercial fluke equipment at work. It feels cheap, but it does the job. Good luck, once it's done and done correctly it's very nice to have a wired home with the ability to add wireless access points throughout your home.

They used Cat5 because it's about the same price as Cat3, but you can reuse it for Ethernet which is a major advantage.

Any reputable brand of panel should do and yes you will need a switch if you want all ports to work.

Something like this would work : TrendNET patch panel

Last time I checked, Ubiquiti uses a different voltage for PoE so I had to use their included injectors. Made for a messy wiring setup but is fine otherwise. I never ended up using the PoE ports on the switch. You're also going to want to get a patch panel and a punch down tool. That way your home wiring goes to a patch panel (which you should test and label each port when you wire them- trust me), and then you use super short cables to go from the switch to the patch panel. This is much cleaner long term. Also, get a wall mount rack. Black looks cooler, but is much harder to see into:

Rack:
https://www.amazon.com/Tripp-Lite-Enclosure-Switch-Depth-SRW6UW/dp/B00DROZC04/ref=sr_1_20?ie=UTF8&qid=1491773209&sr=8-20&keywords=wall+mount+rack

Patch Panel:
https://www.amazon.com/TRENDnet-Unshielded-Connectors-Color-Coded-TC-P24C5E/dp/B00008AWL3/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1491773263&sr=8-3&keywords=patch+panel

Patch Panel

looks to be this one to be exact.
https://www.amazon.com/TRENDnet-Unshielded-Connectors-Color-Coded-TC-P24C5E/dp/B00008AWL3/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1496594086&sr=1-4&keywords=patch+panel

If you plan to do wireless access points you can use a poe switch to power them. With a managed switch rebooting the access point is as easy as turning the port on and off from the switch management. Always run 2 cables at least to each location. You will always find more things to plug in.

You will need a punch down tool for the keystones. Also to make it correct you should have a patch panel at the switch location to terminate the cables. punch down tool
Patch Panel
Patch Panel mounting bracket

Now is nearly to late to make this decisions. - Or better said some fundametal decisions hae already been made...


Your ethernet Ports will likely terminate in some kind of network cabinet.


if you are lucky they already installed a Patchpannel for you - If not that would be the first task.
Count the ports in the rooms - that is how many ports you will have there

You Need additionally a switch with the same number of ports there - better have some spare to put additional Hardware like a NAS there.

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This is also where the router is placed. Please get a deacent router and not a cheap consumer grade...

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WiFi will be distributed via Acces Points AP - either on the ceiling (better option) if not available (because someone did't put the neccesary cables there) some in wall APs

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Here is a List of some hardware - please nothe they are purely guesswork because you did't speccify what is there and has been installed:

I quessed not to big an install with nothing installed but also no ceiling mounted ports for APs...

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24 Port Patchpannel 28$
https://www.amazon.com/TRENDnet-Unshielded-Connectors-Color-Coded-TC-P24C5E/dp/B00008AWL3/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=patch+panel&qid=1558956172&s=gateway&sr=8-5

Network Rack 6U 98$

https://www.amazon.com/TRENDnet-Unshielded-Connectors-Color-Coded-TC-P24C5E/dp/B00008AWL3/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=patch+panel&qid=1558956172&s=gateway&sr=8-5

Switch 24 Port PoE 399$

https://store.ui.com/collections/routing-switching/products/unifiswitch-24-250w

Router/firewall (no modem) 344$

https://store.ui.com/collections/routing-switching/products/unifi-security-gateway-pro

3x inn wall AP - Relpacing a network port 3x199$

https://store.ui.com/collections/wireless/products/unifi-ac-in-wall-pro-wi-fi-access-point

> but I'm more a function over form guy for most things,

Yeah, me too.

> I'd never do something like that for a business

No, it looked like a total hack, I've never seen anything like it... But again, this isn't my area of expertise.

>Terminate the Cat5 cables with a standard RJ45 connectors

I appreciate the advice. My problem is... I used to have RJ45 connectors and one of the special tools to connect them to cat5... Try as I might, I never managed to make them correctly. :( Might sound ridiculous, but I dunno. Just never got the hang of it, got frustrated, and just started buying premade cables.

So... I'm thinking one of those port things might be better, simply because I know I can't F it up. Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/TRENDnet-Unshielded-Wallmount-Rackmount-TC-P24C5E/dp/B00008AWL3