Ladder mounted patch panels

[Otanx]

Anyone used one of the solutions to mount your patch panels to the ladder racks instead of using space in the rack? Something like https://www.cxtec.com/brands/cxtec-brands/cablexpress/skinny-trunk-solution/ladder-rack-enclosures/

There is also the panduit small 4U rack mounted to the ladder. https://www.panduit.com/en/products/cabinets-thermal-management-racks-enclosures/racks-accessories/racks/pzlrb4u.html

I am considering doing something like this for a new cable build out. We have a cable ladder that runs above the racks. Put this up, and put the fiber patches there. Then run the uplinks on my top of rack switches up to these. Gets a couple more U of space usable in the rack, and I am pretty pressed for space in one of our data centers.

Anyone done this before?

-Otanx

[config t]

Clever way to utilize space. I'm having a hard time understanding from the photo how to manage the cables that would be dangling around. It looks like the front has a cover, which is definitely a positive, but where is the cable management for all of the connections?

[Otanx]

In the cxtec one the cable management is above the patches in the flat area. There is also some on the left and right. I found out the company that runs our colo space uses the panduit 4U ones for delivering cross connects. So may go with that. The benefit of that is it is just a 4U rack that I can install my own panels and cable management into.

-Otanx

[config t]

The benefit of that is it is just a 4U rack that I can install my own panels and cable management into.

-Otanx

This would be my #1 selling point.

[icecream-guy]

In the cxtec one the cable management is above the patches in the flat area. There is also some on the left and right. I found out the company that runs our colo space uses the panduit 4U ones for delivering cross connects. So may go with that. The benefit of that is it is just a 4U rack that I can install my own panels and cable management into.

-Otanx

Panduit is not cheap...

[Otanx]

Panduit is not cheap...

We normally use Corning, so Panduit is a deal. I really love the Corning EDGE panels for fiber. High density, sliding trays to make it easy to get my fat fingers in there. If we do the Panduit 4Us we will be putting the EDGE panels in them.

-Otanx