Custom cable clip for replacing switches

[heath]

I had 4 classroom buildings that needed switch upgrades and 2 days to get them done.  I did all the prep work and configuration on the switches, and I had already cleaned up and organized the wiring closets previously (or they weren't turned into a giant spaghetti mess by the previous network admin) so it was going to just be unplug all the patch cables from the switch, pull the old switch out, put the new switch in, and plug all the patch cables back into the same port numbers.  But was worried about that time it would take to label all of those wires with the port number they needed to plug back in to.  I've done it before and that is always the most time consuming part of the physical aspect of this task and I just hate the way the cables look with the labels on them afterward.  So I designed and 3D printed a clip that would hold the patch cables together in groups and in relation to where they go on the switch. 

I made two versions.  A single row of 6, and a double row of 12.  Each match the cable spacing on a Cisco switch.  They worked great and cut down the switch replacement time significantly! 

[Nerm]

You sir, are a genius! That is an awesome idea and now I am a little sad I didn't think of it first lol.

[SimonV]

I've seen something similar on my LinkedIn fead a while back, also think Panduit has similar stuff.

http://www.sergeantclip.com/

Very interesting though, would order a bunch if I found a distributor in Belgium. In the mean time, I'll just use Velcro and label everything

[dlots]

That is pretty cool!!

Thank you

[deanwebb]

I had 4 classroom buildings that needed switch upgrades and 2 days to get them done.  I did all the prep work and configuration on the switches, and I had already cleaned up and organized the wiring closets previously (or they weren't turned into a giant spaghetti mess by the previous network admin) so it was going to just be unplug all the patch cables from the switch, pull the old switch out, put the new switch in, and plug all the patch cables back into the same port numbers.  But was worried about that time it would take to label all of those wires with the port number they needed to plug back in to.  I've done it before and that is always the most time consuming part of the physical aspect of this task and I just hate the way the cables look with the labels on them afterward.  So I designed and 3D printed a clip that would hold the patch cables together in groups and in relation to where they go on the switch. 

I made two versions.  A single row of 6, and a double row of 12.  Each match the cable spacing on a Cisco switch.  They worked great and cut down the switch replacement time significantly! 

You, sir, win three Internets to-day!

[icecream-guy]

I been using an old patch panel for years, but your idea looks much cleaner

[heath]

Thanks for the comments! 

I've seen something similar on my LinkedIn fead a while back, also think Panduit has similar stuff.

http://www.sergeantclip.com/

Very interesting though, would order a bunch if I found a distributor in Belgium. In the mean time, I'll just use Velcro and label everything

Those Sergeant Clips look very nice.  I like the hinge design.  It might be hard to latch in some of my tight spaces, but would help with one issue I ran into with mine.  Out of four classroom buildings, I had a handful of patch cables that were a hair bigger than the rest and took some work to squeeze into the clip, and one cable that was smaller than the rest and wouldn't stay in.