ᐅ Hager technical control unit or server cabinet?

a) Use a PoE switch directly, for the reasons mentioned. It saves cable clutter and possibly some power.

b) Use a 19" rack and have the network cables terminated on keystone jacks for flexibility. However, if you only have a small patch panel and a similarly small (!) switch, this setup can work. For example, Netgear offers sleek PoE switches that easily fit directly below a small patch panel (installed horizontally and not as a click-in type like in the picture).

If the system grows: Always keep in mind that devices, even if they physically fit inside, generate heat. Distribution cabinets are generally not designed with adequate ventilation for various IT equipment. You can install fans even in the smallest 19" racks to address this. In most homes I’ve supported technically, the utility room often contains either the hot water tank or the washer/dryer. This combination is problematic in the long run, and if heat also accumulates inside the rack, it only gets worse. Furthermore, this approach results in a cleaner setup compared to, for example, the picture by ntsa86.

So far, I have planned for 18 LAN connections. That means only the 24-port switch is an option, right?
Currently, I would install the router and the Synology to the switch as well. However, I can definitely imagine that with all the cables and network connections, it could quickly get crowded and warm.

That clearly applies "if it gets any bigger"... do yourself a favor and get a small rack. 6-8 U should be enough, although having more space is always useful.

untergasse43 schrieb:

This is clearly “in case it grows”... do yourself a favor and get a small rack. 6-8U should be enough, although you can always use more space.

I would also prefer 8U since you will probably need some shelves for non-19" devices (like FritzBox, etc.). For those, you will need more than 1U per shelf. A power strip is worth it from around three devices that need power, in my opinion.

A 19" rack of reasonable quality, bought separately, costs about 100-140 € (or more).

With 8U, you can also fit a regular NAS “in a pinch” (behind the switch and patch panel), if the cabinet is at least 450mm (18 inches) deep. If you choose a deeper cabinet, 19" NAS units will fit as well, which looks a bit more elegant.

You can also integrate a satellite (SAT) wiring system inside the 19" rack. That way, you don’t have the “ugly stuff” mounted on the wall on some metal board.

Mount it at a suitable height where you can reach it without a ladder but possibly still have room for cabinets underneath. Have the electrician install MetzConnect (Keystone) modules on it. The empty 19" module carriers cost around 30 euros each. Each module costs about 5 euros (though the electrician may charge a bit more).

Only buy the module carrier once the electrician has given you the exact model numbers of the modules. There are different modules that do not fit interchangeably into the various module carriers! (Keystone or proprietary BTR MetzConnect) You can identify them by black plastic clips (Keystone) or metal clips for proprietary BTR MetzConnect.

Thank you very much for the great tips. Then it will be the server cabinet. Thanks to all of you.

Hello everyone, I need to revisit this topic. As I mentioned before, I want to house all my equipment later in a server cabinet. The electrician installed the structured cabling with keystone jacks and terminated them in the basement in the actual “cabinet.” Currently, there are a total of 11 cables.

My plan is to first connect the loose keystone jacks to a 19-inch (48 cm) patch panel. From there, the connection would go to the switch. Is this the correct setup? Is there anything special I need to consider?

Now the question arises about the “right” switch. Mostly, our duplex house has simple LAN wall outlets for PC, TV, PlayStation, etc. Additionally, I have planned for a total of three access points (probably from Unifi) and one camera. My NAS should also fit inside the cabinet itself.

So, currently, four of the 11 ports would need PoE, right? Should I immediately go for a 16-port PoE switch, or would that be a waste of money since the other devices likely won’t need it?

Unifi switches are said to be very good and probably integrate perfectly with the access points. Do you have any tips regarding this? Would an unmanaged switch be sufficient for a private user, or should I rather go for a web-managed (smart) switch?

My problem is that I don’t want to use a sledgehammer to crack a nut, but also don’t want to save money in the wrong place. Maybe some of you can give me a few helpful tips.

Thanks in advance 🙂