What Is a Patch Panel and What Do They Do?

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In enterprise networks, patch panels are common, but not so much in home networks. What is the reason behind this, and will a patch panel benefit a home network setup?

Patch panels are a type of networking hardware used in both copper and fiber networks. Both incoming and outgoing Ethernet cables can be connected to it. In this way, cabled networks can be managed more effectively.

The purpose of this article is to explain what a patch panel is, how it's used, and if having one can benefit your home network.

How do patch panels work?

Patch panels are a panel with ports for plugging in Ethernet cables on the front and places to punch down the bare copper wire on the back.

The ports labeled with numbers at the front will be connected via an Ethernet cable that has been punched down at the back. Each port is identified by its number.

Typically, one end of the cable is punched down at the back, and the other end is fed through the walls or ceiling to another location in your home.

A wall plate will terminate the Ethernet cable at the other end, resulting in a much cleaner installation.

Patch panels are arrays of ports found on a single panel. The ports are connected by an Ethernet cable to another port located elsewhere in your home.

Patch fields are also known as patch bays, patch fields, or jack fields.

Patch panels are used for what?

A patch panel is a device that organizes and manages all the Ethernet cable within your home network. They are one of the few components that can be found in both copper and fiber networks, and can be found pretty much anywhere a business network exists.

So what would a patch panel be used for in your home network setup?

Patch panels provide a host of benefits over simply running cables from each device directly to a central piece of networking equipment, most commonly a switch or router.

• Providing flexibility in case you have to change something or if something breaks; you won't have to re-run an entire length of cable.
  
• You can manage all of your cables in a cleaner and more organized manner. A patch panel can have each individual port labeled, which makes identifying the device connected at one end much simpler. This is especially helpful for troubleshooting.
• Pushing and pulling Ethernet cable too frequently may result in a loss of connectivity or even the cable's complete failure. Copper wires inside are very sensitive, so the fewer times you touch them, the better.  By routing the cable through the back of the patch panel instead, the cable is protected from wear and tear.
• In contrast to a stray Ethernet cable, the patch panel cable will always correspond to a performant wall jack, again making everything easier to identify and troubleshoot.

Do I Need a Patch Panel?

Although a patch panel is not required, it is recommended if you are running Ethernet cable throughout your home.

However, what if you don't have cable and use Wi-Fi instead? In that case, there is no need for a patch panel or even a switch, so don't waste your money.

It is strongly recommended that you get a patch panel if you plan to connect your home network over Ethernet. No, they are not absolutely necessary, but once everything is setup, I think you'll be glad you got one.

The following are some reasons why you may want to consider getting a patch panel for your home network:

• Identification of each cable and its destination within the home is easier
• The structured environment looks much cleaner and more tidier than loose cables sticking out of a hole in the wall (the wife will enjoy this one!).
• Individual rooms can be linked and organized much more easily
• Should the in-wall cable fail, there are still options for alternative paths
• Reduces the risk of cable damage by preventing the last little bit of cable from being moved
• If necessary, you can easily replace the cable connected to the wall jack
• You have more flexibility when it comes to repurposing a room
• Your network can be segmented more easily

The benefits of having a patch panel over not having one are obvious, but are there any disadvantages?

The downside is the additional cost of purchasing the patch panel itself. It is, however, my opinion that it is all part of the job and must be accepted as a cost.

When you are going to the trouble of running cable through the walls or ceiling, it is worth paying for a patch panel and finishing everything off correctly. They aren't even that expensive in the grand scheme of things.

It also takes time to punch down the cables behind the patch panel. If you have many to do, this could take some time.

Finally, the patch panel is a fundamental piece of networking equipment; if anything goes wrong with it, your entire cabled network might come to a halt. It shouldn't be much of a concern for you and shouldn't dissuade you from getting a patch panel since they bring far more advantages than disadvantages.

Are There Different Types of Patch Panels?

Despite their similar appearance, patch panels come in many different types.

Different patch panels accept different cable specifications, such as Cat5, Cat5e, and Cat6.

Unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cable will require one type of patch panel, while shielded twisted pair cable will need another type.

There are also patch panels with differing numbers of ports available. Due to the number of connections they offer, as well as the greater flexibility and future-proofing they provide, 12 port, 24 port, and 48 port patch panels are the most popular.

Check out this article: How Do Cat5e and Cat6 Cables Differ?

Many people think that an Ethernet cable plugs into a port on a switch or patch panel, as those who are unfamiliar will assume that both function the same way.

It is important to understand the differences between patch panels and switches.

The patch panel is essentially a connector, while the network switch plays a much larger role in connecting many devices to a network, so that they can access the Internet, among other things.

A switch may be used instead of a patch panel in some cases, and it has its own advantages. It is more expensive to purchase a switch that simulates what a patch panel can do, though.

Conclusion

Patch panels allow you to manage Ethernet cable runs throughout your house in a cleaner, more organized way.

Ethernet cables are punched at the back, and the other end is terminated at a wall plate.

The device you plug into the wall plate should receive a network connection if you connect an Ethernet cable from the patch panel to an Ethernet port on the network switch or router.

Although they are not absolutely necessary for a home network, they are highly recommended because of the advantages they bring, such as a reduced risk of damage to Ethernet cable, a cleaner and tidier organization of cables, and the ease of identifying where each cable runs in your home.

There is an additional cost associated with purchasing the patch panel itself and the time needed to punch down each cable, but I feel they are worthwhile if you plan to hook up your home network using Ethernet.