[SOLVED] 568A vs 568B and Patch Panel

[hawkins12]

Hi,

So I have an interesting issue here which I can't quite figure out in my searches. A couple years ago, we built a house. The tech companies ran all the networking cables throughout the house for us. At the time, I didn't know much about 568A vs 568B and didn't even think to ask them. Essentially, they ran various network cables which originate in basement and terminate in various rooms throughout the house. Upon asking, all of these are in 568A (not the standard 568B used most commonly). With my networking setup, everything is working fine currently with the origination from my Unifi 24 port switch.

This coming weekend, I am looking at upgrading my networking setup and installing a patch panel and my switch in a server rack. I understand that as I cut the origination wires and install those in the patch panel, I'll need to maintain the true 568A format as the termination points in the rooms are all in 568A. My question is my set up will look something like this:

Incoming Internet Line ---> Router ----> Switch ---> Patch Panel ----> Termination (Rooms, Access Point, Cameras, etc). I am assuming when I buy networking cables off Amazon or whereever, they are wired in 568B.

Does it create any issues if the set up looks like this using the above runs:

Incoming Internet Line ---(568B)--> Router ----(568B)---> Switch ---(568B)---> Patch Panel ----(568A)---> Termination (Rooms, Access Point, Cameras, etc)?

I assume this is fine as my current set up of:
Internet Line ---(568B)--> Router ----(568B)---> Switch ----568A---> Termination is working fine but I am not sure if the output from Switch to Patch Panel has to be 568A as well?

The ultimate question here is does the SWITCH ---> Patch Panel run have to be the same as the run from Patch Panel to Termination Room?

Thanks for your help!

Hawkins

 

[kanewolf]

Hi,

So I have an interesting issue here which I can't quite figure out in my searches. A couple years ago, we built a house. The tech companies ran all the networking cables throughout the house for us. At the time, I didn't know much about 568A vs 568B and didn't even think to ask them. Essentially, they ran various network cables which originate in basement and terminate in various rooms throughout the house. Upon asking, all of these are in 568A (not the standard 568B used most commonly). With my networking setup, everything is working fine currently with the origination from my Unifi 24 port switch.

This coming weekend, I am looking at upgrading my networking setup and installing a patch panel and my switch in a server rack. I understand that as I cut the origination wires and install those in the patch panel, I'll need to maintain the true 568A format as the termination points in the rooms are all in 568A. My question is my set up will look something like this:

Incoming Internet Line ---> Router ----> Switch ---> Patch Panel ----> Termination (Rooms, Access Point, Cameras, etc). I am assuming when I buy networking cables off Amazon or whereever, they are wired in 568B.

Does it create any issues if the set up looks like this using the above runs:

Incoming Internet Line ---(568B)--> Router ----(568B)---> Switch ---(568B)---> Patch Panel ----(568A)---> Termination (Rooms, Access Point, Cameras, etc)?

I assume this is fine as my current set up of:
Internet Line ---(568B)--> Router ----(568B)---> Switch ----568A---> Termination is working fine but I am not sure if the output from Switch to Patch Panel has to be 568A as well?

The ultimate question here is does the SWITCH ---> Patch Panel run have to be the same as the run from Patch Panel to Termination Room?

Thanks for your help!

Hawkins

No. EACH cable has to be consistent on the two ends. But a switch to patch cable can be 568B and the in-wall cabling can be 568A on both ends and the patch to PC can be back to 568B. It will work just fine.

If you are terminating in-wall cabling, you should get a simple tester like this as a minimum -- https://www.amazon.com/Klein-VDV526-052-Scout-Junior-Tester/dp/B004CI9NRM

 

[hawkins12]

No. EACH cable has to be consistent on the two ends. But a switch to patch cable can be 568B and the in-wall cabling can be 568A on both ends and the patch to PC can be back to 568B. It will work just fine.

If you are terminating in-wall cabling, you should get a simple tester like this as a minimum -- https://www.amazon.com/Klein-VDV526-052-Scout-Junior-Tester/dp/B004CI9NRM

I do have a tester. Figured it'd come in handy for this.

So I just need to be careful on the wall terminations already ran in 568A and terminate those in the patch panel at 568A. Outside of that, I can just buy the 6 inch or 12 inch patch cables off amazon to run patch panel to switch and will be good to go?

 

[bill001g]

Yes it will function fine like that.

Key thing to remember is the electronics can not actually see the color of the plastic. As long as the pairs of wires are the same on both ends and in the correct positions it will work. There are 50 pair cables used to connect large patch panels and they have many more color patterns than the 4 you see in your more common cable.