Mini5 24 Port CAT5e Angled Panel ? Help

statman

We have just moved into a building where there is a Mini5 24 Port CAT5e Angled Panel with wiring attached. Can anyone tell me how we would connect our server to this or should we ignore it? We currently have a network of one server connected to a 8 port hub that has 5 computers connected.
Any advice will be gratefully received.
Thanks

micheleen

Unless you know exactly how it's wired (and where to) best to ignore it IMHO.
With 5 computers and 1 server you still have room for expansion without daisychaining hubs (or better yet using switches)

statman

I will be able to find this out. I thought it was an easy way to connect as there are a number of CAT sockets around the building so naively I thought there was an easy way of connecting the server to the other computers without running new cables. Do you know what these panels do? Am confused.

micheleen

It would appear to be just a patch panel. There website is here .
Hope this helps

scheming_gypsy

The patch panels are just really a cable extension and a tidy way of doing it. Each of the CAT sockets around the building should be numbered and that associates itself with one of the ports on the 24port patch panel.
when you've decided where the PC's are going you connect an RJ45 cable into each of the relevent ports on the patch panel and plug it into your hub and bobs your uncle.

kingpuck

what scheming_gypsy says is exactly what you should do.

To double check that the wiring is working correctly you can purchase a cable tester from maplin, there is one on sale at the moment for £9.99, this will check each of the eight wires running from the patch panel to the wall sockets.

Although you could also just plug everything in and see if it's working.

statman

That makes sense. i spent a lot of time looking at my server, my hub and all the cables. To confuse me further there are some cables hanging from the wall sockets. I will give this a go so hopefully problem solved thank you!