My current network setup is cat5 or cat5e cables going from the wall into a patch panel, from there I have Ethernet cables connected to a switch, and the switch is also connected to a router.
Is there some sort of (home grade) patch-panel + switch combo that also supports cat5e? The extra cables seem unneeded, and frankly are messy.
I found some server racks that can do this, but I am looking for something for the home.
Image for illustration of current setup:
Edit:
I made a followup question, as this question was answered, and I had a different – although related – question.
Best Answer
The reason for the patch panel is that horizontal cabling must use solid-core cable that has good performance, but it is fragile, and it cannot tolerate much movement. You terminate the horizontal cable at a fixed location (punch block, patch panel etc.) so that it doesn't need to be moved.
The patch cords used from the patch panel to network equipment, e.g. a switch, and the workstations are stranded cables, which have worse performance, but are much less fragile, and they can tolerate more movement.
The ANSI/TIA/EIA 568 Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling Standard says that you may have up to 90 meters of solid-core, horizontal cable, and a total of 10 meters, usually five meters on each end, of stranded patch cords. The combination of good horizontal cable performance, and poor stranded cable performance will let the cable plant pass the category test suit, if properly installed. Your cable installer needs to test each cable and give you a full report that contains all the tested parameters of each cable in the cable plant.