Puffin Produce Case Study – Cable Mapping
Puffin Produce Ltd needed to map out and mark each CAT5e and CAT6a network cable that ran from within their communications cab to the rest of the business prior to major works being carried out that require the server and communications cabinet locations to be changed.
Requirements: map out and mark each CAT5e and CAT6a network cable
Location: Withybush, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire
Website: www.puffinproduce.com
Brief
Puffin Produce Ltd needed to map out and mark each CAT5e and CAT6a network cable that ran from within their communications cab to the rest of the business prior to major works being carried out that require the server and communications cabinet locations to be changed. After several years of adding cables with no notes on where they go and what they do, 5C Services were brought in to trace each cable and provide details on each’s purpose, length and direction.
Our Solution
5C Services went to site late in the afternoon to start mapping out the cables so any works that would require disconnections could be undertaken after the business offices had closed.
Firstly, patch maps were obtained from a previous job completed where the communications cabinet was completely reorganised by 5C services. This enabled us to obtain switch port numbers associated with the patch cables that needed mapping.
Secondly, ARP and MAC tables were exported from the core switch stack to provide information on equipment used on the cable links that needed mapping, this allowed for non-obtrusive clarification on the link and location as the equipment locations are already known.
All other links were manually mapped using a range of techniques and equipment that enabled us to obtain cable length, connected equipment, LAG, VLAN and cable integrity…etc.
All links were added to a network map along with physical labels being attached to each cable for easy recognition when the time comes to move them to their new location.
All information was compiled into a report containing the network map and was delivered to the relevant personnel at Puffin Produce before the next working day.