In a patch cabinet (also called a server cabinet or rack), the cables of the structured cabling come together. They terminate on a patch panel. Short cables (patch cables) connect them to the switches, which distribute the network.
Large buildings often have a patch cabinet on every floor, connected to a central cabinet in the technical room.
Where the patch cabinet is located matters. Network equipment produces heat and fails sooner in a hot, dusty cupboard. A good location is cool, locked and only accessible to those who need to be there.
What does this mean for the IT-Label?
Patch and server rooms are explicitly mentioned under the Infrastructure component. The audit looks at where the equipment is, whether it is cooled and locked, and whether there is room to expand (Scalability). A good patch cabinet is a precondition for reliable structured cabling. See also technical room and PoE.
← Network segmentation PoE (Power over Ethernet)