After adding and adding to my rack, it had finally reached a point to where it was a complete mess.

So, I took a few hours this weekend, to clean it up a bit.

Here is the half* finished picture:

This, is the almost* finished picture. *(Explained below)

Here is what I started with:

The before picture. Utter mess at the front of the rack.

And- here is a picture I took DURING the cleanup.

During the cleanup project.

While- this isn't yet the completed project, it does look leaps and bounds better.

What I did complete

I replaced the patch panel with a fingers tray. The reasoning being- as much as I cycle things in and out of my lab, and as much as I change around links, keystones end up becoming a problem. So, instead a simple fingers try keeps everything nice and tidy, while making it much easier to change links around. It also works much better with the fiber.

I also, relocated the cable management BETWEEN the switches, rather than above it.

An additional brush tray was added above the 100g switch, to allow the thick DACs to pass through.

I build a custom shelf for my optiplex micros, which keeps them nice and tidy. The extra space at the top will be filled soon though... Its not 100% completed. But- works quite well.

I added blanks to cover up some of the unused space.

I also, racked up a MD1200, which I will be using for future projects.

What is left to do.

I ran out of the "slim" monoprice cat6a cables, and have some more ordered. I really enjoy working with these- they are much easier to run, and much easier to keep organized and tidy. They do work with 10G, and POE too. Once they arrive, I will be replacing a few of the thicker, over-length cables.

I will be adding more redundant links from the SFFs, and the r730XD, back to the 10G switch. The purpose is to provide redundancy in the switching layer.

I have a new PDU in the mail, which allows per-outlet monitoring, and switching. This should allow me to clean up a lot of the mess in the back of the rack, where I have a combination of custom-flashed smart plugs, and HS300s for power management.

I have not yet started cleaning up the back of the rack yet. I will be going through completely redoing the back of it as well. There is a mess of power cables, which needs organizing.

Other notes-

I will also proudly exclaim- I was able to do all of the reorganizing, which involved needing to move, relocate, and re-route nearly every cable.... WITHOUT disruption to anyone in my house. That- was fun.

I decided to build a custom enclosure for a few optiplex micros.

I was going to start with a generic shelf, however, it was quite flimsy, so, i decided to build a drawer from scratch out of 16ga steel.

Still, a work in progress, still needs more grinding, cleanup, and paint.

But, the fit is spot on. Both units are a very snug fit, and will not fall out or slide around. You can turn it upside down, and they arent going to budge.

I do have rails, which will be added tomm.

Plenty of room for power supplies too, and cable. Thw weight of anything on top of it isnt an issue either. You can park a car on top of it.

Anyways, shiuld have finished pictures this weekend to share, after its prettied up.