Before you start
How to ideally use the patchbox.one
To get the most out of your network rack, we recommend sandwiching a 48-port switch between two patchbox.one. When using a 24-port switch, place the patchbox.one between the switch and patch panel. Try always to mount the patchbox.one right next to your switch to get a 1:1 logic between cables and switch ports. Keep the distance to the network components short. As our Cassettes are available in three different cable lengths, use the correct position in the Frame to cover the required distances.
Our Cassettes can be used upside down in case the switch you are patching to is below your patchbox.one, or flipping every second Cassette when patching a 24-port switch. Doing that ensures the straightening of the cables. Hence they don’t need to be turned or bent to be patched in the port.
Let’s start
Mounting the Mounting Rails
Mounting Rails only come with a patchbox.one / 30RU or if you ordered a patchbox.one / Frame individually. If you want to install a patchbox.one / 8RU and only intend to use it with patchbox.one / Cassettes / 8RU, please skip this step and continue at “Mounting the patchbox.one / Frame with a /dev/mount”.
Step 1: You have two identical Mounting Rails. They can be used either on the left or the right side, but their hook has to face inward.
Step 2: Take a Mounting Rail and guide its threads from inside the rack through the holes of the 19” rail. The hook at the end of the Mounting Rail should be facing inwards. (see image below)
Step 3: Take the two Flanges to tighten the Mounting Rail. Repeat the process on the other 19” rail.
Mounting the patchbox.one/Frame on the Mounting Rails
Step 1: Mount the Mounting Rails.
Step 2: There are hooks on both Mounting Rails, which should be facing inward of the network rack. This hook will hold your patchbox.one / Frame.
Step 3: To achieve that, carefully guide and slide in your patchbox.one / Frame. The hook of the Mounting Rails needs to be hooked in the cutout provided for this purpose.
Step 4: The threads of the Mounting Rails should be put in the holes of the ears of the Frame or your patchbox.one / 30RU. Now, add the Patchcatch on both sides between the Frame and the Flanges and tighten it with the hex nuts.
Mounting the patchbox.one / Frame with a /dev/mount
If you are installing a patchbox.one / 8RU, please read this instruction carefully. If you want to install a patchbox.one / 30RU, a Frame with patchbox.one / Cassettes / 30RU or even last generation’s PATCHBOX Plus+ Cassettes, please use the Mounting Rails, not the /dev/mounts. You can find the installation instructions above.
Step 1: The /dev/mount fits in square punched hole racks with EIA-310 specifications. The maximum rating per RU is 15kg (33 lbs).
Step 2: How to hold the /dev/mount – place the middle finger on the very end of the /dev/mount, the tip, the index finger behind the top thread and the ring finger behind the bottom thread. The thumb should be placed on the clip.
Step 3: Align the /dev/mount to the 19” rail with the threads facing you. Guide the /dev/mount in from behind the rail. The threads should align with the top and bottom hole of the rack unit, the hook going through the middle hole. The hook must lock with the rail.
Step 4: Make sure to hold the /dev/mount straight. Push the tip slightly towards you and while doing so use your thumb to push the front end of the clip from the side towards the 19” rail until it snaps in place.
Step 5: Now take the hardware (with 15kg or less) you want to install and place it on the threads of the /dev/mount.
Step 6: Take the hex nuts and fasten them by hand. Only by hand. Do not use tools to tighten the hex nuts! Maximum torque of 3Nm – more can deform your 19“ rail and/or your equipment.
Step 7: To dismount the /dev/mount push the tip from behind towards you and then slightly inwards the network rack. The snapped-in clip should let go. Remove the now lose /dev/mount from behind and take it out of the 19” rail.
Step 8: Take your Frame and slide it into the rack unit and onto the threads of the /dev/mount, with the rack ears facing towards you.
Step 9: Now, add the Patchcatch on both sides between the rail and the Frame and use the hex nuts of the /dev/mount to fasten them.
Mounting the Patchcatch
Step 1: Place the Patchcatch between the hardware/patchbox.one and the 19” rail – or in case you have already installed it: Loosen the hex nut/screw used to fasten your hardware or your patchbox.one. The hex nut/screw does not need to be removed! Loosening it a little is just fine.
Step 2: Slide the Patchcatch between the 19’’ rail and the hardware/patchbox.one. The long clips of the Patchcatch should be facing away and to the sides of your network rack.
Step 3: Fasten it with the hex nuts.
How to use the Frame
In case you own a pre-assembled patchbox.one / 30RU, the Frame will already be filled with Cassettes. If you ordered a Frame with individual Cassettes, you first have to slide the Cassettes into your Frame. If your patchbox.one is already assembled, you can skip the first 3 steps and continue with step 4.
Step 1: After successfully mounting the Frame, it is time to add your Cassettes. Take your Cassette upright with the cables facing you – with the tab of the RJ45 connector on top to patch to a switch above the patchbox.one. Or with the RJ45 connector on the bottom if the switch you want to patch to is below your patchbox.one. Doing this avoids bending the cable. When patching a 24-port switch, flip every second cassette upside down to avoid twisting the cable in the short run.
Step 2: Slide your Cassette into the Frame until you hear a click sound – this means your Cassette is locked into the Frame.
Step 3: Fill your Frame with your Cassettes.
Step 4: To remove a Cassette, pull the connector/cable a bit to and squeeze the top and bottom lock of the Cassette to unlock it from the Frame. While squeezing both locks, simply pull the Cassette.
Locking & unlocking the cable stopper
Step 1: At the front of each Cassette are two buttons – the top one is the cable stopper for the one end of the cable, the bottom one is the cable stopper for the other.
Step 2: Pulling the cable automatically unlocks the cable stopper – depending on which side you pull, only the corresponding cable stopper will unlock, while the other side remains locked.
Step 3: To lock the cable stopper again, simply push the cable stopper in.
Step 4: There should not be any tension on your cables. Patch your cable (within the specified range of rack units of your Cassette), then guide the cable to the Patchcatch in the same rack unit as the hardware you have patched to, then guide the cables to the Patchcatch in the same rack unit as your patchbox.one – and don’t forget to lock the cable stopper at the end. If the switch is right above or below your patchbox.one, you can skip the Patchcatch due to the short distance covered. And as you are using the Patchcatch you do not need any further cable managers. We highly recommend not using any cable management other than the Patchcatch – this likely will result in cable spaghetti and bad maintainability.
Step 5: To retract the cable, make sure you unlocked the cable stopper. If the cable stopper is still active, cables should not be pulled out, nor can they be retracted properly.
How do I patch and where should I patch to?
Step 1: To patch a cable, release the cable stopper by pulling the cable.
Step 2: We recommend keeping the distance between the patchbox.one and your switch short. Best case: The patchbox.one is right above/below the switch.
Step 3: Patch your cable (within the specified range of rack units of your Cassette), then guide the cable to the Patchcatch in the same rack unit as the hardware you have patched to, then guide the cables to the Patchcatch in the same rack unit as your patchbox.one – and don’t forget to lock the cable stopper at the end. If the switch is right above or below your patchbox.one, you can skip the Patchcatch due to the short distance covered. And as you are using the Patchcatch you do not need any further cable managers. We highly recommend not using any cable management other than the Patchcatch – this likely will result in cable spaghetti and bad maintainability.
How to use the Blind Panels
Step 1: The Blind Panels do not have an up or downside, they can be used both ways. Hold it according to the image below.
Step 2: Apply a little bit of pressure and place the Blind Panel in an open space in your Frame – where you usually put a Cassette – to cover it.
Step 3: To remove the Blind Panel, simply repeat the process and pull it out.