> > For cable labeling I've had good results with 3M Scotch Super88 color > electrical tape. Pick unique color bands for each cable. Band it > identically at both ends. You don't have to squint to see how it's > labeled. And the label isn't invalidated merely because you unplugged > it from one place and plugged it in somewhere else. >
I usually use labels printed on all sides in about a 14 point font that have a unique number followed by a - and a length. So, for example, 10294-4.5 is a 4.5' long cable number 10294. You might need to squint a bit to read it, but, 14 points is usually pretty legible and being printed 4 times on the label (3 of which remain visible on the average cat5/cat6 cable) means you usually don't have to futz with twirling the cable to find the label. I usually have the labels installed ~2" from the plug at each end. In a crowded deployment, I think the color bands would be like trying to read resistor color codes in a box of ~1,000 mixed resistors. You're going to end up squinting anyway. With my tactic, you have the additional advantage that you get a defined search radius within which the other end can be located. Using serial-number labels instead of equipment-specific labels means that mine aren't invalidated either. Owen
