Notes and Standards docs

Notes and Standardization guides

Labels and CAD Identifications

Labels and CAD Identifications

Device, Cable, and Panel Labeling scheme.

V2 of the Device, Cable, and Panel Labeling scheme. It keeps the V1 content and makes the formats consistent. Items marked PROPOSAL are new rules that need your decision. Items marked UNTESTED have not been checked on a real printer or site. Items marked FIELD are how I actually label on jobs (first example: 919 Stanford, October 2026). Where FIELD and a proposal disagree, FIELD wins.

Scope

How to name and label sites, rooms, panels, patch panels, devices, and cables in my installations. Based loosely on ANSI/TIA-606 (see "Relation to TIA-606" below). Device naming (firewalls, switches, cameras, access control) is my own convention, not part of 606.

General rules

RuleDetail
CharactersUppercase letters, digits, - and .. No &, no /. Lowercase is used only for the suffix letter (see below). IDs have no spaces. FIELD: location lines on a label may use spaces (GARAGE RACK01).
Patch panel portFIELD: P + panel number, dash, port. Example: P1-16 = patch panel 1, port 16. This dash is part of the port ID, not a field separator.
- (dash)Separates fields: site, then room or device, then patch panel or role. Example: SASC-IDF.1.01-P6-12
. (dot)Separates numbers inside one field: floor, door or panel number, port. Example: IDF.1.01 = IDF, floor 1, door 01. SW01.49 = switch 01, port 49.
Suffix letterLowercase a, b, ... for a second item at the same spot, or the legs of a split cable. Example: SASC-IDF.1.01b, P6-12a.
PaddingPROPOSAL. Floor: 1 character. Door, panel, device number, port: 2 digits (01). Cable serial numbers: 3 digits (001).
FloorsPROPOSAL. 1 = ground or entry floor, 2, 3 ... above. B = basement (B, then C for a second basement level).
Site prefixRequired on room, panel, and device labels. May be left off cable labels when both ends are in the same site (saves label space).
Same label both endsEvery cable gets the same label at both ends. A cable label must use the exact device and port names on this page.

Site codes

Short code per site: letters, or the street number for a building (919 = 919 Stanford). Fill in the table as sites are added.

CodeSiteNotes
919919 StanfordMulti-unit residential. See "Multi-unit residential" below.
SASC(fill in)
MHFWilson (fill in)
925(fill in)Street number, like 919?

Rooms, panels, and doors

Doors and panels are numbered clockwise, starting at the Main Entry. PROPOSAL: on other floors, start at the stair or elevator nearest the Main Entry.

TypeFormatExampleSecond one
Main Point of Entry (MPOE)SITE-MPOE.floor.doorSASC-MPOE.1.06N/A. One MPOE per site.
Intermediate Distribution Frame (IDF)SITE-IDF.floor.doorSASC-IDF.1.01SASC-IDF.1.01b (second IDF behind the same door)
Media cabinet / panelSITE-PNL.floor.numberSASC-PNL.2.01SASC-PNL.2.02
Facility doorSITE-DR.floor.doorSASC-DR.1.01SASC-DR.1.02
Patch panel (inside a room or cabinet)P + number, top to bottomP6P7
Patch panel portP#-portP6-12P6-12a, P6-12b (split cable)
Port, full nameSITE-ROOM-P#-portSASC-IDF.1.01-P6-12

The patch panel face only needs the short form (P6-12), because the room is already known. Use the full name in records and on riser cables.

Notes

MPOE: where the carrier's service enters the building (the demarc). In houses it is often under the stairs or in the basement. In large buildings, riser cables run from the MPOE (or the main equipment room) up to the IDFs on other floors.

IDF: the room or rack on each floor that holds the switches for that floor. It connects back to the MPOE with riser cables.

Device labels

Network and server devices
TypeFormatExampleSecond one
ISP handoff (modem / ONT)SITE-ISP##MHF-ISP01MHF-ISP02. Put the carrier name (e.g. ATT) in the records, not the label.
Firewall / routerSITE-FW##SASC-FW01SASC-FW02 (HA pair: 01 = primary)
Aggregation / distribution switchSITE-AGG##SASC-AGG01SASC-AGG02
Access switchSITE-SW##SASC-SW01SASC-SW02
Wireless access pointSITE-AP##SASC-AP01PROPOSAL (new in V2)
Server / hostSITE-SRV##SASC-SRV01PROPOSAL (new in V2)
NASSITE-NAS##SASC-NAS01PROPOSAL (new in V2)
UPS / PDUSITE-UPS##, SITE-PDU##SASC-UPS01PROPOSAL (new in V2)
Cameras
TypeFormatExampleSecond one
Internal cameraSITE-INT-WhatSASC-INT-CashRegSASC-INT-CashReg02
External cameraSITE-EXT-WhatSASC-EXT-DrivewayNSASC-EXT-DrivewayS

Cameras are named for what they look at. INT and EXT show access level at a glance: tenants and employees can usually see external cameras, but access to internal cameras is tightly controlled. The camera name is the exception to the uppercase rule, so it stays readable.

Access control (physical hardware in panels or on walls)
TypeFormatExampleSecond one
Door access hubSITE-CTL.floor.doorSASC-CTL.1.05SASC-CTL.1.05b
Reader-Flex (no hub)SITE-CTL.floor.doorSASC-CTL.1.01SASC-CTL.1.01b
Badge reader(controller)-RDRSASC-CTL.1.05-RDRSASC-CTL.1.05-RDRb (second reader, e.g. exit side)
Door intercom(controller)-INTSASC-CTL.1.05-INT

The door number in a CTL label is the same as in the door's own label (SASC-DR.1.05 uses SASC-CTL.1.05).

Cable labels

Every cable gets the same wrap label at both ends. Upstream (the end closer to the ISP / core) always comes before downstream.

Structured cable runs (in-wall: rack to unit, rack to outlet, riser)

FIELD. Three-line label:

LineContentExample
1 (large)Cable ID = the patch panel port at the upstream endP1-16
2Upstream location (room or rack)GARAGE RACK01
3Downstream location (unit or room, and position)APT-G.02

919 Stanford cable label P1-16

919 Stanford: the cable from garage rack 01, patch panel 1, port 16 to position 02 in the Apartment G media panel.

The bottom line of this label is wrong: it says UNIT J.02, but the cable goes to Apartment G. Use the layout, not the text. It should read APT-G.02.

Patch cords between devices

Two-line label. Line 1 = upstream device and port, line 2 = downstream device and port, using the device names on this page plus .port.

The diagram above is from V1 and may still show V1 formats.

This is different from TIA-606, where the near end is printed first so the order flips at each end. Here the order is always upstream first, so the label reads the same everywhere.

CableLine 1 (upstream)Line 2 (downstream)Notes
ISP to firewallISP01FW01.WAN1Second WAN: ISP02 / FW01.WAN2
Firewall to aggregation switchFW01.03AGG01.01HA: FW02.03 / AGG02.01
Aggregation to access switchAGG01.10SW01.49Bond / LAG: label each member normally (e.g. AGG02.12 / SW01.49 and AGG02.13 / SW01.50). Record the LAG in the docs.
Switch to patch panel (patch cord in rack)SW01.12P6-12
Patch panel to wall outlet (horizontal)Three-line label: P6-12 / IDF.1.01 / FL1-WALL. The outlet faceplate shows P6-12.Split cable: P6-12a, P6-12b
Riser / backbone (between MPOE, IDFs, panels)Three-line label: P1-01 / MPOE.1.06 / IDF.2.01Add the site prefix if the cable leaves the site.
Building rack to unit media panelFIELD. Three-line label: P1-16 / GARAGE RACK01 / APT-G.02See "Multi-unit residential".
CameraIDF.1.01-P3-05 or SW01.05INT-CashRegThe bottom line is the camera name.
Access hub to badge readerCTL.1.05CTL.1.05-RDRIntercom: CTL.1.05 / CTL.1.05-INT
Switch to access hub / Reader-FlexSW01.20CTL.1.05

FIELD: the 919 Stanford label fits one large line (P1-16) and two small lines of up to 13 characters (GARAGE RACK01) on the wrap label, with the clear tail left for laminating. Printed on the 1.5" x 1.0" M7-31-427 stock. Longer lines (more than 13 characters) are UNTESTED.

Service type (from V1)

V1 used a service prefix on patch cables: NET-001, TEL-001, COM-001. In V2 the panel port ID replaces the serial number. PROPOSAL: show the service with cable color (see Relation to TIA-606) or with a third line on the label. See Open questions.

Multi-unit residential

FIELD, from 919 Stanford. A building rack in the garage feeds a media panel (structured media enclosure) in each unit. The ISP's ONT sits in the unit media panel.

Names
ItemFormatExample
Building rack(ROOM) RACK##GARAGE RACK01
Patch panel port in the building rackP#-portP1-16
Apartment (unit)APT- + unit letterAPT-G
Position in the unit media panelAPT-(letter).##, counted left to right across the top row, then the next rowAPT-G.02
Room drop (unit panel to a room)Letter = location, in order A, B, C .... Number = cable at that location: A1 is the first cable, A2 the second.D1, A2
ISP feed (single-mode fiber from the building rack to the unit ONT)ISP-(apartment letter), location GARAGEISP-G
Tag on a cable inside the media panelAPT-(letter) (drop)APT-G D1
Drop location (small text under or over the ID)FL#-MOUNTFL1-WALL, FL2-CEILING, FL1-DRBL
Unused jackBLANKBLANK
Unit media panel label strip

Each jack gets an ID (large) and a location (small). Jacks fed from the building rack use the rack port as the ID and GARAGE as the location. Red keystones mark the jacks fed from the garage rack.

Row123456
TopP1-15 GARAGEP1-16 GARAGEA1 FL1-DRBLC1 FL2-WALLE1 FL3-WALLBLANK
BottomGARAGE ISP-GBLANKB1 FL1-WALLD1 FL2-CEILINGBLANKBLANK

919 Stanford unit media panel

DRBL = doorbell. ISP-G = the ISP single-mode fiber for Apartment G, from the garage. Use APT- for units, not UNIT. Positions are counted across, so P1-16 is position .02 in the photo.

Stacking: put a second cable to the same location directly under the first (A1 on top, A2 below), so the cables for one location share a column. In the 919 Stanford photo each location has one cable, so A1/B1 and C1/D1 share columns.

Hardware and labels

Printer: Brady M710

Label typeSizeBrady part numberPer rollPrice (V1, date unknown)Ribbon
Basic sticker1.0" x 1.0"M7-19-423250$43.50(fill in)
Metallic label1.0" x 2.0"M7-20-435100$40.00(fill in)
Cable wrap (self-laminating)1.5" x 1.0"M7-31-427250$68.00R4300 ($73.00)

Brady M710

Templates

Site template (editable): NetworkIdentification.docx

Site template preview

Patch bay label templates:
PatchBaySize_12portLevitonKeystone.docx
PatchBaySize_12portSurfacemount.docx
PatchBaySize_24portKeystone.docx
PatchBaySize_24port.docx
PatchBaySize_48port.docx

These templates were made for V1 formats and may need updating.

Relation to TIA-606

ANSI/TIA-606 is the US cabling administration standard. ISO/IEC 14763-2 is the international equivalent. This scheme borrows its ideas (unique IDs, both ends labeled, records kept) but uses its own formats.

This schemeTIA-606 term
MPOEEntrance facility (demarc). Often in the same room as the equipment room / main cross-connect (MDF).
IDFTelecommunications room (TR)
Riser cableBackbone cable
Patch panel to outletHorizontal link
Multi-site with site codesClass 3 (campus) / Class 4 (multi-site)
606 color codes (from memory, not checked against the current revision)
ColorUse
OrangeDemarc / carrier
GreenNetwork connections (customer side of demarc)
PurpleCommon equipment (servers, PBX)
WhiteFirst-level backbone
GraySecond-level backbone
BlueHorizontal (to the outlet)
BrownBetween buildings
YellowMiscellaneous (security, alarms)
RedKey telephone systems
606-B cable example (kept from V1)

Near end AG09-35:01/AJ06-35:01, far end AJ06-35:01/AG09-35:01. AG09 = rack at grid AG09, -35 = patch panel 35 rack units from the bottom, :01 = port 1, / = separates near end from far end. Newer revisions (606-C, 606-D) exist. I have not checked what changed.

Changes from V1

ItemV1V2
MPOESASC-MPO.1.6SASC-MPOE.1.06
IDF second unitIDF-1-1aSASC-IDF.1.01b
DoorsSASC-01-DR01SASC-DR.1.01
Firewall on cablesFW-Primary-WAN1FW01.WAN1 (same name as the device label)
Aggregation switchAGG-## and AGGR-##AGG##, with its own device row
Site 925 devices925-FW01Same format, but see Open questions about the code
Wilson-MHF patch portMHF-IDF2.1-P1.1MHF-IDF.2.01-P1-01 (same rule as every site)
Access hub suffix1.1A / 1.05a mixedAlways lowercase: 1.05b
Intercom / reader-IntCom, -Reader-INT, -RDR
CamerasINTERNAL-CashRegSASC-INT-CashReg
Camera cableSASC-CAM-1.05Port ID / camera name
Wire label orderTwo conflicting wordingsUpstream before downstream. In-wall runs: 3 lines (ID / upstream / downstream), from field practice.
Patch panel portP6.12P6-12 (field practice)
Bond cables-BONDa / -BONDbLabel each member normally. LAG in the records.
NewGeneral rules, site code table, AP / SRV / NAS / UPS / PDU, patch panel naming, 606 mapping

Open questions

Labels and CAD Identifications

Device, Cable, and Panel Labeling scheme_old

----

This is constantly changing as I try to document and standardize what I do in my installations.

Hardware and Labels used:

Printer: Brady M710 Label Maker:

BradyM710.jpg

Labels:

Label Type Label Size Brady Part Numer [URL] Count Per Roll Estimate Price Required Ribbon
Basic Sticker 1.0" x 1.0" M7-19-423 250 $43.50
Metallic Label 1.0" x 2.0"

M7-20-435

100 $40.00
Cable Wrap Sticker 1.5" x 1.0"

M7-31-427

250 $68.00 R4300 - $73.00

Printable Site Template Guide:

Editable Document: NetworkIdentification.docx

image.png

Panels / Doors Labels: 

All panels are counted clockwise from either MPOE or Main Entry.

Start at the Main Doorway and count clockwise around the Facility.

Location/Type First Example Expansion
Main Point of Entry (Site)-MPOE.(Floor).(door) SASC-MPO.1.6 N/A - Only 1 MPOE per side
Intermediate Distribution Frame (Site)-IDF.(Floor).(Door) SASC-IDF.1.1 IDF-1-1a, IDF-1-1b
Media Cabinets/Panels (Site)-PNL.(Floor).(Panel Number) SASC-PNL.1.1, SASC-PNL.2.1
Facility Doors: (Site)-FL-DR## 
SASC-01-DR01

Notes: 

MPOE - This is where the internet comes into the building.  In residential buildings, it is commonly seen as a utility hidden under stairs or in basements.  In large commercial buildings, it's widely known that risers [cables that link IDFs in other floors or wings] are used.  

IDF - This is where your switching or server equipment is located to support each floor.  This commonly hosts switches that connect back to the MPOE 

Cable Labels:

606-B Notes:

Near end = AG09-35:01/AJ06-35:01

Far end = AJ06-35:01/AG09-35:01

If standing at rack location AG09, reading this near-end cable identifier will describe both the near-end and far-end locations.

AG09 = Rack or cabinet at grid location AG09 within the data center

-35 = Patch panel located 35 rack units from the bottom in rack AG09

:01 = Port 01 in patch panel located 35 rack units from the bottom of rack AG09

/ = Separator for near-end/far-end location description

AJ06 = Rack or cabinet at grid location AJ06 within the data center

-35 = Patch panel located 35 rack units from the bottom in rack AJ06

:01 = Port 01 in patch panel located 35 rack units from the bottom of the rack in AJ06

Examples  First Example Expansion
SASC Patch Bay to Environment (Panel Number).(Port Number on Panel) P6.12 P6.12a | P6.12b [only applies to split cables]
SASC to Device (Panel Number).(Port Number on Panel) P6.12 P6.12a | P6.12b [only applies to split cables]
Wilson-MHF (site)-(IDF#)-(Panel Number).Port Number MHF-IDF2.1-P1.1 N/A

Device Labels:

Controllers: Physical hardware in Panels, Walls or mounted to walls

Location/Type First Example Expansion
Door Access Hub (site)-CTL.(floor)-(door number) SASC-CTL.1.05 SASC-CTL.1.05a
Door Intercom (Acesss Hub)-IntCom SASC-CTL.1.05-IntCom IntCom
Door Badge Reader (Acesss Hub)-Reader SASC-CTL.1.05-Reader

Network Devices:

Location/Type First Example Expansion
Firewall/Router (site)-FW## 925-FW01 925-FW02
Switches (site)-SW## 925-SW01 925-SW02
Cameras (location)-(object-in-camera) INTERNAL-CashReg INTERNAL-CashReg02








Notes:

Cameras have special naming schemes.  We define them as internal or external to quickly identify access.  Tenants and Employees typically can access external cameras, but internal camera access is heavily policed.   A camera overlooking a driveway would be called "EXTERNAL-Driveway-North"

Patch Bay printed label templates:

PatchBaySize_12portLevitonKeystone.docx
PatchBaySize_12portSurfacemount.docx
PatchBaySize_24portKeystone.docx
PatchBaySize_48port.docx
PatchBaySize_24port.docx

Wire In between Devices:

2x Layer labels.  Order of spanning tree.  Top of label = First location.   The bottom of the Label = end of the cable. 

Device Fire Example Expansion/Options
Device

Top: Where it terminates

Bottom: What it terminates 



ISP to Firewall/Router

(site)-ISP.## [Number or name]

FW-Primary-PORT

MHF-ISP.001

FW-Primary-WAN1

ISP-AT&T

FW-Secondary-WAN2

Router to Distribution Switch

FW/ROUT.Port

AGGR-##.PORT

FW-Primary.03

AGGR-01.01

FW-Secondary.03

AGGR-02.01

Router/Agg to L3/2 Switch IN MPOE

AGG-##.Port

SW##.Port

AGGR-01.10

SW01.49

AGGR-02.12-BONDa

AGGR-02.13-BONDb

Patch Cables between IDF/MPOE and the environment

(thing)-(floor)-(number)

Service*-###

*NET | *TEL | *COM |

MHF-IDF.1.2

NET-001

*TEL-001

IDF-1-2

NET-001a

Riser Cables

[between MPOE, IDF, Panels]

(site)-(thing).(floor).(number)
(site)-(thing).(floor).(number)

MHF-IDF.1.001

SASC-PNL.2.001

IDF-1-1.001a, IDF-1-1.001b

PNL-1-2.002a

Badge Readers

(site)-CTL.(floor).(number)-Reader

SASC-CTL.1.05-Reader
Camera Cable (thing)-(floor)-(number)
CAM-###

SASC-CAM-1.05


Access-Hub (not in panel)

(site)-CTL.(floor)-(door number)

SASC-CTL.1.1A SASC-CTL.1.1B
Reader-Flex (no Hub)

(site)-CTL.(floor)-(door number)

SASC-CTL.1.1A SASC-CTL.1.1B
Labels and CAD Identifications

Badge Reader Install Notes

Badge Reader Heights:

Note:  Assume all measurements are to the "Center point" of object

Location - Customer Interior Heights Exterior Heights Distance in from the doorjam Special Notes Paint/Color used
SASC 46" from Ground to Badge reader 47" from ground to center of badge reader. Exterior: 7.5" from door jam, handle side + or - 2", varies based on if a light switch is in proximity of badge reader: Adjust to match switch center line External Boxes: BEHR Chiffon Cream MATTE
Wilson's


ADA Compliance is a must with Wilson Properties. 
ADA Compliance
DOJ CFR Part 36 Official Notes:

Height and Reach Requirements
ADA has certain height and reach requirements to allow access for customers in wheelchairs. As these height and
reach limitations may cause the weather overhang on keypads to obstruct the vision of taller customers, PTI sells a
housing for keypads that does not have a weather overhang. APEX keypads may also be flush-mounted in a wall to
prevent this issue. Either of these items may be purchased from PTI.

  1.  Keypads should be mounted so that the top of the number touchpad is no more than 48” above the finished
    floor with no obstructions in locations where wheelchair access is available only from the front. See Figure 1.
  2. Keypads should be mounted so that the top of the number touchpad is no more than 54” above the finished
    floor with no obstructions in locations where the wheelchair has sideways access. See Figure 2.
  3. Keypads should not be mounted so as to protrude more than 4” from the wall. If mounted in a bollard or
    pylon, it may protrude up to 12”. Multiplexers and other items mounted higher on the wall or ceiling must be
    80” or higher above the finished floor. See Figure 3.
  4. Falcon Base Units and computers should be placed on desks that meet ADA requirements between 28” –
    34” tall with no more than 20” in reach depth for obstructed front access or 24” in reach depth for obstructed
    side reach access. See Figures 4 & 5. In Figure 4, if X < 20” then Y = 48”. When X = 20” to 25”, then Y =
    44”. X should always be ≤ 25”. 

Visual CAD:

image.png

Recommended Vendors List

Facility Vendors

Service Vendor Name [link to website] Location Notes/Feedback
Locksmith

Parker Security & Locksmith

Contact: 

Fremont, CA.  Serving the greater East Bay They're great!  Constantly doing their best to make sure we're getting the best price for our needs.  They have a walk-in store in Fremont and will do rekeyings on the spot. 

As someone who "likes to do it themselves," they have been great with supplies and parts for projects, or helping me to install select components on doors while I do low-voltage/wiring.








IT and System Administration Vendors

Service Vendor Name [link to website] Location Notes/Feedback
Printers

Cortron Systems Inc.

 

 

Contact: office@cortronsystems.com

Contact: Devon@cortronsystems.com

San Jose, CA serves the greater Bay Area


 

We lease 15 Printers, including a very high-end Plotter for a 50+ inch prints.  They offer a service that runs on Windows or Linux, though they recommend Windows, which monitors and reports the status of your printers back to them.

I have 15 years of career in the IT space, and a Printer can be a real pain in the ass, especially at scale.  Cortron is the best I've ever had the opportunity to work with.  They're professional, knowledgeable about their technology, and excel in service and support.  I've worked with them without issues on various complicated projects. 

We've upgraded printers in the office, and they have cloned configurations from the old to the new printer without issues, so our end users don't see any change in their process or have to "re-add" devices."

ARM and Friends Home Servers Project

Reason:

I wanted to build a DVD-ingest tool for Plex to let me and others rip DVDs to our Plex server.  I have a stack of 8 small Dell mini desktops that are headed to e-waste.  Instead of sending them off, I've taken them and am upgrading them here and there to be remote nodes at friends' houses for adding content to Plex, for hosting Home Assistant, and for running SteamOS as a home media center.  

Warning

Expected Outcome:

Each unit will get:

Proxmox 9.2 installed
Custom network configurations for VPNing back to Plex Server
1x LXC Container running ARM [Vlan 10, Disk tray routed to LXC]
1x LXC Container running Home Assistant [Vlan 1, 1x USB port routed]
1x VM running SteamOS [Vlan 1, Graphic card routed, 2x USB port routed]

Research:

Knowledge/Learnings/Links/Notes

Use me to hide long guides

 

Steps Taken | Work done:

  1. Step
  2. by
  3. step
  4. process

Audio|Video Conference Room Designs: 2-4 Person Table Setup

Tools Needed:

Shopping List:

Drawing: