Stupid Question? Why Can't You Think of an Answer, Then?

Is it still a stupid question when you realize you have no articulate answer? A client asked me a question that should have been simple: When running CAT-5 lines, why do you use a punch-down rack?

You've seen how network hardware is usually wired - LAN drops in your cube run up into the wall or drop-ceiling and over to a network rack where 12 - 72 RJ45 connectors are punched down - you can see what I'm talking about by going to this link. The way your network lines run, you're running across maybe 4 or 5 different connected CAT-5 lines to actually get to the server or network connection. Since it's all CAT5 line, why would you terminate this line at different punchdowns (which cost around $200 a piece, by the way) instead of simply terminating that CAT5 line into the switch?

So the client asks me and I start explaining, but right in the middle of explaining it, it hits the both of us: I really don't know why you would do that. I have a general idea, but it all boils down to: this is the way I've always seen it done and you should know by know that you never, ever say that to a fellow engineer.

So I called Travis over at Talisman Networks and put it to him - I thought I'd share it with you: Breaking up the LAN connection into smaller, discrete elements makes it easier to troubleshoot. It's why your house isn't wired directly to the city power grid or to the Hetch Hetchy water mains. Putting the different parts of the link to smaller pieces means less hassle to figure out what is wrong, less hassle to replace. It's simple - I know - but it's something I hadn't thought of and since it took that much for me to figure out, I thought I'd save you a bit of time.