Garage Network Rack with 10G Fiber
![Garage Network Rack with 10G Fiber](/content/images/size/w2000/2020/01/ndEotkV-1.jpg)
This details my 12u rack in my detached garage which has a 10G uplink to my main network
I needed some networking in my detached garage for an access point, my flight tracking setup, 3 x PoE cameras and some future additions, and instead of running multiple Cat6 cables across, I decided to just run some OM3 fiber and put a switch at the other end. This way I have 10G of bandwidth across to the house, and I can add essentially as many devices as I want. Running cables through the small breezeway which connects the garage to the house is very tough, so I only wanted to do it once. Being fiber its also removes the potential path of lightning as a few of the devices will have tall antennas.
I posted this on /r/homelab but it got removed for not being related to homelabs. As usual over moderation is rampant over there. I want to share this as I was looking for ideas on how to mount it, and I didn't really find any good full guides or posts where someone had done it outside of a commercial environment with no issues. In reality nothing will go right and it will all be a mess, like in my garage... Here is all the details
First I bought 60m of OM3 from Fiberstore, and a Cisco WS-C2960S-48LPD-L which has 2 x 10G SFP+ ports, and 48 PoE+ ports. The switch uses around 30w of power idle, so it's not too bad for the very low purchase price
First I ran the fiber from my rack. I got an LC Keystone so I could use a smaller patch cable back to the switch
![](https://blog.networkprofile.org/content/images/2020/01/k0LWVzy.jpg)
It runs into the wall where it goes up into the attic, and across into the garage. The hole into the wall is still a little bit temporary... I'll clean it up eventually. The Aqua cable is the fiber
![](https://blog.networkprofile.org/content/images/2020/01/eRfcGyV.jpg)
As you can see, I always keep a pull cord there to make running cables easier!
Here you can see where it comes out in the garage (Which has since been fixed up a lot, so ignore the mess) As you can see its in some conduit, I ran some 1/2 non metallic conduit across the breezeway the first day I moved in so that I could get AT&T to run their fiber across into the home, all I could find on short notice at 9:30 PM was that, so thats why I chose it
I decided to just fish this fiber through the same conduit, it worked great
![](https://blog.networkprofile.org/content/images/2020/01/6ehHTwX.jpg)
Before mounting the rack I just put it on a bench to test out the connectivity. I had a spare APC SMT1000RM2U so I decided to use that
![](https://blog.networkprofile.org/content/images/2020/01/B9DevgG.jpg)
I left it here and monitored temperatures for a week and everything looked fine. On to mounting the rack
I ripped off the old wood veneer(?) that was on the wall to get a look at the studs in the location I wanted to mount. Sadly the studs were 24" on center, not 16" on center which is what the rack mounting brackets were designed for. There was also a very loose stud right next to a normal one, along with some crappy power. The sheathing was also eaten up by rats (Or something) at the bottom, it looks like its been like this a while
![](https://blog.networkprofile.org/content/images/2020/01/KoDcRp2.jpg)
![](https://blog.networkprofile.org/content/images/2020/01/W7LYMLm.jpg)
I went ahead and ripped out the old sheathing as well as installing a new 2x4 stud 16" across from the good one. This would give me the space to mount the rack. I also screwed the loose stud to the one next to it. I installed protector plates for the electrical. This was one of the first DIY jobs I took on, so my skills were a little rusty, I'm sure I could do things a little neater now, but its all functional
![](https://blog.networkprofile.org/content/images/2020/01/CuH0Igo.jpg)
I drilling some holes in the top plate to run cables through
![](https://blog.networkprofile.org/content/images/2020/01/RJImS8o.jpg)
Then I ran a new dedicated 20a circuit up for the rack. I am swapping in a new much larger panel so it was a no brainer giving it a dedicated circuit
![](https://blog.networkprofile.org/content/images/2020/01/qXxzw0J.jpg)
![](https://blog.networkprofile.org/content/images/2020/01/2dWKJwi.jpg)
I installed some 15/32 plywood on the wall and attached it with some screws. I cut a hole for an old work electrical box. I started cutting the hole with a very aggressive blade which chipped the wood a little bit, next time...
![](https://blog.networkprofile.org/content/images/2020/01/14ffiKu.jpg)
Here it is with the receptacles installed. I really don't like the white faceplate so I will swap it out later
![](https://blog.networkprofile.org/content/images/2020/01/XaGu7aM.jpg)
New faceplate, much better! I used 20a receptacles because its a 20a circuit, may as well...
![](https://blog.networkprofile.org/content/images/2020/01/mTiHkY5.jpg)
Next I drilled some holes at the top for cables to route though. Brush plates were over $5 each which is crazy, so I used these 60c dryer outlet plates
![](https://blog.networkprofile.org/content/images/2020/01/dok4Oi5.jpg)
Next to mount the rack, I used these 1/4 x 4 SPAX Screws. They are awesome
![](https://blog.networkprofile.org/content/images/2020/01/ws9f7Vy-1.jpg)
Rack mounted! I can do pullups on the rack so its not going anywhere
![](https://blog.networkprofile.org/content/images/2020/01/LASnh7R.jpg)
The hole were JUST big enough for the screw heads if I got them in at an angle, took some wiggling
![](https://blog.networkprofile.org/content/images/2020/01/tZfdx06.jpg)
I fished the fiber into the rack
![](https://blog.networkprofile.org/content/images/2020/01/np2k6tK.jpg)
Next to get the UPS mounted. Sadly the bottom U of the rack has some clearance issues, so I wasted the bottom 1u
![](https://blog.networkprofile.org/content/images/2020/01/7c8ygpE.jpg)
Since its not a 4 post rack I just screwed the rails into the plywood at the back, works great
![](https://blog.networkprofile.org/content/images/2020/01/mNb4ecF.jpg)
![](https://blog.networkprofile.org/content/images/2020/01/5OLnZUf.jpg)
I installed the outlets in just the right place, and I made sure the rack was extended enough to have a lot of clearance
![](https://blog.networkprofile.org/content/images/2020/01/IWiE9of.jpg)
![](https://blog.networkprofile.org/content/images/2020/01/hOvBXmm.jpg)
I got the switch mounted, I left 1u at the top for a patch panel
![](https://blog.networkprofile.org/content/images/2020/01/8zJ1sgJ.jpg)
![](https://blog.networkprofile.org/content/images/2020/01/ndEotkV.jpg)
Got the blanking panel installed
All done!