This document outlines labeling standards for equipment in the EMS EB data center following ANSI/TIA-606-A guidelines. It describes using a grid coordinate system based on cabinet/rack location and numeric rack unit positions. Equipment is labeled with the grid coordinates, rack unit, device name, subpanels if needed, and port numbers. Patch panel ports are also labeled with near and far end device identifiers for tracing connections. Support spaces outside the computer room will follow the same ANSI standard.

1. UWM UITS
Network Operations
Administration of Data Center Cable Plant: EMS EB.
Reference: ANSI/TIA-606-A-1 (enhances and
supersedes the administration guidelines in ANSI/TIA-942)
Draft 1/31/2011 Steve Bailey steve@uwm.edu
Grid Coordinates
x1y1
Whenever practicable, a coordinate system (i.e. grid) should be used in the computer
room and support spaces outside the computer room should be administered the same
way. EMS EB is mostly on a raised floor with 2’x2’ grid with a matching 2’x2’ ceiling grid
and lends it itself to use the grid system effectively. The grid identifier is determined by
what grid the northwest corner of the cabinet, rack or frame is located on.
x1 = The “X” axis is based on two alphabetic characters starting with “AA”.
y1 = The “Y” axis is based on two numeric characters starting with “01”.
Cabinet & Rack Labeling
x1y1c1
We chose to add a compass direction c1 as side identifiers: N, E, S, W. This will allow
the technician to quickly identify what side of the cabinet, rack or frame the connections
will occur on.
N = North.
E = East.
S = South.
W = West.
When the situation becomes necessary addition identifiers can be used for:
A = Above ceiling grid.
U = Under floor.
T = Tray mounted: Above Cabinet or rack but below ceiling grid.
Physical Label Characteristics for Cabinets & Racks
The location identifier should be labeled in plain view on the front and rear of each
cabinet and rack. Preferred locations for labels are the top and bottom on a permanent
part of the cabinet or rack. Text on labels should be a font without serifs, upper case,
and large enough to be easily read while standing near the cabinet or rack. Text on
labels shall be machine printed, and the label color shall contrast with the surface upon
which it is affixed.
Equipment & Patch Panel location Identifiers
x1y1c1-a1
a1 = Two numerical digits designating the location of the top of the patch panel in rack
units from the bottom of the usable space in the cabinet, rack, or frame.
Equipment Name

2. x1y1 c1-a1-n1
n1 = A unique Equipment name assigned to each active device in a cabinet, rack or
frame. Limiting the number of characters to 7 is preferred. The first character may be an
additional identifier. Some current conventions are
E = Ethernet switch
F = Fiber Channel switch
N = Nexus Equipment
Physical Label Characteristics for Cabinets & Racks
The location identifier should be labeled in plain view on the front and rear of each
cabinet and rack. Preferred locations for labels are the top and bottom on a permanent
part of the cabinet or. Text on labels should be a font without serifs, upper case, and
large enough to be easily read while standing near the cabinet or rack. Text on labels
shall be machine printed, and the label color shall contrast with the surface upon which
it is affixed.
Sub-Panel
x1y1c1-a1-n1/s1
s1 = Each device may have multiple panels for different modes, functions or connector
types. Each Sub-Panel should be identified and labeled if none is assigned use two
numeric characters starting with “01”. If no multiple subpanels exist, 01 is the default.
Some existing subpanels are:
Single digit alphabetic or numeric
#Ple
SL#: Slot #
SER: Serial
CON: Console
NET: Network connection
Port
x1y1c1-a1-n1/s1/p1
p1 = Each subpanel may have multiple ports. Also always identified with two numeric
characters starting with “01”. There are exceptions,
Some existing exceptions are:
Single digit numeric 1-4 or A-C
MGT
Full Administration labeling scheme:
x1 y1 c1 - a1 - n1 / s1 / p1
Sample: AD10S-24-EEMS001/01/24
Cabinet,
Rack ID
Position of top rack
unit from bottom
Device
Name
Sub-
panel
Port

3. Patch Panel Labeling
Currently we are only deploying fiber patch panels with 50/125 OM3 with duplex LC
connectors in 24 strand MPO cassettes (CommScope MN: 360DM-24LC-MM) in the
new racks.
Patch Panel Indentifiers are based on the cabinet or rack grid and RU location:
x1,y1 ,s1- c1
Sample: BB16W-41
Where space permits, patch panels should have labels to specify the identifiers of the near- and
far-end ports using the format of:
This patch panel identifier/name will be centered on the left side of the patch panel.
Each sub-panel (grouping/cassette of connectors) will be identified by a labeled placed
on the cover identifying the subpanel and the far-end patch panel and sub-panel
Sample:
Fiber Patch Panel Subpanels are treated accorded to the type/layout. CommScope
MPO subpanels or treated as a “pair” of strands ( a “port”) and are labeled in the
following manner: X=x1,y1 ,s1- c1-G04
Cabinet,
Rack ID
Position of top rack
unit from bottom
A/01-24 TO
AU10S-16 C/01-24
A
E
B C D
GF HX
02
01
14
03
10 12
11
06
05
08
07 09

4. Most other Fiber Patch Panel Subpanels (i.e. Siecor, Corning) are labeled in the
following manner: X=x1,y1 ,s1- c1-G4
Copper connections if deployed in the DC for Horizontal distribution will follow a similar
labeling scheme.
Support spaces outside the computer room shall be administered as specified in
ANSI/TIA/EIA-606-A.
A B DC GFE IH J LK
1
2
3
4
5
6
X