University of Oxford Museums: network audit, cabinet consolidation and fibre backbone modernisation

The result

The completed programme provided the University of Oxford with:

• Existing infrastructure understood before changes were made
• Redundant and unused network connections identified
• Communications cabinets rationalised and reorganised
• Space created for larger PoE switches
• Active services carefully reconnected
• Legacy fibre infrastructure consolidated onto LC connectivity
• Controlled overnight migration reduced operational disruption
• Testing completed before services were restored

The challenge

Mature network environments frequently contain infrastructure from several generations of technology. Over time, communications cabinets can accumulate historical patching, disconnected equipment, unused network ports, redundant copper connections, legacy fibre panels, multiple fibre connector types and patch leads whose current purpose is unclear, some of which may still be carrying active services.

Removing equipment without understanding those dependencies introduces unnecessary risk. At Oxford, the challenge was therefore to determine what was active, what was redundant and what could safely be rationalised before the network upgrade progressed.

Phase 1 – Establishing what was actually in use

ACCL began with a detailed audit of the data cabinets at each location. The physical audit recorded the existing patching arrangements and network connections within the cabinets.

However, identifying a cable physically connected to a switch does not necessarily establish whether that connection remains operationally required. ACCL therefore worked closely with the University of Oxford IT team to compare the physical patching information with switch-port data, allowing the project team to identify which ports were genuinely active.

This distinction was fundamental to the project. A full cabinet is not necessarily a fully utilised cabinet. Where infrastructure has developed over many years, auditing can recover valuable capacity without immediately replacing everything.

Phase 2 – Cabinet rationalisation and PoE switch preparation

Once the active infrastructure had been identified, ACCL could begin the second phase. Redundant patching and unnecessary infrastructure could be removed or reorganised, allowing communications cabinets to be consolidated.

One of the objectives was to create sufficient cabinet capacity for the University’s new larger PoE network switches. Power over Ethernet has become increasingly important as networks support more devices such as wireless access points, IP cameras, access control and other connected systems, and larger PoE switches can introduce practical cabinet considerations including additional rack space, patching density, cable management and power requirements.

By rationalising the existing infrastructure first, ACCL helped create the physical space required for the new equipment rather than simply adding further hardware to already congested cabinets. Active connections were then carefully reconnected and the cabinets reorganised, resulting in a cleaner and more manageable physical network environment.

One fibre link, one overnight migration

Each fibre link migration was planned as a dedicated overnight activity. The principle was straightforward: identify, disconnect, move, terminate, test, restore. Once a migration began, the objective was to complete that individual fibre link within the same overnight working period.

This avoided leaving partially migrated services between old and new infrastructure. The approach also provided a clear rollback and testing discipline around each individual network link. Only after the migrated connection had been completed and tested could the network service be returned to normal operation.

ACCL’s role

ACCL’s role extended across the physical investigation, rationalisation and migration stages of the project. Our responsibilities included:

• Auditing communications cabinets and recording physical patching
• Working with University IT on switch-port verification
• Identifying redundant infrastructure and rationalising cabinet space
• Preparing cabinets for larger PoE switches
• Reconnecting active network services
• Consolidating fibre infrastructure and removing legacy ST/SC presentation where migrated
• Installing LC fibre presentation and planning individual fibre migrations
• Undertaking overnight migration work, termination and testing
• Restoring services following successful testing

The project demonstrates an area of network infrastructure work that is often more difficult than installing a completely new system: modernising a live network whose history has accumulated over many years.

Foreword by Wayne

“Projects like this are a very good example of why we don’t start by assuming everything needs replacing. We start by understanding what is already there.

At Oxford, the first task was to audit the cabinets and work with the University’s IT team to establish which switch ports were genuinely active. Only once we understood the network could we begin removing redundant infrastructure and creating the space required for the new PoE equipment.

The fibre migration required an equally controlled approach. We were moving live backbone services away from legacy ST and SC presentation onto LC infrastructure, so each link had to be planned, migrated, terminated, tested and returned to service within its overnight working window.

This type of project is less about how quickly you can install new equipment and much more about understanding the existing network well enough to change it safely.”

Wayne Connors, Managing Director, ACCL