Color provides quick visual identification. Color coding simplifies management and can save you hours when you need to trace cables. Color coding can be applied to ports on a patch panel: patch panels themselves come with different color jacks or have colored inserts that surround the jack. Cables are available in many colors (the color palette depends on the cable manufacturer). Apply these colors to identify the role/function of a cable or the type of connection.
Below is an example color scheme for patch cables.
| Color | Cable Type | Application |
| AQUA | OM3 MULTIMODE FIBER | LAN OR SAN Device to Device |
| YELLOW | SINGLE MODE FIBER | Long Distance LAN OR SAN Device to Device |
| ORANGE | OM1 OR OM2 FIBER | LAN OR SAN Device to Device |
| BLUE | COPPER CABLE | LAN Device to Device |
| GREEN | COPPER CABLE | KVM host to KVM Switch, KVM switch to LAN Switch, KVM Switch to KVM switch |
| YELLOW | COPPER CABLE | Seria host to Terminal Server, Terminal Server to LAN Switch |
| WHITE | COPPER CABLE | Power Strip to LAN Switch |
In addition to cable colors, you can expand the color scheme by using different 1″ color bands at each end of the cable, different color sleeves, and different color ports on the patch panel.
NOTE: If you use colors to identify cable functions or connections, be sure to build in redundancy to accommodate individuals with color blindness or color vision deficiency.
