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I have a problem. It is a problem I try to hide out of sight and out of mind, one I try to pretend doesn't exist. But it does, and every so often it raises its ugly head to bite me. Most recently, I needed to replace an Ethernet switch as I needed more ports. As I unplugged the old switch, my monitor turned off. Why? Because under my desk I have a cable catastrophe. The mere act of unplugging the old switch had so disturbed and enraged the rat's nest of cables under my desk that in retaliation it decided to turn off my monitor.
So intertwined and confused is the mess beneath my desk that even the most mundane of acts—plugging in a new gadget, removing an old one, sometimes just even moving my feet—threatens to destroy everything.
TFA addresses the perennial problem of cable jungles. I use zip ties. What are the best solutions Soylentils have come up with, and what are their pros and cons?
(Score: 4, Interesting) by VortexCortex on Wednesday September 09 2015, @12:35PM
First step is to try and simplify the stuff you have. If you have multiple systems try splitting up the workload of devices between them and using a network.
When it comes to wirespace you are ultimately facing a concurrency problem. You need to parallelize the desk so it doesn't become a FIFO buffer (last device added must be removed first). As with all Computer related problems the solution is usually to add another layer of abstraction. In this case, you may be able to add a new dimension to your 2D desk-space problem: In addition to desk-space and floor-space, use wall-space. My solution is a bit risky and not for everyone: Mount the PC components on the wall (on lexan), put shelves beside them for components. Treat the space between the wall and the screen/keyboard/chair as the solution space, and accept that such a space needs to exist to solve the problem.
Once mounted to the wall one can treat the computer like art (cable it neatly). Invite your hipster friends over and remark that you purchased a new art piece and see what they say about it. They may want to install a few in a modern art exhibit (or as post-modern art, which can literally be shit).
Bonus: Coverless computing improves airflow and makes dusting a breeze. At work, server racks are a 3D solution to the 2D problem. At home, if the problem space gets too cluttered I suppose I could make a computer-mobile (hanging structure kind, not vehicular, also not not to be confused with mobile-computer [a device that periodically checks whether a nerd has social skills and promptly removes them]).
Meditate for wisdom and the Flying Spaghetti Monster will guide you: Fork it, sometimes you need less noodles and more balls.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by cafebabe on Monday September 14 2015, @08:14AM
I take the opposite approach. I connect the most important devices first with the intention that the least important devices can be most easily removed. As a bonus, I always connect devices to power strips from left to right. Therefore, anyone who removes devices in my absence knows what to remove while minimizing system degradation. If you don't keep labels current then this is the next best solution.
I thought that noodliness was next to godliness. Or something like that.
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