Cables from the wall jacks are punched down on a row of ports in the closet. Short cords from that row run to the switch. Which device is that row?
Select an answer to reveal the explanation.
Short Explanation
The permanent cables stop on a row of jacks, and short cords finish the trip to the switch. You are looking at a patch panel. A router, a coax modem, and a fiber handoff are not that copper row.
Full Explanation
A patch panel is the termination point for the cables from the wall jacks. Short patch cords then connect those ports to the switch. That is the row in the closet. A router forwards between networks. It is not a punch-down field in front of the switch. A cable modem converts a provider's coax handoff. It does not terminate every wall jack. An optical network terminal is the fiber handoff. It is not a row of copper ports. Exam caveat: the panel does not switch traffic. If the short cord to the switch is missing, the wall jack is dark even though the punch-down is neat. Operational check: trace one wall jack to its panel port and confirm a cord from that port reaches the switch. Leave the punch-down alone if the cord to the switch was the only thing missing.