Running Ethernet to My Home Office: Relocating the Server Rack

My home automation setup had a problem: the only ethernet port in my house was in the living room. That’s where I had my mini rack with the Home Assistant server and my new NAS. But having server equipment humming away next to the couch wasn’t ideal, and I needed proper connectivity in my office anyway.

Time for a weekend project: run ethernet to the office and relocate everything.

The Plan

The goal was simple but involved a few steps:

1. Cut a hole in the office wall for a new ethernet jack
2. Run CAT6 cable from the office down to the basement
3. Install a proper wall plate with two ports - one for the Starlink connection and one running to the basement rack
4. Relocate the mini rack to the office
5. Move the original network equipment to the basement

Materials

Here’s what I picked up for the job:

• PPC Perfect Link CAT6 cable (750ft box - way more than needed, but good to have on hand)
• Low voltage mounting bracket (old work box)
• Dual-port keystone wall plate
• CAT6 keystone jacks
• My trusty DYMO Rhino label maker

Cutting the Wall

First step was cutting the hole for the low voltage box. I picked a spot behind where the desk would go, measured twice, and cut once.

Pro tip: Use a low voltage “old work” bracket for this. Unlike electrical boxes, these don’t need to be attached to a stud - they clamp right onto the drywall. Perfect for running data cables.

Running the Cable

With the hole cut, I ran two CAT6 cables - one would connect to the Starlink router, and the other would run down to the basement where I was relocating some network equipment.

Labeling your cables is crucial. I use a DYMO Rhino for this - it prints on actual cable labels that wrap around and won’t fall off.

Terminating the Jacks

This is where attention to detail matters. CAT6 keystone jacks are color-coded, so you just need to match the wire colors to the diagram on the jack. I use the T-568B standard.

Punch down each wire, trim the excess, and snap it into the wall plate.

Both cables labeled and terminated - STARLINK for the internet connection and BASEMENT for the run down to the network rack.

Installing the Wall Plate

With the cables terminated, I mounted the low voltage bracket and installed the wall plate.

The finished wall plate looks clean and professional:

The Basement Side

Down in the basement, I terminated the other ends of the cables and organized everything at the new rack location. While I was at it, I also ran a cable for the garage camera.

Labeling every cable at both ends saves so much troubleshooting time later. Trust me on this one.

The Final Setup

With all the cables run and terminated, I moved the mini rack to its new home in the office:

The setup now includes:

• Starlink router - Providing internet to the whole house
• Mini server rack - Housing the Home Assistant server and NAS
• Network switch - Connecting everything together
• 3D printer - Because why not?

Everything is now in one spot, easy to access, and not cluttering up the living room anymore.

Lessons Learned

1. Label everything - Seriously, label both ends of every cable
2. Buy more cable than you need - Running short mid-project is frustrating
3. Use proper low voltage boxes - They make the install look professional
4. Take your time with terminations - A bad crimp means troubleshooting later
5. Plan your cable routes - Think about where you might want to run cables in the future

This project took about half a day and made a huge difference in my home network setup. If you’re running ethernet in your house, don’t be intimidated - it’s very doable as a DIY project.

Have questions about running ethernet or setting up a home server rack? Drop a comment on the YouTube video!