|  | 9.6 | Basics of Wiring Closets and Patch Panels
| 9.6.3 | Patch panel
In an Ethernet LAN star topology, the horizontal cabling runs, which come from the work areas, usually terminate at a patch panel. A patch panel is an interconnecting device through which horizontal cabling runs can be connected to other networking devices, such as hubs and repeaters. More specifically, a patch panel is a gathering of pin locations and ports. A patch panel acts as a switchboard, where horizontal cables coming from workstations, can connect to other workstations to form a LAN. - In some instances, a patch panel can also provide locations for devices to connect to a WAN, or to the Internet. This connection is described by TIA/EIA-568-A as a horizontal cross-connect (HCC).
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