Network switch - cupboard location?

[jamo]

I'm trying to plan the layout of my installation and have the idea that the core will reside in a room that is supposed to be study/ guest bedroom. My plan is to customize the house to fit my installation, wiring, needs etc but try not to make the place unsellable to someone that isn't keen to setup home automation/ networking in the same way.

It would be great to get some advice or tips on some of my design plans.

So I was thinking that I will need (at some stage) a decent sized (12+ port) switch to handle the neworking to the various components. My idea is to house that in the cupboard (closet, cabinet) in the same room. I just want to put it on one of the shelves, then I figure if each shelf has a decent sized hole in it, all the network cables can go up through that hole in a bundle into the roof (the cupboard will reach to the ceiling, where we have a similar hole). Then all my cables are neatly out of the way.

I figure I can have holes in each shelf pre-drilled to the required size and then capped - place a rubber or plastic cap in the whole so the cupboard can be used for purposes other than networking - ie socks and underwear - by the next owner if required. A similar cap could be installed in the ceiling hole.

I would even have an AC power outlet put in one of the shelves to power the switch.

It seems like a neat, workable solution to me... but is it practical?

I guess my main concern is heat and ventilation? Does anyone have any idea how much heat a unit like this (switch) needs to dissipate? I suppose if there is a power supply that will be at least one source of heat and then from the switch itself. The problem will be if I leave the unit humming away in the closet with the door closed, will it overheat?

Any suggestions as to how to combat that or other ideas? I suppose I could have a door put on that has ventilation - sort of a lattice work or something as appears sometimes on vegetable cupboards but of course that is extra cost and quite difficult to undo if someone wants to use this as a regular cupboard later on.

Any comments/ suggestions welcome.

thanks
James

[bongowongo]

I have my setup in the closet, where heating pipes run through. it is extremely warm but stable. Computers can handle more than you can imagine, it is not best practice.
Concerning your switch I haven an old 24 ports switch, with fans, but the fans are turned off, and gets quite warm. Still runs stable.
I think if you buy a quality switch, nowadays it will not become to warm.

[jamo]

Thanks, BW, so it sounds possible. I'll see if the built-in-cupboard people can accommodate me and hopefully a new switch will have low energy and hence heat dissapation requirements.