Illuminated patch cord connector ports for use in a telecommunications patch closet having patch cord tracing capabilities

In a telecommunications closet containing a plurality of patch cord connector ports disposed on at least one rack, an illumination device for selectively illuminating each of said connector ports, comprising:

• a module mountable to each rack, wherein each module contains LEDs that are directed to the connector ports on a rack when said module is mounted to said rack, wherein light from each said LED selectively illuminates one of the connector ports when lit and wherein said module further includes a plurality of shrouds that extend from said module, wherein each of said shrouds is disposed in front of each of the connector ports, whereby any patch cord connector entering a connector port must first pass through one of said shrouds.

In a telecommunications closet having numerous connector ports, patch cords interconnecting connector ports, and a patch cord administration system, a method of locating a specific connector port in the patch cord administration system, comprising the steps of:

• providing an LED proximate each of the connector ports translucent casings of the in the telecommunications closet;
• and
• selectively illuminating the translucent casings of any of said connector ports identified by the patch cord administration system.