A system for guiding patch cord insertions and removals comprising: a patch cord having a first plug and a second plug, said patch cord comprising first and second dedicated patch cord management conductors (42, 44), each of said plugs (12, 18) having respective first and second plug contacts (24a, 24b; 26a, 26b) making electrical contact, respectively, with said first and second dedicated patch cord management conductors (42, 44), wherein the first and second dedicated patch cord management conductors (42, 44) are dedicated to patch cord management; a first intelligent patch panel comprising a plurality of ports, each of said ports comprising first and second panel contacts (25a, 25b), said first and second panel contacts (25a, 25b) being adapted to make contact with first and second plug contacts (24a, 24b; 26a, 26b) of said plugs (12, 18) when said plugs (12, 18) are plugged into said ports, said first intelligent patch panel further comprising a first control and detection circuit; a second intelligent patch panel comprising a plurality of ports, each of said ports comprising first and second panel contacts (27a, 27b), said first and second panel contacts (27a, 27b) being adapted to make contact with first and second plug contacts (24a, 24b; 26a, 26b) of said plugs (12, 18) when said plugs (12, 18) are plugged into said ports, said second intelligent patch panel further comprising a second control and detection circuit; wherein said first and second control and detection circuits (38, 40) comprise control circuits and digital input/output gates (48, 49), and detection of insertion of patch cords into the ports (14, 20) of the first and second intelligent patch panels (16, 22) is accomplished by reading the status of the digital input/output gates (48, 49) when the control circuits (38,40) are placed in predefined states. a patch cord having a first plug and a second plug, said patch cord comprising first and second dedicated patch cord management conductors (42, 44), each of said plugs (12, 18) having respective first and second plug contacts (24a, 24b; 26a, 26b) making electrical contact, respectively, with said first and second dedicated patch cord management conductors (42, 44), wherein the first and second dedicated patch cord management conductors (42, 44) are dedicated to patch cord management; a first intelligent patch panel comprising a plurality of ports, each of said ports comprising first and second panel contacts (25a, 25b), said first and second panel contacts (25a, 25b) being adapted to make contact with first and second plug contacts (24a, 24b; 26a, 26b) of said plugs (12, 18) when said plugs (12, 18) are plugged into said ports, said first intelligent patch panel further comprising a first control and detection circuit; a second intelligent patch panel comprising a plurality of ports, each of said ports comprising first and second panel contacts (27a, 27b), said first and second panel contacts (27a, 27b) being adapted to make contact with first and second plug contacts (24a, 24b; 26a, 26b) of said plugs (12, 18) when said plugs (12, 18) are plugged into said ports, said second intelligent patch panel further comprising a second control and detection circuit; wherein said first and second control and detection circuits (38, 40) comprise control circuits and digital input/output gates (48, 49), and detection of insertion of patch cords into the ports (14, 20) of the first and second intelligent patch panels (16, 22) is accomplished by reading the status of the digital input/output gates (48, 49) when the control circuits (38,40) are placed in predefined states.