a network communications system is provided for allowing a group of computer users in a conference room or similar small work environment to access an ethernet local area network and to provide peer - to - peer group networking without connection to a backbone network . the system includes multiple client computer ports each including a removable spring loaded cable dispenser carrying an extendible / retractable category 5 lan cable terminated with an rj - 45 plug for connection to a client computer &# 39 ; s network adapter . combined power / ethernet lan cables connect the system to an enterprise network and to a source of electrical power , and permit cascading of up to three 8 - port systems . in use , a computer user pulls out the cable from one of the client ports and inserts the rj - 45 plug into the rj - 45 jack on the network adapter carried by the computer . after completion of the networking session , the user unplugs the cable which is automatically retracted by the spring loaded cable reel . a cable management system is thereby provided which eliminates the tangle or clutter of multiple cables encountered in existing systems .