Early network cabinets were mostly made of castings or angle steel joined by screw, rivet or welded into cabinet frame, together with cover plates (doors) made of thin steel plates. This kind of network cabinet is large, bulky and simple in appearance, and has been eliminated.

With the use of transistors and integrated circuits and the miniaturization of various components and devices, the structure of cabinets is also developing towards miniaturization and building blocks. Network cabinet has been developed from the whole panel structure to the plug-in structure with a certain size series. Inserts and plug-ins are arranged horizontally and vertically. Thin steel sheet, steel profiles of various cross-section shapes, aluminum profiles and various engineering plastics are widely used in network cabinet materials. In addition to welding and screw connection, the frame of network cabinet also adopts bonding technology.