A fixed or free-standing miniature patch panel in an enclosure. Typically, horizontal cable runs are connected to the punchdown blocks within the distribution box, and drop cables are plugged into the RJ-45 ports of the box. You can thus use distribution boxes to provide central cabling points away from walls.
Stations can then be plugged and unplugged from an accessible location in the work area instead of from the back of the workstations (after you bend down and crawl behind the machine) or from the land drops in the wall (which are often hidden behind desks or other obstacles).
Use distribution boxes for classrooms and work areas in which computers frequently need to be moved around and rearranged.