Network Overhaul

[antispam246]

My home network has expanded and always seems to be expanding over the years. I now what to minimalize it whilst retaining enough connectity options for everything on the network.

Here is my current network setup.

1. Netgear WNDR3700 (Wired/Wireless Gigabit & -n 2.5/5Ghz)
2. Netgear DGN2000 (Wired/Wireless 10/100 & -n 2.5Ghz)
3. Netgear GS108 (Gigabit Switch unmanaged)
4. Netgear DG834v2 (Wired 10/100 ADSL router & Modem)
5. Netgear DG834v3 (Wired/Wireless 10/100 & -b -g)

As you can see rather large and somehwat complex and unnecessary network. It's like this because I've added parts overtime to extend it and the final addition wndr3700 which is intended to replace various parts has only just been installed until I get a chance to review the best setup, which is what I'm asking here.

As well as the above hardware used in my current setup I also have at hand

6. Netgear GS108T (gigabit switch managed)
7. Netgear DG834GT (108Mbps DSL wired/wireless router)

The GS108T will replace the GS108 to give me more control over network functions. That should be a straight swap. The DG834GT is actually something I just got hold of for free and until now hadn't considered as a replacement for anything.

Another reason for my vast network is due to the mass amount of clients.

a. 3-4 Gigabit Desktops (one with gigabit teamins dual)
b. 4-5 laptops (4 on 5Ghz -n and 1 on 2.5Ghz -n)
c. Xbox 360 wired on 10/100
d. 3 x Xbox's running XBMC wired on 10/100
e. 1 Xbox on a networked Plug
d. Various wireless devices like ipod/blackberry etc.. running on -b -g
f. NDS's running on wireless (possibly -a)

To summarize;
- I have every need for all wireless connections -a -b -g -n including dual band.
- Out of the 12 10/100 ports 9 are in use giving me 3 spares.

The DG834v2 acts as my modem. All other routers have DHCP disabled and act as extensions. I have ADSL so only 4 routers are capable as acting as the modem
- Netgear DG834v2
- Netgear DG834v3
- Netgear DG834GT
- Netgear DGN2000

My plan ideally is;

Have only one of the above 4 routers which will be my modem/router. Which? I'm not sure. The obvious choice would be the DGN2000, being the latest model and with wireless -n availability. Even the DG834GT could be an option as the wireless -n on the former isn't needed due to the WNDR3700. What this will come down to is basically me researching for performance charts or reviews comparing these 4 products, mainly this will be "Which performs best as a modem/router?"

The WNDR3700 should be capable of handling ALL my wireless connections. I can create multiple and separate networks simultaneously so having a -b -g device on the router when there are also -n 2.5/5ghz won't affect performance (I hope).

What I'm worried about is that by taking away 2 of the current routers. I lose 8 ports. The WNDR3700 has 4 gigabit ports. In theory this will cover me as I can drop a client or 2 when needed. However, If I connect 10/100 clients to the gigabit ports on the WNDR3700 I'm wondering how this will effect other clients on a faster network.

To clarify my current setup;

I asked elsewhere about gigabit functioning at gigabit speeds with this setup and was told all the gigabit device would still be able to communicate with one another appropriately. I was also told that even with -n 2.5Ghz -n5Ghz clients connected to the WNDR3700 which then runs through the gigabit switch first, gigabit clients wired to the switch would still be unaffected.

Can someone clarify if this is definately the case. What if a client on -n 2.5ghz connected to the WNDR3700 is talking to a client on the gigabit switch? How will that affect network performance? Will the gigabit client just run as 10/100 as they are set to auto-negociate.

What about when a client on -n 2.5ghz connected to WNDR3700 is talking to a gigabit client on the GS108 switch and at the same time that gigabit client on GS108 is also talking to another gigabit client on the GS108 switch. Will those gigabit clients still be able to work at gigabit speeds even though a wireless client is at the same time sending or receiving data from a -n 2.5Ghz/5Ghz client?

My new proposed setup will be this;

I'm hoping this will allow me to keep a similar setup to my current one but by removing a couple of routers.

My main concern is how the WNDR3700 will cope with multiple clients connecting at different speeds and then how gigabit clients will cope with multipel connections from slower devices when at the same time trying to work at gigabit speeds between gigabit clients.

The WNDR3700 has gigabit ports but I'm not sure what effects the network the client speeds or the port speeds. As I was told earlier it shouldn't affect the gigabit clients I'm hoping that it's the ports so basically the WNDR3700 will be able to handle everything wireless and 10/100 wired whilst maintaining a good relationship with the gigabit switch.

If this isn't the case, would that be solved simply by moving the WNDR3700 so it attaches directly to the Modem router? Again though, If I did this, I ultimately have the same issue but the other way round. How will data from -n 2.5Ghz and -n 5Ghz (300Mbps) be affected when passing through a 10/100 LAN as all the modem capable routers only have 10/100 ports.

Lengthy post I know but I want to ensure I get this right and in the best possible way. Any help greatly appreciated, or if I've missed anything or overlooked anything, please do point it out.

Cheers.

 

[Invictus]

having 100mb clients on a gigabit router wont do anything to the full speed clients until they try to transfer files. The speed will only be at 100mb. But even that is pegged due to the hard disk. basically having different speed clients wont effect the switch in the least because each port is its own collision domain.
if you have wireless g clients connecting to a wireless n network then the network defaults to the lowest common speed.

 

[antispam246]

I understand the wireless aspect of it. The wndr3700 can host separate networks. Actually I double checked and I think it's only separate between 2.5ghz and 5ghz. Which means I can narrow down my modem choice to 3, 1 of the 3 wireless routers so that -b -g clients can conenct to that and not interfere with -n 2.5ghz on the wndr3700.

In regards to the wired part, you say "it won't do anything until they try to transfer files" but then you later say "having different speed clients wont effect the switch in the least because each port is its own collision domain". So if a 100mbs client was using the internet any gigabit clients transferring to one another would be limited to 100mbps or are you saying it won't, sorry just need clarification on that bit.

I understand HDD limitations too, thank you.

Edit: wndr3700 supports guest networks for -b -g -n so I can scrap what I said about being limited to only the wireless modem routers.

 

[BlueMhz]

In regards to the wired part, you say "it won't do anything until they try to transfer files" but then you later say "having different speed clients wont effect the switch in the least because each port is its own collision domain". So if a 100mbs client was using the internet any gigabit clients transferring to one another would be limited to 100mbps or are you saying it won't, sorry just need clarification on that bit.

Each port on your gigabit switch, will run at 10Mb, 100Mb or 1Gb depending on the device connected to the port. So you can have devices connected at different speeds.

But to answer your question, a 100Mb device connected to your switch does not effect the transfer rate between 1Gb connected devices on your switch.

 

[antispam246]

Each port on your gigabit switch, will run at 10Mb, 100Mb or 1Gb depending on the device connected to the port. So you can have devices connected at different speeds.

But to answer your question, a 100Mb device connected to your switch does not effect the transfer rate between 1Gb connected devices on your switch.

Thanks. Had it explained with a very good road traffic analogy. I think I know understand properly how it works. I shouldn't have any issues.

Edit: It has also been suggested I keep the GS108 on to deal with any 10/100 clients, so they can all conenct to that negating the need to worry about using the ports on the routers.