Home network advice (config and equipment)

Mike1983 · 16 Sep 2009 at 19:35

After doing my own research and getting some conflicting information I figured I would ask around in here to try and get some advice....

Well I currently have a Virgin cable 50Mb connection and intend to run cat 5e cable all around the house with sockets in the key rooms. I intend to have all cables terminated onto a 16 port patch panel located adjacent to a 16 port switch which in turn is located next to the modem (all in the same cabinet). I also intend to install the Virgin supplied router to enable wireless connectivity.

So first question is how do I connect all of this in the best way possible (or is there only 1 feasible way?). I have assumed there are 2 options as listed below described in order of connections if that makes sense.

1) Modem - Switch - Outputs as necessary to key rooms plus 1 output to wireless router.

or do I need to put the router before the switch thus

2) Modem - Router - Switch - Outputs as necessary to key rooms

And finally I was hoping you could advise if the spec of my equipment is sufficient / advise better alternatives. I'm more concerned / assuming this is only really critical to the choice of router with regards to stability, especially if it needs to be connected "before" the switch as in option 2 above

Switch = Cisco SRW2016
Patch Panel = Generic cat 5 / cat 6 patch panel (assume not too important)
Modem = Standard Virgin modem
Router = Standard Virgin supplied D-Link DIR 615

For your info, the network is to be used for conectivity around the house plus streaming music and movies from a NAS drive, Popcorn Hour box, PS3 gaming in front room etc...

So a lot of info, but any thoughts and advice would be very much appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Mike

Mike1983 · 17 Sep 2009 at 17:29

Ok thanks for the replies guys

Ok first of all, the switch, patch panel and modem will be located in the office room (in same cabinet along with a NAS drive), the router will be on the landing for optimal WiFi and the PS3 will be located in the lounge so a direct connection from the PS3 to router will not really be feasible.

I've drafted up an attempt at a network drawing for how I think it will look / be connected. Is there any possibility of reviewing and advising if suitable? It would be much appreciated

thanks again

Mike

Mike1983 · 19 Sep 2009 at 15:36

bump....

Does the above diagram seem like a valid proposal or would I need to make some changes?

Thanks in advance

Mike

Mike1983 · 19 Sep 2009 at 16:53

Thanks for confirming it is feasible

One last thing, I was going to use a Cisco SRW2016 16 port switch based on a friends recommendation.... I've since been reading some negative reviews though online.

Do any of you have any better alternative by any chance?

thanks

Mike

Mike1983 · 21 Sep 2009 at 14:56

Thank you for the feedback, I've been reading more negative reviews on the Cisco switch so I think a change to your suggested HP Procurve 1800-24G will be necessary.

Can anyone clarify if all ports from this Procurve switch run at full gigabit speed? I cannot find it definitively confired in the spec sheet. I ask because on one of the reviews for the Cisco item it suggested that only 4 of the 16 ports run at full speed.

If I were to use the Procurve then I'd only be using 16 of the 24 ports but would like them all to have gigabit speed availability.

thanks again

Mike

Mike1983 · 21 Sep 2009 at 17:23

much appreciated. Thank you all for your help.

Mike1983 · 23 Sep 2009 at 18:07

.... one last (hopefully) question if I may.

I've noticed that the Virgin supplied router I intend to connect (D Link 615) does not support gigabit speeds. I presume that if I connect my network up as per my earlier diagram the switch will be doing all the traffic management therefore this is not an issue?

To clarify, there will be nothing directly wired to the router other than the output to the switch.

Thanks

Mike

Mike1983 · 25 Nov 2009 at 18:52

Just a reply to say thank you for all the advice. I went with the Procurve switch in the end and rigged up the network as suggested going from modem to router to switch. It's running awesome and I'm having fun learning about networks, setting up static IP's for fixed equipment outside of the DHCP range etc.

Had a few issues with what was narrowed down to dodgy rj45 connector sockets but all is good now so getting on with speccing up the actual media streaming and a/v equipment now.