Network planning help

jlo · 28 Oct 2020 at 10:12

Hi - I am renovating my home and want to run ethernet cables. I need to plan this properly, I don't want to find out afterwards that things aren't right.

I've decided on Asus AIMesh routers for my mesh wireless network. I will be using ethernet backhaul for this.

And I have some devices to connect via ethernet (TV's, PC's, Hubitat, etc). Also a POE NVR camera system.

I'm a bit confused about the setup. The main question I have is - can the ISP router connect to a switch, with the AIMesh Main router connected to that (A), or does the AIMesh need to connect directly to the ISP Router (B). See diagram

jlo · 28 Oct 2020 at 11:33

the-evaluator said:
The switch needs to be downstream of the router. So modem -> router -> PoE switch as you show in diagram B.

You could make it work as shown in diagram A if your switch was VLAN aware but for siplicity I'd go for diagram B.

Thanks - "A" would certainly make router placement and wiring easier, but as you say "B" offers simplicity. I'll just need to be creative in the wiring and router placement!

jlo · 28 Oct 2020 at 15:01

So if I did the VLAN setup and got A working, would the devices connected to the AIMesh be on a different VLAN to the other devices? ie, they wouldnt see each other. For example, my PC connected via LAN to the switch (one of the devices on the diagram) wouldn't see a wireless printer connected to the AIMesh.

jlo · 28 Oct 2020 at 17:04

neodude said:
So, why not just do this.....

Is that not the same as B?

jlo · 28 Oct 2020 at 17:23

Thanks everyone for the advice. I think B for simplicity sake is the way forward. Will plan to run cables to the preferred router and switch locations rather than bite off more than I can chew with option A. Plus, i just checked the prices of Managed POE switches with enough ports to cover the cameras and the ethernet ports i'm planning around the house - and wow!