Network Upgrades

smogsy

smogsy

smogsy

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@ManCave
You may have seen my Man-cave project here > http://url="http//forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18604169

Its time to think of some upgrades, I think it may be time for a Proper Server Rack.

I wanted thoughts & Advice on things I may have missed.

Old diagram
network.jpg

Current setup
Home
VM Superhub2
Sky Hub
cable to man cave CAT6

Cabin
Netgear nighthawk x4
1x 24 port Switch GS124?
3x 8 port Switch GS108
Synlogy NAS

Upgrade thoughts
Server rack
New Rackmount Pfsense Router for extra functionality/protection/ good to play with :)
Hardware Firewall (possibly)
put NAS in the rack
Possible storage server for Sheild TV Plex sort thing?

Put other devices in their like SKY HD Bluray player etc. run 1 HDMI to TV

Any other devices I forgot for my new server rack?
 
Last edited:
Rack = Yes (as long as it's a nice one and not some 2nd use cream monstrosity)
Rackmount pfSense router = Maybe, would be fun to tinker with but it's a router so once setup it'll mostly be forgotten about. Maybe MikroTik as they have a funky LCD on the front to see stuff?
Hardware firewall = See above
NAS in the rack = Yep, On a shelf so it's tidy?
Storage server = Definitely

Others;
>Bin off the 2 8 port switches, if you need separation, get another rack mounted but managed switch (Did I mention Mikrotik?)
>Look into link aggregation and double up all cables for 2x1GB bandwidth?
>QOS for your cabin
>Fibre between house and cabin, just because you can and it means you can buy lots of new shiny, get SFP+ at either end and you'll have 10Gb?
>Wireless AP's with seemless handoff?

How do you operate the 2 routers? Are you doing failover, load balancing? Are they all in one network with 2 gateways or separate?
 
Steveocee said:
Rack = Yes (as long as it's a nice one and not some 2nd use cream monstrosity)
Rackmount pfSense router = Maybe, would be fun to tinker with but it's a router so once setup it'll mostly be forgotten about. Maybe MikroTik as they have a funky LCD on the front to see stuff?
Hardware firewall = See above
NAS in the rack = Yep, On a shelf so it's tidy?
Storage server = Definitely

Others;
>Bin off the 2 8 port switches, if you need separation, get another rack mounted but managed switch (Did I mention Mikrotik?)
>Look into link aggregation and double up all cables for 2x1GB bandwidth?
>QOS for your cabin
>Fibre between house and cabin, just because you can and it means you can buy lots of new shiny, get SFP+ at either end and you'll have 10Gb?
>Wireless AP's with seemless handoff?

How do you operate the 2 routers? Are you doing failover, load balancing? Are they all in one network with 2 gateways or separate?
Click to expand...

what ever i do it got to be good looking & quiet. somthing rackmount could be hard with off the shelf Items.

>Look into link aggregation and double up all cables for 2x1GB bandwidth? - was thinking of this, or just upgrade to 10GB between house/Cabin

Everything is one network & All devices have dual gateways. (everything setup manually. Something PfSense could fix.
thought on rack type
V8LdAR4.jpg.png


nas wise/storage wise
i got a synlogy 2 bay. but could get either get Rack mount one. or put Storage server/NAs into one & build server with FreeNAS or simlair.#

also looking at 1GB+ net connections
 
Last edited:
Why two net connections?

10Gbe is super expensive right now. Around £600 for 8 port switch and £200 for each NIC.

Recently bought a Ubiquity edgerouter lite (router) and ubiquity ac ap pro (new round style) access point, great setup :)

I have a 24 port switch connected to the erl.
 
10GB between house and cabin then fibre would be a good option. If you were doing 10gb to devices then go for 6a and a switch but a single link, fibre should work cheaper with cheaper termination kit.

HP microserver for a new storage server?

Gigabit plus with some Nat and basic firewalling will be a relatively intensive job. 1u pfsense box with xeon would be brilliant.
 
Steveocee said:
10GB between house and cabin then fibre would be a good option. If you were doing 10gb to devices then go for 6a and a switch but a single link, fibre should work cheaper with cheaper termination kit.

HP microserver for a new storage server?

Gigabit plus with some Nat and basic firewalling will be a relatively intensive job. 1u pfsense box with xeon would be brilliant.
Click to expand...

already using 6a down the garden :)

will look into storage server but, Might want more HDD slots. think MS is 3 slots?


PFSense, not sure about U size just yet but, want anything quiet so might go 3U just to put larger fans in or Large passive heatsink.
 
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