Quick Home Setup Question

Mattw

Mattw

Mattw

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Joined
15 May 2006
Posts
389
Hi,

Im about to move house and want to setup a gigabit network for-

homeserver tucked in a cupboard
2 machines in office
htpc and xbox in lounge

So thats 5 wired connections I need in total. I currently have a Netgear DG834G router which only has 4 LAN sockets at 100mbps.

What im wondering is, can I just buy an 8 port 1000mbps switch (like this one) and plug all the computers AND the Netgear Router into it?

Then I would have gigabit connections between the computers and a 100mbps connection to the router split between all machines.

Will that work? Or am i over simplifying things a bit.

Thanks for any advice
 
Yup. Exactly the way most people do it.

internet/modem----Router----switch----all devices.

You can even plug a switch into a switch if absolutly needed!

I would put in extra cables! I did, and still ended up having to buy a small switch.
 
Hi,

I plan to run 2 cable for every 1 network point I need just in case :)

Thanks for your advice guys. Will any old cheap gigabit switch do or would you recommended paying a bit more?

Im just looking at which cable to buy and a little confused.

Will Cat 5e run at 1000mbps? Whats the difference with cat 6 and is it worth dropping the extra few quid on a cat 6 cable.

Then theres UTP and FTP which from what I can gather is whether it is shielded or not. I'm planning on running this behind walls so which would be best. I would be gutted to run UTP only to find its picking up interference.

Oh and lets not forget, solid core or stranded =D

Man this is harder work than I thought, sorry for all the questions im still reading and trying to make sense of it :)
 
Solid for permanent cabling, otherwise it will not terminate in the face plates properly. Stranded for patch cables.
Cat5e is good for gigabit, but it depends on the likely cable lengths. If you can afford shielded, then get shielded, but again, might not be needed for the cable lengths you are goign to use. What sort of length are you looking at?

Would recommend some proper faceplates too! Don;t forget to buy an IDC punchdown tool (Cheapy will do you) and a tester, makes life much easier!
 
I run UTP Cat5e solid core throughout my house and it is fine. Remember if you have to cross mains cable, run it at 90o to your network cable. Unless you want to buy a crimper and plugs, you will need a patch plate as well. You may want to pick up a rotary cable stripper (they are only a few quid) and a pack of cable ties.
As for a switch you can pick up the little HP Procurve 8 port Gigabit Switch like a 1410-8G for about £50 or Overclockers do TP-Link 8-port Unmanaged Gigabit Desktop Switch for £26.90.
 
thanks for all the feedback guys much appreicated. Lengths of cables are not going to be any more than 30 metres i would think.

I have found a complete network kit which includes-

1 x 305 Meter CAT5e RJ45 Cable Role
1 x RJ11 & RJ45 Cable Tester
1 x RJ11 & RJ45 Crimping Tool
1 x RJ11 & RJ45 Punch Tool
10 x Blue Boots
10 x Green Boots
10 x Red Boots
10 x Yellow Boots
100 x Grey Boots
100 x Connectors

All for £35! Although it doesnt mention any more than that about the cable so i imagine its not shielded or solid core. But you can swap the cable for something else if you ask.

I'm pretty sure thats everything I need other than the face plates/back boxes.

I imagine the punch tool is the IDC punchdown tool PhillyDee mentioned?
 
Mattw, remember if you are using STP Cable then you will need to connect the drain wire (uncoated wire that connects to the shielding) to ground (normally on the patch pannel) at ONE end only. If you dont ground the drain wire, then there is little point in using STP.
 
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