Some networking layout advice please.

Tinders · 10 Nov 2017 at 15:54

Hi Peeps,

Im currently in the process of wiring up the house with ethernet, its a 3 storey old victorian place so ive decided to use conduit and take the cable along the side of the house.

I will be using a 24 port managed port in a rack with patch panels, along with cat5e cable (which i have already). My question is where do i put the cable modem and wireless router, the rack will effectively be in the basement. The router is a Asus AC68U and i was going to mount that in the office, which is roughly in the middle of the house. Is there likely to be any major speed issues in regards to using the ethernet ports on the switch vs the ports on the asus router? Should the modem be next to the switch

Is there any benefit to running more than 2 cables to a room? the main reason for using the switch is that im going install some CCTV aswell, so the extra ports give me a bit of flexibility, its totally overkill for what i need, but im bored and have this kit sitting doing nothing

Any advice on my ramblings?

bremen1874 · 10 Nov 2017 at 16:19

Put the equipment where it best suits you. It isn't going to matter whether the network cables between them are short or long (within reason).

Run as many cables as you think you might ever need. Cable is cheap so it doesn't hurt to have more than you need for now.

You're unlikely to be able to notice whether you're plugged directly into the router or via a switch.

If you're installing CCTV you might want to think about having a PoE capable switch. Many people use a smaller PoE switch just for the cameras, and have another switch for everything else.

bledd · 14 Nov 2017 at 14:41

^Solid advice, having a smaller PoE switch means it will likely be fanless, so it will be silent.

Tinders · 14 Nov 2017 at 14:58

Thanks guys. My switch is already POE capable, i also have a small 8 poe switch aswell. I was planning to run 3 maybe 4 cables from each room. My only issue at the mooment is cable routing around the outside of the house, i want make sure the entry point for all the cables to the switch is not accessible or hidden in some way. The point i have in mind is around 10ft from the ground, which i think should be high enough, and i was thinking of disguising it in some drainpipe.