Home network switch advice

[Griff Boy]

Hi,

Im in the process of adding an extension to my existing house, and I am installing a SONOS sound system through the new rooms. Im also taking the opportunity to add network points and cables etc at the same time.

However, as a novice at this, im starting to get a bit stuck on the final technical details, so I have a few questions.

So far, I have created a 'tech' cupboard with power by the main BT phone point, which is where my current wireless modem/router is located (billion bipac 7800n). I have run Cat 5E cable from this point to the following areas:
1. Bedroom - sonos
2. Bathroom - sonos
3. Home office x2
4. Lounge (for internet TV in future / Sky anytime + options etc)

So I currently have 5 cat 5E cables coming into the box, plus I will be adding a NAS system (possibly a buffalo duo?) to this network, and also something to operate as a print server for my wireless printer so that I can print from my Iphone or Ipad.

Question is, am I best to connect these cables into a data switch or into a port patch panel? I will only need an 8 port max, but will probably put in a 24 port just in case!

Is there a dummies guide to installing such a small system online?

Am i right in thinking that the switch or port connects into the router/modem, for data transfer through the network cables? Also, how does the NAS system connect into this layout?

Any help would be much appreciated, and also advice on which NAS, switch / data port patch panel to go for, pref simple plug and play if possible. The system will not be connected to a desktop permantly, ideally used with a laptop. and needs to connect to the new sonos system, which will have 4 zone players.

cheers in advance
Ian

[Accelebrate]

I've done something similar recently, I asked for a bit of advice from PH here...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Mine is a very small scale installation, a basic overview is:

Modem connected to master socket through UPS (for surge protection)
Router connected to modem
8 port gigabit switch connected to router, NAS and 6 port patch panel

Depending on space and budget either go for a full size cabinet, a 10" SOHO cabinet or a surface mounted patch panel and a shelf to put everything on.

[TonyRPH]

If you're only going to have 5 - 8 cables, then there's not much point installing a patch panel.

I think a patch panel is unnecessary in a small installation (less than 12 cables)

If you bring the cables out from the various areas neatly, it's relatively easy to maintain order without resorting to patch panels.

This is the front of a rack with patch panel and switch (there are more - but only one shown for clarity).



And here is the view of the patch panel from the rear:

[Griff Boy]

Thanks for the picture, however my router only has 4 ports, so I cant connect everything directly into it. What other options other than a patch panel / swicth is there?

[Accelebrate]

My installation (2 bed flat) only runs to 6 cables, I went for a surface mounted path panel produced by Excel...



Here it is pre-termination (I still need to run the final two cables into the bedrooms)...

[itsnotarace]

TonyRPH said:

If you're only going to have 5 - 8 cables, then there's not much point installing a patch panel.

I think a patch panel is unnecessary in a small installation (less than 12 cables)

I see your point, but I would be inclined to do it right the first time and just install a proper wall cabinet if you have the room for one

http://www.comms-express.com/products/18u-390mm-de...

[Accelebrate]

Griff Boy said:

Thanks for the picture, however my router only has 4 ports, so I cant connect everything directly into it. What other options other than a patch panel / swicth is there?

A patch panel is not a switch, it's just a method of terminating the cable with a port so that you can then run more cables from each of the terminated ports to your switch/router/whatever.

You just need a switch, connected to one of the ports on your router to expand the capacity of your wired network. Then connect the ports on your switch to the cables you've run around your house using whatever method you deem to be the most appropriate.

[Griff Boy]

itsnotarace said:

I see your point, but I would be inclined to do it right the first time and just install a proper wall cabinet if you have the room for one

http://www.comms-express.com/products/18u-390mm-de...

The units is a kitchen wall unit, with a usable depth of 280mm, what about one of these:

http://www.comms-express.com/products/6u-patching-...

Would give me some expansion options in the future.

could i incorporate the NAS system into the same rack? I had a quick look but the costs seemed high for them! I need a 2TB storage, but it would need to be shallow to fit inside this cabinet. Pref with a print server, or would this have to be seperate as well.

Also, the idea of a UPS sounds good, any reccomendations on a small budget option?

[TonyRPH]

Griff Boy said:

Thanks for the picture, however my router only has 4 ports, so I cant connect everything directly into it. What other options other than a patch panel / swicth is there?

Sorry - I assumed you already knew you needed a switch.

A patch panel simply brings the cable ends to sockets.

You then patch (short) cables from the sockets to the switch.

In your case - you could quite simply patch directly into the switch - this is not something that you're (normally) constantly changing - so doesn't incur any wear and tear.

So to summarise - if you want to use a patch panel - you need both patch panel and a switch.

[Griff Boy]

Accelebrate said:

A patch panel is not a switch, it's just a method of terminating the cable with a port so that you can then run more cables from each of the terminated ports to your switch/router/whatever.

You just need a switch, connected to one of the ports on your router to expand the capacity of your wired network. Then connect the ports on your switch to the cables you've run around your house using whatever method you deem to be the most appropriate.

Thanks for the explanation. I thought a switch and a patch panel do the same thing, with the exception that the switch moves the data to the item requesting it, not scattergunning it around the entire network?

[BliarOut]

Griff Boy said:

Accelebrate said:

A patch panel is not a switch, it's just a method of terminating the cable with a port so that you can then run more cables from each of the terminated ports to your switch/router/whatever.

You just need a switch, connected to one of the ports on your router to expand the capacity of your wired network. Then connect the ports on your switch to the cables you've run around your house using whatever method you deem to be the most appropriate.

Thanks for the explanation. I thought a switch and a patch panel do the same thing, with the exception that the switch moves the data to the item requesting it, not scattergunning it around the entire network?

You're confusing a hub and a switch

[Accelebrate]

You're confusing the difference between a switch and a hub, rather than a switch and a patch panel.

The cabinet you posted looks good, although I'd go for a gigabit (10/100/100) switch rather than the 10/100 version they provide.

[Griff Boy]

TonyRPH said:

Sorry - I assumed you already knew you needed a switch.

A patch panel simply brings the cable ends to sockets.

You then patch (short) cables from the sockets to the switch.

In your case - you could quite simply patch directly into the switch - this is not something that you're (normally) constantly changing - so doesn't incur any wear and tear.

So to summarise - if you want to use a patch panel - you need both patch panel and a switch.

Ah, penny has dropped. Thanks

So, could I use this: http://www.comms-express.com/products/netgear-gs11... and attach the buffalo duo NAs to it, and take all the CAT5e cables directly into the switch?

Sorry for the simple questions, just trying to get my head around how it all goes together!

[Accelebrate]

Yes, exactly, and another cable to your router from the switch.

[TonyRPH]

Griff Boy said:

Ah, penny has dropped. Thanks

So, could I use this: http://www.comms-express.com/products/netgear-gs11... and attach the buffalo duo NAs to it, and take all the CAT5e cables directly into the switch?

Sorry for the simple questions, just trying to get my head around how it all goes together!

Yes, that switch is fine.

Then you would simply patch a (single) cable from your router into this switch - which would then allow all the other networked devices to connect to the internet.

Even if your router has more than one port (some have a built in switch for example) you would only patch a single cable from the router to the switch.

ETA: Simple example diagram added;

So all your other (ethernet) devices would simply connect to the switch, via the cables you have already installed.

Edited by TonyRPH on Tuesday 12th April 16:26

[Griff Boy]

So, final list of goodies to order would be:

2TB LinkStation Pro
Eaton Ellipse MAX 600VA IEC Serial UPS
Netgear GS116 16 Port Gigabit Ethernet Switch

And some rj45 connectors to take cables direct into switch, and make a small patch lead to the router.

Sonos system to connect directly into the switch, as would desktop Pc, printer etc.

I take it Sonos and Itunes will be compatible with the Linkstation Pro?

Thanks for all the good, quick advice here. Its helped me spend nearly £500......

[Deva Link]

Accelebrate said:

Modem connected to master socket through UPS (for surge protection)

A tiny detail (as this caught me out) but that APC unit isn't really a UPS - it's a battery back-up unit and it switches to battery if the mains fails, rather than powering the devices through the battery all the time as a "proper" UPS would.

Subtle difference, but the problem we have is glitches which are too small for the APC unit to catch (even on its most sensitive setting) but are still enough to drop the router and NAS out. The router seems particularly sensitive - the problem that causes is I get a new dynamic IP address only to find some companies block email from it if they use the Barracuda reputation system for scanning incoming email. It's fine if I know it's happened and I can keep renewing the IP address until a get a good one, but it's not obvious without checking.

[Accelebrate]

Deva Link said:

Accelebrate said:

Modem connected to master socket through UPS (for surge protection)

A tiny detail (as this caught me out) but that APC unit isn't really a UPS - it's a battery back-up unit and it switches to battery if the mains fails, rather than powering the devices through the battery all the time as a "proper" UPS would.

Subtle difference, but the problem we have is glitches which are too small for the APC unit to catch (even on its most sensitive setting) but are still enough to drop the router and NAS out. The router seems particularly sensitive - the problem that causes is I get a new dynamic IP address only to find some companies block email from it if they use the Barracuda reputation system for scanning incoming email. It's fine if I know it's happened and I can keep renewing the IP address until a get a good one, but it's not obvious without checking.

I didn't realise that.

I haven't had any issues with it so far, I purchased it mainly to protect my NAS, it automatically shuts it down nicely if you flick the power off and run the battery down.

I haven't actually had a powercut since I moved in, but I have flicked the power off a lot myself whilst working on the the house and the APC device has coped fine. My router, switch, modem and NAS have all stayed on. I have a static IP and everything which is stored in volatile memory on my router gets written to my NAS every so often so it's not actually that big a deal if the power goes down, so long as the NAS is powered down gracefully.

[Griff Boy]

Deva Link said:

A tiny detail (as this caught me out) but that APC unit isn't really a UPS - it's a battery back-up unit and it switches to battery if the mains fails, rather than powering the devices through the battery all the time as a "proper" UPS would.

Subtle difference, but the problem we have is glitches which are too small for the APC unit to catch (even on its most sensitive setting) but are still enough to drop the router and NAS out. The router seems particularly sensitive - the problem that causes is I get a new dynamic IP address only to find some companies block email from it if they use the Barracuda reputation system for scanning incoming email. It's fine if I know it's happened and I can keep renewing the IP address until a get a good one, but it's not obvious without checking.

Ah, OK. So, is there any other similar options which are 'proper' UPS's at a reasonable price?

[TonyRPH]

Griff Boy said:

Ah, OK. So, is there any other similar options which are 'proper' UPS's at a reasonable price?

I recommend this one