Advice sought on switch for new home build (specifically, for Unifi APs)

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › Advice sought on switch for new home build (specifically, for Unifi APs)

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allio

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#3076790 16-May-2023 14:05

jonathan18:

Thanks, @allio, for the link to the 10-port switch; if they went with that, they could possibly get away with a 16 port standard switch (so 26 total, 8 being PoE+) - I’ll need them to count all the cables coming into the garage to make sure they’re covered (plus allowance for devices like the NAS), but it could be safer to still go with a 24 plus the 10 (only $60-70 difference between the 16 and 24).

Noting the electricians still haven’t put in a patch panel, can I also get advice on the best approach - are they best to get them to use one that has the cables punched down,as opposed to having them put plugs on all cables and using two-way joiners? If punched down, is this a suitable product (assuming 24 ports is adequate)? https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/CHSDNX1058/Dynamix-PP-C6S-24-24-Port-Cat6-Shielded-Patch-Pane

Thanks again!

Just remember to account for the fact that you lose a port on each switch for uplink. And one of the ports on the 10 port TP-Link is SFP, not standard ethernet. Makes for a great uplink port with a DAC but the other switch has no SFP so you'd need an SFP -> ethernet adapter to make use of it. I would go with the 24 plus the 10. Just remember to keep comparing against the cost of a 24 port PoE switch (around $500) to make sure the two-switch decision actually makes sense.

Not sure if the second hand route appeals to you at all but there are oodles of 24 port PoE switches in the $100-200 range on Trademe.

You definitely want a patch panel, not cable jacks. The one you linked is the same one I have and it works great.

jonathan18

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#3076803 16-May-2023 14:45

allio: Just remember to account for the fact that you lose a port on each switch for uplink. And one of the ports on the 10 port TP-Link is SFP, not standard ethernet. Makes for a great uplink port with a DAC but the other switch has no SFP so you'd need an SFP -> ethernet adapter to make use of it. I would go with the 24 plus the 10. Just remember to keep comparing against the cost of a 24 port PoE switch (around $500) to make sure the two-switch decision actually makes sense.
Not sure if the second hand route appeals to you at all but there are oodles of 24 port PoE switches in the $100-200 range on Trademe.
You definitely want a patch panel, not cable jacks. The one you linked is the same one I have and it works great.

In a case of perfect timing, I’ve just sent an email to my sister making this very same point (about losing a port per switch to connect them to the router, plus any other device located in the cabinet (eg the NAS)).

She’s dug up what’s in the specs for the build:

6RU DATA CABINET WITH 16PORT (POE)-Data cabinet includes 16 port 8/8 poe, 24way loaded patch panel. 6 way power management and 16 patch leads

I’ve already suggested to her it could be better to upsize to 9RU; I’ve also asked her to count up the leads that come into the garage as I’m pretty sure a 16 port switch isn’t going to cut it; I’m thinking you’re right about the 24 + 10 rather than 16 + 10. (Cost-wise, it looks like a 24 + 10 will cost only about $350, so still a good amount cheaper than a 24 port PoE switch, but I’ll take a further look at this.)

Thanks for confirming patch panel as way to go - good to know it looks like they have indeed included that in the specs, so now just a matter of ensuring they

CYaBro

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#3076807 16-May-2023 15:01

jonathan18:

Noting the electricians still haven’t put in a patch panel, can I also get advice on the best approach - are they best to get them to use one that has the cables punched down,as opposed to having them put plugs on all cables and using two-way joiners? If punched down, is this a suitable product (assuming 24 ports is adequate)? https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/CHSDNX1058/Dynamix-PP-C6S-24-24-Port-Cat6-Shielded-Patch-Pane

Thanks again!

That's a shielded patch panel which they don't need.
These days it seems the trend is to use an unloaded patch panel and put a keystone jack on the ends of the cables and clip them into the patch panel that way, rather than punching them down directly onto the back of a patch panel.

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

jonathan18

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#3076814 16-May-2023 15:06

CYaBro: That's a shielded patch panel which they don't need.
These days it seems the trend is to use an unloaded patch panel and put a keystone jack on the ends of the cables and clip them into the patch panel that way, rather than punching them down directly onto the back of a patch panel.

Thanks - that’s how I did my own (small) set-up (primarily as it was far easier to do this in a small, tight space), but wasn’t sure how common it was.

Given it does seem like the sparkies do have it in hand (in that a patch panel is at least identified within spec), is my sister best to give them direction as to which way they want it, or just leave them to it?

allio

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#3076871 16-May-2023 15:29

Let the sparkies source and wire the patch panel for sure. Both because it's a pain to do, and because they'll probably refuse to look at any connectivity issues that might emerge if the termination wasn't done by them.

With my build I just specified the number of runs I wanted and asked for it to be terminated in a patch panel in an installed rack. All further equipment install and configuration to be done by me. Sounds like you want the same. I didn't specify power but they supplied and installed a basic 6-way PDU (similar to what's in your sister's quote).

decibel

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#3076888 16-May-2023 17:15

allio:...I went for one grunty bugger (although on a good sale) and have mixed feelings overall about my decision. It does the job perfectly but feels like extreme overkill, particularly on the PoE front. I'm using about 18W out of a 420W budget. The managed interface is nice but I'm not really doing anything with it. I like having the 10G SFP+ ports available because 1Gb bottlenecks between gear bothers me, but I wouldn't say I'm getting my money's worth there either...

Or if second-hand is acceptable - this - is a whole lot cheaper.

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allio

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#3076930 16-May-2023 21:10

decibel:

Or if second-hand is acceptable - this - is a whole lot cheaper.

Something second hand is the best value option by a looong way.

A few considerations though. Most of the stuff on Trademe is old enterprise gear - kind of the opposite of the basic and uncomplicated option that's wanted here. Some can have gotchas with licensing so you need to research carefully. They also tend to be very loud as noise just isn't a consideration for enterprise gear like it is for SOHO stuff. A 740W 48 port Cisco is not going to be whisper quiet.

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