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mdf

mdf

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#228869 26-Jan-2018 13:09
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I'm continuing to procrastinate over the best home networking set up (it's been at least 6 months now). I suspect I know the best answer to this (the expensive one) but really feel like I should get confirmation.

 

Current set up is HG659 --> 8 port POE unmanaged switch --> 3x WAPs + various ethernet.

 

The immediate issue is replacing the switch. Half my stuff isn't plugged in (or is plugged in to the HG659 direct) since I don't have enough ports. The HG659 32 device limit is nearing too and that should be upgraded now/in time (I know I've asked about the router bit at least twice before but analysing *everything* to the nth degree seems to be my thing). 

 

I'm currently thinking 16 ports would be just enough for my assorted stuff/junk, so I really need a 24 port switch. I'm also sold on the idea of getting a managed switch so I can separate out via VLAN trusted stuff and untrusted junk (the WAPs already support multiple VLANs so can put wireless clients on to trusted and non-trusted VLANs too).

 

As I see it, the options are:

 

(A) 24 port, managed, POE switch - starts around $400. This is probably the best solution, but also the priciest and will totally clear out my budget for other projects. I also really only use the POE for the WAPs. CCTV is on the cards at some stage but as I understand it, most NVRs supply their own POE.

 

(B) 24 port, managed, non POE switch plus multi port POE injector - but no cheaper than option A and more clunky.

 

(C) 24 port, managed, non POE switch plus individual POE injectors that came with the WAPs - much cheaper (more like $200-$230), but will be cable proliferation.

 

(D) 24 port, managed, non POE switch plus keep the existing 8 port unmanaged switch just for the WAPs. From comments I've picked up on, daisy chaining switches can lead to network issues, and (I assume) will constrain the wireless <--> wired network connections to 1Gbps max since everything will need to go down a single cable. Would it make a difference between router --> switch 1 --> switch 2 (in "series") vs router eth1 --> switch 1; router eth2 --> switch 2 (in "parallel" - I know for the parallel one I would need a router with a switch; bad idea to use an EdgeRouter Lite with bridged networks).

 

Thoughts - in particular whether saving $200 but dealing with a mess of cables (i.e. option B) would be your go to? What about performance of A/B vs D?

 

Or option E - go blow it all on a fancy drill press and dither for another 6 months (happy smile happy smile drilling time).


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michaelmurfy
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  #1947642 28-Jan-2018 00:42
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To save money it is well worth just grabbing a cheaper TP-Link managed switch (that is all I've got personally) along with either using PoE injectors or a smaller PoE switch. I wouldn't get too hung up on daisy chaining the smaller PoE switch from your main switch as I don't think you're going to be transferring Gigabit (combined) via all your access points at once.

 

The TP-Link smart switches are very basic but do the job at passing through VLAN's. Example - I've got an IoT VLAN, Guest VLAN, a VLAN for IPv6 traffic and a VLAN for trusted traffic - all set up with my Cambium E600 access point with different SSID's.

 

I personally think the Dell is very very overkill for you. Just go cheap and cheerful, lets see if we can get you some new tools for your garage in the process.





Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
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jnimmo
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  #1947675 28-Jan-2018 08:51
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mdf:

 

Thanks for this - super helpful. So if I've understood your points rights, I could get a router with a switch built in. eth1 (say) of that router can go to the existing POE dumb switch. That switch will just have the WAPs. The WAPs are able to assign all clients to the appropriate VLAN. eth2 of that router can go to a new managed switch, which will assign the wired clients to the appropriate VLAN. PBTech has a 24 port managed switches for $180 (TPLink) or $230 (Netgear), so about a third of the price of a 24 port POE managed switch.

 

Thoughts about whether this setup is okay? On reflection, most of my traffic will either be (wired + wireless) clients <--> internet, or wired clients <--> other wired clients. There will be some traffic between wireless clients and wired clients, but nothing particularly data intensive.

 

 

No need to do that even,

 

Can just go from eth1 to port 1 of the managed switch (for example), then port 2 of the managed switch can also be setup as a trunk port, tagging any VLANs you need to the PoE switch

 

 

 

 

(Copy or edit this drawing here)


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