Simple home networking advice needed

[RhysMusique]

Hey all, 

 

I've just moved into a new house in the UK and we are getting Fibre To The Property installed tomorrow.

They will be connecting up into an Optical Network Terminal (ONT). From this ONT they then recommend an ethernet cable from the LAN port into our router.

 

We will be buying two TP Link HC220-G5 routers as part of our internet package - which will mesh together for seamless Wireless connectivity - apparently.

 

When we bought the new house, we specified we wanted ethernet ports in every bedroom and in the lounge. These have all been wired through the walls and terminated into 6 wall boxes near where the ONT will be located.

 

By the look of it, the TP Link HC220-G5 only has 3 ethernet ports. One I presume for incoming from the ONT, and two spare to go out to devices. Issue is, we have 6 ports to satisfy with ethernet patches. 

 

We probably therefore need a Gigabit ethernet switch, something simple with 8 ways or something. Would it be better to feed this switch with the direct wire from the LAN port on the ONT, or would you go in to one of the routers, and drive the Ethernet switch off of one of the outgoing LAN ports on the router? One of the patches from this switch would be routed upstairs to a port to run the other Mesh Router. 

 

Any cabling arrangements that would be best practise would be much appreciated!

 

Thank you,

Rhys

[Blue4130]

46 minutes ago, RhysMusique said:

Hey all, 

 

I've just moved into a new house in the UK and we are getting Fibre To The Property installed tomorrow.

They will be connecting up into an Optical Network Terminal (ONT). From this ONT they then recommend an ethernet cable from the LAN port into our router.

 

We will be buying two TP Link HC220-G5 routers as part of our internet package - which will mesh together for seamless Wireless connectivity - apparently.

 

When we bought the new house, we specified we wanted ethernet ports in every bedroom and in the lounge. These have all been wired through the walls and terminated into 6 wall boxes near where the ONT will be located.

 

By the look of it, the TP Link HC220-G5 only has 3 ethernet ports. One I presume for incoming from the ONT, and two spare to go out to devices. Issue is, we have 6 ports to satisfy with ethernet patches. 

 

We probably therefore need a Gigabit ethernet switch, something simple with 8 ways or something. Would it be better to feed this switch with the direct wire from the LAN port on the ONT, or would you go in to one of the routers, and drive the Ethernet switch off of one of the outgoing LAN ports on the router? One of the patches from this switch would be routed upstairs to a port to run the other Mesh Router. 

 

Any cabling arrangements that would be best practise would be much appreciated!

 

Thank you,

Rhys

If the DHCP is on the router and not the ONT, then it will need to be after the router, not the ONT.

[RhysMusique]

56 minutes ago, Blue4130 said:

If the DHCP is on the router and not the ONT, then it will need to be after the router, not the ONT.

Thank you - makes sense. How would I potentially find out where the DHCP is?

[Blue4130]

37 minutes ago, RhysMusique said:

Thank you - makes sense. How would I potentially find out where the DHCP is?

99% positive that if they are telling you that you need to supply a router, than the ONT DOESN'T have one. Otherwise they'd tell you to get a switch. The router handles DHCP, so if the ONT did it, they would not tell you to get a seperate one.

[RhysMusique]

On 11/20/2023 at 1:38 AM, Blue4130 said:

99% positive that if they are telling you that you need to supply a router, than the ONT DOESN'T have one. Otherwise they'd tell you to get a switch. The router handles DHCP, so if the ONT did it, they would not tell you to get a seperate one.

Hi - so yes have confirmed that the DHCP is handled by one of the mesh routers. I have drawn up a plan for cabling - do you think this would be good? - Also whether the gigabit unmanaged switch would provide gigabit speeds to all devices simultaneously?EthernetLayout.pdfEthernetLayout.pdf