10 Gigabit network plan

[nik96]

Hi guys

 

My family is currently building a new house and I have started to plan the network needed in that new house.

 

In this new house my server, switches, router, etc are going to be installed under the stairs. I plan to install cat 5E cables (builder will do this) throughout the walls to all TV locations, as well as one from the garage to staircase (Fibre internet comes into the house at the garage). 

 

What I really need advice on is whether i should plan a 10 gigabit network. I want a 10 gigabit link between my computer in the study to the staircase. I was wondering if installing Cat 6A cable from staircase to study is enough. As well as buying these NIC's and this switch.

 

Intel X540-T2

 

Netgrear XS708e

 

The netgear switch will connect to a gigabit switch for the rest of my devices.

 

The reason I want a 10 gigabit link is that I'm the only one who writes heavily onto the server. Most other devices simply read or do very minimal writes. I also plan to mess around with VM's etc on the server. By the time I move into this new house I'll have a ZFS server that could easily saturate a gigabit link. My current server which is crap is already maxing my 1 gigabit connection. And I have been qouted $150 to install this CAT6A cable from the builder ($90 for installation of CAT5E + $60 to upgrate CAT5E to CAT6A).

 

Any input would be great

 

Thanks

 

[L.E.D]

Hi guys

 

My family is currently building a new house and I have started to plan the network needed in that new house.

 

In this new house my server, switches, router, etc are going to be installed under the stairs. I plan to install cat 5E cables (builder will do this) throughout the walls to all TV locations, as well as one from the garage to staircase (Fibre internet comes into the house at the garage). 

 

What I really need advice on is whether i should plan a 10 gigabit network. I want a 10 gigabit link between my computer in the study to the staircase. I was wondering if installing Cat 6A cable from staircase to study is enough. As well as buying these NIC's and this switch.

 

Intel X540-T2

 

Netgrear XS708e

 

The netgear switch will connect to a gigabit switch for the rest of my devices.

 

The reason I want a 10 gigabit link is that I'm the only one who writes heavily onto the server. Most other devices simply read or do very minimal writes. I also plan to mess around with VM's etc on the server. By the time I move into this new house I'll have a ZFS server that could easily saturate a gigabit link. My current server which is crap is already maxing my 1 gigabit connection. And I have been qouted $150 to install this CAT6A cable from the builder ($90 for installation of CAT5E + $60 to upgrate CAT5E to CAT6A).

 

Any input would be great

 

Thanks

 

Cat6a cable will work, as long you don't exceed a total distance of 100m. As for putting it in, if I had the cash, I wouldn't think twice about it.

[nik96]

Cat6a cable will work, as long you don't exceed a total distance of 100m. As for putting it in, if I had the cash, I wouldn't think twice about it.

 

The installation of all networking cables through the walls will be paid by my family. Since its a double story house, the cost of doing this after the house is built will be ridiculously high. The cable length will be shorter than 100m, probably shorter than 50m.

[L.E.D]

The installation of all networking cables through the walls will be paid by my family. Since its a double story house, the cost of doing this after the house is built will be ridiculously high. The cable length will be shorter than 100m, probably shorter than 50m.

 

Then with that said, I see no reason not too as long as you have the hardware on both ends to saturate it. 

[AMICLG]

Exactly what L.E.D said but I wouldn't go for that switch as it's a unmanaged Layer 2 switch when you'd want a fully managed Layer 3 Lite switch, 10GBE Layer 3 lite switches start at $6500 which I don't think you'd want to spend an a switch so I'd go for a standard 1GBE switch with a dual port Intel NIC in those two computers/server and do trunking to the switch so the computers/servers have a 2 gigabit connection the each other and the network, could it hurt to run Cat6A everywhere even thought your not using 10GBE yet, no I'd actually do it IMO if it fits in the budget.

 

For the networking hardware parts list I'd do this.

Modem: go to your ISPs website and see which ones they support as you'll pretty much always get a more reliable connection with your own especially when your pumping thousands of packets per second thought it.

Router: Ubiquiti ERPOE-5

Switch: Ubiquiti ES-24-250W

AP: one - three D-Link DAP-2695 or Ubiquiti UniFi AP AC depending on how big your house will be.

NIC: two Intel EXPI9402PTBLK-1PK, one for each computer/server

Also if the cable installers aren't putting in a patch panel then you'll want one of those too just note that you'll have to get a shielded one along with the wall jacks and terminate them properly otherwise you end up with an antenna that causes you more interference if you go for a STP (shield twisted pair) wire whether it'd be Cat5e or Cat6A.

[nik96]

Exactly what L.E.D said but I wouldn't go for that switch as it's a unmanaged Layer 2 switch when you'd want a fully managed Layer 3 Lite switch, 10GBE Layer 3 lite switches start at $6500 which I don't think you'd want to spend an a switch so I'd go for a standard 1GBE switch with a dual port Intel NIC in those two computers/server and do trunking to the switch so the computers/servers have a 2 gigabit connection the each other and the network, could it hurt to run Cat6A everywhere even thought your not using 10GBE yet, no I'd actually do it IMO if it fits in the budget.

 

For the networking hardware parts list I'd do this.

Modem: go to your ISPs website and see which ones they support as you'll pretty much always get a more reliable connection with your own especially when your pumping thousands of packets per second thought it.

Router: Ubiquiti ERPOE-5

Switch: Ubiquiti ES-24-250W

AP: one - three D-Link DAP-2695 or Ubiquiti UniFi AP AC depending on how big your house will be.

NIC: two Intel EXPI9402PTBLK-1PK, one for each computer/server

Also if the cable installers aren't putting in a patch panel then you'll want one of those too just note that you'll have to get a shielded one along with the wall jacks and terminate them properly otherwise you end up with an antenna that causes you more interference if you go for a STP (shield twisted pair) wire whether it'd be Cat5e or Cat6A.

 

 

Whats the difference between layer 2 and layer 3 switch. 

 

Your right I'm not ready to spend $6500 just for a switch.

 

So your suggesting running two gigabit connections between my computer and the server. This will only cost $30 than laying 1xCAT6A, and i dont have to buy a 10 gigabit switch. However, i read that using NIC teaming will only be beneficial if you have multiple client accessing data. So to my understanding my computer will not receive any benefit from having two gigabit connections with the server.

 

In regards to running CAT6A everywhere, it would be a waste of money for my parents. Only 1 desktop in the house which is mine. My parents only use a tablet and a laptop. They only things they do on the internet are browse webpages and the occasional youtube video. They will connect to the network through access points which are connecting by Cat5E to my gigabit switch. Other devices on my network are media streaming devices so gigabit is fine. Running CAT6A instead of CAT5E will cost my parents an extra $300-250. I don't think this cost is justifiable when there will be no real world benefit. That is why I was only looking at running CAT6A for me.

 

In regards to hardware:

Modem: Don't need one as its NBN. I'll have 4 data ports which can each pump 100/40 megabits per second. This is supplied by the government.

Router: I have a RTN-16 which I will flash DD-WRT and keep under the staircase.

Switch: Not sure yet but I have been reading upon Ubiquiti siwtches

AP: Most likely Ubiquit UniFi AP-Pro or the AC

NIC: ill get a quad port for the server and a dual port for my computer.

 

I'm not sure if they will install a patch panel. I know they install wall plates. Does the patch panel go inside the wall or outside.

[AMICLG]

Whats the difference between layer 2 and layer 3 switch. 

 

Your right I'm not ready to spend $6500 just for a switch.

 

So your suggesting running two gigabit connections between my computer and the server. This will only cost $30 than laying 1xCAT6A, and i dont have to buy a 10 gigabit switch. However, i read that using NIC teaming will only be beneficial if you have multiple client accessing data. So to my understanding my computer will not receive any benefit from having two gigabit connections with the server.

 

In regards to running CAT6A everywhere, it would be a waste of money for my parents. Only 1 desktop in the house which is mine. My parents only use a tablet and a laptop. They only things they do on the internet are browse webpages and the occasional youtube video. They will connect to the network through access points which are connecting by Cat5E to my gigabit switch. Other devices on my network are media streaming devices so gigabit is fine. Running CAT6A instead of CAT5E will cost my parents an extra $300-250. I don't think this cost is justifiable when there will be no real world benefit. That is why I was only looking at running CAT6A for me.

 

In regards to hardware:

Modem: Don't need one as its NBN. I'll have 4 data ports which can each pump 100/40 megabits per second. This is supplied by the government.

Router: I have a RTN-16 which I will flash DD-WRT and keep under the staircase.

Switch: Not sure yet but I have been reading upon Ubiquiti siwtches

AP: Most likely Ubiquit UniFi AP-Pro or the AC

NIC: ill get a quad port for the server and a dual port for my computer.

 

I'm not sure if they will install a patch panel. I know they install wall plates. Does the patch panel go inside the wall or outside.

It's likely your server maxes out a 1 gigabit connection so having a 2 gigabit connection on both your computer and server would greatly help for file transfers between your pc and the server not just for multiple clients which it would also help with, the SoC in the router is a bit under powered for a 100/40 connection I'd try fitting a UBNT ERLite-3 into the budget if you can, for the switch I'd go for the ES-24-250W or a SG300-20 whatever has the features you need which I'm guessing the Cisco switch is all you need. Usually the patch panel is mounted onto a 1U-3U rack screwed into the wall. You can read the full explanation of L2 vs L3 here or the TL;DR here. Also forgive me if something's incorrect it's 3:30 am and my arm fell a sleep.

[Eniqmatic]

I too would suggest a dual team gigabit NIC on machines that you want to have fast performance on. Server I imagine for sure. This would provide you with a max 2 gigabit per second throughput. Run Cat 6 though, no reason to do it and provides that "futureproofness" (kinda) incase you can upgrade to 10gbps in the future.

[nik96]

It's likely your server maxes out a 1 gigabit connection so having a 2 gigabit connection on both your computer and server would greatly help for file transfers between your pc and the server not just for multiple clients which it would also help with, the SoC in the router is a bit under powered for a 100/40 connection I'd try fitting a UBNT ERLite-3 into the budget if you can, for the switch I'd go for the ES-24-250W or a SG300-20 whatever has the features you need which I'm guessing the Cisco switch is all you need. Usually the patch panel is mounted onto a 1U-3U rack screwed into the wall. You can read the full explanation of L2 vs L3 here or the TL;DR here. Also forgive me if something's incorrect it's 3:30 am and my arm fell a sleep.

 

Okay so im going to install 2-4 Cat 6 cables between the study and server room. 

 

I have looked at the ES-24-250W switch but its going to cost me $550 AUD. If it's just going to be a gigabit switch couldnt i buy something around the $250 point. What advantage will these switches be to me over a cheaper one. Ill have to ask my builder about this patch panel. 

 

Cheers for the help, idk how ur awake at 3:30am in the morning.

[nik96]

I too would suggest a dual team gigabit NIC on machines that you want to have fast performance on. Server I imagine for sure. This would provide you with a max 2 gigabit per second throughput. Run Cat 6 though, no reason to do it and provides that "futureproofness" (kinda) incase you can upgrade to 10gbps in the future.

 

Might run cat 6 cables only for my machine. Everything else doesnt need it.

[SlayerOfHellWyrm]

Nothing will need Cat6, unless you are running the cable over a distance greater than 45m for Cat5e. 10Gbps is available on Cat5e, to Cat6a. 5e supports 10gig up to 45m, 6 to 55m, and 6a to 100m. Past 100m, even the 1gig connection starts to degrade so you'd need to swap to coax, or fibre. As for layer 2 v 3 switch, you can simply dedicate an interface on the switch as a management interface, and grant it an IP. From their, you can imply telnet to that IP, via an device connected to the designated port, and bam, you're good to go. No need to dish out extra for a Layer 3 switch, since you won't need to do any routing, or anything along those lines, it could all be done by your router.