Computer Networking Cable and Component ?'s

JDookie · 05-01-07, 11:39

Hi, guys, here's another one of my "what should I buy" threads, so please bear with me, lol.

I'm about to wire my house for computer networking (PC's, Console Games, Home Theater, etc.), and would love some input from you if you don't mind. I am going to have at least one RJ45 port in each room, with a total of around 12 lines all together. I just bought 1000 feet of Belkin FastCat cat6 cable, and all the cat6 ends and stuff to go with it. It's not the cabling that I'm worried about so much, but more the components. I'm setting up a gigabit network, since all of my computers have gigabit network cards in them, and I want to make sure I don't choke down my network by using the wrong components.

My modem will be provided by my isp, and will most likely be a Motorola, and the router I am looking at right now is one by Linksys called a Wireless-N Gigabit Gaming Router (WRT300N). The question I have is what switch should I go with to connect the rest of the lines?? I see two versions of switches, managed, and unmanaged. What's the difference?

So far, here's what I am looking at. What's the difference between them? What's better?

Linksys.com - Products/Business Solutions/Unmanaged Switches/SR2016

Linksys.com - Products/Business Solutions/Managed Switches/SRW2016

Adamah · 05-02-07, 07:36

Why run a wireless router if your whole house is wired for network?

rjstaaf · 05-02-07, 08:27

Jason,

Basically it is what it sounds like, an unmanaged switch cannot really be configured outside the way it comes from the factory whereas the managed switch can be managed usually through a web interface. If you look at the links in your post there is a user guide for both switches, in them are screen shots and descriptions of the web based configuration screens which might give you an idea of just how much control you have with the managed switch vs the unmanaged switch.

DirtySouth · 05-02-07, 08:31

Awesome...I would love to wire my whole whose with network cabling in every room. Out of those two switches, I would go with the more simple SR2016. It will be more than sufficient. The "managed" switch would be more useful in a business environment where you're configuring VLANs, trunking, port security...etc.

BTW, if you haven't already purchased your cabling, I would definitely consider just cat 5e rather than 6. I doubt you'll see any benefit in using 6 & you could probably save some cash going with 5e.

JDookie · 05-02-07, 09:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adamah

Why run a wireless router if your whole house is wired for network?

Flexibility. There is no way you can 100% plan for what you will do in the future, like placement of printers, televisions, computer desks, phones, etc. so by staying as flexible as possible, you can alleviate any problems you would have encountered down the road. For instance, let's say you want to make a printer available to all of your household computers. You could buy a printer that is already set up to work with a network via a hardwired RJ45 connection, but what happens if the only space you have available doesn't have a network port anywhere in sight? Well, you go wireless, that simple. Same thing applies if you choose to sit in your backyard and browse the internet.....wireless. I am wiring my home for any/all instances I can think of that I will need it, and then adding wireless to be flexible. That's all.

Thanks for the input guys. I think I will just go with the unmanaged switch. The managed switch looks like it is for business applications where individual ports need to be governed, and that's not me. I simply want full speed/access all the time, and on all ports.

bobbyp · 05-03-07, 02:12

Good luck! Should be OK. Lucky me...when we built our house I made the builders install cat-5 from the get go. By the way, are you running FIOS? I'm trying to decide if I want to switch from cable.

EdLancer · 05-03-07, 03:57

A physical hard wired system is always better than a wireless system in performance and security issues. Don't let those marketing guru sell you the hype that wireless is it ...its all hype and easy money for them.

Mission critical military systems don't even believe in switches, they rather use point to point hard wiring for 100% connectivity !

ifoam · 05-05-07, 12:41

you'll be good with an unmanaged switch. a managed switch is needed when using vpns, and the like (business users)

also, military does and has to use switches since a true point to point network (mesh) would be virtually impossible since an "n" computer network would have to have a computer with "n-1" network cards. once this network grows to about 6 computers, say goodbye!

JDookie · 05-05-07, 11:17

Thanks for the help guys. My spool of cat6 cable arrived yesterday, and I'm planning on running everything tomorrow.

ifoam,

That picture is hilarious. I love it!

bobbyp,

What is FIOS??