Cabling adn network plan for a new home

[somebody19]

Hi guys, first post here so apologies for any unfamiliarity - my house under renovation has over 20 data points, split across many rooms.

All of the data cables (Cat 6 UTP) terminates in my storeroom - so I've got over 20 cables dangling from the wall right now. It terminates in the storeroom because there's where my ONT is as well.

Few questions:

1. I'm subscribed to a 1GPBS connection. Will I see a noticeable difference upgrading from Cat 6 to Cat6a/6e? The price is 30-40% more, so if it's little difference I would like to avoid it. My house is approximately 1200 sqft, I don't think there will be cables running more than 30-40meters.

2. What equipment do I need to have a proper cable management set up in my storeroom? I've been told I need a patch panel (don't even know what this is) and a switch. Am absolutely clueless here, appreciate some help.

3. I want my house to have a wireless connection - guess I should have the wireless router in my living room as it is the most central room; is this correct?

4. I would like to have a NAS set up as well, should this be located next to the switch in the storeroom?

If you could share with me the network plan and how the connections would work, I would be most grateful.

Thanks in advance

 

[Dreamslacker]

Hi guys, first post here so apologies for any unfamiliarity - my house under renovation has over 20 data points, split across many rooms.

All of the data cables (Cat 6 UTP) terminates in my storeroom - so I've got over 20 cables dangling from the wall right now. It terminates in the storeroom because there's where my ONT is as well.

Few questions:

1. I'm subscribed to a 1GPBS connection. Will I see a noticeable difference upgrading from Cat 6 to Cat6a/6e? The price is 30-40% more, so if it's little difference I would like to avoid it. My house is approximately 1200 sqft, I don't think there will be cables running more than 30-40meters.

2. What equipment do I need to have a proper cable management set up in my storeroom? I've been told I need a patch panel (don't even know what this is) and a switch. Am absolutely clueless here, appreciate some help.

3. I want my house to have a wireless connection - guess I should have the wireless router in my living room as it is the most central room; is this correct?

4. I would like to have a NAS set up as well, should this be located next to the switch in the storeroom?

If you could share with me the network plan and how the connections would work, I would be most grateful.

Thanks in advance

1) No, your router is likely to be the limitation in this case. Properly run and terminated Cat5E will already do Gigabit speeds. Cat 6 is more than sufficient these days (and the price difference compared to Cat5E is negligible).
Just make sure the installer actually knows what they are doing. Proper termination is of utmost importance for fixed infrastructure like this. If this is just a regular electrician (sub-contractor), you might want to get a separate cabling specialist in to do the termination instead.

2) A patch panel is a flat panel that holds multiple keystone sockets (just like with a wall socket for data) for your cabling infrastructure. It's less messy than having cables dangling and further protects the built-in cabling from damage from physical handling.

3) It depends. With only a single wireless router/ access point, the most central location is generally the best but this is subjected to the angles and the types of walls you have between the router and the devices' locations.

4) If your storeroom is sufficiently ventilated, there should be no issues here. Just remember to get a cheap UPS for the NAS. If this is a bomb shelter, then put the NAS in your study room (where applicable).

 

[fistv]

This is what a patch panel looks like.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0072K1OWY/?tag=snbforums-20
this is what it generally gets mounted to in most homes, it will hold a patch panel, switch and if you add a shelf your cable modem and router. Note that this is 12" deep, whatever you do don't let them put one of those white close it all up levitron boxes in.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008CR07OM/?tag=snbforums-20
this is a 24 port rack mountable gigabit switch, note it is not 12" deep so it will fit, it too will mount in the rack, it has mounting ears that attach.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004ELA5W4/?tag=snbforums-20
this is a battery backup UPS, this gets mounted to the wall under that rack and you plug your cable modem, switch and router into it both to protect it from surges and power spikes as wall as outages.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0019804U8/?tag=snbforums-20
The only thing missing are patch cables to connect the network port from the cable modem to the router, from the router to the switch then a patch cable from each wired patch panel to the switch. As for your wirelss you can use the wireless on the main router, pick up another one and use it as a wired and wireless access point where needed. A wireless router that can be used as an access point is cheaper than a dedicated access point.

 

[somebody19]

Guys, thanks for this. Few more questions:

1. The wireless router I have now is an Asus RT-AC68U. Mapping out the network diagram... my fiber broadband comes in to the ONT/modem in my house ---> it then connects to my Wireless Router in a central area --> then back to a switch in the storeroom ---> from the switch, the 20-30 lan cables then lead back to the room.

Is this a correct set up? Is there anyway to optimize this? If my Asus wireless router is crap I do not mind investing in a better one.

2. Where I live, I have not encountered a single power interruption here. Is a UPS still necessary?

3. You mentioned termination of the data cables.. what exactly do you mean? Do you mean the clippings - i.e. putting in the RJ45 jack to the end of the cables?

 

[ozgurcnbyz]

1- ) it depends on how you want to setup the asus router. If you want to configure the isp modem as bridged and use asus as a router then yes. but if you want to use the asus as an access point then you need to connect it to the switch just like another client machine. In the latter scenario the modem and the asus goes into the same switch.
2-) well it really depends. power outage may result a data loss. but then again if theres no one at home when the power outage occurs then it'd mean the samething.
3-) sort of . if it is a patch panel or a keystone jack then you need a punch down tool. the idea is the same though. orders of the colors

 

[somebody19]

1- ) it depends on how you want to setup the asus router. If you want to configure the isp modem as bridged and use asus as a router then yes. but if you want to use the asus as an access point then you need to connect it to the switch just like another client machine. In the latter scenario the modem and the asus goes into the same switch.
2-) well it really depends. power outage may result a data loss. but then again if theres no one at home when the power outage occurs then it'd mean the samething.
3-) sort of . if it is a patch panel or a keystone jack then you need a punch down tool. the idea is the same though. orders of the colors

Thanks. A little more on the first point -

1. Do you mean that by using the Asus as a router, I cannot connect any other devices to the router itself? i.e. it isn't an access point

2. In your experience, is it more worthwhile buying a dedicated router (no wifi) instead of using the Asus? Then, I will connect the Asus to an access point. Would this setup improve performance?

 

[Dreamslacker]

Guys, thanks for this. Few more questions:

1. The wireless router I have now is an Asus RT-AC68U. Mapping out the network diagram... my fiber broadband comes in to the ONT/modem in my house ---> it then connects to my Wireless Router in a central area --> then back to a switch in the storeroom ---> from the switch, the 20-30 lan cables then lead back to the room.

Is this a correct set up? Is there anyway to optimize this? If my Asus wireless router is crap I do not mind investing in a better one.

2. Where I live, I have not encountered a single power interruption here. Is a UPS still necessary?

3. You mentioned termination of the data cables.. what exactly do you mean? Do you mean the clippings - i.e. putting in the RJ45 jack to the end of the cables?

1) Sounds about right. Alternatively, you can simply place the router together with the switch. The ONT "LAN" will run by your structured cabling back to the distribution point and plug into the router WAN. You then connect the router to the switch via a short patch cord.

2) It isn't just power grid outages (maintenance or otherwise) that you should be worried about. Faulty electrical appliances can cause your entire ELCB to trip as well.

3) Yes, termination means both terminating the cable ends into either keystones (wall jack/ patch panel) and plug ends.

Thanks. A little more on the first point -

1. Do you mean that by using the Asus as a router, I cannot connect any other devices to the router itself? i.e. it isn't an access point

2. In your experience, is it more worthwhile buying a dedicated router (no wifi) instead of using the Asus? Then, I will connect the Asus to an access point. Would this setup improve performance?

1) You can do so. The ONT is not usually a router and you do need one if that is the case.
Sometimes, the GPON terminates directly into an all-in-one device (a residential gateway). In that case, you will want to put the Asus router into access point mode instead. Are you based in Singapore? if so, what ISP are you using?

2) The Asus should handle your connection just fine if you are not using it for VPN. The advantage of having access points is that you can have multiple units spread out to extend full coverage across the entire home - particularly if your walls are all concrete (and rebar).

 

[somebody19]

Thanks again - yeah based in Singapore. I'm still reading through your connection alternative and acronyms like GPON - sounds like French to me so I need to read up.. lol

 

[somebody19]

Using MyRepublic as the ISP

 

[Dreamslacker]

Using MyRepublic as the ISP

No problem there. The 1G connection uses the Alcatel ONT and no separate links are required for their digital voice service.

You can place the Alcatel ONT at where your OTP (Opennet fibre termination point) is and run the ethernet link back to your router WAN at the central distribution point (DP) in your bomb shelter. Alternatively, just place the router beside the ONT and run the LAN back to the DP.

If you've not had the lines run already, do get 2 or 3 lines from the TV console to the DP. Otherwise, you'll have issues if you migrate to Singtel and use their MioTV services (I wouldn't recommend using them unless you need EPL and are eligible for mobile discounts as well).

 

[Dreamslacker]

The reason why I advise against getting your main contractor's electrician to perform the termination is because most of them don't understand what effects their improper termination has.

Here are some examples of really shoddy (and disastrous) electrician works that I've been called upon to rectify:

 

[fistv]

Wow, here I thought I had seen some bad terminations. Those take the cake.