Can I use 1 switch instead of 2 - Home network (TVs&LAN)

[Luka]

Hello everyone! I know my way around a computer but I'm pretty new in the network world so please bare with me.

I'm building a small home network and all my house CAT6 connections go into a network cabinet where I want to connect 5 TV's (aka ISP's IPTV STB's) on an 8-port gigabit switch and in the IPTV port on router (correct me if I'm wrong, I think its IPTV?).

On the second 16-port gigabit switch I want to bring all other house connections (LAN), this means computers, a couple of cameras (I have POE injectors) and TV's LAN exits (so I can use Plex media server on computers and watch movies from it). This switch ofcourse goes to the second port on router that is DATA.

So my question is: Can I use only 1 24-port gigabit switch instead (I want the cabinet to look cleaner ^^)? So far I've found terms such as VLANs and port grouping and also something on writing configs for switch but no real answers.

Thank you in advance for your time everyone

 

[desperado836]

yeah you can go with 1 switch

 

[Luka]

And how would one go about that? What kind of switch and router are we talking about?

 

[desperado836]

To go with 1 switch, you have to set a place to pull ALL your ethernet drops to, e.g. closet, basement, etc. If that is not possible then 1 switch will not work, you just do what you doing now, have switches tossed around the house. As for routers, lots of choices to make your brain explode and your eyes drop out, consumer grade stuff (Asus, Netgear, etc) or roll you own (pfSense, MikroTik, ERL, etc)
As for 24+ port switch, get what your wallet can afford. If you like Netgear, get Netgear, Cisco (used), Trendnet, etc.
It all depends on you and your monetary budget

I myself like the Edimax Pro line of gear and went that route, switch, APs, controller... for router duties, went with a SuperMicro SuperServer 5018A-FTN4 with pfSense. Lots of choices out there and lots more to digest...

 

[Mokers]

I think the set top boxes need to get DHCP leases from the ISP router. Depending on the network setup, this should be fine. But I don't think you can do any NAT and have the STBs work. This scenario is still possible with a managed switch, but you need to know a little bit more about networking to get it going.

I use a 12U rack cabinet. Enough room for switches, router, ISP modem, NAS, patch panel and PDU. That can really help clean things up a bit.

 

[pege63]

Are all ports routed on router or are they tagged or untagged from the ISP?
You can not use a regular switch you must use a manageable switch where you can run 3 VLANs on.
I guess your router runs different networks, lets say: Internet, IPTV, VoIP.
WAN IP is 10.21.11.15
IPTV IP is 10.31.21.25
VoIP IP is 10.41.31.35
Like in this film

 

[Despacitomiko]

I think one switch is just fine

 

[sfx2000]

A single switch would be fine - really depends on needs and use cases...

In most home networks, a simple unmanaged switch is more than good enough..

 

[pege63]

A single switch would be fine - really depends on needs and use cases...

In most home networks, a simple unmanaged switch is more than good enough..

Realy, on my ISP Router are all 4 ports routed and delivers Internet, IPTV, VoIP in all of the 4 ports and they have its own network adressess like:
WAN IP is 10.21.11.15
IPTV IP is 10.31.21.25
VoIP IP is 10.41.31.35

I could not have a simple unmanage switch, i could not run all of this 3 things on it at all, the IPTV starts to hack and lagg, i could not run the 3 neworks on a unmanage switch.
So i hade to have a manageable switch and run 3 VLANs on it, i also have to say that my fiber line comes firs in to my fiber converter and then connects to my ISP Router WAN port.