My first Lan setup

[Majic12]

I started out trying to figure out how to use a central storage raid setup... which has led me back to square one...setting up my network for real this time...

Right now I have a wireless router in my basement...it is feeding a weather station pc in the basement that sends and recieves data from the internet ... It also serves my 2 laptops on the second level of my house...

So I am blowing that up...and want to setup a gigibit network so I can use a NAS for all of my files and a HTPC...

Here is what I am thinking so please give me feedback ...

Modem attaches to a Gigibit router in the basement that I can connect my weatherstation to...also down here in the basement I want to attache a NAS backup...

Im running 2 feeds up to my second level ...

I will plug one into a switch and then tap into that switch with my 2 laptops and my HTPC (which I want to also use as my central storage of photos/videos)...

Do I even need that extra feed going to my second level? I was thinking it might be useful in the future...

From what I gather this is the best setup for me... I will be using this setup to access the HTPC which is storing all my photos/videos and Also to be backing up my htpc and laptops to the NAS backup ...

Do I need a managed switch? would it be useful?

will any router work for this?

also...I might want to just add in the wireless router I have now so could that plug into anything at this point (router or switch) ...

Am I even on the right track here?

 

[kobyhud]

Your setup is simple enough to run off of a single gigabit wireless router.

No you don't need a managed switch. Managed switches are 99% of the time just a waste of money. If you don't know what a VLAN is you most certainly don't need one.

Personally I would try to run CAT 5E or Cat6 to every room in the house. All of those lines should be distributed from a single point, probably in your basement or lower level where your internet connection comes in.

 

[Majic12]

Thanks for the response... After thinking this out a little more I have a few basic questions...

does the router even need a gigabit connection if it is only being used to access the internet? ... Everything that is using heavy bandwidth (HTPC w/ storage...2 laptops accessing the files...nas backup on the second cat6 run) will be connected directly to the switch...

I was thinking now I can use my original wgt624 wireless router...

I hope this all makes sense... from what I understand a router only handles traffic in and out of your lan... like from a wan-lan ...

I just need to make sure that this data flow is fast...

I have no ability to run cat 6 to every room...I just need it in 2 places

 

[thiggins]

If the WGT624 is fast enough to handle the up and download speeds from your ISP then you can use it. Just connect a gigabit switch to one of its ports and plug all your Gigabit gear into it.

The only time that the router's 100 Mbps port speed will come into play is when traffic is going to/from the Internet (assuming nothing except the Gigabit switch is plugged directly into it).

One CAT5e or 6 run up to the second level is fine if you're going to put a second Gigabit switch up there. Sounds like the heavy traffic will be between the HTPC and laptops and the main traffic over that single cable will be to/from web and backups to the NAS.

 

[Majic12]

One CAT5e or 6 run up to the second level is fine if you're going to put a second Gigabit switch up there. Sounds like the heavy traffic will be between the HTPC and laptops and the main traffic over that single cable will be to/from web and backups to the NAS.

Thank you for confirming this...that is what I was thinking.

I am sure I will have more questions so I will just keep posting them in here...

You guys are awesome...

 

[Majic12]

update and back to basics

Here is where I am...

Used my old router...ran 2 lines up to my upstairs...

connected my router to the gigabit switch (upstairs) through 1 line

line 2 will be used to connect my gigabit switch to my WHS im building

Upstairs I now have a 5 port gigabit switch that is hooked up to 2 laptops , my direct tv HD-DVR, and soon to be playstation 3... (also a nas soon that I plan on switching out with the HD-DVR )

Downstairs I have my weather computer hooked directly to my old router


Right now I have everything wired...and its working great in regards to connecting to the internet via the wired connections (a goal of mine because of crappy wireless settings and speeds )

Here is the biggest and most basic question ever...How can I get these computers to talk to one another... I have tried all types of tutorials on how to setup connections via windows xp wizards and nothing has worked...

Can anyone reccommend a real article that will guide me through setting up this network to talk to each other...

Basically I want the ability to access each computer from each other...or at the least from my main laptop...

eventually I will setup WHS so I can access my main storage remotely ...

 

[thiggins]

If all your computers are running XP, then it should be easy. If you have a mix of Vista and XP machines, then it gets more complicated.

Try the Wizards that you'll find in Network Connections to get you started.