A tiny hotel featuring a multiple-choice question.
A tiny hotel featuring a multiple-choice question.
I operate a modest family-run hotel in a secluded village in Indonesia. We have 15 IP cameras and 3 access points, all linked via the same switch. The setup uses an 8-port 10/100 switch. One port handles internet traffic (load balanced), another feeds the IP camera DVR/PC (ISPY interface) with speeds ranging from 20–30 Mbps when recording, up to 60–70 Mbps when recording continuously. Additionally, we have three APs connected to the same switch, each capped at 10 Mbps. One AP serves the family, supporting multiple devices simultaneously. Issues arise during peak times—guests report unstable internet, camera feeds drop, and the family AP experiences slowdowns. My concern is whether the excessive bandwidth through this single switch is causing problems, and I’m considering replacing it with a separate switch to isolate camera and AP traffic. I’m hoping you can confirm if my assessment is correct and suggest a solution. Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Kilrah mentioned needing a switch with 1Gbps capability. Ensure your camera and home network operate on separate VLANs. Avoid having customers connected to either network. Bandwidth issues from your provider could affect performance, so consider upgrading for better external connectivity.
@hpesik keep in mind to mention others or quote them, otherwise their messages might go unnoticed
VLANs work well when you customize them with your network equipment. Remember that not every switch performs equally—some can’t keep up with full speeds across all ports at once, which may cause delays. Invest in a gigabit switch. Basic unmanaged switches are inexpensive. Keep your guest Wi-Fi separate from your internal IP camera network by assigning it to a different VLAN or separate network. Restrict routing through methods like VLANs, manual entries, or firewalls so guests can’t detect your internal devices during scans, even if they know the subnet.
Thanks. Budget limited me to act fast; WiFi coverage and upload speed were key concerns. I’m considering merging two ISPs later—some switches struggle with full speeds on all ports at once. I heard that getting a gigabit switch would help, since unmanaged ones are cheaper. Even though some peripherals aren’t gigabit, the network overhead shouldn’t block performance. Regarding VLANs: yes, you can have VLANs on the same subnet. You don’t need separate LAN ports per VLAN, but you’ll want to assign static IPs to each VLAN so devices know which one they belong to. Let me know if you need more details!
You should assign a unique subnet to each VLAN, allowing better traffic isolation using access lists or firewall rules. Overlaying IP addresses on the same VLAN isn’t helpful for separation. How large is your network and how many devices do you expect? A small number of APs suggests a less dense setup. Which AP model are you employing?