Choose the appropriate switch for your home setup using a CAT6A cable.
Choose the appropriate switch for your home setup using a CAT6A cable.
Hello everyone, I'm using CAT6A cables at around ten locations in my home. From a switch standpoint (with one port dedicated to my ISP router), I'm experimenting with either a 1GIG or a 10G switch. I've been using 1GIG switches for a while now and am fairly tech-savvy, so the desire for higher speeds is there even if it's not necessary. My main question is whether there are recommendations for both 10G and 1GIG switches—assuming my devices can handle 10G. So far, I've looked into popular brands like Linksys, Netgear, DLink, and recently came across Luxul.
Do you have equipment requiring more than a gigabit? Such as servers, NAS, or local file copies? Are your clients equipped with 10GbE connections? If you don’t need that capacity right now, stick with 1GbE for a while until higher-speed options become more affordable.
Thanks for the input. I'm planning to set up a local NAS and am considering the advantages and disadvantages of purchasing one from brands like Synology or QNAP. I'm evaluating whether 10GIG models are too costly or if I should build something myself using a PC tower with enough HDD slots or a micro server. I'm leaning toward the latter options since they allow adding 10GIG devices on them.
It sounds like you're thinking about spending roughly $300 to $500 on something similar, and you're considering a reliable non-enterprise switch. That should be manageable, and finding a solid one might even be cheaper than you expect. I'm in favor of it!
How many 10GbE ports do you require? I think I’ll end up with a switch similar to the one shown. https://mikrotik.com/product/crs328_24p_4s_rm. There are a few comparable models from other manufacturers, though the MikroTik options are quite affordable. Pair them with some 10GbE transceivers and you’ll have four 10GbE ports for high-speed needs, plus 24GbE ports for other devices. Full 10GbE base switches with many ports are beyond your budget, so you’ll need a device offering a variety of connections.