Compiling the final parts list now.
Compiling the final parts list now.
I've been toying with the idea for updating my home network. Currently it's a modem and a router. I've wanted to do a NAS with all this and that's what's been holding me back. Once I realized I still have an "old" PC in my closet I can set up on FreeNas this morning I started really wanting to push the idea. Here's my "end goal." I'd like to set this all up in the closet of the computer room. House is 11x12 meters. What I would like to do is take the ethernet in from the road and run it through the crawl space to under the closet in the computer room to a switch in the closet. From there it would go to the router for WiFi and out to computers(blue) and TVs(orange). The goal is to have both PCs set up with Ethernet and then ethernet to the TVs. The NAS is mostly going to be for media, old movies and music. I would like to use it as a backup for important files, but that's almost secondary. They're already on the PCs and USB drives. My main questions here are where to start. I know I need a 5 port switch to get this to work, but would like an 8 port in case anything else pops up. I own the house so adding holes to walls/new outlets isn't an issue. I mostly don't really know what to look for in a switch. Do I want CAT 6a or 7? I fall within the run distances for all the categories, including the 15m for 100 gb/s. Currently I don't have gigabit internet due to ruralness, but the company I have internet on is working on getting it out to our area so I'd like to be set up for that. Besides Switch, Cables, Wall Plates, Cable ends, and a crimp tool is there anything else that I'm missing?
You may want to search for a location where you can rent a device to check the speed of the CAT cable. Cat 6a and cat 7 connections are more challenging to connect, but they work at 1 gigabit and pulling them out can be difficult. Renting a tester would be a better option. Depending on the cost differences, I’d choose cat 7 mainly for added insulation, while cat 6a should suffice up to 10 gigabits over those distances.
Cat 7 pricing is only slightly higher than other options. Few local shops offer rental tools, so I’m considering buying a Klein set. Their equipment has served me well on heavy machinery, especially the crimpers. I prefer owning the tools so I can use them once and keep them for future fixes. That’s what makes me a bit like a mechanic.
It seems on such brief trips it's fine. However, the tester mainly checks for a signal rather than whether it can handle 10 gigabits. https://www.truecable.com/blogs/cable-ac...t-ethernet https://hackaday.com/2016/01/30/is-your-...bably-not/ https://forums. https://www.lanshack.com/shielded-cat6a-jack.aspx If you plan to use it at 10 gigabits later, setting up the termination is quite simple. PS. I discovered this the hard way. I purchased a unit from 2016 claiming all wall cables are Cat 6A, but none can support 10 gigabits. Fortunately, it was sufficient to terminate them properly so they could operate at that speed.
Overall it seems manageable. If I can't reach a tester, my approach will be to run tests, check terminals, and use the Blinky Tester for verification. Since I'll be running on an older PC for the NAS, I can test performance in Linux alongside my desktop. I'm not overly concerned about achieving a perfect 10 gig speed; it would be great, but experimenting with anything helps me learn.
See that it doesn't catch me off guard. From my perspective, I understand why "re manufactured" components are used. The water pump might be made that way, but it's likely assembled on a Friday. I prioritize ensuring the wires are properly routed and have correct lengths over maximizing speed. In truth, I probably won't need 1gb for anything beyond streaming to my NAS.
Recently everything seems stuck in beta with HDMI 2.1 and all that USB 3.0 nonsense—it feels like testing ground rather than stable release. It’s even more bizarre than before, like Tesla promising self-driving on public roads. Whenever someone mentions Agile, it always feels like a joke. There’s no real consequence for these things. That reckless startup attitude is everywhere. It’s fine if the software isn’t essential, but pushing it into critical systems is risky. I understand I might not use it, but I paid for it. Still, I’m just expressing that 10Gb internet is way more complicated than a standard 1Gb line.