Connect four PoE switches in a chain.
Connect four PoE switches in a chain.
I'm confident about the answer but wanted to verify before making any changes. Your plan involves linking four POE switches in a specific chain: one at the router, then two in sequence, and finally connecting the last one back to the router. Both switch 1 and 4 will have a direct connection to the router. All switches support 16-port PoE. This setup should work well if executed correctly. Thanks!
I don't believe daisy-chaining POE will be effective with four routers. It would overload the first switch by handling too much power transmission. I'm not a specialist on these topics, this is just an idea that crossed my mind. Also, why use four in series? Shouldn't it be a single large switch instead?
Hope this aligns with STP requirements. It might be a typical switch function, but the datasheet doesn’t reference it. Are you asking about a router with four ports or just one? Usually you set up a main distribution block and branch it out in a tree-like structure. If your router has four ports, connect each switch to a separate port. If it only has one port, consider adding a Gbit switch and use those as PoE devices for the router.
I'm using a Netgear X4S modem/router. It's mostly for aesthetics. They'll only connect to Raspberry Pi 3 B+ devices, so no major concerns. A stylish DIY project with LED lighting and running Seti@home.
If these are connectors you intend to install throughout your space I’d add one more. A 4 or 8 port Gigabit and connect each to that. Based on the bandwidth needs of each device this setup would give optimal performance. If you wish to link some switches directly for backup, that’s possible but it would require STP support which isn’t clear here. I’ll check online but likely someone will confirm before I decide. Linking them together in the way described would simplify troubleshooting because you’d trace issues backward to the point of failure, whereas your method could create several routes and complicate things. Can this be arranged? Yes. Would it function? Yes. Would it perform well? To a certain extent. Placing some switches at the farthest ends from data traffic might cause congestion if bandwidth is limited. The key is how you design the overall layout. What will these devices be used for? Are they positioned in separate areas to serve different functions? Do they support IP security cameras, phones, or access points?
These are only for Raspberry Pi's Seti@home activities. Not very important.
They suggest linking devices in a straight line won’t significantly impact performance, but the main worry is creating many switch connections. This can lead to Broadcast Storms, which STP helps prevent. If they don’t support it, I’d stick to a simpler path: Router Port 1 → Switch1 → Switch2 → Switch3 → Switch4. This keeps troubleshooting straightforward.