Inquiry about configuring a new network setup.
Inquiry about configuring a new network setup.
Good evening! I understand this might be a bit lengthy. Please forgive any oversimplification. I’m c_payne_cad from Newfoundland, Canada, with a 1.5Gb/s connection. According to Ookla, my upload speeds are... Origin Bell Canada 159.*.* Target Bell Aliant St. John's, NL Multi-channel ping is 1ms. Download speed is 420.53 Mbps, upload is 442.66 Mbps. I live in a two-bedroom apartment and am planning to build a custom PC. My setup includes: Intel Core i7-11700K, 8-core, 3.6GHz, Asus ROG Maximus XIII Hero board, 32GB RAM (2x16GB), CLA 14 MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 3070 8GB, GDDR6 graphics, Samsung 980 Pro 2TB NVMe x2 (RAID 1), Seasonic FOCUS Gold 80+ 850W power supply, Synology 10GbE NIC with RJ45, Pioneer USB 3.1 Gen1, Blu-Ray burner, Samsung 49" Dual Quad HD at 5120x1440, curved monitor. My NAS will be a Synology DS2419+ 12-bay model with 32GB RAM and 2x16GB DDR4. I have a storage room where I’ll place the modem and NAS, and I’m considering Cat 7 Ethernet cables from the storage room to my office. I’m thinking about using two switches: one for 10Gb and a Gigabit switch. I’d like to run Ethernet for two main reasons—first, to compare speeds between Ethernet and Wi-Fi for my AV devices, and second, because Ethernet offers a steady connection with consistent data flow. My top preference is having the 10Gb switch in the storage room, connected to the modem and NAS, with seven network cables reaching my office (PC, MiniPC, printer, smart TV). I’ll also run five and six cables to the office and through my bedroom for the smart TV. The last cable will go to the living room via a Gigabit switch, where I’ll connect my AV gear. I’m also considering placing the NAS in the office and running three Ethernet cables—one to a 10Gb switch for all devices, one to my bedroom, and another to the living room via a Gigabit switch for my entertainment systems. I know most components can use WiFi, but Ethernet appeals to me for reliability and speed with my devices. I’m leaning toward using Ubiquiti gear and categorizing cables by color for the network path. What advice would you have?
This discussion should be posted in the networking section since it focuses on connections. Would having seven cables to your office really be necessary? Installing a 7-port switch in both the office and living areas, with shared access ports on your main switch, would simplify things. Then connect each room via one cable plus a dedicated link for your 10GBE PC. Devices like TVs, printers, and AV gear typically use minimal bandwidth on gigabit ports, so combining their usage won’t slow performance. I’d recommend pairing your 10GBE switch with your modem and NAS, such as the Unifi XG-6PoE model or the Unifi Switch Mini 8. For additional ports, consider Cat6a cables—they’re more affordable for longer distances and easier to manage.
I'll review those links. Placing the main switch in the storage room with the NAS would require seven cables, which isn't ideal. Instead, I'll keep the 10GbE switch with the NAS and modem, using one cable to the 10Gbe 5-8 port switch in my office. From there, I'll branch off for two more connections—one to the bedroom and another to a second Gigabit 5-8 port switch in the living room, which is my top choice. My main aim is to minimize cables while still enabling fast access to the NAS from my computer, ideally exceeding Gigabit speeds. I understand I won't achieve true 10Gb/s, but it will suffice for storing business data, streaming videos, and managing my media collection across all home devices. I've researched Cat6a and will proceed with that option, thanks for the advice.