Is it possible to place a switch before your router in a 10Gbps fiber installation?
Is it possible to place a switch before your router in a 10Gbps fiber installation?
My home finally received 10g fiber at an unbelievably low price – great news! However, my current mesh WiFi router only supports a single 1Gbps WAN port. Rather than replacing the router, I’m thinking about adding an unmanaged 10Gbps switch between my modem and router. This would let other wired devices use the full speed while keeping my router for WiFi and DHCP. My main worries: How will this affect DHCP functionality? Will my router still assign IP addresses even if the switch is upstream? ISP restrictions: Will my provider give me multiple public IPs, or could this cause problems? Switching from modem to switch should let the router grab a public IP and force connected devices to get private ones. Best practices: Is this setup advisable, or should I adjust things differently? I’d save some money if it works out. Any tips would be helpful!
Up to them and their services, you'll have to pay for it, and it's usually not available with regular home connections. The single public IP your ISP gives goes to your router. The switch before the router is meant only to divide the connection among devices that need separate public IPs. To use devices, they should be connected through your router. This approach won't work without an unmanaged switch. Sharing your address isn't helpful here, as most people handling 10Gb WAN/LAN aren't budget-focused.
Sorry, that didn't seem important. I'm in Northern California and just installed Sonic fiber internet. If adding a switch isn't an option, I'll likely use the 'Alta labs router10'—it costs $200, has a 10GB port for my workstation, and two 2.5GB ports for my NAS or Wi-Fi router. I plan to switch the Wi-Fi router to bridge mode.
Keep in mind that the 10Gb ports use SFP+ connectors, meaning you’d need adapters to switch them to copper if you have that setup on your network or with your ISP. I just received a request to handle some tasks (it’s a bit nerve-wracking!) so I hope another person can assist.
It adds up to expenses, which isn't ideal. But the concept could work if paired with a managed switch and a VLAN setup using a "Router on a stick" configuration (more details here). This gives me a choice: 1) a $140 managed switch plus my current router with VLAN support (maybe doable but cheapest option), 2) Alta Labs Route10 at $200, or 3) Cloud Gateway Fiber from Ubiquiti in the US for $270.
Sure, I understand. I’m likely heading toward the Alta labs option 10—it looks like a good value.
There are used routers available. Occasionally, purchasing them can help save money.
I can help create a network diagram and identify the equipment your ISP uses. Regarding your question about 10GbE—most users don’t need it unless they have specific requirements. The ISP typically relies on standard routers, switches, and fiber-optic connections for service delivery.