Planning a network from scratch for a new apartment
Planning a network from scratch for a new apartment
Hey there! I'm working on setting up a network from scratch in a new location. Right now it's all disorganized, so I'm trying to organize everything properly—separate racks for servers and networking gear. I attempted to sketch a diagram like the one you shared, but I'm struggling to find compatible hardware that fits. It could mean I need better resources or my plan has some gaps (which isn't surprising given my experience). That's why I'm reaching out for advice—what adjustments should I make? What equipment would work as a practical starting point? I'm not planning to spend a lot, but any suggestions would be great. I've noted a few details below the diagram:
- Things highlighted in blue are outside the rack.
- Everything else is planned for later but isn't part of the initial setup.
- Light green items are what I'm currently seeking.
- A dotted line indicates an optional backup LTE connection assigned to (1), though it's not fully resolved—I'm unsure about the best way to connect it (e.g., directly into a device or another point).
- I’m using a USB RJ45 dongle now, but I plan to add more RJ45 ports once I move.
- I have spare connection points and think a single 1GbE link to most ports except (3) would be efficient. I’m not sure if splitting into many devices makes sense or if one router could handle everything.
- The connection between (1) and (3) is my attempt at redundancy, but I want it complete.
Please let me know what you think—I'm open to tweaks and hope this helps me build a solid plan. Thanks in advance!
Do you find the unifi system appealing? I might stick with it here. Build a unifi dream machine, then leverage its access points and switches for all your needs. This creates a unified management interface. For a home setup, network links tend to stay operational, so you wouldn’t need complex spanning tree configurations—unless you want to avoid loops where switches resist it. Also, why are there two pi holes? I’d just use one of them instead.
You need a router that supports two WAN ports. I believe the Unifi USG can handle it, though its routing capabilities are quite restricted. pfSense and Netgate provide more advanced routing options, but they demand greater expertise. Watch TomLawrence on YouTube for insights on pfSense routing and Unifi. A PoE switch might serve as your primary switch instead of separating them, particularly if you choose Unifi. For 2.5G connectivity, consider EnGenius; they offer some models compatible with that speed. If you opt for them, you wouldn’t require two distinct switches. Level1Tech has conducted several reviews of their gear. If you plan to go 2.5G, why not push everything up to 10G? Microtik offers a 4-port 10G switch that meets your requirements. Tom has also reviewed that 4-port device.