s When Networking My New Family Compund
s When Networking My New Family Compund
Hey there! I'm planning to construct a family compound over the next few years. Since it's been nearly ten years since I've worked on networking projects, I thought it would be wise to seek advice from the community about the best approach. Right now, I'm diving into Linus' smart home setup to soak up as much knowledge as possible. But there are still some questions that need answers before I can rest easy. Let's break down the situation and objectives:
It looks like you're planning a networking setup and want advice on reliability, port selection, and technology choices. You're considering how many ports per building, extra ports if needed, and whether to use wired or wireless solutions. Unifi is recommended for this kind of configuration. Fiber optic cables between buildings are a solid option since they're non-conductive. Ethernet speeds should be around 6/6a unless you need higher bandwidth. Make sure your diagram is ready for planning.
Speed-wise, Fiber optic cables will outperform Ethernet connections. Ethernet offers the advantage of delivering power to networking equipment through PoE. It's also widely compatible with most devices. Connecting fiber between buildings can be useful in locations requiring speeds beyond 10 Gigabits per second. Regarding Ethernet standards: Cat5e supports up to 2.5 Gigabits over 100 meters, Cat 6 handles 5 Gigabits at 100 meters and 10 Gigabits at 55 meters, while Cat 6a reaches 10 Gigabits over 100 meters. You might be able to get by with Cat 6 if your runs are under 55 meters. For reliable 10 Gigabit performance, consider Cat 6a. I’m not certain about the cost differences, but Cat 8 is rated for around 40 Gigabits, though practical use at short distances—like in server racks—seems limited. As the Electronics Wizardy mentioned, such high speeds may not yet be feasible.
Cat 6a covers everything you need. Cat 8 handles 40gb, but I doubt we'll ever see devices using it. Fiber is the direction. Ubiquiti simplifies networking and cameras. I’d stick with Cat 6a wherever devices require it. Lay fiber between buildings and to key equipment like NAS, servers, and main desktops. Most smart gadgets are wireless now. Fewer switches are better—aim for fewer large switches instead of many small ones connected around the house.
Deploy single-mode fiber through conduits between structures, and you'll avoid direct contact ever after. (Skip copper cables between buildings—even when considering expense and signal quality, you might face grounding problems and NICs linked to them become more vulnerable to lightning.)