Secure the proper gear for your new home with 1GB fiber connectivity.
Secure the proper gear for your new home with 1GB fiber connectivity.
You’ve got a solid setup with fiber, Ethernet cabling, and several networking devices. Let’s go through your questions one by one.
1. You can connect directly from the Unifi security gateway to the ONT, but you’ll need to confirm if your ISP modem supports that connection type.
2. Using CAT5e cables throughout is fine for short runs, but over longer distances or with many devices, consider upgrading to better cables or a switch for efficiency.
3. Daisy-chaining the 8-port switch to another switch or router won’t hurt performance as long as you manage bandwidth properly. Multiple devices should work, but monitor speeds if everything runs smoothly.
Overall, your configuration looks good—just double-check the specifics with your ISP and devices.
The setup requires checking the modem/router settings. Some ISPs let you route through the ONT or can be manipulated to bypass the default router.
It’s not completely future-proof, but it works fine. You should be able to achieve gigabit speeds and likely get around 2.5 gigabits over Cat5e up to 100 meters.
Connecting switches in a chain isn’t perfect, but it should be manageable here. By sharing a single gig connection between the 5-port switch and the 8-port switch, your internet speed won’t be significantly impacted.
Contact Telus to get details. In the US, I've noticed Fiber is offered in two formats: either a bundled ONT/Router package where you use their equipment, or a regular ONT with the choice to rent or purchase a separate router, allowing you to select your own device.
Usually, when experts advise against daisy-chaining switches, they suggest connecting each switch directly to the main one instead of linking them together. A central core switch with individual off-site switches is perfectly acceptable and often the best approach. Just keep in mind that all devices on additional switches rely on a connection back to the main switch. If you frequently move files between devices, it's better to place them on the same switch to avoid creating a bottleneck that could slow down bandwidth for other devices. The main idea is ensuring your primary switch supports fast speeds—like 2.5Gbit or 10Gbit—and each secondary switch has a matching 2.5Gbit or 10Gbit uplink to it. This setup helps prevent performance issues, especially if you're using the main switch for a NAS and don't want access from other switches to impact overall internet speed.