Router / switch setup help

[Cruez]

Ok, I need to run my LAN upstairs...I have so many wires in the attic, if I use anymore, I won't need any insulation up there..

I have two lan ports in each room, and I am finishing the upstairs now, with probably 8 ports up there...

I have attached a drawing to explain what I have now, and what I think I need to do...

Main question is will the added bridge tap affect my DSL service, and is the new router/switch setup correct...

Any other suggestions...??

[stroyal]

Thats just like my house except my switch sits next to my router.
You should have no problem if you use switches and don't add more than 256 computers.

[VHockey86]

Looks good to me. Like stroyal said, your routers DHCP can handle up to 255 computers or so, thus adding a switch wont be any big deal. Obviously if more computers are active on the internet it will slow down the connections, but as far as working you shouldnt have any problems.

Just make sure you use the right cable for the switch and you'll be fine (uplink - patch, normal port - crossover)

[stroyal]

The only other thing is the length of the run. Maybe someone else can remember the max length. I think it is more than 100 ft.

If you do reach the max then you just add a switch and you can go the max again and again and again

[VHockey86]

good quality cat5e can go 100 meters before you have any problems. Rather than getting another switch for the max length you could just use a signal booster

[stroyal]

That would be a big house.

[VHockey86]

the 100 meters is for solid cable though. I think the maximum recommended distance for stranded cable is only like 10-15 meters.

[Cruez]

All of the cables are Cat5e solid wire.

Length of the longest loop back to the interface might be 200 foot total..

The line goes from the interface in the garage, over to my office where the media panel is.... from there the lines from the router go to their respective rooms...

Then, there is the additional line that will connect back to the switch that is in the attic.... and their respective LAN ports..

I would imagine the most computers at one time might be 10-15 for LAN parties.... most of the time it there will be 6 or 7....



Now.... I need to find a router..

[jynxedu]

Now that you have all of your "insulation" run...

Pick you up one of them new fangled wireless routers, I hear you can get them pretty cheap these days.

Just did an instal for a small company (cost them 3K) using Cat 5E, over 2000ft of cable and assorted faceplates and drop cords.

The guy calls me and asks if he "shoulda went wireless?"

[Cruez]

I thought about wireless.... but when I built the house, I installed conduit runs in the walls for LAN,cable, phone, etc...

I like the security of a wired lan as opposed to wireless...