My Rack

Networking, Wireless Routers (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax WiFi), NAT, LAN configuration, equipment, cabling, hubs, switches, and general network discussion
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BaLa
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My Rack

Post by BaLa »

Seems like not much going on in here.


Figured I share my little network setup.
Not in the picture my Asus RT-AX82U on top of the cabinet (used as AP for wifi only)
The Mikrotik is quite a bit more advanced than I am :rotfl: . morbidpete helped me a few times with it already.

Also I have 2 Ethernet Cables running to the other side of the room/office. 1 for the Modem and the other to an ETH Switch for my 2 Desktop PCs.
Yeah I know the Shelf isn't straight...pain in the butt to set up to begin with.
Wires from the PDU are a bit messy.


The Switch is a Cisco Catalyst 3750 24 port.
Router is Mikrotik RB3011
NAS Synology DS220+
UPS is CyberPower CP1000 AVRLCD

The attachment imagy-image.jpg is no longer available
Planning on moving in 3-5 years hopefully maybe have a house built.
Going to have a proper network setup wired for Ethernet with 2 drops in each room at least.
Not a big fan of Wifi..
I actually think anything stationary should not be using Wifi..TVs and so on.
We have a decent Yamaha Soundbar but the Wifi is always acting up..It could be wired but not gonna bother.
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Philip
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Post by Philip »

Nice setup! A bit of an overkill for just a couple of ethernet runs, heh, you could likely achieve the same without the Cisco switch and just the ports on the Mikrotik.

I have AT&T fiber coming into the house, running Cat5E cable to an upstairs closet, where there is a network panel with Coax, POTs and Cat5E running to the bedrooms and the family room. I keep an Asus RT-AX86S Wi-Fi router and a VoIP box in that closet, network cables to my office and downstairs to the TV/Ent center.
I have two small Netgear GS108 switches, one 8-port in my office, and one (GS105?) downstairs behind the TV (HTPC and TV connected there, some old Playstation). I have a PC running Linux as a NAS in my office, my main PC, networked printer/scanner, etc.
I mainly use Wi-Fi for the bedrooms though, it is much more convenient for laptops and mobile devices. I also use Wi-Fi for IoT devices like cameras, doorbell, sprinkler controller, AC thermostats, Google Home, smart light switches. I use ethernet for the TV, NAS, and my desktop/office shtuff.

The setup works well for me and is easy to maintain. Maybe I would update the Wi-Fi to a 6E mesh system next time, with a wired backhaul, but for the time being one Wi-Fi router seems to work just fine. Wi-Fi has come a long way, the newer AX devices are quite capable of serving many clients at good speeds without much interference.
Disclaimer: Please use caution when opening messages, my grasp on reality may have shaken loose during transmission (going on rusty memory circuits), even though my tin foil hat is regularly audited for potential supply chain tampering. I also eat whatever crayons are put in front of me.
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BaLa
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Post by BaLa »

Philip wrote:Nice setup! A bit of an overkill for just a couple of ethernet runs, heh, you could likely achieve the same without the Cisco switch and just the ports on the Mikrotik.

I have AT&T fiber coming into the house, running Cat5E cable to an upstairs closet, where there is a network panel with Coax, POTs and Cat5E running to the bedrooms and the family room. I keep an Asus RT-AX86S Wi-Fi router and a VoIP box in that closet, network cables to my office and downstairs to the TV/Ent center.
I have two small Netgear GS108 switches, one 8-port in my office, and one (GS105?) downstairs behind the TV (HTPC and TV connected there, some old Playstation). I have a PC running Linux as a NAS in my office, my main PC, networked printer/scanner, etc.
I mainly use Wi-Fi for the bedrooms though, it is much more convenient for laptops and mobile devices. I also use Wi-Fi for IoT devices like cameras, doorbell, sprinkler controller, AC thermostats, Google Home, smart light switches. I use ethernet for the TV, NAS, and my desktop/office shtuff.

The setup works well for me and is easy to maintain. Maybe I would update the Wi-Fi to a 6E mesh system next time, with a wired backhaul, but for the time being one Wi-Fi router seems to work just fine. Wi-Fi has come a long way, the newer AX devices are quite capable of serving many clients at good speeds without much interference.
Yeah it may be a bit overkill.
But honestly the Cisco Switch was $65 on Fleabay.

1 item
$59.85
Shipping Free
Tax $4.94
Order total $64.79

Prolly cheaper than most other 16 port managed and even some unmanaged switches.
I suppose I don't need a managed switch or 16 ports.
I guess with the few devices I have it would have been fine to just use the Mikrotik.

But that's no fun.
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Philip
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Post by Philip »

Yeah, you're right :)
The Cisco sounds like a steal for that amount.
Disclaimer: Please use caution when opening messages, my grasp on reality may have shaken loose during transmission (going on rusty memory circuits), even though my tin foil hat is regularly audited for potential supply chain tampering. I also eat whatever crayons are put in front of me.
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