Running Ethernet Question

[Intimidator80]

Hello all! I am currently thinking about running some ethernet cables to a few areas of my house and had a couple questions.

I want to install 3 wall jacks and 2 Access Points. To do this I'll need to run from my router to a network switch, which will provide ethernet cables to two Access Points and 3 wall jacks for three devices. The three devices will be an Xbox Series, PS5 and TV. My connection is a 1GB download with 30 upload.

The questions.

1. Will this negatively affect my overall connection across the board? I can't see it doing that since everything is currently through wifi, I just want a stronger solid connection for streaming and downloads.

2. Does each port provide full strength connection or is the 1GB connection shared between each connected device? I've seen conflicting reports online so not fully sure.

 

[Armadillo]

1) Will work fine, shouldn't cause any issues.

2) Switch can give the full bandwidth to all ports. It won't just divide up the bandwidth equally and in this case give 200mb a device, if that's what you mean.

Only resource that will be shared is the single link between the router and switch. You only have a 1Gb connection though, so at the moment, it doesn't matter, as there is only 1Gb of bandwidth to go around anyway.

 

[janobi]

You don't need to run cables or have a switch for what you're requiring. You could get some mesh APs and it would do the same without requiring cabling etc. Look at getting some Deco's and setting up a mesh network with them. They'll cover like 6000m/s or even more, and give you the same output as what you're going to get via cabling it all.

Also using a deco or similar, you'll have additional ethernet ports via them, so you can run ethernet cables to the APs, and those will connect wirelessly to the main AP that'll be connected to your router.

You can configure the switch should you so choose to give priority to devices, and limit bandwidth accordingly, but it's dependent on what switch you buy. And you'd need to configure the switch accordingly, but I presume you're going to buy a dumb switch which will essentially be a hub that'll do switching functionality.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Deco-P9-Powerline-coverage-Parental/dp/B07XSBGP7G/522-3495019-0954253?pd_rd_w=vnR5d&content-id=amzn1.sym.bb13d3fc-af40-4fff-a822-e0e4c415da96&pf_rd_p=bb13d3fc-af40-4fff-a822-e0e4c415da96&pf_rd_r=18KQRNKBNVNE697T31ZX&pd_rd_wg=JwdRX&pd_rd_r=247ad421-76a6-45b3-9543-c7759ad1f21c&pd_rd_i=B07XSBGP7G&th=1

 

[Skv0ra]

Let me add, that getting a dedicated modem vs having router/modem crapbox will also help LOTS of things by letting separate devices handle separate tasks instead of melting a hole in your floor.

 

[tech3475]

but I presume you're going to buy a dumb switch which will essentially be a hub that'll do switching functionality.

Be careful when using the term "hub" with networking as they are different to even a basic 'umanaged' switch, unfortunately I've some companies on e.g. Amazon misuse the term.

Keeping things simple, an actual hub will likely offer worse performance, from what I've read gigabit hubs apparently don't exist but even with 10/100 they can also reduce performance due to e.g. 'packet collisions'.

 

[Intimidator80]

You don't need to run cables or have a switch for what you're requiring. You could get some mesh APs and it would do the same without requiring cabling etc. Look at getting some Deco's and setting up a mesh network with them. They'll cover like 6000m/s or even more, and give you the same output as what you're going to get via cabling it all.

Also using a deco or similar, you'll have additional ethernet ports via them, so you can run ethernet cables to the APs, and those will connect wirelessly to the main AP that'll be connected to your router.

You can configure the switch should you so choose to give priority to devices, and limit bandwidth accordingly, but it's dependent on what switch you buy. And you'd need to configure the switch accordingly, but I presume you're going to buy a dumb switch which will essentially be a hub that'll do switching functionality.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Deco-P9-Powerline-coverage-Parental/dp/B07XSBGP7G/522-3495019-0954253?pd_rd_w=vnR5d&content-id=amzn1.sym.bb13d3fc-af40-4fff-a822-e0e4c415da96&pf_rd_p=bb13d3fc-af40-4fff-a822-e0e4c415da96&pf_rd_r=18KQRNKBNVNE697T31ZX&pd_rd_wg=JwdRX&pd_rd_r=247ad421-76a6-45b3-9543-c7759ad1f21c&pd_rd_i=B07XSBGP7G&th=1

I already have Access Points, so wifi isn't an issue. Ethernet will be ran to certain devices to give a more solid and faster connection to them.

 

[janobi]

I already have Access Points, so wifi isn't an issue. Ethernet will be ran to certain devices to give a more solid and faster connection to them.

Be careful when using the term "hub" with networking as they are different to even a basic 'umanaged' switch, unfortunately I've some companies on e.g. Amazon misuse the term.

Keeping things simple, an actual hub will likely offer worse performance, from what I've read gigabit hubs apparently don't exist but even with 10/100 they can also reduce performance due to e.g. 'packet collisions'.

If you have AP's that have ethernet ports, then you don't need to run ethernet. You could also use homeplugs which will send the signal around via the electricity wiring.

As I said, you could buy a dumb switch, a hub doesn't do switching as it's the same collision domain, you also can't send/receive at the same time on a hub, as it's normally 1 way traffic at a time. A switch will literally switch the traffic. Hubs are an old technology, i was merely using the term to describe a dumb switch.

You could of course get a decent switch (Cisco/Meraki/HP/3com) whatever you want, but then you're going to need to configure it accordingly, add VLANs, mgmt ports etc. That's going to be above most peoples knowledge, hence me describing a dumb(unmanaged)switch as a hub, absolutely they're different devices to a network engineer, but for the purpose of a description I was using the term interchanged.

 

[tech3475]

As I said, you could buy a dumb switch, a hub doesn't do switching as it's the same collision domain, you also can't send/receive at the same time on a hub, as it's normally 1 way traffic at a time. A switch will literally switch the traffic. Hubs are an old technology, i was merely using the term to describe a dumb switch.

You could of course get a decent switch (Cisco/Meraki/HP/3com) whatever you want, but then you're going to need to configure it accordingly, add VLANs, mgmt ports etc. That's going to be above most peoples knowledge, hence me describing a dumb(unmanaged)switch as a hub, absolutely they're different devices to a network engineer, but for the purpose of a description I was using the term interchanged.

That's why I criticised your used of the term 'hub', it's because such products do actually exist, if niche in the modern age, and people may not know the difference if they go and look them up.

Although I do agree that a basic unmanaged switch will be enough for most people.

If you have AP's that have ethernet ports, then you don't need to run ethernet. You could also use homeplugs which will send the signal around via the electricity wiring.

Homeplugs can be hit or miss from my experience, last time I tried some 'gigabit' ones the best I could was around 10mbps (yes megabits).

 

[janobi]

That's why I criticised your used of the term 'hub', it's because such products do actually exist, if niche in the modern age, and people may not know the difference if they go and look them up.

Although I do agree that a basic unmanaged switch will be enough for most people.



Homeplugs can be hit or miss from my experience, last time I tried some 'gigabit' ones the best I could was around 10mbps (yes megabits).

Im not even sure you could buy a hub in the days of modern networking. Hence I suggested the DECO APs as they function as both an AP and a set of ethernet ports. I'd imagine what we've discussed with a switch/hub has gone over most people's heads.

 

[tech3475]

Im not even sure you could buy a hub in the days of modern networking. Hence I suggested the DECO APs as they function as both an AP and a set of ethernet ports. I'd imagine what we've discussed with a switch/hub has gone over most people's heads.

New I doubt, excluding mislabelled stuff and 'new old stock', but second hand they do pop up.

I agree it probably had, but again, that's why I dislike the use of 'hub' as a substitute for switch because I'm cynical when it comes to people these days thanks to working retail.

 

[janobi]

New I doubt, excluding mislabelled stuff and 'new old stock', but second hand they do pop up.

I agree it probably had, but again, that's why I dislike the use of 'hub' as a substitute for switch because I'm cynical when it comes to people these days thanks to working retail.

Anyone asking about a switch is going to, or should have some networking knowledge as they wouldn't really know otherwise. I've not seen a hub in over 10 years of working in the networking field, only place i've ever seen them mentioned is in text books about networking, and how they worked. That's not to say some random wouldn't/couldn't turn up and offer one, but using one you'd quickly realise it was trash.

 

[tech3475]

Anyone asking about a switch is going to, or should have some networking knowledge as they wouldn't really know otherwise. I've not seen a hub in over 10 years of working in the networking field, only place i've ever seen them mentioned is in text books about networking, and how they worked. That's not to say some random wouldn't/couldn't turn up and offer one, but using one you'd quickly realise it was trash.

I know of them through uni.

We sell basic switches where I work, from my experience the typical customer's knowledge is 'I need something to get more Ethernet ports' and/or if they ask what they are I have to use language along the lines of 'they're like a strip plug for Ethernet'.