Running long cables VS two switches and short cables

[SadiaV]

Hello all,

I would like to ask for some help.

The thing is that I have a "server room" in the kitchen and I need to get all of my other PC's wired up with gigabit Ethernet connections.

I have to have a switch running from the router (a server running ASG) to NAS and Wireless AP that stay in the kitchen. Also, I need to connect 4-7 PC's/laptops at the other end of the apartment.

• Drag a bunch of cables to each of the devices
• Use a switch at the other end and have only one cable coming from the "server room" to other parts of the apartment (each cable length would be approx 15-20 meters).

What would be the best/fastest (throughput wise) solution?

Thanks in advance for your answers.

 

[teknojnky]

the fastest would be one switch and 1 cable for each device.

each device would get a full gbit to any other device.

This of course has the disadvantage of requiring long cable (and potentially expensive) runs to each device.

When you daisy chain switches, the connection between the switches is obviously shared by all devices on each switch when they need to communicate with the device(s) on the other switch.

But using 2 switches and one cable between them should be more than sufficient for most home uses, although devices that are on separate switches will be using the shared gbit of bandwidth between the switches, in most cases you will not be saturating the full bandwidth anyway.

I have a daisy chain of 3 gbit switches (8 ports each) about my house, otherwise I would have to run a crapton of internal wiring or have cables strewn about the house (and would need a much bigger main switch).

Mine are daisy chained linearly, from dsl modem <> router <> main switch (has 3 nas devices and main pc's) <> av center <> upstairs switch.

It might be slightly more efficient for nas use if I re-routed the cables so the daisy chan was U shaped with the main switch/nas's at the bottom/center, but it works well enough in practical use that I don't have to worry about it.

 

[somms]

Shorter the cable length the better.

On my GS108T, it even has a short cable mode that will actively test the cable lenght and if able will put the switch into a lower power setting:

Short Cable Mode - This object determines whether or not short cable mode from green feature is enabled for particular port. The factory default is disable. When the port link up at 1Gbps speed, cable length test is performed and if the length of the cable is less then 10m, PHYs are put into low power mode so only enough power is used to support a short cable.

 

[sfx2000]

Better cable always helps - CAT6 for 1000BaseT is good for 100 meters, so 30-35 meters should be good...

My recommendation - CAT6 from the "server room" to a baseplate in the other rooms, and then if you need to hook up additional computers in a room, you can always drop in a switch local in the room.

Watch your runs, keep them away from power, and it should be good to go... and buy the proper rated cable if you're going thru walls or overhead.