New network infrastructure and NAS...

[Kata]

Hello Happy Hexus,

At home, I currently have a simple network. It consists of broadband in to a modem, and then a router. The router has, plugged into it, a laptop, my PC, and a Thecus N4100 NAS. It all works fine.

The time has come to upgrade! My NAS, with 4 x 750GB drives in RAID5, is full. So, I have formed a plan...

I shall upgrade my network to look like this:



I shall be purchasing the Switch, and NAS 2.

The switch: http://www.scan.co.uk/products/zyxel...1-010-083003b)

The NAS: http://www.scan.co.uk/products/thecu...appable-sataii

The harddrives: http://www.scan.co.uk/products/2tb-st3200542as-sata-hdd

This will upgrade my current 2TB RAID 5 to a 2TB RAID 5, and an 8TB RAID 5! Hurrah! Any problems with my choice of stuff? The NASes are just for file storage, and watching video from; the current one is fast enough for that, so performance on the new one should be fine.

[killie99]

I'd get a gigabit switch instead of a 10/100, you'll flood a 100Mb:

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/5-por...desktop-switch

is the zyxel giga version.

[Kata]

I am pretty sure that the rest of my network hardware is only 100MBit. Would it still be advisable to get a gigabit switch?

[Funkstar]

I'd still get a gigabit switch personally. Means you are less likely to need to change it in the future.

Personally I would have all the networking hardware in one room. So put the switch in the bedroom with the modem and router, then use the switch for all the other devices as opposed to some on the router and some on the switch.

[Kata]

The reason I need the switch is that the study is at the other end of the house from the bedroom. I have run a 30m network cable nicely along the ceiling, up walls, through holes etc; and I am not going to run a second one

[Funkstar]

Fair enough, I thought you would say something like that

I'd still get a gigabit switch though as then the desktop and NAS2 could potentially share at gigabit speeds.

[Kata]

I'll do that, it's only a few pounds more. I guess I need special gigabit wires for that too, then!

Edit: OK, I have no idea how to choose a network cable. Cat 5, or Cat 6? "10/100/GbE", or "10/100/1000 GbE"?

[Funkstar]

Just Cat5e is fine. You can probably get away with Cat5 as well. No need for Cat6 at all.

[Flibb]

If your looking at gigabit stitches get more ports than you currently need. With the zyxel ones its an extra £9 to go from 5-8 ports.


Any pointers for a free and easy tool I can use to draw my network?

[Kata]

I used Microsoft Excel for mine!

Edit: Order placed; very exciting!!

5 x 2TB Seagate Barracuda LP
1 x Thecus N5500 NAS, Gigabit Ethernet
1 x 5 Port ZyXEL GS105B 10/1000 Gigabit Desktop Switch
1 x 3m CAT-5e RJ45 UTP Moulded Patch Cable 10/100/GbE
1 x 1m CAT-5e RJ45 UTP Moulded Patch Cable 10/100/1000 GbE

[mycarsavw]

Any pointers for a free and easy tool I can use to draw my network?

Visio is the preferred tool, but for free, try here; http://www.osalt.com/visio