[ElJimador]

I've always kept my modem and router in the living room (cable internet) and kept my servers there also, while my office where I do all my ripping, etc. is connected via powerline adapter. That's created a bottleneck writing to the server but has worked fine otherwise (and since I handbrake my movies I'm never in a big hurry on that anyway). Now though I'm thinking of switching it up and moving modem, router and servers to my office instead. The router I'm currently using (Netgear Nighthawk R7000) can be set up as an access point and since I only need wireless inside the house I'm thinking of configuring it that way and getting a new wired router for the office (I don't need wireless in there).

Where I'm confused is shopping for wired routers. I didn't expect manufacturers to still be putting out a lot of these considering most people only want wireless these days. But the only affordable ones (>$200) I can find with gigabit LAN connections are all marketed as VPN routers for business. Since I don't need or want VPN, would you assume that could be turned off? Or if I go for a wireless router with gigabit ports, is it standard that you can turn off the wireless signal and have it function as a wired router only? I'm trying to find answers in the product descriptions and reviews but they are pretty buried. Right now the only router I know for sure would work would be the same model Nighthawk to pair with the one I already have but that's $200 where I'd like to spend half that at most.

BTW, leaving the modem and router in the house and just putting a switch in the office is how I'm set up now but that's not going to work if I move the servers to the office. I'd be going through the powerline adapter both ways to write from my desktop to the server sitting right next to it. (I know I said I'm not in a hurry writing to the server but that would annoy the heck out of me).

 

[stanger89]

If you put a switch in the office with all the machines, I assume the powerline is just to get to the router in the living room? If so, nothing will go over the powerline when communicating between machines on the switch in the office. The powerline connection would only be used for connecting to the router (internet) and any other equipment on that end of powerline.

 

[ElJimador]

Forgot to mention that my office is a detached studio in the backyard. So I don't think I'd trust putting the router I have in the office and using a wireless range extender inside the house instead. Going through 2 sets of exterior walls, the wireless signal I get in the office now is weak and drops often enough that I don't even try to use it anymore. That's why I think powerline connecting to a second router as wireless access point inside the house would work much better.

 

[EricN]

Where I'm confused is shopping for wired routers. I didn't expect manufacturers to still be putting out a lot of these considering most people only want wireless these days. But the only affordable ones (>$200) I can find with gigabit LAN connections are all marketed as VPN routers for business. Since I don't need or want VPN, would you assume that could be turned off? Or if I go for a wireless router with gigabit ports, is it standard that you can turn off the wireless signal and have it function as a wired router only? I'm trying to find answers in the product descriptions and reviews but they are pretty buried. Right now the only router I know for sure would work would be the same model Nighthawk to pair with the one I already have but that's $200 where I'd like to spend half that at most.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=0XP-000A-00001

Wired gigabit routing only. Ubiquiti makes good stuff, btw.

 

[ElJimador]

If you put a switch in the office with all the machines, I assume the powerline is just to get to the router in the living room? If so, nothing will go over the powerline when communicating between machines on the switch in the office. The powerline connection would only be used for connecting to the router (internet) and any other equipment on that end of powerline.

Really? I thought switches were dumb and only direct traffic through the router? You're saying if I stick with my current networking setup and have desktop and servers connected on the same switch in the office, that when I write from desktop to server it's only going through that switch and not all the way to the router via powerline and back?

If that's the case that would be terrific since I've already got an 8 port gigabit switch in the office.

 

[MrBobb]

OK I hate it when they Ad "wired routers." To me Ethernet hubs are simply SWITCHES.

An 8-port Gigabit Ethernet switche can be had for under usd$50, Monoprice.com sells one, and typically a bare bone, no-frill gigabit switch is all one needs, and you did not mention any specific requirement. Most current WIFI routers include a 4-port ethernet switch if that's all you need.

I can't quite parse your long post, but yes, you want to avoid going through your powerlines if you can help it. So put your server where you need the bandwidth the most.

 

[ElJimador]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=0XP-000A-00001

Wired gigabit routing only. Ubiquiti makes good stuff, btw.

Thanks Eric. I noticed that model searching newegg before posting here and it does look pretty good. I was a bit concerned with the reviews saying a lot of CLI is required if you want to do any configuiring. But since there arent' any advanced features I'm looking to set up then hopefully it would be mostly plug and play for me.

 

[TornadoTJ]

They don't really require CLI, but the controller software for Windows is heavily Java based, and is finicky and flaky as hell. That said, unless you need a portal, you only need the controller software for initial configuration.

By the way, not all switches are dumb. There are smart switches too, which you can do all kinds of Layer 3 stuff with.

 

[bigbw]

I have this Buffalo wireless router and just turn the wireless function off.. It has 4 RJ45 GP ports, I use one to connect to a 16 port gigabit switch, everything else is wired to the switch.. This setup has been working fine for a long time for me.. If you need wireless, easy enough to buy an inexpensive N600 router and configure as a access point..


BUFFALO AirStation HighPower N600 Gigabit Simultaneous Dual Band DD-WRT Wireless Router - WZR-600DHP


bob

 

[TornadoTJ]

I think you mean you turned off the routing functions? It wouldn't work as an AP if you turned off the wireless function.

 

[Foxbat121]

A Switch can localize traffic (traffic between local devices are not going through uplink router unless it is a broadcast packet). That's probably what OP really needs. Two routers don't make much sense unless you have a very specialized usage. And no one is making any consumer grade wired only routers any more (I still have one back when Dlink actually made one) because it doesn't make economical sense. Just buy a $20 wireless router and turn off the wireless.

 

[bigbw]

I think you mean you turned off the routing functions? It wouldn't work as an AP if you turned off the wireless function.

Sorry was not clear.. the buffalo router and switch are in my structured cabinet, there are Ethernet lines to all rooms of the house. The wireless radio in the buffalo router is turned off.


I use an old wireless router configured as an access point in one of the rooms.. need this so my ipad and cell phone can connect..


hope this was a little clearer..

 

[TornadoTJ]

Gotcha. Kind of the same setup I have. The radio on my Verizon router is turned off, and I have access points and "wireless routers configured as APs" throughout the house.

 

[bigbw]

Gotcha. Kind of the same setup I have. The radio on my Verizon router is turned off, and I have access points and "wireless routers configured as APs" throughout the house.

I am thinking of putting in a ceiling mounted AP, they have some out that look just like smoke detectors.. Better "wife acceptance factor" then some others with lots of antennas sticking up..

 

[TornadoTJ]

That's what I have. Right now I'm on the Ubiquiti Unifi AP Enterprise ones. I tried a ZyXEL NWA1121-NI, but it was terrible. Never was able to get it stable. The Ubiquiti one is bigger around, but it is SUPER flat. Think of a Nest Protect, made round, and flattened. Oh, and you can turn off the LED ring on the Ubiquiti - you'll want to in the house.

I was a little upset that the Ubiquiti APs use their own type of PoE, which meant I couldn't use my PoE switch and had to use their injectors. But at least it came with them. Just now I have all sorts of crap plugged into my UPS's in the closet.

Oh, if you want 5ghz, the Ubiquiti APs get EXPENSIVE. This is why I still have some Asus routers configured as AP's around the house, just for 5ghz in one area I can't wire my wife's PC, and another in the bedroom for our phones and stuff. Both are hidden. I have the bedroom one mounted to the back of the dresser, for example.

 

[ElJimador]

A Switch can localize traffic (traffic between local devices are not going through uplink router unless it is a broadcast packet). That's probably what OP really needs. Two routers don't make much sense unless you have a very specialized usage. And no one is making any consumer grade wired only routers any more (I still have one back when Dlink actually made one) because it doesn't make economical sense. Just buy a $20 wireless router and turn off the wireless.

Thanks Foxbat. It sounds like all I really need is a gigabit switch for the office -- but not just any switch. That's where I'm still a little fuzzy. The switch I have there currently is this one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704173

Being an "unmanaged" switch, does that mean this type is dumb and can only direct traffic through the router? Or will this allow desktop and server sitting next to each other in the office to write through the switch only without going through the powerline to the router?

If this works then I shouldn't need any new gear. If it doesn't I need to know what kind of switch I'm searching for (or I'll just buy any wireless router w/gigabit LAN ports if it's standard that you should be able to turn off the wireless on any of them).

 

[TornadoTJ]

A switch, think of it like a power strip. All the same power is available at all outlets. And if you were to apply power to one of the outlets, that power would also be available at all outlets. Everything goes everywhere. (I realize I"m describing a hub, but for what we are talking about here, it is applicable).

The switch you have in the link is just fine.

 

[kapone]

Really? I thought switches were dumb and only direct traffic through the router? You're saying if I stick with my current networking setup and have desktop and servers connected on the same switch in the office, that when I write from desktop to server it's only going through that switch and not all the way to the router via powerline and back?

If that's the case that would be terrific since I've already got an 8 port gigabit switch in the office.

Bingo.

 

[TornadoTJ]

Ah yes, and now I see what was being asked. Kapone is right. So yes it's like a hub as I was describing, but only sends the traffic to the device being spoken to - so it's like a hub with traffic control.

 

[Foxbat121]

You definitely don't need a managed switch. What you described is a hub which you can't really purchase anymore. The difference between a managed and unmanaged switch is finer control over the traffic between ports and even the broadcasting packets. You will actually know how to manage the managed switch to make it work better than an unmanaged switch. And in home networking where a lot of operations like SSDP (device discovery), UPnP and DLNA is based on broadcasting packets (where an unmanaged switch will just forward to router), an incorrectly configured managed switch can make these features non-working.


No, non-broadcast traffic between two local ports on a switch does not get broadcasted to other ports of the switch. That's the definition of HUB which is useful only these days to capture network traffic.