Help a somewhat techy find a 24 port switch and other devices for my network rack?

[Imola Ghost]

We are getting fiber internet installed soon after having Xfinity's 2Gb Service. I've got a relatively simple setup and works very good but I'd like to make better when I install a network rack in a storage space. I'm looking at 12u wall mount open rack because the whole room is separated from the house.

The current internet comes into via coax cable to my modem then out via CAT6 to the rest of the house.

Each room (3 rooms) has a 5 or 8 port switch to handle that rooms wired devices.

With this fiber install I'm wanting to get a 24-48 port network switch to handle the house instead of each rooms 5 or 8 port network switch.

When this fiber is installed do I need to find a switch that takes a fiber IN connection or CAT6?

Either way, do you have any suggestions for a home use switch to handle this and I'll also need POE but not sure it's POE+ or POE++. I doubt it's the + or ++ versions but I'd prefer to buy for future proofing a little. Right now I just have one or two POE devices but I'd like to add some POE cameras eventually.

I've got about 15 wired devices and about 30 wireless devices throughout the entire house. I like to wire things that have a Ethernet port I read of wireless if the device is going be there and not moved.

Managed would be nice just in case but not sure here.

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[danniexi]

ubiquiti for the win.

my current setup:

• Dream Machine Pro Max
• Pro Max 24 POE (though I would've gotten the Pro HD if it was available at the time)
• U7 Pro Max
• U6 Enterprise In-Wall (2x)
• assorted G5 cameras

totally expensive and 100% overkill but I love the setup. my entire home is blanketed in wifi and also provides 6E connections for all my Apple devices. the U6E in wall provides a 4-port switch as well so i can connect a few devices via CAT6.

as for WAN input, you will most likely have to connect the fiber ONT to the UDM via CAT6. the only provider where you can directly connect via fiber is AT&T. still, CAT6 will be more than enough to provide the full 2gbps speeds from your ISP.

 

[Imola Ghost]

I am getting AT&T Fiber.

I guess I'm just wondering to get started should I just buy a Ubiquiti 24 port switch and grow it from there. 🤷🏻‍♂️

It feels odd that I'm adding in the Dream Machine when I don't really know what it does and I've never had a device in front of my switches ver before. It's just been the cable modem and then my switch. I don't see the point of the Dream Machine yet.

I understand the 100% overkill for me but I know I'd love having Ubiquiti stuff.

 

[Pressure]

I am getting AT&T Fiber.

I guess I'm just wondering to get started should I just buy a Ubiquiti 24 port switch and grow it from there. 🤷🏻‍♂️

It feels odd that I'm adding in the Dream Machine when I don't really know what it does and I've never had a device in front of my switches ver before. It's just been the cable modem and then my switch. I don't see the point of the Dream Machine yet.

I understand the 100% overkill for me but I know I'd love having Ubiquiti stuff.

The UDM is the router and also runs the Ubiquiti software stack (Network, Protect, Talk, Access and Connect). This enables you to monitor and manage your network as well as add and configure products, be it cameras, phones etc.

Although people overbuy for some weird reason when it comes to Ubiquiti.

If you just need a switch and a fine with managing it with a local copy of the Network application then just buy a switch. I assume your ISP provides you with a router.

Otherwise you can buy cheaper options as Ubiquiti is the "Apple" of networking, except you get treated as a beta tester.

 

[Imola Ghost]

Ok.

So the Dream Machine just allows me to log in with their software to configure things?

I see some have a hard drive bay. Is that kind of like having a Apple Time Capsule?

So if I got just the 24 port Ubiquiti switch I can still log in directly and configure it even without having the Dream Machine?

 

[Pressure]

Ok.

So the Dream Machine just allows me to log in with their software to configure things?

I see some have a hard drive bay. Is that kind of like having a Apple Time Capsule?

So if I got just the 24 port Ubiquiti switch I can still log in directly and configure it even without having the Dream Machine?

No, it's a router that can run the software from Ubiquiti. It replaces the ****** router you usually get from your ISP.

The storage bay is for camera storage. If you don't need that you can buy cheaper options or stay with the ISP supplied router.

Do you know if your fiber is GPON or XGS-PON?

You need to install the Network Server application on your computer to manage the switch or any other Ubiquiti equipment in the UniFi line-up.

 

[Imola Ghost]

I always thought the supplied modem and wireless router was a combo unit, at least that's been my experience in the past and true for what I have now with Xfinity 2GB service. Does AT&T Fiber allow the use of your own modem? I've read where AT&T doesn't allow bridge mode on there modem/routers but not sure.

I'm not sure on the Fiber specifics. It's AT&T Fiber.


I guess I could get Dream Machine first to get into the Ubiquiti stuff and then add the switch later.

Sounds like I need the Dream Machine first anyway.

 

[Pressure]

I always thought the supplied modem and wireless router was a combo unit, at least that's been my experience in the past and true for what I have now with Xfinity 2GB service. Does AT&T Fiber allow the use of your own modem? I've read where AT&T doesn't allow bridge mode on there modem/routers but not sure.

I'm not sure on the Fiber specifics. It's AT&T Fiber.


I guess I could get Dream Machine first to get into the Ubiquiti stuff and then add the switch later.

Sounds like I need the Dream Machine first anyway.

There are other (cheaper) options in their line-up.

Just take a look at their UniFi Cloud Gateways and see what your needs are.

You can manage the switch by installing the Network Server on your computer. It's not like you need to monitor or configure it at all times. Set and forget.

You can bypass your ISP supplied fiber box / ONT entirely with an SFP+ ONT that masquerades as theirs and then plug it directly into the SFP+ port on the Dream Machine Pro / SE / Max.

You can do many advanced things if you love to tinker with it 😅

What are your actual needs though? Just a new switch?

 

[Imola Ghost]

Gotcha

I finally got a very nice area to setup a network rack. I bought a Startech 6U rack and plan on mounting it next week once the electrical gets installed.

I'd like to buy rack mounted devices since it's kind of works with my setup. 👍🏻

My actual needs are just I like to tinker and learn about this stuff. I figured I have a nice rack I might as well put some nice network stuff in it.

But my actual needs are about 20 wired devices from the switch and the rest is all wireless. I'm really digging the idea of the Ubiquiti ceiling AP's! Where my rack will be is extremely easy to run some direct wire to a AP in the ceiling. I could probably cover my whole house with two AP's.

I am an audiophile so I keep all of my lossless music stored on my Mac Mini. I'd eventually get some Ubiquiti device that would work as a NAS for storage of music and/or ripped Blu-rays.

 

[Imola Ghost]

On the Dream Machines, can the hard drive storage be used for any kind of data to be shared with other devices? Kind of like a NAS?

If not I see no reason for me to get a Dream machine and would need to just look for a Router that had the Ubiquiti Network Software ability.

 

[Pressure]

On the Dream Machines, can the hard drive storage be used for any kind of data to be shared with other devices? Kind of like a NAS?

If not I see no reason for me to get a Dream machine and would need to just look for a Router that had the Ubiquiti Network Software ability.

No, it's even a flawed design for secure footage as there are zero redundancy built-in.

You have to either upgrade to a dedicated Network Video Recorder (NVR) or the Dream Machine Pro Max to get redundancy.

If you need network attacked storage you have the UNAS Pro.

The much cheaper Cloud Gateway Max records to an M.2 NVMe SSD instead (still no redundancy offered) though.

Again, you can manage your network with the software you install locally on your computer and just start with the switch. You only need the software to actively manage or add devices and then it doesn't even need to run when they are first adopted and set up.

 

[Imola Ghost]

Alright I just purchased the Dream Machine Pro and the Switch Pro 24 POE.