ᐅ Networking Technology in 2016 for a Single-Family Home

Hello everyone,

I am currently planning the selection of network components for my future single-family home (approximately 200m² (2,150 sq ft)).

In this context, CAT7 cables will be installed in all rooms and centrally routed to the utility room, where they will be connected via a patch panel.

All in all, I will need a 48-port gigabit switch (preferably PoE or better PoE+).
The only question is: which model or brand, or from which manufacturer?

Do you have any experience? Can you recommend gigabit switches of this size?

Please no discussions about the size or design of the network switch.
I deliberately want to avoid local switches (for example, near the home theater wall) and connect all network cables to a corresponding wall outlet (my partner insists... theme "everything always has to look tidy" and so on...).

Thanks in advance for your input.

Best regards

I can’t recommend a specific manufacturer. But one tip: make sure to install empty conduits for future fiber optic cables. Copper will definitely reach its limits at some point.

Are you really using all 48 ports? Otherwise, I would start with just one patch panel (or two) and a 24-port switch. You can always upgrade later if needed.

I actually went through them and today I am already regularly using over 24 ports...

Sinus1986 schrieb:
The question is: which model / brand or which manufacturer?

The question is, do you need virtual LANs? Do you want or need to do a lot of administration and configuration, or do you just need a basic switch? Do all ports require power (PoE)?

Most likely, a combination of a "large" switch without PoE and a smaller PoE switch is a good option. This reduces initial costs and operating expenses (power consumption).

Really all ports with PoE? That will cost you upwards of 600€ for 48 ports. Of course, not all ports can deliver power according to the specification simultaneously, and in that case, you would be looking at a significantly four-figure amount with corresponding noise levels and possibly air conditioning depending on the environment.

Is your use case more like this:
- more than 24 ports
- just plug and play with no other demands
- a few devices occasionally need power over PoE

I would recommend using 2x24 port switches if you have the space and add PoE power via port-based injectors only when PoE devices are actually in use. Alternatively, you could add a small 8-port switch with PoE.

Just because you have more than 24 outlets in the house doesn’t mean they all need to be patched. That would be wasting money on unnecessary network ports.