ᐅ Implementing LAN and Satellite Systems in a Single-Family Home with a Centralized Server Cabinet
Created on: 26 Feb 2019 13:16
E
enoausa
Hello everyone!
I have already looked around the forum a bit to find answers to my (partly more specific) questions about LAN/SAT wiring in a single-family house. However, overall, I didn’t really get the information I needed. Therefore, I would like to explain my situation here in detail, hoping to get some answers to my questions.
Key points:
I am currently planning the LAN/SAT cabling for our single-family house. The rest of the electrical work will be carried out by a professional. To save some money, I want to install the LAN and SAT myself.
Our single-family house has a ground floor (GF), an upper floor (UF), a garage with a workshop, and a small attic. We do not have a basement.
The LAN and SAT outlets should be generously distributed throughout the house and converge in the technical room on the ground floor.
The basic layout should look like in the two attached images.
At the green connection points, one outlet each will be installed (LAN with 2 ports, SAT 1 or 2 ports). The red connection points currently only have cables without outlets and are intended for optional future connections:
In total, the following number of connection points are planned throughout the house:
LAN – GF: 12 connection points (5 with outlets (each with 2 ports), 7 cables only)
LAN – UF: 7 connection points (5 with outlets (each with 2 ports), 2 cables only)
LAN – Total: 19 connection points (10 with outlets (2 ports each), 9 cables only)
SAT – GF: 5 connection points (3 with outlets (one 1port and one 2port), 2 cables only)
SAT – UF: 4 connection points (4 with outlets with 1 port each)
SAT – Total: 9 connection points (7 with outlets (five 1 port, one 2 port), 2 cables only)
All cabling should converge in the technical room and be installed in a server cabinet (19-inch, 12 rack units – RU). This cabinet should ideally be recessed into the wall (then it would be on the other side underneath the stairs).
For LAN, I plan to use duplex CAT7 installation cable, Gigabit 10 Gbit network cable, 1000 MHz shielded twisted pair (S/FTP).
For SAT, I plan to use 135 dB coaxial SAT cable, antenna cable, 4-fold shielded coaxial cable suitable for DVB-S/S2, DVB-C, and DVB-T BK.
All cables (19 duplex LAN = 38 connection points, including those currently only running inside the wall on the opposite side) will then be connected via two 24-port patch panels and a 24-port switch to the Fritzbox (Internet).
From the satellite dish, I want to connect to a multiswitch (inside the server cabinet) and from there to the SAT outlets in the house.
Questions:
I have already looked around the forum a bit to find answers to my (partly more specific) questions about LAN/SAT wiring in a single-family house. However, overall, I didn’t really get the information I needed. Therefore, I would like to explain my situation here in detail, hoping to get some answers to my questions.
Key points:
I am currently planning the LAN/SAT cabling for our single-family house. The rest of the electrical work will be carried out by a professional. To save some money, I want to install the LAN and SAT myself.
Our single-family house has a ground floor (GF), an upper floor (UF), a garage with a workshop, and a small attic. We do not have a basement.
The LAN and SAT outlets should be generously distributed throughout the house and converge in the technical room on the ground floor.
The basic layout should look like in the two attached images.
At the green connection points, one outlet each will be installed (LAN with 2 ports, SAT 1 or 2 ports). The red connection points currently only have cables without outlets and are intended for optional future connections:
In total, the following number of connection points are planned throughout the house:
LAN – GF: 12 connection points (5 with outlets (each with 2 ports), 7 cables only)
LAN – UF: 7 connection points (5 with outlets (each with 2 ports), 2 cables only)
LAN – Total: 19 connection points (10 with outlets (2 ports each), 9 cables only)
SAT – GF: 5 connection points (3 with outlets (one 1port and one 2port), 2 cables only)
SAT – UF: 4 connection points (4 with outlets with 1 port each)
SAT – Total: 9 connection points (7 with outlets (five 1 port, one 2 port), 2 cables only)
All cabling should converge in the technical room and be installed in a server cabinet (19-inch, 12 rack units – RU). This cabinet should ideally be recessed into the wall (then it would be on the other side underneath the stairs).
For LAN, I plan to use duplex CAT7 installation cable, Gigabit 10 Gbit network cable, 1000 MHz shielded twisted pair (S/FTP).
For SAT, I plan to use 135 dB coaxial SAT cable, antenna cable, 4-fold shielded coaxial cable suitable for DVB-S/S2, DVB-C, and DVB-T BK.
All cables (19 duplex LAN = 38 connection points, including those currently only running inside the wall on the opposite side) will then be connected via two 24-port patch panels and a 24-port switch to the Fritzbox (Internet).
From the satellite dish, I want to connect to a multiswitch (inside the server cabinet) and from there to the SAT outlets in the house.
Questions:
- Is it reasonable that everything (2x 24-port patch panels (2 RU), switch (1 RU), telephone system, SAT multiswitch + possibly a second switch + possibly NAS) fits comfortably into a 19-inch server cabinet with 12 RU (it shouldn’t be unnecessarily cramped)? Or would 9 RU even suffice?
- Is it easy to feed the currently 47 cables (19x LAN duplex + 9 coax) into the server cabinet?
- Is there a mounting frame for the SAT distribution equipment designed for installation inside a server cabinet?
- Do I need to worry about overheating? The technical room also contains the main service connection, a washing machine, and a (condensation) dryer.
- Can a 19-inch server cabinet with 12 RU, which is actually intended for wall mounting, be recessed into a wall? I was thinking of simply creating an appropriately sized hole so the server cabinet passes through the wall and protrudes out the other side (this would be no problem since it is under the stairs).
- What is the best way to ground the entire system?
- Is it really necessary to run the cables inside conduits (empty ducts)? Does this method truly allow the cables to be replaced later, or is it usually too difficult in practice to be a viable option? (We are building with a timber frame structure, if that is relevant.)
- Would you recommend installing Wi-Fi access points? If yes, where? I often read "in the ceiling," but I would actually prefer not to do that.
- Would you recommend installing more outlets? Overall, I would still have 10 free ports on the patch panels.
You can connect directly to the inwalls of Unifi using field-terminable connectors and installation cables. However, you will need different flush-mounted boxes.
Alternatively, remove the surface-mounted box, attach a keystone jack to the installation cable, connect a patch cable, and mount the access point over the opening.
Use a switch with PoE (Power over Ethernet) so that no power outlet is needed at the access point.
Alternatively, remove the surface-mounted box, attach a keystone jack to the installation cable, connect a patch cable, and mount the access point over the opening.
Use a switch with PoE (Power over Ethernet) so that no power outlet is needed at the access point.
rick2018 schrieb:
Embedding it is not ideal since you can only access it from the front.
You can also mount access points on the wall. The ceiling is better though.
If you really want it on the wall, check out the Unifi IW-HD. That way you would have access points and LAN ports combined.
Does the technical room have an (oversized) controlled ventilation system with supply and exhaust air?
Otherwise, I would think carefully about placing the equipment in a warm and humid room.
I would also consider an appropriate router and switch to work with VLANs.
I would choose at least a 12U rack cabinet. It fills up quickly.A fan module for our decentralized ventilation system is planned for the technical room.
In my case, embedding means that the front part of the server cabinet in the technical room would be visible, and the back part would stick out on the other side of the wall (under the stairs).
That way, I would have good access to both sides, right?
Tassimat schrieb:
Give the outlets outdoors the same access rights as the guests on the Wi-Fi. Or switch them off when not in use. That’s actually the advantage of your complex setup—you can use a good switch that has manageable ports. Or unplug it manually during winter.What would be an example of such a "good switch"? Or what term should I search for to find one with manageable ports?
Ideally, one with a few PoE ports to have the option to run one or two access points through it.
The option with the cabinet works. You just need to make sure it fits with the side panels.
For the network, I recommend Unifi. Both switch, access point, and possibly router.
You can run the controller on a Cloud Key, NAS, PC, etc.
This gives you full options regarding VLANs, multiple Wi-Fi networks, and more.
For the network, I recommend Unifi. Both switch, access point, and possibly router.
You can run the controller on a Cloud Key, NAS, PC, etc.
This gives you full options regarding VLANs, multiple Wi-Fi networks, and more.
First of all, thanks to everyone for the great feedback in such a short time!
I would simply leave those mounted. I slide the cabinet into the wall opening and then screw it at the top, bottom, and sides with two screws each through the server cabinet wall into the wooden wall. That should hold.
You just have to make sure it fits with the side panels.
I would simply leave those mounted. I slide the cabinet into the wall opening and then screw it at the top, bottom, and sides with two screws each through the server cabinet wall into the wooden wall. That should hold.
You can run the controller on the Cloud Key, NAS, PC, etc.
- Does a PC then have to run continuously, instructing the switch which port should have which settings? Or can I configure it once and have it stay saved "on the switch"?
- How do I ground the whole setup? Or is grounding necessary at this scale at all?
- Is there a mounting frame for the server cabinet for the satellite distribution where I can install everything?
- Inside the server cabinet would be the FritzBox (router), which also provides a Wi-Fi signal. Would an additional access point in the pantry (on the opposite side of the house) be sufficient for my house area covering both floors? I could also mount it on the ceiling there.
You need a controller that runs continuously. In your case, probably the Cloudkey. It is powered via POE. Just include it in the rack. It is small. Otherwise, many functions won’t work.
I would downgrade the Fritzbox to modem/phone system and get a Unifi router (USG). If you are on DSL or fiber and don’t need the telephone function, I would skip the Fritzbox entirely and use only a modem.
The Fritzbox doesn’t perform well and lacks sufficient power for things like VPN. It also cannot handle VLANs. That is the biggest issue.
For indoor access points, use the NanoHD. Choose a POE switch depending on the desired number of ports.
For the USG, either the very small or the medium model will work. The medium one supports IPS/IDS up to 250 Mbps and is housed in a 19-inch (19") case. If you don’t want to use IPS/IDS, the small one is sufficient. Without IPS/IDS, it can handle 1 Gbps WAN.
Discuss grounding with your electrician. You need grounding where the cabinet will be installed. The cabinets have a grounding connection.
Search online for “sat distributor 19 inch” or similar terms. You will find what you are looking for.
I would downgrade the Fritzbox to modem/phone system and get a Unifi router (USG). If you are on DSL or fiber and don’t need the telephone function, I would skip the Fritzbox entirely and use only a modem.
The Fritzbox doesn’t perform well and lacks sufficient power for things like VPN. It also cannot handle VLANs. That is the biggest issue.
For indoor access points, use the NanoHD. Choose a POE switch depending on the desired number of ports.
For the USG, either the very small or the medium model will work. The medium one supports IPS/IDS up to 250 Mbps and is housed in a 19-inch (19") case. If you don’t want to use IPS/IDS, the small one is sufficient. Without IPS/IDS, it can handle 1 Gbps WAN.
Discuss grounding with your electrician. You need grounding where the cabinet will be installed. The cabinets have a grounding connection.
Search online for “sat distributor 19 inch” or similar terms. You will find what you are looking for.
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