The Great Home Networking Makeover Pt.1
The time has come to convert my motley crew of networking hardware into a group of top-notch, high performing, highly secure, forward looking, lean, mean, networking machines! Here’s a quick rundown on the current end devices:
- Verizon FIOS Modem (Actiontec MI-424WR)
- Windows XP Desktop
- Windows XP Laptop (802.11g)
- MacBook (OSX Laptop, 802.11n)
- Xbox 360
- iPhone 3g
- Linksys Wireless Router WRT54GS (802.11a/b/g)
The first limitation is the number of hardwired internet connections currently available. The Verizon provided Actiontec MI424WR has 4 RJ45 ports which are presently connected to the Linksys Wireless, Xbox 360, XP Desktop, and 1x floater. This leaves about 10 pre-ran CAT5e cable/ports around the house “dead”.
A second limitation is the wireless speed. The WRT54GS only supports a/b/g; we’ll have to up that to an 802.11n that supports full dual-band (wireless g + n, without significant slowdown of n).
The final, current limitation, is in regards to data sharing between machines and security of that data. At the moment, my music, photos, videos, data files et al are split between multiple machines. Sometimes redundantly, sometimes not making it especially difficult to find, organize, and utilize the information. I plan to create a home server to house that information, backed by a RAID, and push it out to all devices of the network. Especially the 360 (read: music, movies).
Here’s a quick rundown of the planned activity:
- Construct a standard 19″ wide rack to house networking hardware.
- Terminate existing, wired CAT5e cabling into a punchdown for easy wiring.
- Route FIOS modem to all RJ-45 ports in the house via 24-port Gigabit switch.
- Replace WRT54GS with dual-band wireless n access point.
- Construct home server + RAID.
- Consolidate and organize data; automate data backups from all networked machines.
Work has begun already, so stay tuned for more posts regarding this exciting improvement!
- The Dude
Tags: 360, networking, server, wifi