Reddit reviews NETGEAR 24-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Switch (JGS524) - Desktop/Rackmount, and ProSAFE Limited Lifetime Protection

Hah, that's cool. I'd be tempted to build a plex box but because I support and install a lot of synology it makes more sense to put one of those in at home.

Talk to your local friends and see if you can find a vaguely trustworthy computer shop. You should be able to rough-in all of the lines and have them terminate and configure if you don't feel up to it.

Just run Cat6, it's great for gigabit, fine for 10gig-e up to ~50m and anyway the vast majority of stuff > 1gbit is on fiber right now. If you think you'll want to run more later just include a string to fish with when you pull your current cable.

Running network is actually pretty easy, you usually punch down on either side of a long run and use patch cables for everything else. Punch blocks have the layout printed right on them so you don't even need to look up a spec.

Parts you need

• 24-port patch panel. May need a second smaller one if you're also doing POTS lines.
  
• 8U wall-mount rack adjust for needed spaces and size. Once that go on shelves work fine too. I like the ones that hinge open for working on but they're pricey.
  
• 24-port gigabit switch rackmount handy dandy. brand doesn't matter a lot since it's unmanaged, but rackmount is lovely.
  
• Low voltage gang boxes much easier to deal with than a full electric box.
  
• Wall plates - lots of options here. dual RJ-45 allows you to use both runs as network or phone. Combo network/coax is great for bedrooms and you can leave one network drop as a "spare". Keystone is the way to go for more complex stuff.
  
• 1ft Cat-6 x whatever. Pick your favorite colors, adjust length per your design specs. Way easier than making your own!
  
• UPS for devices that need it
  
• Surge protector for stuff that isn't on the UPS
  
• Network router w/ wifi + possibly additional access points
  
• Longer ethernet patches to run from the wall to devices
  
  I like Monoprice for a lot of stuff but not everything.
  
  

  Tools you need
  

  
  

• Snips / knife to cut bulk Ethernet and strip insulator
  
• A punch-down tool for the patch panels
  
• Zip-ties + velcro strips for various attaching of things to other things
  
• Phillips #1 & #2, Standard #1 for wall plates and rack mount
  
• Fishing rod, tape, string, and other tools to get wire in wall
  
• Drill, drywall saw, that sort of thing
  
• Beer

Note the one you linked is not a prosafe, not sure on its warranty. The prosafe 24 is a bit more expensive: https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-Ethernet-Lifetime-Replacement-Unmanaged/dp/B0002CWPW2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1504122432&sr=8-3&keywords=netgear%2Bprosafe%2Bgigabit&th=1

The default seller is not Amazon, would probably recommend getting it from Amazon and then register it with Netgear with a copy of the invoice/receipt.

What 24 Port Switch would you recommend? Just browsing I see this Netgear Switch (GS324) - $68 and this Netgear Switch (JGS524NA) -$119 and I'm not sure if I would benefit from the more expensive model being stuck with Charter and 60Mbps. Also after looking into it I think if I get cameras setup I will just get a NVR with POE vs getting POE right now.

If you're playing media locally, you should not need a transcoding intensive machine. But if you are streaming to a device you will need a good machine for transcoding. What is a "good machine" for transcoding. The most important spec is the processor aka CPU, but RAM and any size SSD will help add well. Lots of other good recommendations here in place of Pi for transcoding. Good luck. I'm setting up mine on Monday!!! EDIT: I'm setting up my PLEX Server on Monday, which is a 2012 Mac Mini i7 Quad Core 2.3ghz 16RAM 500SSD and Media is on a Drobo 5N hardwired through a Cat5 Switch. So excited!

Should I go with this switch?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002CWPW2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_GLzdBb1N7174Q

I'm using this for my Wi-Fi right now and it works great. I was planning on using it again.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LXL1AR8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_fQzdBb5Q5680Z

How many access points would I need over 1400 square feet? I wouldn't think it's very many.

I'm sure there will be some form of internet, and there will be some form of caching for content from Earth's internet, but I doubt we'll see large-scale recreational internet purely because of cost. It's on the order of $5k per kg to send something to LEO cheaply (it an be upwards of $15k on less efficient launch platforms). So let's assume we can do Mars cheaply and call it 5 times that cost to get there. An average rack mount server weighs around 25kg so we're already looking at ~$600k for the server itself. Add another 10kg for ancillary equipment (power supply (1.5kg), rack mount switch (3kg), some cabling (1kg), etc) and we're up to $750k. Add another 9kg for 16 TB of local storage and we're up to close to a million dollars, plus the cost of the hardware itself.

Then there's the power draw--850 watt hours for the server plus the other equipment. Let's ballpark that at 1 kilowatt hour, or 24 kWh per day if we want 24x7 availability, that's going to be 80kg of solar panels (excluding any ancillary equipment to manage the power and assuming 24 hours of production at light levels of open space near earth) for another $2,000,000.

I guess my point is that I really, really doubt that any Earth-Mars internet will be more than real-time emails and scientific data. Don't expect to watch Netflix on Mars Net.

I was looking at this TP-Link:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003BU0EKW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_GRswzbGTHG9TG

But only 5 year warranty.

This Netgear has lifetime warranty:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002CWPW2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_TSswzbEF9ZDNZ


Is the TP-Link still the better choice? If so, why?

I'm also getting fiber (1Gig).

Aw, I was just imagining you in your Eagles jersey, hugging one of these bad boys.

NETGEAR 24-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Switch (JGS524) - Desktop/Rackmount, and ProSAFE Limited Lifetime Protection https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002CWPW2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_vlSDDbPGDYEY7