[SOLVED] Little advice needed on growing network...

daveefarr · 10-12-2009, 03:58 AM

Hi all,

I need a little advice please. I am the IT manager of a small business and I need a little help with a networking layout I have.

Currently I have a Netgear 24 port switch which is connecting my 6 PCs and various network printers, Router, etc.

We are just about to expand into the next room and I am going to need to connect another 34 network ports to my existing LAN (although to be fair, at this point only another one PC and one more printer will be added initially).

I've been looking at buying a 48 port patch panel and 48 port switch to link up to my existing 24 port setup but it seems quite pricey. Is there any other options that I should perhaps consider?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Dave :0)

**johnwill** · 10-12-2009, 08:58 AM

While a patch panel is nifty, it's not really required to expand the network if you're on a budget. What specific switch do you have, and what are you looking at?

daveefarr · 10-12-2009, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnwill

While a patch panel is nifty, it's not really required to expand the network if you're on a budget. What specific switch do you have, and what are you looking at?

Hi! Thanks for your reply! I realise that a patch panel is just keeping things tidy, it's just because I have a network cabinet aleady and a 24 port panel in place. Currently I have a Netgear Prosafe JFS524 which is an unmanaged switch which is fine for our purposes.

We're expanding to the next room so we're going to have at least another 30+ network cables being run.

Cheers

Dave :0)

**johnwill** · 10-13-2009, 09:43 AM

If you want to use the patch panel, it does keep things neater, that's certainly true.

You can make it reasonably neat by just dressing the cables coming in and connecting directly to the switch, that eliminates the expense of the patch panel.

daveefarr · 11-12-2009, 02:26 PM

Hi! Just to let you know it's all sorted! Easier than I expected (I think I was just overthinking it really!) in the end I have just bought a second 24 port unmanaged netgear switch and linked the two with a patch lead. Job done it all works! Thanks anyway! You can close this thread thank you

Dave :0)

10-12-2009, 03:58 AM	#1 (permalink)
daveefarr Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Leicestershire Posts: 35 OS: Windows XP SP3	[SOLVED] Little advice needed on growing network... Hi all, I need a little advice please. I am the IT manager of a small business and I need a little help with a networking layout I have. Currently I have a Netgear 24 port switch which is connecting my 6 PCs and various network printers, Router, etc. We are just about to expand into the next room and I am going to need to connect another 34 network ports to my existing LAN (although to be fair, at this point only another one PC and one more printer will be added initially). I've been looking at buying a 48 port patch panel and 48 port switch to link up to my existing 24 port setup but it seems quite pricey. Is there any other options that I should perhaps consider? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Cheers Dave :0)

10-12-2009, 08:58 AM	#2 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,572 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Little advice needed on growing network... While a patch panel is nifty, it's not really required to expand the network if you're on a budget. What specific switch do you have, and what are you looking at? __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

10-13-2009, 09:43 AM	#4 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,572 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Little advice needed on growing network... If you want to use the patch panel, it does keep things neater, that's certainly true. You can make it reasonably neat by just dressing the cables coming in and connecting directly to the switch, that eliminates the expense of the patch panel. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

11-12-2009, 02:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
daveefarr Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Leicestershire Posts: 35 OS: Windows XP SP3	Re: Little advice needed on growing network... Hi! Just to let you know it's all sorted! Easier than I expected (I think I was just overthinking it really!) in the end I have just bought a second 24 port unmanaged netgear switch and linked the two with a patch lead. Job done it all works! Thanks anyway! You can close this thread thank you Dave :0)