So assuming I have alot of ethernet connected devices to hook up which is very nondemanding network loads (even 10mbit per channel is enough for things like SD quality video, shared webbrowsing on an intranet that's mostly simpler text, compressed audio - and 100mbit certainly plenty per single channel if all it is is browsing even fancier HD stuff) i'm wondering about the wisdom of using a random mix of older consumer class, older server class switches, maybe even lowly hubs in a ghettonet as opposed to obviously what an ideal would be - wiring every port for 1gig to one or more central 48 port switches in an equipment closet.
Some of it is wondering if I can simply save on cabling, like if I find some 24port fast ethernet switch that maybe has 2-3 gigabit upstream ports, and I need 24 devices in that one room, is there any reason not to cascade routers like that. (turning off even the router at night when none of the devices are in use, like in an office)
Or whether things like intelligent 10/100/1000 sensing ports on a switch to a slower device will ever bring down the speed of other devices local to it, or if that doesn't happen on anything remotely new.
I'm fully aware that older slower ethernet modes are going to be bottlenecked by the slowest paths between two locations, i'm just wondering if there are potentially additional problems created in terms of jitter, latency, collision, or terms I don't even fully understand yet. (i'm no network engineer, I freely admit i'm just a hack who knows about computer stuff self trained) I've literally got boxes of old networking gear that i'm trying to find a use for that occasionally I find someone who might be able to use it, but would need help setting it up, and if hacks like a gigabit consumer router, to an old 24 port 100mbit switch on one channel for their office SIPphones, with one going to a local hub because they just needed a few extra ports over the 24 it supports is going to munge up everything i'd rather know.
I'm sure i'd learn all this the hard way once I try to set things up but I wouldn't even know why it's failing since i'm not a network engineer. I'm sure a network engineer could save me time by giving guidelines of what not to do and why telling me why it wont work that way though on a ghettonet.
Some of it is wondering if I can simply save on cabling, like if I find some 24port fast ethernet switch that maybe has 2-3 gigabit upstream ports, and I need 24 devices in that one room, is there any reason not to cascade routers like that. (turning off even the router at night when none of the devices are in use, like in an office)
Or whether things like intelligent 10/100/1000 sensing ports on a switch to a slower device will ever bring down the speed of other devices local to it, or if that doesn't happen on anything remotely new.
I'm fully aware that older slower ethernet modes are going to be bottlenecked by the slowest paths between two locations, i'm just wondering if there are potentially additional problems created in terms of jitter, latency, collision, or terms I don't even fully understand yet. (i'm no network engineer, I freely admit i'm just a hack who knows about computer stuff self trained) I've literally got boxes of old networking gear that i'm trying to find a use for that occasionally I find someone who might be able to use it, but would need help setting it up, and if hacks like a gigabit consumer router, to an old 24 port 100mbit switch on one channel for their office SIPphones, with one going to a local hub because they just needed a few extra ports over the 24 it supports is going to munge up everything i'd rather know.
I'm sure i'd learn all this the hard way once I try to set things up but I wouldn't even know why it's failing since i'm not a network engineer. I'm sure a network engineer could save me time by giving guidelines of what not to do and why telling me why it wont work that way though on a ghettonet.