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Dragonerr's avatar
Dragonerr
Aspirant
Sep 01, 2024
Solved

Wire backbone for MK83 system with 3 Satellites?

I have set up my system with the router attached to a modem that provides near 1Gb inbound service. That router has a computer and printer attached by wire; the third router port is a wired connection to a switch in another room. That wire is the start of my wired "backbone" which resembles

     R <---> S <---> S <---> S

so there are three switches in three other rooms. Each switch supports, by wire connections, devices that have a moderate or greater need for internet or LAN bandwidth. Collocated with each switch (but not connected to it) is a mesh satellite. The satellites provide wireless connection services throughout the facility, albeit much more slowly than the wiring does.

 

My question is whether I can and should attach each satellite to its neighboring switch using one of its net ports. I assume that might remove the wireless communications between the router and the satellites and show significant speed up for the wireless but not sure if satellite to router talk CAN use wire. I'm looking for some guidance as how to best setup this system. Any help is appreciated.

 

As to usage: the only time there is significant sustained traffic on this LAN is when I'm moving large backups from a machine to a store on another computer.


  • Dragonerr wrote:

    Thank you for your reply wherein you said "It should be better than a WiFi link if you can manage it." and that might contain a pun. I'll start by saying that all the switches in my LAN are unmanaged. So if that is what you refer to by "manage", the suggestion is no wire. If, as is likely, you are speaking plain English, you are encouraging wiring up the satellites. I believe you meant the latter.

     

    Yes, plain English. I try to leave nerdspeak to others.

     

    Maybe I should have said if you can work out how to do it. Basically you plug the satellite into the router using one of the Ethernet ports on the back. It doesn't matter if there is a switch between the satellite and the router. Just plug the satellites into the switches.

     

    As long as the switches sit between the router and the satellite, it should be fine. That's what your diagram shows.

     

    As there are two Ethernet ports on the satellites, you will have a spare one to play with, to connect yet more bits and pieces to the network. Just in case your switches run out of connections.

     


    Just another user with time on their hands.

     

4 Replies

  • michaelkenward's avatar
    michaelkenward
    Guru - Experienced User

    Dragonerr wrote:

    ... but not sure if satellite to router talk CAN use wire. I'm looking for some guidance as how to best setup this system. Any help is appreciated.

     


    Wired backhaul, as it is know, would be a good idea. Your understanding is correct. It should be better than a WiFi link if you can manage it.

     


    Just another user with time on their hands.

     

    • Dragonerr's avatar
      Dragonerr
      Aspirant

      Thank you for your reply wherein you said "It should be better than a WiFi link if you can manage it." and that might contain a pun. I'll start by saying that all the switches in my LAN are unmanaged. So if that is what you refer to by "manage", the suggestion is no wire. If, as is likely, you are speaking plain English, you are encouraging wiring up the satellites. I believe you meant the latter.

       

      Also you said "Wired backhaul, as it is know, would be a good idea." which I did not know. I guessed that it should be but that it could be model-dependent, etc. As I was trying to make known in my original message, I am ignorant of many things in this area and am a believer in asking those who are better informed before trying a random electric connection.

      • michaelkenward's avatar
        michaelkenward
        Guru - Experienced User

        Dragonerr wrote:

        Thank you for your reply wherein you said "It should be better than a WiFi link if you can manage it." and that might contain a pun. I'll start by saying that all the switches in my LAN are unmanaged. So if that is what you refer to by "manage", the suggestion is no wire. If, as is likely, you are speaking plain English, you are encouraging wiring up the satellites. I believe you meant the latter.

         

        Yes, plain English. I try to leave nerdspeak to others.

         

        Maybe I should have said if you can work out how to do it. Basically you plug the satellite into the router using one of the Ethernet ports on the back. It doesn't matter if there is a switch between the satellite and the router. Just plug the satellites into the switches.

         

        As long as the switches sit between the router and the satellite, it should be fine. That's what your diagram shows.

         

        As there are two Ethernet ports on the satellites, you will have a spare one to play with, to connect yet more bits and pieces to the network. Just in case your switches run out of connections.

         


        Just another user with time on their hands.