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If you get the chance, always run more extra network fiber cabling

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Re: If you get the chance, always run more extra network fiber cabling

#21

Yeah, we got a new house built 4 years ago and one of the biggest regrets is not enough ethernet outlets (running fibre in the house isn't practical yet) and power outlets in various places. It is really hard to think of all the places you would want them ahead of time unfortunately and as each has a cost you don't want to incur it unnecessarily. But my biggest regrets were: - Only a single ethernet port in the basem…

> Only a single ethernet port in the basement. Then the kid wanted a gaming station and we moved where the TV was. I should have put like 4 down there.

Is it so bad to put in a switch?

Re: If you get the chance, always run more extra network fiber cabling

#22

Yeah, we got a new house built 4 years ago and one of the biggest regrets is not enough ethernet outlets (running fibre in the house isn't practical yet) and power outlets in various places. It is really hard to think of all the places you would want them ahead of time unfortunately and as each has a cost you don't want to incur it unnecessarily. But my biggest regrets were: - Only a single ethernet port in the basem…

That's why pretty much every office space/building over here has cable trunking/channels on the walls instead of fixed wiring, eg:

https://www.elba.si/izdelki/parapetni-kanali/

https://www.obo.si/izdelki/izdelkiinstalacije-v-zgradbah/bis...

Need one more outlet? Remove the plastic cover, insert cable, insert outlet, cut the plastic cover to make space for outlet, and you're done.

Re: If you get the chance, always run more extra network fiber cabling

#23

Yeah, we got a new house built 4 years ago and one of the biggest regrets is not enough ethernet outlets (running fibre in the house isn't practical yet) and power outlets in various places. It is really hard to think of all the places you would want them ahead of time unfortunately and as each has a cost you don't want to incur it unnecessarily. But my biggest regrets were: - Only a single ethernet port in the basem…

> Only a single ethernet port in the basement. Then the kid wanted a gaming station and we moved where the TV was. I should have put like 4 down there.

Just drop a switch down there.

Re: If you get the chance, always run more extra network fiber cabling

#24
post #8

1. High-level, the post is all wrong. The point should be that you always need to make sure you can pull new cable . The poster illustrates this: single mode, multi mode, non-fiber, etc, etc. And if one "goes bad", you still can't run a new one, unless you have a pullstring. 2. The post cannot apply to fast/large networks - will be prohibitively expensive. 3. If running a few at home, I suggest to run MTP/MPO. It's b…

Pull strings don’t give you a way to pull new cables. They give you a backup way to pull new cables. Every cable in a conduit can be used to pull its own replacement or 2. But if anything goes wrong, you have a second chance before you have to go find the fishing rod.

Re: If you get the chance, always run more extra network fiber cabling

#25
post #4

Yup, always run extra everything. At least you can splice fiber now. And be careful of the minimum bend radius. Once, in the 90s, we were having intermittent network failures in our data center. I kept trying to troubleshoot it with the fluke, but the problem kept moving. When I pulled up the raised floor, I discovered that rats were eating the exterior sheath of the network cables. That was some fun troubleshooting!

Have fusion splicers come down in price? Can you recommend any?

Re: If you get the chance, always run more extra network fiber cabling

#26
post #7

Regarding single mode vs multi-mode ... other than cost, is there any reason at all to run multi-mode fiber in 2025? I was under the impression that single mode was better in basically every way.

Multi-mode transceivers used to be a lot cheaper than single mode, but now they're around the same price for short distances. From what I can tell, most datacenters appear to be making the switch to single mode even for in-room networking.

Why does multi mode sound like it should carry more bandwidth but from context seems to be the less interesting option?

Re: If you get the chance, always run more extra network fiber cabling

#27

Yeah, we got a new house built 4 years ago and one of the biggest regrets is not enough ethernet outlets (running fibre in the house isn't practical yet) and power outlets in various places. It is really hard to think of all the places you would want them ahead of time unfortunately and as each has a cost you don't want to incur it unnecessarily. But my biggest regrets were: - Only a single ethernet port in the basem…

> Only a single ethernet port in the basement. Then the kid wanted a gaming station and we moved where the TV was. I should have put like 4 down there. Just drop a switch down there.

I have, but now I have cable running along the base boards. That isn't optimal. Also I have 10G networking, so the ethernet switches are hot and expensive.

Re: If you get the chance, always run more extra network fiber cabling

#28

Yeah, we got a new house built 4 years ago and one of the biggest regrets is not enough ethernet outlets (running fibre in the house isn't practical yet) and power outlets in various places. It is really hard to think of all the places you would want them ahead of time unfortunately and as each has a cost you don't want to incur it unnecessarily. But my biggest regrets were: - Only a single ethernet port in the basem…

> Only a single ethernet port in the basement. Then the kid wanted a gaming station and we moved where the TV was. I should have put like 4 down there. Is it so bad to put in a switch?

It does sort of suck because I have cabling running along the baseboards. Also I have 10G networking so the switches are costly and hot at least this generation.

Re: If you get the chance, always run more extra network fiber cabling

#29
post #9

Originally thought this was excessive, but at least 4 per outlet/room. Saves buying a bunch of smaller switches. 1 for a switch (Although VLans can help) 1 for telephony if required 1 for media devices / peripherals 1 extra Optional fun use of HDMI over ethernet for more runs. Behind TVs, you can break it down, or just run a bunch of runs.

I routinely wish someone had designed a power outlet shaped switch that runs on POE.

But some brands would run too hot for an enclosed space and a Netgear one would burn your fucking house down.

Re: If you get the chance, always run more extra network fiber cabling

#30
post #4

Yup, always run extra everything. At least you can splice fiber now. And be careful of the minimum bend radius. Once, in the 90s, we were having intermittent network failures in our data center. I kept trying to troubleshoot it with the fluke, but the problem kept moving. When I pulled up the raised floor, I discovered that rats were eating the exterior sheath of the network cables. That was some fun troubleshooting!

Have fusion splicers come down in price? Can you recommend any?

You can have them second hand for ~500€ on ebay
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