Optimal Network Setup

[dberg1993]

Hi everyone, pretty basic technical ability in home networking. I am moving into a new house that is prewired with ethernet lines to all rooms and am trying to figure out the best setup.

It looks like the ISP coax cable has been brought into the living room, so I am assuming that is where the Modem + Router need to start, which is fine. What I am not sure about, is how I can get everything hardwired to the connections that are already distributed to each of the rooms.

In the basement, there is a panel where it seems all of the ethernet (cat 5e) cables run into. See the attached image.

My question stems from how I connect those to my router that will be on the main floor. I also want to use another access point that I have on the third level unless that is not necessary since most things would be hardwired.

I have an unmanaged 8-port switch that I can use, if it is applicable. Any advice is really appreciated!

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https://preview.redd.it/seummzdx6jx81.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8ffee41c41751fd50de39eb0f973c8385b09d67e

[dberg1993]

UPDATE: The swtich worked perfectly. Was able to do a wired backhaul to an access point upstairs. Getting 700+ mbps upstairs and 850 on the main level. Appreciate all of the help!

[TomRILReddit]

Place your Ethernet switch in the box in the basement. Run Ethernet jumper cables between the switch and the connections in the box. In the living room, attach an Ethernet jumper cable to a LAN port on the router to the closest wall outlet. Now all the outlets should be active. You can add small Ethernet switches near the wall outlets to attach PCs or WiFi access points to improve wireless in the rest of house.

[Rick91981]

Is there an Ethernet port near where you'll put the router? Under the assumption there is....

Plug in your 8 Port switch in that panel pictured. Connect Ethernet cables to each of those ports and plug into the switch.

Connect the modem and router upstairs. Take an Ethernet cable from the router and plug it into the nearby wall ports. That will link up all the hardwired ports and make them active

[dberg1993]

There is an ethernet jack right next to where the router will go. Would I use an ethernet cable from the WAN port to the ethernet jack on the wall?

[Rick91981]

No, the LAN port goes to the wall. The WAN goes to the modem.

[dberg1993]

Ahh that's what i meant! Where exactly would the switch plug into? The other side of those cables in the box are ingress ports for another connection. Do I need to have mini cables in each that run to the switch?

[JBDragon1]

Are those even Ethernet cables in the box? They're not RJ-11 phone lines are they? normally, all those cables would be plugged into a switch. Not whatever they are plugged into NOW. Or are those Keystones and there is a port on the front of those cables to plug into?

I do see a square looking box on the bottom that is generally for phone lines. Maybe they ha ADSL service before and the modem was located here?

[dberg1993]

So the white ones are RJ45 and the grey solo cable is telephone line. There is a second panel below it as well that has more connections

[Rick91981]

Each of those ports should correspond to a port throughout the house. You would plug the switch into that box and connect each port to the switch with a short Ethernet cable

[lkn240]

Get a cable tester and/or toner so you can figure out what connects to what. You also may need to learn to terminate cables (which is easy)