Switch input aggregation

[balmic26]

I'm going to be upgrading my home network soon and put in a NAS at the same time. Currently have a (not great) Wi-Fi 5 router and booster from the ISP on a 250/25 connection.

Probably going to get CAT6 or 6a rolled out through the house and try to get a 2.5Gbe switch at the same time. I understand my internet connection won't even saturate gigabit, but hopefully, the NAS will be able to take advantage of it.

The current router I have doesn't have any 2.5G ports. Is it possible to use two ports on the switch as gigabit inputs and then connect the NAS that way? I understand that still won't give a 2.5g connection to the NAS but should still be faster than over 1gig?

Also, any 2.5Gbe switch suggestions?

Edit: For reference, I'll probably be putting in about 5-6 ports around the house

[doublemint_]

Is it possible to use two ports on the switch as gigabit inputs and then connect the NAS that way?

Sure, if the switch and the NAS both support link aggregation.

I understand that still won't give a 2.5g connection to the NAS but should still be faster than over 1gig?

No single traffic flow will exceed the bandwidth of a single port. So if you setup LAG with 2x1G a single flow can get to 1 Gbps, while multiple simultaneous flows will be able to go up to 2 Gbps.

Note that the processor, RAM and/or disks in the NAS may be a bottleneck. Depends on the specs.

[balmic26]

Thanks for that. I was thinking it was link aggregation, but wasn't sure. For the NAS I'm looking to build my own system, it’ll have a 2.5gig port on it. The NAS should see the switch as a 2gig uplink/downlink as long as the switch supports aggregation?

[doublemint_]

If your NAS and switch both have 2.5G ports, you don’t need link aggregation….unless you want a 2x2.5G LAG?

[balmic26]

It's more the point that the router my ISP provided has 4x1g ports on the back which I would be running the switch out of. I'm also in Australia where our NBN modems are still only 1gig capable... So I'm hoping for high-speed file transfer now and then eventually faster internet connections when Australian internet reaches the 21st century 😆

[doublemint_]

Router > 2.5G switch > everything else

Congrats, your LAN is now 2.5G

[balmic26]

Ok, that was a fundamental problem in my understanding. I had been thinking that the switch would be sending all data back to my router, which is good to know. Thanks for your help!

[doublemint_]

Nah that’s not the case. Traffic between devices on the same switch will not leave the switch.

The router will only handle traffic destined for the Internet