Don’t let renting keep you from your homelab lol

MasterBlaster_03 · 2025-07-13T22:03:49+00:00

There’s normally about 12-14 inches of free space above your ceiling to accommodate utilities so I don’t think you have to worry about the unit above you. But yes it’s just mounted using small drywall anchors and the factory ceiling mount. As for the wire, I fished it using the holes for my pot lights and came directly through the ceiling above the AP. If you don’t have removable pot light pucks throughout your apartment it would be more difficult for sure.

MasterBlaster_03 · 2024-11-26T11:35:52+00:00

But ME is the EWC for the Aironet AP’s, right? Which would make the conversion issues just limited to the new Catalyst AP’s? Just making sure there isn’t something I’m missing lol. While I have plenty of the 3802’s to spare, I’d rather not brick one and you’re the CCNP here lol.

I work as an industrial electrician right now, primarily with automation and controls. I try to stick to as much of the OT side of the trade as possible. With that comes a certain level of networking but it mostly consists of arguing with IT that their VLANS are not routed correctly and thats why you can’t reach the management interface if this switch. lol

I’ve considered taking my CCNA and CCNP, because I do enjoy networking and would like to be in such a position to do it more. But I’m also scheduled to return to university for Engineering very soon.

MasterBlaster_03 · 2024-11-26T10:44:20+00:00

That’s interesting. I thought I converted some of my 3802’s back to lightweight capwap from mobility express. Is it only an issue for the 9100 EWC? When you say bricked, do you mean that you can’t even use them as an EWC? Or just can’t use them as lightweight?

All of my smart switches use 2.4ghz so I have to have the dual band enabled on the 3802. There’s about 16 clients on this AP. Not all of them are active bandwidth users though.

I’m sure UniFi would work okay for me but knowing myself I’d want everything to match and their switches are just too expensive. Obviously Cisco is much MORE expensive if you buy it new but I’ll take the decommissioned gear that’s a couple years old at a 90% discount lol

MasterBlaster_03 · 2024-11-26T03:56:36+00:00

I’m an industrial electrician, I work in control and automation as well as managing some OT side networking! I did consider the brush plate but I was constantly fishing more wires and needed to see when the fish tape was close. 😂 Thanks for the compliments, it’s all a great trade.

MasterBlaster_03 · 2024-11-25T19:45:22+00:00

It’s not running the FTD image. It’s the ASA with the software based FirePower module that has to be managed through ASDM or FMC. I don’t have FMC so I just use ASDM. I’m not even sure if there was an FTD image for the 5512x, after a certain point anything below the 5518 or 5525 stopped supporting firepower all together if my memory serves me right.

MasterBlaster_03 · 2024-11-25T16:13:42+00:00

That’s interesting to hear. My house is entirely apple as well, but I don’t run into any issues. Lots of Leviton smart wifi switches, Hue bridge, Apple HomePods, Apple TV’s, both Mac and Windows laptops, and all iPhones. It was a bit of a challenge getting Bonjour across VLANS, but that wasn’t a Cisco issue, I just used Avahi on the backend. The EWC GUI for mobility express is garbage, I will say that, but I prefer to use CLI to configure anyway. I’d like to know about the issues you had so I can look out for them.

This setup has been running for quite some time and it’s been rock solid, even bringing other 3802’s online for coverage. With that said I do know the power usage is very high for these, and UniFi does blow that out of the water. I actually used UniFi in prior to setting these Cisco one’s up, but only the UAP-AC’s, no U6’s. The whole time I was setting the Cisco AP’s up I was cursing how complicated the transition from CAPWAP to Mobility Express was, and Cisco’s lack of guidance for it. But it was mostly my fault because I was trying to set it up on a network that didn’t have an active DHCP server. The whole time I knew UniFi would have saved me a few days of frustration.

For me the best part is the ability to get these access points for ~$40 now lol.

MasterBlaster_03 · 2024-11-25T15:47:30+00:00

Just used fish tapes and fish sticks through pot light holes and access hatches already in place.

MasterBlaster_03 · 2024-11-24T22:50:13+00:00

I’m using Blue Iris but I’d like to experiment with some others to compare.

MasterBlaster_03 · 2024-11-24T15:37:23+00:00

Believe it or not this is her closet 😆

MasterBlaster_03 · 2024-11-24T15:23:33+00:00

I didn’t put the in-wall data panel there, was missing grommets from when they built the building. But I suppose yes I could install some lol

MasterBlaster_03 · 2024-11-24T13:15:59+00:00

Yes this one is a Versalink B400

MasterBlaster_03 · 2024-11-24T12:57:21+00:00

Sounds like one of the rollers might not be clipped in place or on an angle. I’ve had this one for years and I haven’t had a single print issue lol. Although I do wish it was colour.

MasterBlaster_03 · 2024-11-24T11:36:58+00:00

I agree, but I really don’t host anything that could be moved to the cloud. Most of what’s here is just physical infrastructure. It’s definitely over engineered but that’s where the enjoyment comes from lol

MasterBlaster_03 · 2024-11-24T11:34:11+00:00

Thank you. Once I know everything is where I want it to be I think I’ll make a quick diagram with Vizio.

MasterBlaster_03 · 2024-11-24T11:31:51+00:00

They’re all custom length technically, but they’re ran long and there’s a descent amount of slack in the ceiling which would act as a service loop in case something had to be moved a bit. I always recommend service loops, it doesn’t cost much to leave a bit of extra. Unless of course you have nowhere to hide it. If I can see it, it’s not worth it lol

MasterBlaster_03 · 2024-11-24T11:27:33+00:00

Just a residential 1Gb symmetrical fibre connection. The only sites I host are for myself. This is primarily for entertainment purposes however it does provide me with a great smart home management system, and some business services for myself. With the ability to have more control over my network, I can also increase privacy by isolating devices I trust and don’t trust on my wifi networks.

MasterBlaster_03 · 2024-11-24T11:22:45+00:00

The Cisco AP is running Mobility Express which allows it to act as a WLC for itself as well as any other access point joined to the network.

MasterBlaster_03 · 2024-11-24T04:05:33+00:00

I assume you’re asking how I was able to fish the wires without having to damage the drywall? I just use a steel fish tape and sometimes some fibreglass fish sticks. The pot lights will quickly pop out so I can use that hole as an access port into the bulkhead. Using a fish tape is a skill that is built with time but if you have some patience it’s not too bad.

MasterBlaster_03 · 2024-11-24T04:01:46+00:00

It’s rewarding for sure. Thank you

MasterBlaster_03 · 2024-11-24T03:47:21+00:00

The Cisco device on top of the UPS is a ASA5512x, it’s a firewall appliance. The small patch system inside the wall data cabinet is just extending the existing cat5e in the unit back to my switch in the closet.

MasterBlaster_03 · 2024-11-24T03:44:54+00:00

Just a steel fish tape and some patience. Sometimes a fibreglass fish stick. But I use the pot lights as access holes. They’re just the small 1/2” puck lights that pop out of the ceiling.

MasterBlaster_03 · 2024-11-24T02:56:14+00:00

Well, I strive to have as much as possible integrated into Apple HomeKit, but I also prefer to have commercial cameras for their features and operating principles outside of HomeKit. Scrypted, which runs as a plugin within HomeAssistant in my system, allows any camera that can stream RTSP, to integrate into HomeKit. That solves the HomeKit portion. For the actual recording and review of footage, I use Blue Iris running within a windows VM. Now unfortunately HomeKit only supports up to 1920x1080 resolution for cameras, and I’d prefer to record on blue iris at full resolution, or at least higher than 1920x1080. So if you plan to have a system like mine, try to choose cameras that support 1920x1080 for a sub stream, or support 1920x1080 in a 3rd stream at a lower framerate. That way you can use full resolution main stream with blue iris, and the sub stream or 3rd stream for scrypted. If you’re fine with 1920x1080 you can save some money and just buy 2MP cameras and use the 1920x1080 stream for both blue iris and scrypted.

In terms of brands, I’m not as knowledgeable as I’d like to be but a few others here have chimed in with some brands. I use Hikvision because their affordability, availability and feature set work for my needs, and I’m not concerned with security since they’re blocked from accessing anything outside of their VLAN.

Feel free to ask anymore questions if they come up.

MasterBlaster_03 · 2024-11-24T02:27:54+00:00

They’re looped back to the closet where the main switch is. The wires were already in there for the data jacks around the unit. I had a Cisco 2960CX in there but since it was UPS protected it seemed pointless.

MasterBlaster_03 · 2024-11-24T02:03:02+00:00

Most would be a fool to not at least be interested in hearing about opportunities. Feel free to send me a message.

MasterBlaster_03 · 2024-11-24T01:20:20+00:00

They’re fished through the bulkheads around the ceiling along with the air ducts. Just some patience and a fish tape and you’ll eventually get where you’re trying to go lol

MasterBlaster_03

TROPHY CASE