Good evening everyone. I’m currently in the process of buying a new house that is in the process of being built. I’m trying to take advantage of this and will be wiring the whole house with Cat6. However, I’m looking for some input on hardware. At first I was planning on using a UDM Pro and a 24 port PoE switch. Right now, I don’t need the 24 port switch, but I’m trying to look at the long term. With the amount of wire I plan on running, I’ll end up filling 26 of the total 32 ports. But during this building process, I’ve started thinking that I might be better off going a different route. My other option is to go with a pfSense firewall and a 24 port PoE switch. Then I could use one of my two servers to run Frigate and handle NVR duties once I get around to setting up IP cameras. That’s really the only reason I was wanting the UDM Pro was the NVR capabilities. I’ll list out my current options since this probably makes zero sense.
Option A: UDM Pro, 24 port switch w/ PoE, Unifi U6 Lite WAP x2
Option B: Netgate 2100, 24 port switch w/ PoE, Unifi U6 Lite WAP x2
Option C: Protectli FW4C, 24 port switch w/ PoE, Unifi U6 Lite WAP x2
Options b and c would also utilize one of my two existing servers to run Frigate to cover the NVR role that the UDM Pro fills.
I’m open to input and if there’s an option you think i should look into and haven’t listed, let me know. I haven’t bought any hardware yet, so I’m not tied to any of the networking gear right now.
From a pure tech perspective I like the idea of Protectli FW4C (option C) a lot more than the other ones, but I’m not sure about price … 400+ is a lot.
I assume you’re not space constrained? Would you consider building an Intel 12400 or Intel 12100 system in a <15L case (ideas)?
Any chance you’ll need some 10G fibre runs while chasing out walls/drilling service holes? Just thought most of those boxes will have an SFP+ port.
Is it worth getting a patch panel?
I have a humble Cloud Key+ for the 1 unifi camera I have, with a view to get more when money available (but no more than 5). Good system, though the respected Tom of @lawrencesystems does like Synology to deal with cameras over ubiquiti’s system, he’s proved it to me it’s pretty functional.
I also went the poor man route with just a Unifi protect box, good enough for my use though.
Yes, you do right now, even if you don’t have the devices for it yet. I hope you are already planning on lots of ports throughout the house and that’s what you meant by “amount of wire I plan on running”. Since you are building the house and will have the access to do it, you should be adding ports to your rooms like:
bedrooms, 2 per room on opposite walls
living room, 2-4 in the area you think you will be hooking up your AV gear (wiring in a smart TV, game console, and receiver makes streaming more stable)
kitchen, 1 off to the side of the counter area
loft or den if you have one, 2 ports
garage, 1-2 ports
add 2-4 ports throughout the house where you will want to mount wifi access points for good coverage (they can be in a pantry or closet and hidden out of the way if you wish).
ports on the outside of the home or at least on the interior wall but right on the other side of where you will want security cameras at some point. (8-10?)
That can all easily add up to 24 ports. It is sad that even today there are any new houses built that arent fully wired for Ethernet. By now it should be in all builder’s minds, even in tract homes, to have the proper modern wiring in a house
if you are set on using unifi APs, get the UDM also. you might consider a UDM SE and then a non POE switch. depending on amount of cameras and APs you want. otherwise the PRO and a POE switch is good.
You pretty much read my mind with what I’m planning to do when it comes to running wire. According to my math I’m sitting at 26 ports for everything I want to run. At the moment I only need to PoE ports for the two WAPs, but eventually I’d like to add some security cameras.
Not really constrained on space. I would love to do something similar to the forbidden router. I was just trying to keep things relatively simple at first.
For reference, why I mentioned Protectli being expensive:
^^ N6005 and tons more ethernet networking and randomly wifi for some reason, for about the same money as that Protectli.
If you’re not space limited, then, do the son of the forbidden router … now/today, especially if you’re going there anyway ! It’ll serve you well for years, and it’s easy to start simple, and you don’t end up having to waste time figuring out 5 generations of different, somewhat lacking router setups along the way - which will be completely wasted effort.
Time spent tuning or troubleshooting router software setups accumulates, and if you’re likely to throw all mikrotik or unifi routing rules out the window, go with x86 now, spend 2x half a day setting it up and you’re done.
Come back with a PCPartPicker or whatever country source order list here for folks around here to double check, then do the building and OS setup next weekend, there’s a support thing on L1 discord to help you with software stuff - Proxmox+pfSense are so popular among this forum population you’re more likely to stumble onto someone using those than not, and you’ll have your $400-ish monster running in time for Christmas .
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