Word of caution, I think the cat5 cable you bought is actually CCA, aka copper clad aluminum. It’s total and complete trash, I bought a box due to its price and didn’t realize what it was until a year or so later when I started having issues here and there. I wouldn’t have thought it would have mattered since the wire was all inside in climate controlled areas, wrong, if I were you I’d throw that stuff in the trash and replace all you made from it or at least mark them all so when weird things happen you know which cables to start replacing then.
I agree, always Cat6 or Cat6a, here at Portugal🇵🇹, our Telecom Authority ANACOM a few years ago, banned the installation of cables lower than Cat6 and only 100% copper cables are allowed. We have a regulation called ITED Manual, you can consult to know more about our legislation and regulation in telecom infraestructures.
as someone who has built out data centers and a home-labber myself, great job!! be careful with pass through rj45's. seen them melt POE switches a few times. make sure no copper is exposed
@@Raku235 basically leaving too much copper beyond the rj45 connector. You want the strands to be flush or just under the edge of the rj45 connector with the pass thru. Otherwise, if the copper extends, it could cause shorts or even cause issues to what it’s connected to.
Feels good to have it all organized, doesn't it? I've rearranged mine so many times and I'm grateful for the rackstuds! You did a good job & it all looks nice. I did get a brush panel for mine, in order to organize my Reolink POE camera cables. It's easy to get caught up with all the options. Like you, I ordered/returned several things before I had everything I needed. I bought the rackpath 12u cabinet. Thanks for sharing and take care my friend!
If you get a UPS you can plug one power distribution into critical and one into non critical. Then it is easy to power what you want to keep alive in an outage. For me I used a deeper rack and put AV stuff on one side (not critical) and networking stuff on the back with UPS backup power.
If you have access below or above the main floors of the house via basement, crawlspace or attic you can run Ethernet. It's not complicated, but it can be a huge pain, but also rewarding. Nice job on the rack!
If looking for a wifi replacement, I would consider using access points (APs). You can pick up unifi APs for ~$100 and they will make use of your POE switch. Nice job on the rack and +1 for the rack studs.
Nice work! Cable management is about getting the right lengths. As for cage nuts, there is a tool. Once you get used to it, its quite easy. Also, try to keep your power on one side and data on another. After you wire a few networks it get easy. Also, I always run plenum grade cable; while not required in the home, I still use it. Structured cabling habits die hard.
Thanks for showing us what is possible. I've been in process of building a closet rack for good while, but Life's been getting in the way. Yet, you remind me to get back to that Task. Thanks.
+1 For Asus zenwifi/ai-mesh. Really like the fact you can mesh different models, and the range on the units is really good. I bought an xd4 mini originally just to use as an AP in my lounge - still got really good 5ghz signal in my bedroom, 2 floors up!
I'm also running the Asus system and it does very well. Have my router in the basement of my two story 1950s built home, with zenwifi node in my first floor office and 2nd floor guest room. we have great wifi everywhere, even on our backyard patio.
I just finished getting my first rack up and running with mostly Unifi components and also a Nave Point case. I did go all in and run cable from the rack to a few different rooms in my house, which was built in the 1940s. It wasn't that bad, really. I'm sure you could definitely do this in your house if you have some of the right tools. You might need to learn how to cut and patch some drywall and maybe add a few yellow or red tools to your mostly white tool collection, but it's doable.
Try TP-Link DECO just for small places/small home - up to 2 bedrooms apartment. Omada for a bigger house with garage and yard, but you'll need a POE switch to power your wi-fi devices and probably if you want to exchange your cameras in the future, you can use POE to power them. Considering the CAT5E cables, try to replace them at least on your rack, connecting your devices such as NAS and e-security stuff on your switch with a good CAT6E or even 7... Between your off-rack devices is just ok, especially if you not using multi gigabyte devices...
Prior to diving into the Ubiquiti rabbit hole, we used an EERO mesh system to cover roughly 4300 square feet of our house; it was really easy to set up and other than initially interfering with our wireless soundbar, I don't recall having any other issues or dead spots with it.
For a wifi replacement, I just bought the Asus ZenWifi Pro ET12 and it's fantastic. Extremely fast, has 2.5Gb ports on each unit (1 for WAN, 1 for LAN, then 2x1Gb ports for LAN), and supports Wifi 6E. I got it primarily for the load of features in the Asus firmware (VLAN, firewall, etc etc) until I move over to OPNsense, and to use as a wireless backhaul from my cable modem at the front of the house to my 16-port switch in the back of the house with my server/homelab stuff. Sure beats my old Powerline backhaul!
Would suggest OPNSense over PFsense. Since pfsense is owned by Netgate. Lots of issues and since the latest versions I’ve got lots of issues. The community of OPNsense and the guys themself are much nicer to home labbbers. Also would suggest moving to Home Assistant and maybe VMWare or proxmox to run it on a VM. I do that too and in case of errors just rollback a Snapshot. Also home assistant has Docker inside. Therefore you can run the UniFi controller from there and just buy the U6+ AP’s only. Saves you a few hundred bucks :)
ve been wanting to do this for a while now. I have very limited space and don;t have a spot to wall mount anything so I'd probably get one that's on wheels. I just want to organize. I haven't done much for IOT devices just because I don't want a pile of hubs and switches sitting behind the TV or something. I just haven't committed to the project yet. But it's a great idea. Having everything in one spots a lot cleaner and convenient.
Cool setup and definitely can see your hardwork and learning payoff with this neat setup. It could be better in terms of technicality and "ohh you could have done that this way" from a lot of folks but this video motivated me to get a rack and perform my own setup in my home. Thank you.
I think a good mesh wifi replacement would be with ubiquity and unify products. Also offer great surveillance cameras with POE if you’re looking to expand.
it is super clean but if you wanted it to look nicer sneaking 1-2U of horizontal wire management that is not very proud would hide a ton of the wire if thats the look you were interested in. sometimes the small loops like that look and work nice aesthetically also, beautiful design well done, and awesome showing people how
If you haven’t landed on a mesh networking solution yet. I can vouch for Asus routers flashed with Asus Merlin firmware as a good solution. It’s not entry level or advanced but definitely a nice middle ground. Their mesh works flawlessly and I’ve been rocking it for about 3 years now with zero issues.
Good job with the video. Thanks for sharing. if you haven't gotten a new mesh wifi system, I'd recommend considering an Orbi Mesh system. They're great and are rock solid.
I'm in the same boat as you. I have the older Google WiFi generation and it's been a huge blocker since I started my home lab. It's a great mesh system-somewhat limited-but it worked fine for years. Anyway, I am in the process of overwriting the Google WiFi OS with OpenWRT, which should save me the cost of buying a new mesh system while I'm building my rack :)
Unifi is what I have in my house but I would got Aruba instant APs off ebay!! Make sure it say IAP. You program one and then the rest just join up when you plug them in
Great build! I'd recommend NOT using pass through (pass-thru) RJ45 connectors especially with PoE they can void your warrenty. I like the 2 piece style RJ45 connectors the loading bar keeps the strands organized but doesn't leave copper ends exposed.
4:30 I remember back in 2009 when I took my networking class in college, we didn't have access to the RJ45 connectors that let the whole cable pass to the front, we had to measure by hand and make sure he little filament would make contact with the copper pieces of the connector. it was a nightmare. so much wasted cable.
Best practice is to use factory patch cables. As strange as it might seem, cable termination is not as reliable on the long run, particularly if you're not doing it day in day out.
Good replacement for your wifi...go with Unifi for everything from cameras to router and switches. Its the perfect ecosystem, I have been using it for years and will never go back to anything else.
I had a nest wifi pro system and we absolutely hated it because it randomly would go offline and the pings were super high. Once we sent it back we got a TP link wifi 6e mesh system and it's been perfect. I'm pretty sure the model we got is the AXE5400.
@@MakeItWorkTech As soon as we set it up it has not given us one issue. The coverage is amazing and the speeds are so much better then the nest system.
The AXE5400 is an awesome mesh system. I got mine at Costco last year. Switched from the google nest as well. Trying to get away from google as well as Amazon. Wi-Fi 7 is too expensive and this is the best priced 6e system. Especially if you are only using gig or 2.5 gig switches
Not bad. Running cables are essential for having a good home network. I don’t like that you have so many different hubs. The back area with the plugs is no bueno. I also didn’t see any sort of UPC or battery backup for your setup. I don’t think your Plex setup should be in there as it should be in a prime location where you consume content most. This way if you ever become an Audiophile, you have a place to build out further.
I feel the google mesh pain because I'm in a similar situation with Eero. Frankly the Eero has worked great, but I wish I didn't have to use the app and I wish I could do VLANs. Everybody tells me Unifi is the way to go, but I haven't taken the plunge yet; the Eero is working and hasn't annoyed me enough that it's worth the expense and trouble of switching yet. I also wish I could run ethernet everywhere. The previous owners put drywall ceilings in the basement so I can't just easily run wires from the basement up into the rooms above. I've been making do with MOCA over the coax that is run to nearly every room, and that's actually performed surprisingly well, but the adapters are not cheap. I would like to run ethernet up from the basement into the attic, and then down into the rooms that way... but our attic is so shallow and there is so much insulation it is basically impossible to navigate up there. I really don't know how I'm going to do it. Also, being in Canada, I want to be careful about punching holes up into the attic that allow warm moist air to flow up and condense in the attic. I'd be open to any ideas anyone has.
+1 for Unifi Had an ASUS Router previously, but after it started making issues, I switched to Unifi and omg I never had a better router dashboard or more options to configure. It's just rock solid, super customizable, but also easy to work with. Never going back to consumer grade devices.
I have the deco m9. I've had it for a few years but it works for my home needs. Just curious what the benefit of having a brush panel vs patch panel would be.
Always make sure when you mount the rack that it's not going to be in the way of anyone ,espeically if the door is open as people tend to bang their heads on it and it pixxess them off ,especially commercial installs . Also if it's going to be fixed on dry board make sure you use Gripit fixings and not curly wurly plugs as they're not strong enough to hold it . Oh and if you're gonna.make your own patch cables use a boot to go on the end as it protects them and also.looks a lot more professional.
Well done. I've been lucky enough with my own home automation networking not being too challenging seeing as I administer networks and design and install them as a career for the last 30-ish years. From that perspective I'll say you did a great job.Make sure you've got decent airflow around that gear so small circulators would be a good addition.
Makes a change not to see unifi kit everywhere 🙂 having said that I am thinking of ditching my Draytek and Netgear kit and moving over... 😱 Aren't brush panels just cable management and completely different things from patch panels... or am i missing something?
Helpful video! I am doing a remodel install of a rack but unfortunately, I only have a small closet to use for my IT closet. I believe a rack the same size as yours or one similar to it will fit. My issue is ventilation. I do not want to put a louvered door on the closet. I do have access to a room on the side of the closet and could put an air duct in the closet right now but I was not sure if that would be too much or not. Any suggestions on best way to vent it either somehow around the door to the closet or out the side through a wall into the adjacent room?
I don't have any specific knowledge on ventilation, but I actually do have a PC cabinet that is vented into A wall between two studs, then on the other side of the wall I have two vents that allow the air to exit into the room on the other side
Great job, everything is bolted down so when the house catches fire, you will be sure not be able to save that data..😂😂😂 also great job on consolidating the most costly equipment in one place for a thief..nice..your quite generous..😂😂
This is a cool video, but for the TerraMaster what was the thinking behind not including a NIC on it. It's not really a NAS without the network part of network attached storage.
With that cabling that you did yourself, does it work out much cheaper or not??? I will need to run Ethernet cabling in an older place for POE cameras, etc. and would be interested to know what way to go.
It's nicer to have caBling the exact length you want, so I can be cheaper if you have a lot you want to do yourself. It takes a lot more time of course
I made an update video (linked in the pinned comment) where I've made some changes. I ended up switching to a brush panel, and I'm picking up the Unify poe switch to use with my UDM pro
If you didn't pay for the DAS it's a good setup but tbh if you already have a Zima Board don't buy a DAS guys. You can just conect your Harddrive to the SATA Ports and get a Breakout Board for the PCI-Express Port for more drives. Its certainly a bit more complex than just buying a device, but this option here would be a lot cheaper and more future proof. There a great tutorials out there for Zima Board NAS Setups and TrueNas
Hi Aron as always great video 💪 Your detailed reviews are awesome 🤩 I have a suggesting, to replace smart power plug supply your rack with something more reliable (better relay) like sonoff POWR3. This small power plugs relays are calculated to extreme and when start failing might damage Your expensive equipment 😉
I didn't want to spend the $ this time around, but I'm planning a future video to upgrade. Like you said, I'll be adding a UPS and also hopefully a better WiFi system and NAS
@@MakeItWorkTech oh.. my monitor and network rack are there rooms away. Guess I will shift the NVR closer to the monitor. Not finding a way to extend usb over lan :( Thanks for the reply
You can look up units that go from screen via hdmi-> to a unit that converts to a Ethernet cable (this unit may require power via a regular plug) run the Ethernet to the other room and then plug in to other device that changes it back to hdmi. My work has that for a small security camera and monitor in the main office.
@@mattspivey5100 thanks for replying. Hdmi to ethernet I have used, but am not understanding how to extend USB for 40 to 50ft. Need to connect the mouse to the NVR for playback
You should take the time to change out all of your 5e for 6a. That suppers speeds up to 10Gb to give you a more future proof setup. You should also look into utilizing the coax in your house to hardwire your rooms via MoCA adapters. There are some great ones that can push speeds up to 2.5Gbps. I’ve used these and they work great.
I never understood why people use keystone couplers. Just terminate a keystone. If you get the correct tool they’re actually faster to do than the male ends
@@MakeItWorkTech A tried-and-true brand is APC. I don't know if your NAS supports this, but Synology NAS units have a USB port to interface with the one on the UPS to detect when to shut down elegantly. If yours does the same, then make sure that your UPS has that feature. You should first tally up the power usage of all your devices, and use that to select the capacity of the power backup. Also, I would recommend getting a model that has replaceable batteries, as it much more economical to do that rather than buy a whole new unit. Most batteries last at least 5 years, after which their capacity begins to decline.
2 issues i see (av guy that does smart homes from pre-wiring to programming) patch panels are horrible, you're adding 4 more additional points of failure that are honestly very annoying to trouble shoot, never use pass through RJ45s i have seen dead switches and dead ports because of this
So... what was the point of the patch panel if you DIDN'T have a bunch of cables running into your rack? They're supposed to be used with regular keystone jacks that you punch down into, and then then front facing port patches to your switches. Where's the other end going? Another word of advice, LABEL EVERYTHING. You're not going to remember every single cable in your rack Label them at the both ends of the cables, and definitely on your patch panel as well. Also, invest in a roll of double sided velcro. It's the best way to organize cables and not use zip ties. NEVER use zip ties. They hurt the wire, and can be challenging to cut without damaging the wires the contain, if you need to move the zip tie for any reason. Velcro you can just rip off, and use elsewhere, over and over again. Highly recommended.
@@MakeItWorkTech @makeitworktech Their gear is expensive but it is also rock solid. I am already invested with 4 smaller switches and an AP (I just need a bigger PoE switch, a second AP, and one final smaller switch), but if I were going to start over today, I would look at TP-Link Omada gear. If they're as good as they look, then they would be a great value vs Unifi kit.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
I upgraded to UniFi! ua-cam.com/video/6p3LCtvp5fw/v-deo.html
TerraMaster D8 Hybrid: Available on Kickstarter on May 7 - kck.st/3Uwv9xG
-- Products to build the rack --
Nave Point 12U Server Rack: amzn.to/49CFagO
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Word of caution, I think the cat5 cable you bought is actually CCA, aka copper clad aluminum. It’s total and complete trash, I bought a box due to its price and didn’t realize what it was until a year or so later when I started having issues here and there. I wouldn’t have thought it would have mattered since the wire was all inside in climate controlled areas, wrong, if I were you I’d throw that stuff in the trash and replace all you made from it or at least mark them all so when weird things happen you know which cables to start replacing then.
I agree, always Cat6 or Cat6a, here at Portugal🇵🇹, our Telecom Authority ANACOM a few years ago, banned the installation of cables lower than Cat6 and only 100% copper cables are allowed. We have a regulation called ITED Manual, you can consult to know more about our legislation and regulation in telecom infraestructures.
Yup agree. AVOID CCA AT ALL COST
The TPLink DECO mesh system is amazing, and way more customizable
I plan to test it out, even though I went with UniFi!
I love TP-LINK product..
as someone who has built out data centers and a home-labber myself, great job!! be careful with pass through rj45's. seen them melt POE switches a few times. make sure no copper is exposed
wdym? exposed
What would be a better option?
@@Raku235 basically leaving too much copper beyond the rj45 connector. You want the strands to be flush or just under the edge of the rj45 connector with the pass thru. Otherwise, if the copper extends, it could cause shorts or even cause issues to what it’s connected to.
You have a professional speaking voice that's easy on the ears. I'm a subscriber!
Wow, thanks!
Feels good to have it all organized, doesn't it? I've rearranged mine so many times and I'm grateful for the rackstuds! You did a good job & it all looks nice. I did get a brush panel for mine, in order to organize my Reolink POE camera cables. It's easy to get caught up with all the options. Like you, I ordered/returned several things before I had everything I needed. I bought the rackpath 12u cabinet. Thanks for sharing and take care my friend!
Yes, it feels great! Thank you for the kind words. Ok, you've convinced me, I need to return my patch panels for a brush panel 😂
If you get a UPS you can plug one power distribution into critical and one into non critical. Then it is easy to power what you want to keep alive in an outage. For me I used a deeper rack and put AV stuff on one side (not critical) and networking stuff on the back with UPS backup power.
If you have access below or above the main floors of the house via basement, crawlspace or attic you can run Ethernet. It's not complicated, but it can be a huge pain, but also rewarding. Nice job on the rack!
Thanks for the tips! I don't have access everywhere, but i do under all of the bedrooms so maybe I'll give it a shot!
If looking for a wifi replacement, I would consider using access points (APs). You can pick up unifi APs for ~$100 and they will make use of your POE switch. Nice job on the rack and +1 for the rack studs.
Thanks! So I can just buy a couple and start using them with my current setup?
Nice work! Cable management is about getting the right lengths. As for cage nuts, there is a tool. Once you get used to it, its quite easy. Also, try to keep your power on one side and data on another. After you wire a few networks it get easy. Also, I always run plenum grade cable; while not required in the home, I still use it. Structured cabling habits die hard.
>As for cage nuts, there is a tool
Ah yes, the flathead screwdriver :3
Thanks for showing us what is possible. I've been in process of building a closet rack for good while, but Life's been getting in the way. Yet, you remind me to get back to that Task. Thanks.
Asus ZenWifi is a really good mesh system. Gives you lots of control and tuning options.
Awesome I'll check it out
+1 For Asus zenwifi/ai-mesh. Really like the fact you can mesh different models, and the range on the units is really good. I bought an xd4 mini originally just to use as an AP in my lounge - still got really good 5ghz signal in my bedroom, 2 floors up!
+2 for Asus Ai-Mesh. Amazing... The best two options are Asus and and UniFi, but the latter is more expensive and may be overkill.
I'm also running the Asus system and it does very well. Have my router in the basement of my two story 1950s built home, with zenwifi node in my first floor office and 2nd floor guest room. we have great wifi everywhere, even on our backyard patio.
i like to use TPlink omada access points for wireless POE
I’ve been using TP-Link Deco XE75 pro WiFi Mesh system and it’s brilliant.
Yeah, I was looking at that one! Thanks, I'll have to check it out
I just finished getting my first rack up and running with mostly Unifi components and also a Nave Point case. I did go all in and run cable from the rack to a few different rooms in my house, which was built in the 1940s. It wasn't that bad, really. I'm sure you could definitely do this in your house if you have some of the right tools. You might need to learn how to cut and patch some drywall and maybe add a few yellow or red tools to your mostly white tool collection, but it's doable.
I might have to give that a shot!
2nd patch panel above the switch, 12 ports on top and 12 below would have eliminated the stretch on your patch cables.
Try TP-Link DECO just for small places/small home - up to 2 bedrooms apartment. Omada for a bigger house with garage and yard, but you'll need a POE switch to power your wi-fi devices and probably if you want to exchange your cameras in the future, you can use POE to power them.
Considering the CAT5E cables, try to replace them at least on your rack, connecting your devices such as NAS and e-security stuff on your switch with a good CAT6E or even 7... Between your off-rack devices is just ok, especially if you not using multi gigabyte devices...
Prior to diving into the Ubiquiti rabbit hole, we used an EERO mesh system to cover roughly 4300 square feet of our house; it was really easy to set up and other than initially interfering with our wireless soundbar, I don't recall having any other issues or dead spots with it.
Ok cool. I may switch to fiber and they offer a free Eero mesh system if I do
You should have a backer board, not 2x4s. It's a cleaner look and also functions as a firebreak in many cases.
If you need to support a rack while attaching it to the wall, use one or two cabinet jacks. They come in a variety of configurations.
Wish I had though of that haha. Might do that if I need to adjust it
Since you have TP Link switches, the TP Link routers are nice as well for a mesh system, Can get Wi-Fi 7 for future proofing.
I went with unifi 😬
For a wifi replacement, I just bought the Asus ZenWifi Pro ET12 and it's fantastic. Extremely fast, has 2.5Gb ports on each unit (1 for WAN, 1 for LAN, then 2x1Gb ports for LAN), and supports Wifi 6E. I got it primarily for the load of features in the Asus firmware (VLAN, firewall, etc etc) until I move over to OPNsense, and to use as a wireless backhaul from my cable modem at the front of the house to my 16-port switch in the back of the house with my server/homelab stuff. Sure beats my old Powerline backhaul!
You got me with the 2nd half...I don't speak network engineer haha
But the first part sounds good! I'll have to check that one out
Would suggest OPNSense over PFsense. Since pfsense is owned by Netgate. Lots of issues and since the latest versions I’ve got lots of issues. The community of OPNsense and the guys themself are much nicer to home labbbers. Also would suggest moving to Home Assistant and maybe VMWare or proxmox to run it on a VM. I do that too and in case of errors just rollback a Snapshot. Also home assistant has Docker inside. Therefore you can run the UniFi controller from there and just buy the U6+ AP’s only. Saves you a few hundred bucks :)
ve been wanting to do this for a while now. I have very limited space and don;t have a spot to wall mount anything so I'd probably get one that's on wheels. I just want to organize. I haven't done much for IOT devices just because I don't want a pile of hubs and switches sitting behind the TV or something. I just haven't committed to the project yet. But it's a great idea. Having everything in one spots a lot cleaner and convenient.
Thanks for a very comprehensive list of components although the rack looks expensive
yeah ended up being around $625, and with my last update its up over $1000. I went the Unifi route :-D
Tp-link mesh wifi is the best. I use it for some years and no issues at all.
Thanks for the feedback!
Cool setup and definitely can see your hardwork and learning payoff with this neat setup. It could be better in terms of technicality and "ohh you could have done that this way" from a lot of folks but this video motivated me to get a rack and perform my own setup in my home. Thank you.
Thanks, glad it helped you out!
I think a good mesh wifi replacement would be with ubiquity and unify products. Also offer great surveillance cameras with POE if you’re looking to expand.
I upgraded to Unifi! So worth it.
it is super clean but if you wanted it to look nicer sneaking 1-2U of horizontal wire management that is not very proud would hide a ton of the wire if thats the look you were interested in. sometimes the small loops like that look and work nice aesthetically also, beautiful design well done, and awesome showing people how
Good suggestion! And thank you!
If you haven’t landed on a mesh networking solution yet. I can vouch for Asus routers flashed with Asus Merlin firmware as a good solution. It’s not entry level or advanced but definitely a nice middle ground. Their mesh works flawlessly and I’ve been rocking it for about 3 years now with zero issues.
I ended up going with Unifi!
You did great man. Made me want to subscribe. I look forward to the next video.
Good job with the video. Thanks for sharing. if you haven't gotten a new mesh wifi system, I'd recommend considering an Orbi Mesh system. They're great and are rock solid.
I'm in the same boat as you. I have the older Google WiFi generation and it's been a huge blocker since I started my home lab. It's a great mesh system-somewhat limited-but it worked fine for years. Anyway, I am in the process of overwriting the Google WiFi OS with OpenWRT, which should save me the cost of buying a new mesh system while I'm building my rack :)
Awesome idea!! I never knew that could be done!
Unifi is what I have in my house but I would got Aruba instant APs off ebay!! Make sure it say IAP.
You program one and then the rest just join up when you plug them in
They work with Unifi or are they their own ecosystem?
Great build! I'd recommend NOT using pass through (pass-thru) RJ45 connectors especially with PoE they can void your warrenty.
I like the 2 piece style RJ45 connectors the loading bar keeps the strands organized but doesn't leave copper ends exposed.
4:30 I remember back in 2009 when I took my networking class in college, we didn't have access to the RJ45 connectors that let the whole cable pass to the front, we had to measure by hand and make sure he little filament would make contact with the copper pieces of the connector. it was a nightmare. so much wasted cable.
Sounds rough! haha
Awesome tutorial for newbies like me! Keep it up 🇦🇺👍
Thanks!!
Looks like you used 558-A instead of 558-B for the termination of your CAT cable. I would highly recommend using 568-B on anything in the future.
Yeah thanks, that was just a test cable and I got that feedback when I posted a picture on Twitter. Thanks 😁
BRAVO! Very well done video and information! Thank you for sharing! Looking forward to more of your work.
Thank you kindly!
Best practice is to use factory patch cables. As strange as it might seem, cable termination is not as reliable on the long run, particularly if you're not doing it day in day out.
I am getting omada network ready for my new house 😊
That's great!!
Good replacement for your wifi...go with Unifi for everything from cameras to router and switches. Its the perfect ecosystem, I have been using it for years and will never go back to anything else.
Loving it so far! Not sure if you saw my update video. Such an amazing system!
I had a nest wifi pro system and we absolutely hated it because it randomly would go offline and the pings were super high. Once we sent it back we got a TP link wifi 6e mesh system and it's been perfect. I'm pretty sure the model we got is the AXE5400.
Thank you! I have been having the same issues for a few years!
I was considering TP Link, so I may try that
@@MakeItWorkTech As soon as we set it up it has not given us one issue. The coverage is amazing and the speeds are so much better then the nest system.
The AXE5400 is an awesome mesh system. I got mine at Costco last year. Switched from the google nest as well. Trying to get away from google as well as Amazon. Wi-Fi 7 is too expensive and this is the best priced 6e system. Especially if you are only using gig or 2.5 gig switches
@@pat9080 Yeah it's been perfect so glad we switched.
Not bad. Running cables are essential for having a good home network. I don’t like that you have so many different hubs. The back area with the plugs is no bueno. I also didn’t see any sort of UPC or battery backup for your setup. I don’t think your Plex setup should be in there as it should be in a prime location where you consume content most. This way if you ever become an Audiophile, you have a place to build out further.
I feel the google mesh pain because I'm in a similar situation with Eero. Frankly the Eero has worked great, but I wish I didn't have to use the app and I wish I could do VLANs. Everybody tells me Unifi is the way to go, but I haven't taken the plunge yet; the Eero is working and hasn't annoyed me enough that it's worth the expense and trouble of switching yet.
I also wish I could run ethernet everywhere. The previous owners put drywall ceilings in the basement so I can't just easily run wires from the basement up into the rooms above. I've been making do with MOCA over the coax that is run to nearly every room, and that's actually performed surprisingly well, but the adapters are not cheap. I would like to run ethernet up from the basement into the attic, and then down into the rooms that way... but our attic is so shallow and there is so much insulation it is basically impossible to navigate up there. I really don't know how I'm going to do it. Also, being in Canada, I want to be careful about punching holes up into the attic that allow warm moist air to flow up and condense in the attic. I'd be open to any ideas anyone has.
Consistently amazed by your content - appreciate sharing your smart home journey ✌
Wow thanks sir!! 🙏
Great job!, it looks very clean and efficient, saludos from Colombia!
Thank you very much!
Ubiquity Unifi is the best router, switches, AP, and surveillance out there!
But so expensive!!
@@MakeItWorkTech yes, but I have no regrets. Expanded over time to spread out the costs.
+1 for Unifi
Had an ASUS Router previously, but after it started making issues, I switched to Unifi and omg I never had a better router dashboard or more options to configure.
It's just rock solid, super customizable, but also easy to work with.
Never going back to consumer grade devices.
Absolutely not. A custom-built x86 firewall/router running opnsense runs circles around anything Ubiquity.
Bro never heard of Cisco before
I have the deco m9. I've had it for a few years but it works for my home needs.
Just curious what the benefit of having a brush panel vs patch panel would be.
Brush panel doesn't require these short little patch cables, and you can space out the cables in any way you want. Just would look a lot cleaner IMO
Nice video. Definitely got some tips for my own build.
Why 5e cables though instead of 6?
Thanks! Not sure, I Guess I should have gone with 6. Maybe I'll change them out
Always make sure when you mount the rack that it's not going to be in the way of anyone ,espeically if the door is open as people tend to bang their heads on it and it pixxess them off ,especially commercial installs .
Also if it's going to be fixed on dry board make sure you use Gripit fixings and not curly wurly plugs as they're not strong enough to hold it .
Oh and if you're gonna.make your own patch cables use a boot to go on the end as it protects them and also.looks a lot more professional.
Well done. I've been lucky enough with my own home automation networking not being too challenging seeing as I administer networks and design and install them as a career for the last 30-ish years. From that perspective I'll say you did a great job.Make sure you've got decent airflow around that gear so small circulators would be a good addition.
Thanks, good to have a pro's opinion on the setup! I do have some fans I may be able to use
Those are probably injection molded I see the injection point. 3D printed things have lines at the printer builds up the part.
Good eye!
Subscribed because the set up is sick looking
Hey thanks!! 🙏
Makes a change not to see unifi kit everywhere 🙂 having said that I am thinking of ditching my Draytek and Netgear kit and moving over... 😱
Aren't brush panels just cable management and completely different things from patch panels... or am i missing something?
Switch to TP-Link OMADA network equipment and AP's.
Thank ill try Deco to start, but TP Link seems the most popular in the comments
nice work. thanks for sharing
No problem!
Look at TP-Link Omada since you already have a TP link switch
Will do, thanks!!
Helpful video! I am doing a remodel install of a rack but unfortunately, I only have a small closet to use for my IT closet. I believe a rack the same size as yours or one similar to it will fit. My issue is ventilation. I do not want to put a louvered door on the closet. I do have access to a room on the side of the closet and could put an air duct in the closet right now but I was not sure if that would be too much or not. Any suggestions on best way to vent it either somehow around the door to the closet or out the side through a wall into the adjacent room?
I don't have any specific knowledge on ventilation, but I actually do have a PC cabinet that is vented into A wall between two studs, then on the other side of the wall I have two vents that allow the air to exit into the room on the other side
That sounds like what I am needing too. Can you tell me more about how you did that? What equipment you used?
Hey Man, pls suggest any second hand server. Want to build my openstack cloud lab there.
I love Netgear Nighthawk mesh systems.
Great job, everything is bolted down so when the house catches fire, you will be sure not be able to save that data..😂😂😂 also great job on consolidating the most costly equipment in one place for a thief..nice..your quite generous..😂😂
Haha, good thing i have a few layers of self-defense! The "thief" won't be leaving once he enters the house 😂😂😂
Just checking....good job..👍😉🙂
If your house catches fire you shouldn't be trying to save your stuff. Your stuff is replaceable but you are not
@@2h4 hence why you make it EASY to remove...its called thinking ahead..😉👍 ( but yes most people don't think a head and just run, I'm not most people)
This is a cool video, but for the TerraMaster what was the thinking behind not including a NIC on it. It's not really a NAS without the network part of network attached storage.
Thanks! I'm not sure, I guess just low cost for expanding your NAS?
So helpful. Thanks 🙏 for a great vid and all the info.
Thanks!
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching!
Great work man! Loved the video
Appreciate it!
I use a Synology router and APs throughout the house.
I'll have to check them out!
I hated the Rack Studs, seemed everything sagged a little, even patch panels. I much prefer the huge PIA cage nuts
That's a bummer! Maybe only for lighter equipment
The AVM Fritz!Box Mesh is very good
Ok thanks!
With that cabling that you did yourself, does it work out much cheaper or not??? I will need to run Ethernet cabling in an older place for POE cameras, etc. and would be interested to know what way to go.
It's nicer to have caBling the exact length you want, so I can be cheaper if you have a lot you want to do yourself. It takes a lot more time of course
I have a ? what are you gonna do when you get more cabels for your poe switch, are you gonna buy a rack panel more or just use the poe
I made an update video (linked in the pinned comment) where I've made some changes. I ended up switching to a brush panel, and I'm picking up the Unify poe switch to use with my UDM pro
Phwoar, what a rack!
Thanks!
i need something like that i just dont know where to start lol
That's a tough one! I decided to build mine once all of my hubs, etc. wouldn't fit on a single shelf
If you didn't pay for the DAS it's a good setup but tbh if you already have a Zima Board don't buy a DAS guys. You can just conect your Harddrive to the SATA Ports and get a Breakout Board for the PCI-Express Port for more drives. Its certainly a bit more complex than just buying a device, but this option here would be a lot cheaper and more future proof. There a great tutorials out there for Zima Board NAS Setups and TrueNas
So would that be using TrueNAS software on the Zimaboard to handle a RAID setup? Maybe I'll try it with the ZimaBlade
Hi Aron as always great video 💪
Your detailed reviews are awesome 🤩
I have a suggesting, to replace smart power plug supply your rack with something more reliable (better relay) like sonoff POWR3. This small power plugs relays are calculated to extreme and when start failing might damage Your expensive equipment 😉
Great suggestion! Thanks for the tip!
Looks great
Thanks!!
Do you have a battery backup for your rack? Or are you planning on getting one?
I didn't want to spend the $ this time around, but I'm planning a future video to upgrade. Like you said, I'll be adding a UPS and also hopefully a better WiFi system and NAS
Are you using a UPS attached to your rack? (If so, or even if not,) do you have a recommendation of a UPS?
No, but I should! I'll look to see what's out there
Run Unifi for Wifi and run some MOCA adapters so you'll have ethernet in each room...I'm sure cable is already run in each room
Unfortunately no cable in each room, but that would be cool!
Hi, would be greatful if you can let me know how do you connect HDMI and usb of nvr to tv?
USB unconnected directly to NVR. HDMI to the monitor
@@MakeItWorkTech oh.. my monitor and network rack are there rooms away. Guess I will shift the NVR closer to the monitor. Not finding a way to extend usb over lan :(
Thanks for the reply
You can look up units that go from screen via hdmi-> to a unit that converts to a Ethernet cable (this unit may require power via a regular plug) run the Ethernet to the other room and then plug in to other device that changes it back to hdmi. My work has that for a small security camera and monitor in the main office.
@@mattspivey5100 thanks for replying.
Hdmi to ethernet I have used, but am not understanding how to extend USB for 40 to 50ft. Need to connect the mouse to the NVR for playback
Hello my friend, good job, you are big "هطف" in this world
thank you
Thanks
A Geek salute!
What mounts did you use for the tplink switch?
The ones it came with!
Oh no. Why did you use cat5?? You are limiting your future speeds. Always use cat6
Yeah probably shoulda. Easy switch later on
Unifi all the way for you networking needs!
TP LINK BE19000 is awesome.
Ok thanks!
What's glaringly missing is the ups.
yeah, I will be adding that!
What do people at home actually plug into 24 port switch 😅.
24 things I guess haha
I ran out of room and had to move up to 48 ports LOL
Good job, I need to do this too.
Thanks! Fun project for sure
curiosity: power consumption ?
51 watts pretty consistently
You should take the time to change out all of your 5e for 6a. That suppers speeds up to 10Gb to give you a more future proof setup.
You should also look into utilizing the coax in your house to hardwire your rooms via MoCA adapters. There are some great ones that can push speeds up to 2.5Gbps. I’ve used these and they work great.
I'll be doing that with 6 cable!
Hmmm, never heard of that option!
Get rid of that cat 5e CCA, junk cake, copper and aluminum don't expand and contract at same rate, get 6a or 7, better cable, better shielding
Done!
You should have used at least cat6a to be future-proof … but also your patchpanel. For a switch I would used at least 2,5gbit with POE+
Thanks, noted!
I never understood why people use keystone couplers. Just terminate a keystone. If you get the correct tool they’re actually faster to do than the male ends
But they're so fun!
Ubiquiti is the way to go for Wi-Fi.
Noted!
Why no UPS???
That will be for v2! Haha I wasn't sure which too buy and things were getting a bit expensive. You have a recommendation?
@@MakeItWorkTech A tried-and-true brand is APC. I don't know if your NAS supports this, but Synology NAS units have a USB port to interface with the one on the UPS to detect when to shut down elegantly. If yours does the same, then make sure that your UPS has that feature. You should first tally up the power usage of all your devices, and use that to select the capacity of the power backup. Also, I would recommend getting a model that has replaceable batteries, as it much more economical to do that rather than buy a whole new unit. Most batteries last at least 5 years, after which their capacity begins to decline.
clean
thanks!
2 issues i see (av guy that does smart homes from pre-wiring to programming) patch panels are horrible, you're adding 4 more additional points of failure that are honestly very annoying to trouble shoot, never use pass through RJ45s i have seen dead switches and dead ports because of this
didnt see the end, brush plates ftw
@@nickm6443 Eh, thats only a issue if youre not properly labeling cables, which yes youre right many of us get lazy and dont do that.
Latest update video i added a brush panel! So much nicer!
@@MakeItWorkTech heck yeah, just loose the pass thoughs and your good
Unifi I love it
SO GOOD! i upgraded in the latest video
So... what was the point of the patch panel if you DIDN'T have a bunch of cables running into your rack? They're supposed to be used with regular keystone jacks that you punch down into, and then then front facing port patches to your switches. Where's the other end going?
Another word of advice, LABEL EVERYTHING. You're not going to remember every single cable in your rack Label them at the both ends of the cables, and definitely on your patch panel as well.
Also, invest in a roll of double sided velcro. It's the best way to organize cables and not use zip ties. NEVER use zip ties. They hurt the wire, and can be challenging to cut without damaging the wires the contain, if you need to move the zip tie for any reason. Velcro you can just rip off, and use elsewhere, over and over again. Highly recommended.
They make patch designed to be used with feed thru connectors, rather than having to do punch down. It is the type I have.
Aaron …. I cannot wait to get you into the ubiquiti Unifi love-hate relationship for your network. 😊😄
You will love the GUI and and options.
My Unfi are the cats meow
But the $$$! So expensive, but they look really nice!
@@MakeItWorkTech @makeitworktech Their gear is expensive but it is also rock solid.
I am already invested with 4 smaller switches and an AP (I just need a bigger PoE switch, a second AP, and one final smaller switch), but if I were going to start over today, I would look at TP-Link Omada gear. If they're as good as they look, then they would be a great value vs Unifi kit.