Home Network Question

[cold.nut]

The last few days I have been researching and looking into networking and switches and firewalls, etc... I've noticed some pictures where people have setup pretty advanced network configs as far as I am concerned. Here is a pic http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showpost.php?p=3955470&postcount=299 (at the bottom) and I to tell ya the truth I am still a learner at networking. I am taking a class on it right now, but I can learn more from you guys than anyone else.

My question is... What does it take to setup a network like this (switches, routers, firewalls, etc..?) and what are the advantages?

Links to posts or threads on this topic are appreciated, I would like to learn as much as possible. Looking to setup one for myself.

Thanks

[don256us]

What you are seeing is a basic network setup with one MAJOR exception. That user has at least two internet connections that they are load balancing. This is not normal for home or even small to mid-sized business.

A typical network has a connection to the internet via a modem. From the modem you typically go to a switch. Your computers/printers/storage/etc connect to the switch. You can also connect a wireless access point to the switch and connect wireless computers/printers.

The shot that you show has several modems connected to a load balancer. The load balancer is connected to a switch and the computers are connected to the switch. Above the switch is a wireless router (on the right) and a VOIP phone device (left). My guess is that the router is set up as a wireless access point.

Most routers today have a WAN port, 4-port switch and wireless access point. Some routers do not have the wireless.

[bLack0ut]

I'm doing the same thing, and its not that hard.

Get an extra computer, throw pfsense onto it. Install 3 NICs. Whatever internet you have (cable or dsl) route a line from each into pfsense, and have it be WAN1 and WAN2. Then have the 3rd NIC from the pfsense box go into a switch, and connect all your wired computers to the switch. Install a wireless NIC in the pfsense box for wireless. Add more NICs for each new zone you want.

[cold.nut]

What you are seeing is a basic network setup with one MAJOR exception. That user has at least two internet connections that they are load balancing. This is not normal for home or even small to mid-sized business.

A typical network has a connection to the internet via a modem. From the modem you typically go to a switch. Your computers/printers/storage/etc connect to the switch. You can also connect a wireless access point to the switch and connect wireless computers/printers.

The shot that you show has several modems connected to a load balancer. The load balancer is connected to a switch and the computers are connected to the switch. Above the switch is a wireless router (on the right) and a VOIP phone device (left). My guess is that the router is set up as a wireless access point.

Most routers today have a WAN port, 4-port switch and wireless access point. Some routers do not have the wireless.

- don thanks! that helped me out alot to understand what was happening in the pic

I'm doing the same thing, and its not that hard.

Get an extra computer, throw pfsense onto it. Install 3 NICs. Whatever internet you have (cable or dsl) route a line from each into pfsense, and have it be WAN1 and WAN2. Then have the 3rd NIC from the pfsense box go into a switch, and connect all your wired computers to the switch. Install a wireless NIC in the pfsense box for wireless. Add more NICs for each new zone you want.

- bLack you should update me with some pics of you setting up your network with all these bells and whistles

------------ Quick Question --------------

It appears to me that he has comcast. I didn't think comcast supported lending out 2 modems, maybe I am wrong? How did he manage to get dual modems?

[don256us]

I'm not sure that we know he has Comcast. He does have cable as is evidenced by the Surfboard modems. However, you can get the modems at Best Buy, Newegg, tiger, etc.

[cold.nut]

Realized that was a stupid post after I had posted it, got side tracked. Meant to edit it