Much like aladac, I ran copper. I move large files, and find that wireless is painful. I also know how to terminate fiber, so I have a few fiber runs.<p>I also use much older gear that I can get on the cheap.<p><pre><code> - Cat 6 to multiple drops in each room
- Server closet that houses patch panel, switches, battery backup, cable modem
- WAP in closet, it is not doing DHCP, its an apple extreme (latest ver)
- Linux server for NAS and DHCP/DNS and Cameras (motion)
- server has multiple nics (1G/10G) and multiple vlans
- 10G fiber to server and my personal box
- 48pt POE switch in switch closet, patches to patch panel
- running VLANs, one for normal users, one for NAS, one for cameras
</code></pre>
I will admit, I have several PIs all over doing temp/env monitoring and audio streaming in rooms (e.g. spa music in the bathroom when you walk in and turn on the light), so I need a fair number of ports.<p>I am very tempted to get a 24pt 10G switch and run fiber to each machine. It is not that I need 10G, but after you get a taste for a very low latency network like all 10G fiber, it is very tempting. Now with 40G/100G, the prices of those switches are nothing (I can get them for $200 from server supply) and the nics are hovering around $35-$50 each. At that point, it is almost worth it to go 10G for the low latency and jumbo frames.<p>Again, I used to do installs, so running cable is not a big deal. Once you start moving a lot of data, it is worth it to have a wired network. Having Linux do dhcp/dns (pihole type setup)/NFS is super handy.