Well, I'm having to admit that a problem I first thought was a camera, then Blue Iris limits, has turned out (as you experts very kindly predicted) to be a network capacity issue. So, now I'm hoping I can re-design my home network topology to keep camera bandwidth from interfering with things like streaming audio/video and internet browsing.
Part of my problem here is that I know just enough about networking to be dangerous.
So, at this point I want a solution that's relatively simple to implement, and I'd like to stay within these boundaries:
So, in "outline" format the network would look something like this:
A few questions about this:
Many thanks for help with this, even if it's just pointing me to the right reference sources.
Part of my problem here is that I know just enough about networking to be dangerous.
So, at this point I want a solution that's relatively simple to implement, and I'd like to stay within these boundaries:
[*=1]Only one Modem/Router, including the internet gateway
[*=1]No VLANs, sub-nets, or parallel networks (at this time)
[*=1]Powerline system to extend the network for entertainment systems, guest access, etc.
[*=1]IP Cameras all Cat-5 hard-wired through switches to the router, and not using a Powerline extender
[*=1]Blue Iris Server connected to Router through a switch that serves all IP Cameras
[*=1]WiFi connections handled by Router or via Powerline WiFi extenders.
- Modem
- Router/Gateway
- Wireless Connections
- Switch (the switch internal to the Modem/Router)
- Powerline Interface
- Extended Ethernet connections
- Extended WiFi access points
- Printer
- Local Hardwired Computer(s)
- Switch
- BI Server (headless)
- PoE Switch
- Cam1
- Cam2
- Cam3
- PoE Switch
- Cam4
- Cam5
- Cam6
- PoE Switch
- Cam7
- Cam8
- Cam9
- Powerline Interface
A few questions about this:
- First, is this a reasonable approach to getting my IP cameras to "play-nice" with my network and not hammering Amazon or Netflix streaming on other parts of the network?
- I will run the BI server as headless. Do I need to have the PC using Remote Desktop to access the BI Server hard-wired to the camera switches, or should I have sufficient bandwidth in the wireless and Powerline connections to manage it that way.
- Is there any point in a small network like this that I'll need a Gigabit switch? At 2.2.4, for example? The switch internal to the Router will only handle 10/100.
- At what point do I need to seriously consider doing a VLAN or subnet for the BI / Camera system?
- Will I be able to setup Remote viewing access while using this network approach?
- Are there traps I'm setting myself up for by using the above approach?
Many thanks for help with this, even if it's just pointing me to the right reference sources.