Not specifically Drupal related (though I will be running Drupal sites from my basement server once I've got the wiring)...
I'm running CAT-6 solid conductor wire from router to server, and then from server to upstairs office. I need 4 connectors (well, maybe 10 given a few crimping mistakes) but I can't find the nice 2-piece connectors in anything less than a 100-pack http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000V6ZTWW/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?ie=UTF8&m=A27DUHPPTQX1VZ. Granted, it's only $25 (+ tax & shipping) but all I need is ten. Does anyone on this list:
- have some of these they are willing to part with (at a reasonable cost)? or,
- want to buy 90 quality CAT-6 connectors for (say) $22
If you have the connectors and are willing to lend me a crimper, you'll save me an additional $17 for something I won't be using a lot. But it's a good tool to have, I know. I'm also looking at buying a pack of 50 strain-relief boots and I know I'll only need four of those...
Comments
Monoprice
Did you try Monoprice? Cheapest place for cables that I know of.
http://www.monoprice.com/
Looks like it is $5.27 for 100.
http://www.monoprice.com/products/search.asp?keyword=cat+6+connectors&x=...
I might have the crimp tool but I would have to look around for it.
=David Wheeler
Some thoughts on this
The first thing I would note (and Fen, your talk about "quality" products sounds like you are aware of it) there is powerful inverse relationship between the price of network cabling/connectors/tools and the amount of sanity you will lose on the learning curve. The better parts and tools really do make it easier. Have you considered doing this by mounting ethernet wall sockets at either and and then using patches for the last few feet? That will give you a lot more flexibility and a lot easier than crimping ends on. I understand 100% wanting to do it for the learning experience though; why not just get the 100 pack and everyone gets patch cables for Christmas this year! :)
Another obvious thing is with that solid conductor be very careful not to kink it when pulling through the wall. Ethernet is very dependent on the twisted-pair nature of cat5/6 and a kink can really mess with you. It may tend to twist slightly as it comes off the spool and create a kink inside the wall. Pull the first 20 feet out of the box and smooth it out before pulling.
I am not sure if you were being brief when describing your planned setup (router <-> server <-> upstairs) but I'd really recommend you use a network switch in the basement and connect the server to it via a short patch cable and then a separate run upstairs. You could put two network interfaces in the server and do something like Windows internet connection sharing, or set up routing on a linux box, but its just a lot cleaner (and probably more secure if you have wireless in the mix somewhere) to just switch each interface separately.
Thanks for your thoughts
Yes, I bought high-quality cable and chose solid conductor as it is 40' from router to a 5-port gigibit switch (where the server will be) and then about 60' from the switch to my upstairs office. With these long runs and statically mounted cable, I felt solid conductor was the best bet (and I am being very careful wrt kinks).
I have thought about a wall socket in my office and am still considering that, but I am not a pro at running wires through walls, so this may not get done. I've got a fish tape, but my house is a 75-yr-old brick jobber with plaster walls inside and it resists most pulls. My current plan is to wrap some aluminum tape around the final 15' vertical segment, run it along the steam radiator pipes and hope it survives.
If you have some experience here, I'll offer beer and/or dinner for some hand's on consultation. ;-)
Thanks!
=Fen