Ubiquiti Network Recommendations

[Velvis]

A few years back Stonecat and others helped me make a decision on a Ubiquiti setup. Worked out great. I have a new customer who needs all new networking equipment.

10-15 wireless Mac users , VOIP, & a few printers. Verizon FIOS router.

I need a 24 port switch for the basement which feeds each room (12 rooms or so), each room needs a 4 port switch in the closet to feed the wall jacks in that room.
2 floors. Need wifi AP, previous tenet had 3 Cisco APs

Any recommendations that may have changed in the last couple of years?

 

[HCHTech]

Too many switches would be my first take. So the only home runs are single lines in the closets of each room? We would need a layout to make a guess on AP placement or power. What is the construction? Block walls are a much different problem than stick framing & drywall. Also, what do they use the wireless for? What kind of business is it? More data needed.

 

[SAFCasper]

Too many switches would be my first take. So the only home runs are single lines in the closets of each room? We would need a layout to make a guess on AP placement or power. What is the construction? Block walls are a much different problem than stick framing & drywall. Also, what do they use the wireless for? What kind of business is it? More data needed.

12 switches sounds a lot initially however I wouldn't be too concerned here as they aren't being chained. Sounds like each of the 4-port switches will directly uplink to the 24-port so the longest chain at any point is 2 switches. Also, being Unifi they will all be managed switches.

I also agree it would be preferable to run 3-4 cables to each closet but sometimes that's not possible.


My initial thoughts on switching would be

USW-24-POE
Your 24-port "core" switch
16 of these ports are PoE enabled

USW-FLEX-MINI
Your access switches in the cupboards. These are super cheap.
5 gigabit ports, one of which will take PoE input. This means you can power all your 5-port switches via PoE from the main 24-port switch. No need to have mains power in your access cupboards. Also means you can reboot them remotely by cycling PoE output on the core switch.

If you need PoE output from the 5-port switches they also have a the USW-FLEX-3. You would probably want to upgrade to the USW-Pro-24-POE at the same time for it's higher PoE budget.

As for access points the same questions as @HCHTech regarding layout, construction, usage etc.

 

[Velvis]

Too many switches would be my first take. So the only home runs are single lines in the closets of each room? We would need a layout to make a guess on AP placement or power. What is the construction? Block walls are a much different problem than stick framing & drywall. Also, what do they use the wireless for? What kind of business is it? More data needed.

Yes, each room has 4 wall jacks fed from a switch in the closet which is home runned to the basement switch. Realistically each room will only have a VOIP phone. Everyone has laptops.
Building is new construction drywall, metal framing.
Not sure exactly what they do but there is no server or file sharing I am aware of. Im going to reach out now and see if I can gather more info.

 

[HCHTech]

Don't forget about the In-wall APs (UAP-AC-IW-US), made to fit in a regular wall switch box. Not sure it's a fit for your install, but that would eliminate additional runs for the APs. Depending on layout, one unit could take care of 3 rooms, I'd say. I had an install recently with poured-concrete walls - very modern house. Luckily, all of the rooms were pre-wired, so we put in about 8 of them - they were perfect for that application.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Hard to say without seeing at least a sketchup of the offices. Basic blueprint layout of the rooms.

I'm not crazy about a switch in each room, but consider your switches based on the following.
*Total POE budget for the 24 port
*POE budget for each room switch.

InWall APs a consideration if you don't have ethernet drop in the ceilings.
Or combine with ceiling mounts just to fill in dead spots.

Go with the at least the newer nanoHD ceiling mounts. The older UAP-AC-Pro models are heading towards retirement. May as well future proof with at least nanos with the MU-MIMO.

I'm so-so on the Flex switches. Have used a few, they're just...minimal to me. Depending on your total POE budget for each room, I'd probably lean towards a good 150 switch in each rooms closet. A new 24 Pro model at the head...if not a 48 just for growth.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Also for sprinkling wifi to areas that aren't workable for ceiling mount, or in wall, the FlexHD desktop cylinder APs are decent. And the BeaconHD APs that you stick into an outlet for power...decent repeater option.

 

[Velvis]

I know this is kind of a "How long is a piece of string question" , but what would you charge to monitor a this Unifi setup? I am not sure if they are a potential full managed services client at this point. So it would be cloud key,gateway,main 24 port switch, 6 POE switches, 3 access points.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

If you do a cloud key, there is no cost to you.
Not much to monitor really.
We put our managed clients in our controller at Hostifi. Makes things much easier for us....and with our managed clients, we have a "core" line item up at the top of the monthly invoice which is a flat fee to cover the bunch of tools lumped together to support them.