For the past couple of years I’ve been using wireless for everything on my network, and to be fair until a few months ago it was an acceptable solution. However the more data that I put on my file servers, the more computers connecting, etc, means that its performance hasn’t been its best. I do a lot of media streaming, some of which is 720p or 1080p HD, and over wireless the playback is choppy and inconsistent.

I came to the conclusion that in order to improve the performance of the interconnectivity between my machines, I would have to completely reimplement my network.

Earlier today I purchased approximately £140 worth of networking equipment in order for me to do that. The equipment I purchased:

• 1x WatchGuard Firebox – firewall appliance
• 1x Belkin wireless access point
• 5x CAT5e ethernet cables
• 1x 8-port unmanaged switch
• 1x 200Mbps homeplug twin pack

Currently my ADSL2+ line comes in through through the wall straight into the router. This is located downstairs in the central room. I plan on isolating wireless connectivity from the router its self. One of the homeplugs will be connected to the router. The other will be connected beside my server cabinet in my room. Connected directly to that will be the Firebox appliance, which will then be connected to the switch. From there both of my servers will be connected, my PlayStation 3, the wireless access point, and the currently installed switch on the other side of my room, in order to connect my desktop PC, my MacBook and my laptop.

That might sound a little complicated to visualise, so I have drawn a diagram of exactly how it will be connected. Click it to see a bigger version.

Please note that no IP addresses are published on the diagram.

I will update when I have installed the equipment and configured everything, posting any problems I came across, and the solutions I used to remedy them.