juliaanderson
New member
When an ISP network starts growing, I think choosing network hardware becomes less straightforward than it seems at first.
For a small deployment, a basic router, switch, and a few access points may be enough. But once the number of subscribers increases, other factors start becoming much more important, especially uplink capacity, SFP/SFP+ support, PoE requirements, fiber connectivity, and the ability to handle higher traffic without creating bottlenecks.
I’ve also found that it is easy to focus too much on the specifications of individual devices and overlook how well the hardware will work together as the network expands.
For example, when selecting switches or fiber equipment, I would normally look at:
I’m particularly interested in practical experiences with switches, fiber connectivity, wireless equipment, and other hardware used in ISP deployments.
For a small deployment, a basic router, switch, and a few access points may be enough. But once the number of subscribers increases, other factors start becoming much more important, especially uplink capacity, SFP/SFP+ support, PoE requirements, fiber connectivity, and the ability to handle higher traffic without creating bottlenecks.
I’ve also found that it is easy to focus too much on the specifications of individual devices and overlook how well the hardware will work together as the network expands.
For example, when selecting switches or fiber equipment, I would normally look at:
- Available uplink speeds and port types
- SFP/SFP+ compatibility
- PoE requirements for access points
- Fiber versus copper connectivity
- Expected client and traffic growth
- Ease of troubleshooting and replacement
- Vendor compatibility and long-term availability
I’m particularly interested in practical experiences with switches, fiber connectivity, wireless equipment, and other hardware used in ISP deployments.