Network Infrastructure Build

The Problem

A network is like plumbing: invisible until it breaks, then it’s the only thing that matters.

My old setup was a mess of consumer routers, unmanaged switches, and WiFi extenders. It worked, sort of. But file transfers crawled, WiFi coverage was spotty, and I had no visibility into what was happening on my network.

I wanted:

• Speed — 10G backbone for server and NAS
• Coverage — WiFi everywhere in the house
• Visibility — Know what’s happening on my network
• Reliability — Enterprise gear, consumer context

Time to build a proper network.

What We’re Building

A three-tier network topology:

1. Core Switch — Mikrotik CRS305-1G-4S+IN (10G backbone)
2. Distribution Switch — Ubiquiti UniFi US-24 (PoE for access points)
3. Long-distance Link — Ubiquiti NanoBeam (building-to-building)

This isn’t enterprise-grade, but it’s homelab-proper. Real gear, real management, real performance.

The Hardware

Core Components

Component	Model	Price (Approx)
10G Switch	Mikrotik CRS305-1G-4S+IN	$150
PoE Switch	Ubiquiti US-24-250W	$200 (used)
Wireless Bridge	Ubiquiti NanoBeam 5AC Gen2 (pair)	$150
SFP+ DAC	10G cables	$20 each
Fiber SFP+	Single-mode modules	$30 each (optional)

Total: ~$570

Mikrotik CRS305-1G-4S+IN

The star of the show. Four SFP+ ports for 10G, plus one gigabit copper port for management.

Feature	Spec
Ports	4x SFP+ (10G) + 1x RJ45 (1G)
Throughput	56 Gbps switching capacity
Management	Web, CLI, Winbox
Power	6W
Size	Tiny — fits anywhere

This is the cheapest way into 10G networking. Enterprise-grade switching for the price of a decent dinner.

Ubiquiti US-24-250W

Managed PoE switch for distribution:

Feature	Spec
Ports	24x Gigabit RJ45 (PoE+)
PoE Budget	250W total
Management	UniFi Controller
Rack Mount	Yes (1U)

Power over Ethernet means one cable for data and power. Perfect for access points and cameras.

Ubiquiti NanoBeam 5AC Gen2

Point-to-point wireless bridge:

Feature	Spec
Range	Up to 25km (with clear LOS)
Throughput	450+ Mbps real-world
Frequency	5GHz
Power	PoE powered

I use these for a building-to-building link. Cheaper than trenching fiber, faster than I expected.

The Setup

Mikrotik CRS305 Configuration

Out of the box, the CRS305 is a dumb switch. No IP, no management, just pass-through. To configure it:

1. Connect via Winbox — Download Mikrotik’s Winbox app, connect via MAC address
2. Set an IP — Give it an IP on your management VLAN
3. Create a bridge — Bridge all ports together
4. Enable management — Allow HTTP/SSH access

The CRS305 supports both switching and routing. For pure switching (which handles 10G line-rate), you want hardware offloading enabled.

UniFi US-24 Configuration

The UniFi switch requires a controller. Options:

1. Hardware controller — UniFi Cloud Key (expensive)
2. Software controller — Install on any Linux box (free)
3. Cloud controller — UniFi’s cloud service (free for basic use)

After adopting the switch:

1. Create networks — Management, IoT, Guest, etc.
2. Configure ports — Assign VLANs per port
3. Enable PoE — Per-port PoE control

The UniFi interface is beautiful. Real-time traffic graphs, device lists, topology maps — visibility that consumer routers can’t match.

NanoBeam Bridge Setup

This required line-of-sight between buildings:

1. Mount both units — Aimed at each other
2. Configure as AP/Station — One transmitter, one receiver
3. Set frequency — Auto is fine, or lock to a clean channel
4. Enable alignment tool — Audio feedback helps aim

My link crosses about 100 meters. Signal strength is -50dBm, which is excellent. Real-world throughput: 400+ Mbps in both directions.

Network Topology

                    ┌─────────────┐
                    │    ISP      │
                    │   Fiber     │
                    └──────┬──────┘
                           │
                    ┌──────▼──────┐
                    │  Mikrotik   │
                    │   CRS305    │
                    │   (10G)     │
                    └──────┬──────┘
                           │
           ┌───────────────┼───────────────┐
           │               │               │
    ┌──────▼──────┐ ┌──────▼──────┐ ┌──────▼──────┐
    │   Server    │ │   UniFi     │ │   NanoBeam  │
    │    (10G)    │ │   US-24     │ │   (Link)    │
    └─────────────┘ └──────┬──────┘ └──────┬──────┘
                           │               │
                      ┌────┴────┐     ┌────▼────┐
                      │ APs,    │     │ Remote  │
                      │ Cameras │     │ Building│
                      │ Clients │     └─────────┘
                      └─────────┘

Performance

10G Backbone (Mikrotik CRS305)

Test	Result
iperf3 (server ↔ NAS)	9.4 Gbps
File transfer (large)	800 MB/s
File transfer (small)	500 MB/s

10G is the real deal. Large file transfers between server and NAS complete in seconds, not minutes.

1G Distribution (UniFi US-24)

Test	Result
iperf3 (client ↔ server)	940 Mbps
PoE output	250W budget, ~60W used
Switching latency	≈1ms

The US-24 handles everything else. PoE powers access points and cameras without extra adapters.

NanoBeam Link

Test	Result
iperf3 (building ↔ building)	430 Mbps
Latency	~1ms
Uptime	99.9%

400+ Mbps over wireless is impressive. It’s not 10G, but for extending network to another building, it’s perfect.

Management and Monitoring

UniFi Controller

The controller provides:

• Device health at a glance
• Client list with hostname/manufacturer
• Traffic graphs per port
• Alerts for disconnected devices

Mikrotik CLI

The CRS305 has full command-line access:

/interface bridge port print
/system resource print
/interface ethernet poe print

Less pretty than UniFi, but more powerful. Scripting, automation, deep configuration — it’s all there.

Lessons Learned

1. Buy SFP+ cables, not fiber. For short runs (under 5m), DAC (Direct Attach Copper) is cheaper and more reliable. Save fiber for long runs.

2. Plan your VLANs. It’s easier to segment from day one than to retrofit. Management, IoT, Guest, Trusted — keep them separate.

3. UniFi’s “free” controller requires setup. The software controller needs a server. Factor in the Docker container or VM.

4. NanoBeams need line-of-sight. Trees, buildings, hills — they all kill the signal. Survey before buying.

5. Enterprise gear = enterprise learning curve. Mikrotik’s documentation is… comprehensive. UniFi’s is better. Budget time for learning.

Future Upgrades

• More 10G ports — The CRS305 only has 4 SFP+. A CRS309 or CRS317 would add more.
• Fiber backbone — For longer runs between rooms/floors
• UniFi Dream Machine — Consolidate router + controller + switch
• Managed PoE for cameras — Per-port power scheduling

Conclusion

A proper network is invisible infrastructure. When it works, you forget it exists. When it doesn’t, everything falls apart.

This setup gives me:

• 10G for large transfers
• PoE for clean cable runs
• Visibility into network traffic
• Reliability I can count on

The Mikrotik CRS305 is the star — 10G switching for $150 is insane value. The UniFi switch adds management and PoE. The NanoBeams extend the network without trenching cable.

If your homelab is straining against consumer networking, upgrade. You won’t regret it.

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Questions about the network? Hit me up on the contact page. I’m always happy to talk infrastructure.